Vintage Splendor: Accessories

I'm sure everyone loves to show off the Chanel logo on their quilted purses, but I find the most fantastic ones don't bother with all the label whoring. This Chanel purse is understated elegance at it's best, the perfect evening bag. Brooches are underrated, and I'm not sure I understand why. My grandmother understood the importance of a good broach, they look great and this one adds a little pop of color to even the most contemporary outfit. Frye boots are legendary because they're timeless and built to last, these are a wardrobe staple for any serious vintage lover. I'm obsessed with hats and it's not because I even wear them, it's just because I love to look at them and take pictures in them. Cloches are my absolute favorite, I amp up my curls, add some red lipstick and put on the most seductive pout I can muster, this blueish-purple cloche is handmade and tailored to perfection. Maybe I'm just an accessory and clothes horse but I literally hoard belts, my aunt has this mother of pearl seashell belt that I covet deeply and this belt vaguely reminds me of it, except it's somehow more my style.

My At Home Vintage Store

I told my mom her closet was a treasure chest of vintage and she didn't like that. Where else can I find amazing silk or wool pencil skirts and shards of mother of pearl strung together on a necklace for free? I come from a family of shameless pack-rats, my mother still has every stitch of clothing from her pre-marriage wardrobe (future partner promise me you won't let me do that, pry them from my cold dead hands if you must). There are some things that need to toss, if given the chance I might veto more of her current stuff than her old stuff, except for the ones with the dry rot elastics and what-not. Anyway, every now and then she catches me wearing something that actually belongs to her and I have to slap myself for forgetting that her memory is as good as an elephant's. The reprimanding I get for swiping her goodies is worth it, the things I swiped may actually be my favorite wardrobe/accessory pieces so there's no way she's getting them back.

My New Love

Okay so I finally wandered my behind down to Kensington Market this weekend to do some vintage shopping and found my new absolute favourite store: Bungalow nestled on 273 Augusta Avenue. I picked up an adorable blazer ($21.99) and a delicious white skirt ($19.99) that I absolutely positively adore. I can’t wait to wear the pieces and I’m beating myself up wondering why the heck I let it take me this long to get down there. I’m absolutely sold on vintage stores and though the heady incense smell that you’ll find in some of them is still a bit too much I’m head over heels. I also found some great scarves that are absolutely gorgeous, at $5 a pop for the bigger ones and $2 a pop for the smaller ones I’m heading to Flash Back (the one with the Audrey Hepburn Image on the sign) on Kensington every time I venture downtown. And the button wall at Courage My Love is my new best friend, I can say bye-bye to generic plastic buttons for good =D. I just discovered the perfect way to mix my energetic/colourful personality and Audrey Hepburn’s polish to construct a look that is totally me.

Où êtes-vous ? Oleg Cassini

As you well know I’ve been searching tirelessly for a pair of Audrey-esque/Jackie O reminiscent sunglasses. Well this week my search finally came to a halt. Re-emerging after Oleg Cassini’s death two years ago is a line of sunglasses released under his brand name that I absolutely positively can’t get enough of. Whether it’s the squarish oversized pair that Nicole Richie has been sporting, or those timeless classic O shaped beauties that Jackie O made famous. “I’m bewitched bothered and bewildered” by this modern yet vintage line, and it makes sense that it was released under the name of the official wardrobe designer for Jacqueline Kennedy. I adore them yes, but the thing that’s bothering me is I can’t seem to find them online, the Oleg Cassini website was no help and neither is google, so I ask again, this time in English "Where are you? Oleg Cassini". I own the two pairs mentioned above, but my habit of breaking my sunglasses has me nervous that if I ever break them I’ll never get them back. If you want them, drop me a line and I’ll whisper where I found them, they won’t be there for long so hurry up!