Breaking with Tradition

I usually strive to wear as much vintage head to toe as I can on my birthday.

I had another vintage dress all picked out to wear to dinner yesterday, but once I repaired it (the fabric was shredding at the shoulder seams from being hung improperly) I decided it wasn't what I wanted to wear.

Deep down I knew I wanted to wear my new Jenny skirt in Burlesque print from Pinup Girl Clothing. So I broke with tradition and wore it.

Matching Vintage Pink Rhinestone Earrings and Necklace: Were my Grandma Nelsons

Beaded Black Bustier: Forever 21

Pink Flower Brooch (worn at waist): Smart Set

Jenny skirt in Burlesque Print: Pinup Girl Clothing

(unseen) Black Vintage Crinoline: gift from Krista

Black Peep Toe Pumps: thrifted, Value Village

Vintage Pink Shoe Clips: Ragpickers

(hard to see, but it's there) 30's/40's Black Cord Purse: thrifted, Value Village

We had dinner at Cibo Waterfront Cafe. The interior design and location on the Red River was beautiful. Our food was delicious, but we were a bit disappointed with the service - it wasn't terrible, but we expected more for the menu price point. We had fun regardless. 

My girls: Jenny on the left, Leyan on the right.

After dinner we went to a Winnipeg landmark: Nucci's Gelati.

I had an amazing day! I have the best friends - they are the ones that make it special. :)


Lisa.xo

Outfits: Reality

The Boy and I went out for an impromptu drink on Sunday night - he was having a rough day and needed to get out of the house. I was happy to oblige.

I'm trying to get real with myself about Outfit posts these days. I usually only want to take outfit photos of dresses or really cute/special outfits. As if you guys wouldn't be interested in the way I wear my clothes every day. The fact of the matter is that I really like to wear pants and right now my style is really about the mix: girly and edgy, vintage and modern with a touch of pin-up/rockabilly.
So in an effort to get past my own head games I'm going to start taking more outfit photos.

Here's what I wore out on Sunday night.

50's Cat Eye Glasses: were Grandma Cotton's

Black Bauble Necklace: Le Chateau

Black and White Striped Tee: Joe Fresh

Hot Pink Cardigan: Smart Set

Green Suede Belt: thrifted

Grey Skinny Jeans: Forever 21

Green Spectator Pumps: Forever 21

Lisa.xo

Outfits: Finally Fur

I always get excited for fall dressing. Cozy, warm layers and especially fur. I'm not picky either, I'll take faux or the real deal.

This cardigan happens to be of the faux fur variety. It is an oldie, but a goodie. I bought it new from Ricki's when I was in university and even though it's fallen out of rotation from time to time I've never ever been able to give it away. It's a great example of high street fashion mimicking great vintage style.

It's starting to get noticeably dark here much earlier and I'm so glad I opted to paint my dressing room white. It's making taking outfit photos indoors much easier at night.  

50's Cat Eye Glasses: were Grandma Cotton's 

Faux Fur Collar Pink Cardigan: Ricki's

Rhinestone Key Brooch: Rhymes with Orange

Black Jersey Dress: Buffalo

Black Plaid Tights: Ricki's 

40's Black Suede Peep Toe Slingbacks: Vintage Glory

Best Purse in the Entire World (goes with freakin' everything!): thrifted, Value Village

Need more daily outfit inspiration from Butterflies and Daisys? Follow me on Instagram! I post there almost daily!

Lisa.xo

Outfits: More Pink

I go through phases...last year I couldn't stop wearing blue (I do own a multitude of blue dresses...in my defence..). Pink seems to be this summer's colour of choice. Maybe it's my new hot pink clutch...

I donned this favourite on Monday to run some errands. I really love this dress. I bought it at Vintage Glory with a number of other dresses that belonged to a woman whose husband was a tailor. The fabric on this dress is pretty much the coolest thing ever...no really. I am in love with the endless swirl pattern - which is a bit raised - over the faint pink and turquoise stripes. And the pockets...can we all just stop and admire the adorable pockets on this dress for a moment please?

I can't believe that this dress hasn't been on the blog more than once seeing as though it has heavy rotation in my wardrobe. I even wear it in the winter with tights and a sweater.

I'm afraid our yard needs a little a lot of TLC. We've lived in our house for 4 years and barely touched the backyard. We knew it needed a major overhaul so we've left in alone until we were ready to dig in. 

And this summer is the one! We're cutting down the many overgrown and partially dead trees and bushes in our back and front yard, grading up the ground around the house, building flower beds in front of the house, replacing the front sidewalk, demoing our old, broken deck and building a temporary patio (major deck building to come in a few years!) and building a fence!! Phew! That's about enough for this summer, but will only be a start on all the work this neglected (by the previous owners and us now. lol!) yard. 

Black Plastic Rose Earrings: Claire's

Fabric Rose Brooch: Smart Set

Vintage Day Dress: Vintage Glory

Elastic Belt: Le Chateau

Black Peep Toe Canvas Flats: George (Walmart)

Hot Pink Clutch: Thrifted

Lisa.xo

Outfits: Pretty in Pink

No such thing as too much of a good thing right? Yesterday, pink was good and I dressed in it from head to toe.

I also ventured away from my house for the first time in BDV history to take outfit photos. Thankfully working in theatre has got me used to people staring at me. I've heard other bloggers say how uncomfortable they are taking photos out in public...now where I took mine was a pretty quiet place, but there were still stares from the vehicles driving by. I decided not to care and actually had fun having my little photoshoot.

My 31st birthday is tomorrow and I've got some low key plans with a few other couples - mainly dinner out and some drinks. I'm sure The Boy and I will head out to do something in the afternoon as well.

Other than that I'm gearing up to paint my dressing room and keep cleaning our basement (it currently looks like it belongs on an episode of Hoarders...yikes!) and generally enjoying not working for the summer. Life is good. :)

50's Cat Eye Glasses: Were Grandma Cotton's (new lenses from Osborne Spectacle) 

50's Pink & White Striped Dress: Ragpickers

60's Pink Enamel Floral Brooch: Rhymes with Orange

White Plastic Bangle: Thrifted

80's Hot Pink Clutch: Thrifted

Sandals: Zigisoho, Winners

Lisa.xo

Outfits: A Mix of Eras

I really adore this dress. I rescued it from the scrap pile about 10 years ago when I worked at Ragpickers. It was in such terrible shape. The fabric was stained, the hem had fallen, it only had two of its buttons left on it and several seams were split. Despite all of these flaws I was uncontrollably attracted to this dress. There was something about the soft pink colour, the cute novelty print and the softness of the fabric that I couldn't resist. 

I brought it home and it hung in my closet for years. I carefully spot removed all of the staining and fixed the split seams. A couple years after that I pressed and pinned up the hem, but never sewed it. Eventually I found enough matching vintage buttons in the right size to replace the lost ones and finally sewed them in place and tacked up the hem. Better late than never right?! 

And the result is this beautiful summer dress! It's early 40's by my reckoning - the novelty print and colour says 30's, but the simple sleeves and lack of embellishments says 40's to me. Either way, no part of me regrets saving this dress and restoring it. 

I rarely wear this dress any other way. I just love the brown accessories with the cotton candy pink. The hat is 60's, the dress is 40's, the hot pink clutch is 80's and the enamel brooches are 50's or 60's. Mixing eras is my favourite way to wear vintage. I am rarely interested in dressing period specific from head to toe. 

Here's the print close up. I wish I could show you how soft this fabric is! It's heavenly!

60's Brown and Cream Hat: Thrifted, Goodwill

Vintage Slip: Thrifted

40's Novelty Print Day Dress: Ragpickers

Bow Belt: Forever 21

Vintage Porcelain Flower Brooches: Thrifted

Brown Leather Peep Toe Pumps: Kensie

80's Hot Pink Clutch: Thrifted

Lisa.xo

Outfits: Shirtwaist Dress

I wore this out for iced coffee and window shopping in Osborne Village with my friend Jenny today.

The weather has cooled down significantly (and by that I mean it's still 26 degrees Celsius instead of 38 degrees, so it's still freakin' hot out!) and I've been dying to wear some of my shirtwaist dresses, so I did. I love this dress. I've had for a while, but never worn it on the blog before for some reason. The Boy's brother calls this my diner dress.

I bought it at Ruby Slipper for a song (I think it was on the sale rack for about $12).

It's handmade with lots of sweet details like decorative buttons on the collar, beautiful rolled cuffs and a yoked back with gathering underneath.

I imagine this was someone's housedress for cleaning. It is super comfortable cotton with lots of flexibility due to all of the clever construction like these underarm gussets!

Imagine someone making this beautiful little dress to clean the house in? I can, but you won't catch me cleaning in it! lol!

50's Pink Shirtwaist Dress: Ruby Slipper

Vintage Millinery Flowers worn as a brooch: Ruby Slipper

Vintage White Skinny Belt: Ragpickers

Yellow Wedges: Thrifted

Vintage Straw Purse: Thrifted

Lisa.xo

Outfits: Rain, Rain, Go Away

Look! I'm wearing pants! It was raining cats and dogs on Saturday and the temperature was cool.

We spent most of the day lounging around watching the Olympics. We were stoked that Canada won it's first gold metal!

Here's a typical "Lisa Casual" outfit: a tee, pants and a cardigan (I may or may not have put on lipstick and pearls for the blog...but don't get me wrong, had I left the house I would have totally put them on).

I'm enjoying Sir Paul McCartney singing "All You Need is Love" with the crowd after Mo Farah won Gold for Great Britain in the Men's 10,000 metres final. It was awesome! 

Faux Pink Pearls: Thrifted

Lipstick Print Cardigan: Forever 21

White Bow Tee: Joe Fresh

Vitnage Black Grosgrain Skinny Belt: Aunt Mary

Black and White Flats: Joe Fresh

My Favourite Purse: Thrifted

Are you enjoy the Olympics too? What's been your favourite moment so far?

Lisa.xo