Annie Hall, or Menswear

Yes, I love my flowy, boho, ruffles, with crochet, and fringe. We all know that far, far too well.
But sometimes even I am drawn to the clean lines of a great button up, vest, and tie.

A Casual Day...

...calls for casual clothes.  Though, as we all know I'm never all business-y anyway.
But having been blessed with come milder weather, I made sure to take full and complete advantage.

Other Days

Some days I like to chat with people and share, and have boundless laughs and energy.

Is my Polish Showing?

Many of you don't know that I was born and partly raised in Poland. I literally came to Canada on a boat. Yup. That's right.  I learned to speak English and adjusted to life in Canada. It's just me, my Mom, and my sister here.

How Fabulous is Faux Fur?

Faux Fur coat - Zara  //   Plaid Shirt - Guess  //  Grey Tee - SheInside  //  Jeans - Lucky Brand  //  Boots - Aldo  //  Belt - AE  //  Bag - Target  //  Waterfall necklace - c/o Atterley Road  //  SKull necklace - Monserat de Lucca  //  Eagle Ring - Lulus  //  Etched Ring - Body Blue

Personally, I think it's so much fin.  It adds texture and interest to an outfit immediately.  But to me it always has the danger of getting too glam or dressed up, so the fact that this jacket had a hood made it perfect because the hood brings it back down.

There's a great level on contradiction in the playful, laid back hood, and the luxe, glam faux fur.  And contradictions in clothes, and in people, are what adds such kaleidoscopic beauty to life.

Plus, it's fuzzy.

Cowgirl Princess

Lace Dress - c/o  SheInside  //  Plaid Shirt - AE  //  Boots - Feet First  //  Necklace - Ruche  //  Earrings - F21

I've been wanting a tutu style skirt for quite a while.  But when I found this crochet and tutu combo dress on SheInside, my search came to an end.  The little embroidered detailing on the skirt, along with the the shirt and boots make me feel like some kind of cowgirl princess.  Not a combo you think of naturally, but hey if it works it works, am I right?

Now all I need is a hat, horse, and some kick butt pistols....you see I'm not the cowboy-rides-in-on-a-white-horse-to-save-me type...I'll do the saving, thank you.

Freelance Artist Goes Into A Shop

Lace Dress - Ruche  //  Button Up Shirt - Jacob  //  Jacket, Necklace & Sunnies - F21  //  Boots - Aldo //  Thigh High Socks - Free People  //  Bag - UO  

Went into a shop recently.  I got an email notification that the sale items were an extra 50% off that day.  So I walk in and browse the new arrivals, and the lady walks up to me and asks, "Are you looking for something in particular, or are you needing a whole new wardrobe?"

Several things ran through my mind at once.  One, do I look like I need a whole new wardrobe?  Really?  Two, what kind of person goes into a store to buy a whole new wardrobe? That's not me being a smart ass, that's me genuinely curious.  I could never afford to do that.  Three, how nice would it be to just walk into a shop and buy a whole new wardrobe, complete with fully crafted outfits.  And finally, four, bless you for thinking that I can afford to just go in and buy a whole new wardrobe!  Freelance artist here - just point me to that extra 50% off sale section.

I answered, "No.  Just having a look around."  Yeah, for that sale section.

*linking up with WIWW*

Why Ask Why

Shirt & Leather like pants - Zara  //  Boots - Call It Spring  // Black cuff - EBay  //  Grey Metal Bracelet - Threadsence

Remember when I told you we're firmly in that "Why" stage?  Well, it's truly and firmly engraved.  Changing her diaper while she was sleeping, I rolled her over and she ejected a spontaneous "why?!" in her sleep.

I whispered, "Because it stinks."

Pretty sure she didn't hear me though.

Two Hours of My Life

Plaid faux suede shirt - Cotton Candy  //  Tank - H&M  //  Pants - unknown  //  Boots - Aldo  //  Necklace - bought in Europe  //  Bracelets - F21

Two hours.  Two hours that I could've spent running, then having a massage.  Two hours I could've been curled up with my favorite book.   Two hours I could've gone shopping, or had lunch with some girlfirends and laughed.

Nope.  Instead, it was two hours spent trudging through fabric stores.  Two hours spent rubbing fabric after fabric on my cheek to test it's softness and silkiness.  Two hours spent cursing at the weather, and got hungrier in search of the elusive fabric.  Two hours.

Those two hours I could've watched a movie, drank wine, and had my feet rubbed.  No, instead I spent two hours going from store to store to find the perfect fabric to patch up that 23 year old piece of scrap blankie because some short blond girl looked at me with sad, puppy dog eyes and said, "Mommy, oh no!  My blankie has a hole."

What I wouldn't do for her.

Where Are My Effin' Cupcakes, All I Got Is Pee

You'll hear about the joys of Motherhood. The glory, the cupcakes. The effin' cupcakes. You'll imagine yourself as a June Cleaver sort. *Because we're engrained with female stereotypes - but this post isn't about that...this time* Perfectly coiffed and glowing all the time.

It's Official, I Hate Children's Building Blocks

Tribal Cardigan - Fate via Shopsosie  //  Velvet pants & White Shirt - Gap  //  Button Up - Jacob  //  Boots - Call It Spring  //  Necklace - I forget  //  Headscarf - from my Babcia

.  Never mind that I step on them several times a day and either hurt my foot, or trip and hit some other part of my body.  Never mind that they get everywhere and are impossible to all corral into the same box.  No, that's not why I hate them.

I hate them because Baby Girl loves them.  She loves them so much that she wants, "Mommy, you come build with me?"  all day and every day.  I have built something at least twenty times a day for the last two weeks.  And that's about the limit of my sanity.

I hate building blocks.  Hate them!

*pause*

*sigh*

"Yes, I'm coming to build with you honey."

*linking up with Style Sessions and Trend Spin*

Casual At Work Outfit And Toddler's As Evil Masterminds

Love that a selfie in a dirty mirror results in perfect doll-like skin

Plaid Shirt - Guess  //  Thermal Henley - Aritzia  //  Tank & Leggings - H&M  //  Socks - F21  //  Combat Boots - Threadsence  //  Necklace - bought in Spain

At work.  The nice thing about being a photographer and actor is that you can go to work dressed like this.  On a day where I had two shoots, I wanted to be warm and comfy.  This outfit took care of both those requirements.  Yup, definitely a much appreciated perk.

True Story:
We're firmly in the "Why?" toddler stage.  I'm not quite sure if she's actually curious, or if she's just trying to see how many 'Why's we can stand before sighing and saying, "Because."

I highly suspect it's an evil toddler prank that they discuss on internet forums when parents are sleeping.  Maybe we're guinea pigs in some psychological experiment.

Yes, that is where my brain goes.

*linking up with WIWW*

What Rules?!: How To Mix Leopard Print and Plaid

Leopard scarf - SITC  //  Plaid Shirt - Guess  //  Sparkly Dress - Pink Owl  via Shopruche //  Tapestry Shoes - Restricted  //  Tights - HUE  //  Ring - Spotted Moth  //  Earrings - F21

Mixing leopard print and plaid is a rule that should be broken, but wisely.  I think the key is to keep everything else rather neutral and to stay in similar tones.  I mixed this shirt because both the shirt and the scarf share a deep, rich warmth. 

True, I didn't stick to all neutrals in the palette, adding tapestry shoes, and sparkles; so maybe I broke several other rules too?  I still think it works as everything tends to stay in that 'deep warm' category. 

And if not, then the only people who saw this were the construction workers who have become my regular outfit taking audience. 

p.s.  Yes, that is my girl in the background wearing a jacket over her pajamas.  Hey, it was that kind of day.

Next week, since it's the holiday season, we're breaking out the sequins for day by breaking the "Sequins are only for the evening" rule.

How To Style A Party Dress For Day

Dress - c/o eShakti  //  Shirt - Esprit  //  Boots & Silver Bracelet - Threadsence  //  Necklace - F21  //  Cuff Bracelet - Ebay  //  Tights & Socks - HUE 

Choosing this gorgeous dress from eShakti was easy.  It was the one that gripped me in its beauty and didn't let go.   What's lovely is that eShakti allows you to completely customize the sizing on your order, so my frame which has a hard time fitting into women's clothing was completely happy in the perfectly fitting dress that arrived on my doorstep.

But finding places to wear a fancy dress isn't always the easiest task, so I decided not to let this beauty stay hidden in my closet.  By adding a denim shirt and combat boots the whole outfit was instantly drawn down from fancy night to casual day. 

The only thing I regret is not doing something a bit more elaborate with my hair, but alas I am a mama short on time, and the odds were not in my favor this day.  In retrospect I think I would've done a faux hawk like before. 

eShakti is offering two ModaMama readers a $30 gift card to be used towards any purchase that you may desire.  Just enter using the widget below.  a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Boy Who Wouldn't Look At Me

Shirt - Campus Crew //  Jeans - Gap  //  Boots & Necklace - Threadsence  //  Bag - Matt by Matt&Nat  // Ring - Body Blue

Sometimes I'm just not feelin' it.  So I throw on a pair of jeans and a plaid shirt.   And on those days I go back to the 90's and elementary school and that boy in grade eight who was so cool with his careless and artfully tossed on plaid shirt, and I was the seventh grader just wishing for him to look at me.

It's not a painful memory because potential crushes in the innocence of youth have so much hope and optimism in them.  It's actually quite comforting to remember the silly ways I tried to get him to notice me.  And I laugh.

You're Breaking The Law And It's Serious

Dress - Line & Dot via ModCloth  //  Shirt - F21  //  Necklace - I forgot  //  Boots - Call It Spring  //  Tights - HUE

*This post will be aimed at bloggers specifically. Apologies*

Ignorance is not a legal excuse.  The giveaways we blogger run are legally called sweepstakes.  That's the category they fall under, and daily I see tweets from bloggers promoting their giveaways and when I visit their site it's yet another illegal giveaway that could have them facing fines or other legal penalties.  Please I beg you, please become more educated.  If you participate in a group giveaway by donating a prize etc. but didn't organize it, you are still liable.

I'll tell you the dead giveaway *pardon the pun* that it is illegal:  mandatory entries.  Legally a sweepstakes can not have purchase necessary entries, and under the law, the requirement of liking/following/leaving a comment  etc. *basically use of your time* constitutes a 'purchase necessary' or consideration entry, and that places you in the illegal lottery catergory.  Therefore, if you see mandatory entries, chances are other laws are also being broken.

For instance, in Canada in addition to the no mandatory entries law, you must include a skill testing mathematical question as one of the entries.  That's why you'll see on my giveaways the option to enter by answering 5+5=  *or something similar*  It has to be skill testing and it has to be included as part of the no purchase necessary entry options.

Weird, I know, but I'm not here to question the law right now, I'm here to plead with you to please educate yourself because a blog and giveaway is not worth getting fined or facing fraud charges.  Please, please, educate yourself as to the laws and the the risks you face.

It took me a few months of research and education to become confident enough to start offering sweepstakes on my site again.  Being educated makes me know that I'm not going to faces charges because of my blog.

Please read your federal laws. 

*Update:  Upon further investigation, I've learned that anyone who enters these giveaways runs the risk of facing illegal gambling charges!*

Everything Is Malleable

Dress-  Moon Collection via Ruche //  Shirt -  Cotton Candy via Threadsence  //  Boots - Feet First  //  Ring - Spotted moth  //  Bracelet - F21

Nothing is relegated to specific categories in fashion any longer.  Which is why all the 'rules' can be broken.  A bridesmaid dress like this one can be worn when running errands around town.  It suits those needs just as well as it suited my needs when I was maid of honor at my best friend's wedding.  

I think that's part of the reason I'm starting this new link up.  I want us to show each other, to inspire each other, on the magical and fun ways we can break all the fashion rules and look fabulous doing it.  I love seeing what someone else comes up with and having that spark my imagination.   

*First rule we're breaking:  no white after labor day.  So style an outfit, post it anywhere - doesn't have to be a blog - and come back to link up next Thursday! No follows required.*

*linking up with Passion For Fashion, Best of Friday, Favorite Fashion, Casual Friday, Fashion Informant,  Friday's Five,  Trend Spin, and Fab Favorites*