Truly The Best Gift

An evening spent with two friends.
Both of whom respect me, accept me, and love me.
With dancing. And Wine.
Truly that is the best thing I could ask for...

True

True, the weather's getting colder.
True, the sun is setting sooner.
There is less daylight. And it feels like we're lacking.
And yes, it'll be hard the next few months without the heat on my skin.
With all the layers I'll be forced to wear instead of feeling the unfettered freedom of wind rustling through summer fabrics.

Star Wars, Mini skirts, and Toques.

Perhaps not the most logical of things to put together. But despite my love of all things Vulcan *yes, I did reference Star Trek in a Star Wars post, the two can get along, let's move on* logic does not always motivate my actions. Often it's whim, gut, and in the case of fashion, pure whimsy.

Sometimes....a Friend

Sometimes all you need is to throw on a dress,
grab a tea,
and go for a walk with a friend.

Don't Text, Call.

 I used to hate the phone.  I hated it because you couldn't see the person when you talked to them.
I love those moments when you sit - coffee shop, park, whatever - and a silence falls.

Coalesced Thoughts

My brain is swirling with thoughts.  Only a few have coalesced:

Good Fear

We all feel it. We all react to it. It's fight or flight, right? We either run towards, or away from it. Fear, in some way or another, motivates us. I don't think it's all bad either. It's just a part of our being. An emotion, both good and bad. It can hold us back, but it can also motivate us forward.

A Millions Things....

...go wrong. Everyday. You wake up with a certain expectation of the day, at least I do, and everyday it turns out different.  Sometimes better, sometimes worse, and sometimes just different.

The Dress I Wore

On pins and needles, I know. You've been eagerly awaiting the follow up post to this one. Well, here's the dress I did actually wear.  This one didn't move anywhere on it's own, it only moved with me.

That's one of my requirements for a good dancing dress: that it doesn't move of it's own accord, so that I don't have to spend the evening yanking and adjusting.

My other requirements:

1. Comfort. Stretchy or loose it has to be comfortable.
2. Breathable. Too much material and you heat up pretty fast. Then you're a sweaty mess, and not in the good way.
3. Not too intricate.  To many holes, loops, or architectural details, and someone at some point in the even is going to get caught in it, and something's going to tear.

And my last requirement: that it makes me smile.  That I look at it and something about it makes me energized and happy.  'Cause a sad dancing dress?  That would be baaaad.

Dress - Zara  //  Boots - I forget *old*  //  Purse - ThreadSence  //  Flash tattoos - eBay

Here's To Our Friendship Flaws

I have very imperfect friends. Some overshare, some drink too much sometimes, some say stupid things at the most inopportune moments, some can be harsh ...basically they make mistakes and have flaws, and are human.

All of them are well meaning, and caring, and accepting, and honest.

I can tolerate a lot as long those things are present. Tolerate isn't the right word. A lot of things don't bother me because of the presence of the others - that's a better way to put it. In fact, I count on my friends being imperfect, because that means that they'll hopefully be forgiving of my own imperfections. Of which I have many, and I try to surround myself with people who will forgive me when I say/do something stupid at the most inopportune of moments knowing that I probably don't mean it, because I'd like to think I'm well meaning, caring, accepting, and honest.

Tee - Thrifted  //  Kimono - Arnhem  //  Shorts - Spell  //  Boots - Aldo  //  Bag - Target  //  Sunnies - I forget

Cheeky

Who doesn't love being a little cheeky?  A little coy and innocent on the outside but a tempest of wit and salaciousness inside?
Enter the French brand, Lochers.  Because who else does the cheeky innocent better than the French.

Top - Lochers // Skirt - One Rad Girl  //  Shoes - Aldo  //  Sunnies - F21  //  Bracelet & Earrings - Ruche

Destination Wedding Photographer Wear

The day of the wedding came and I got dressed and ready to rock 'n roll in a simple white tee, and loose Arnhem pants.  I thought this would be the perfect outfit for a twelve hour day of shooting.  Two braids keep the hair out of my way, the hat keeps the sun off my head, and the white tee and loose pants are respectable yet light.

Little did I know how humid it would be!  We all pretty much sweat through our clothes.  And after my pants got wet from the ocean, I decided to suddenly bend down. Now since they were wet, they didn't move with me and split right down the seam!

Thank goodness the lovely Bride, whose hotel room was right next to us, lent me a pair of shorts to rock the rest of the shoot in.  That's all I care about - the shots.  And boy did we get some stellar ones.  I'll be sure to post a link and let you know once they're done and up on my site.

'Cause this couple + this location = photo gold!

Pants - Arnhem  //  Shirt - SheInside  //  Fedora - I forget *old*

Price of Admission to Jamaica

First real day in Jamaica.  It was an exciting one let me tell you.  First I discovered that my external hard drive had been stolen from my checked suitcase, then I fell and broke the glass top of a table in my room, paid for it, and decided to head to the beach where nothing could happen to me.

Until I got in the water and got stung by a jellyfish in the first three minutes.

Seriously right?! Honestly, I just had to laugh, because to have all this happen in a span of hours was a little ridiculous. Hilarious and ridiculous. I breathed, had a little moment, then moved on. Things happen and there's nothing you can do about it.

After treating the sting, I went back to swim for an hour, and decided to just focus on my beautiful surroundings. Just chalked it all up to the price of being in stunning Jamaica.

Plus, how can anything be wrong when you're surrounded by pink buildings!

Jumpsuit - Arnhem // Sandals - I forget  //  Necklace - F21  //  Sunnies - Lace Affair

Fashion Week and the Persistence of Black Clothing Everywhere: A Call To Arms

Kimono - Arnhem  //  Top - UO  //  Jeans - Dittos via UO  //  Boots - Locale  //  Necklace - bought in Spain  //  Rings - F21 & misc

This week has been  all about Toronto Fashion week - or World Mastercard Fashion Week.  What I've found most interesting in attending the shows is that while the clothing on the runway is fascinating and creative, this isn't the case in the fashion industry attendees. *before anyone gets up in arms, I'm not talking about every single person - I'm talking about numbers here. The vast majority* 

The shows are vibrant and unique, and though they aren't all things I personally would wear or I personally love, they are all interesting to look at.  I'm sorry to criticize or rub people the wrong way, but the persistence of a sea of black at fashion week is to me unacceptable.  I'm not saying that wearing black is uninspired.  It's that the black outfit is interesting if it's the only one.  But when the same outfit - you know, the black tight pants, black heels and a variety of 'urban chic' blazer/top - is multiplied by five hundred it becomes banal.

The attendees of fashion week are those in the industry. The leaders, the representatives, the lovers. This is where we should all be showing our own personal style.  Where colors, textures and patterns should come alive.

I'm not talking about peacocking *that fad of wearing ridiculous clothes to be photographed by the press at these events*  I'm talking about every attendee celebrating the freedom of expression and joy of design that I feel fashion affords.  But no,  I walk in and see twenty black pleather leggings, ten thousand black pumps, and a vast ocean of black with a very occasional dot of color.

Is it wrong for me to make a call to arms for us, the industry representatives, to celebrate what's beautiful about fashion - self expression and personal style?  If so I don't want to be right.

I'll be that non pleather-legging-flat-booted-bright-colored-messy-haired pariah, and it's okay that I stand alone.  I'm an introvert anyway.

Miami Outfit: South Beach

Tank - Love Nail Tree  //  Skirt - Arnhem  //  Necklace & Hat - F21  // Sunnies - Lace Affair  //  Sandals - FreePeople

Walking around Espanola Way and the rest of South Beach in my graphic tank from Love Nail Tree was somewhat satisfying to me.  This particular one is about the perversion, and decline, of the Amderican Dream; so, I found it humorous to be a Canadian walking around with this on.

But of course, no one noticed, they were too bust looking at the fabulous skirt from Arnhem.  Loved thie fabulous way it just swished with me.

*linking up with Fab Favs*

Winter Unicorn

Sweater - ThreadSence - huge sale now!  //  Dress - Ruche - huge sale now!  //  Thigh High Leg Warmers - Free People  //  Boots - Aldo  //  Necklace - TopShop

Here's a quick outfit from a couple of days ago, you know before it got too cold to breathe.  It was a unicorn of a Winter day: I could wear bare legs.  Crazy I know!

The day also made me realize that I miss wearing dresses.  But frankly my dear, it's too cold.  Right now, I'm into the double pants, or thermal long underwear scene.

Or just bundling up in front of the space heater and never leaving the house.