MERRY CHRISTMAS 2014!

source

Merry Christmas!

I hope you have a wonderful day filled with laughter, family and good food. 

Lisa.xo

Outfits: New Old Dress. Had to Have It (as usual...)

Does anyone else find Christmas shopping difficult? I mean, of course it is. But I mean specifically fighting the urge to buy yourself presents? Especially the kind that no one else will buy you. 

Like this dress. 

I was in the Exchange doing some Christmas shopping with Daphne from Vixage. We stopped at the Exchange Uporium. Patti Henderson - curator and owner of WildWoodRose Vintage - has her stuff there. Deadly. 

So I'm perusing her racks and I see this dress. I knew immediately without trying it on that I had to have it.   ...I'm so weak...

Decision made when I put it on and it fit like it was made for me. damn. 

I also bought a gift for a gift exchange while there, so at least there's that lol!

Black is hard to photograph with my point and shoot camera, but I'm hoping you can see the asymmetrical peplum/draped panel on the back. Also has three covered buttons at the nape of the neck. 

After I took the last bunch of photos I decided I needed more accessories, so I grabbed this hat and clutch. I'm in love. 

Please tell me I'm not the only one who buys themselves things while Christmas shopping. I've got four more gifts to buy and then I can stay away from the stores. Now I just need to find somewhere to wear this dress. 

Vintage Black Straw Tilt Hat: thrifted, Value Village

40's Black Crepe Dress: WildWoodRose Vintage via The Exchange Uporium

Vintage Rhinestone Bracelet: thrifted, Value Village

Vintage Celluloid and Rhinestone Bracelet: Ruby Slipper

Vintage Embroidered Rose Clutch: thrifted, Salvation Army

Black Mary Janes: Forever 21

Lisa.xo

Outfits: Looking a Little Christmas-y

I had a meeting with some fellow Shakespeare in the Ruins ensemble members (after 3 years of stage managing for them they asked me to be a member this summer!).  I've been dressing so casually lately I felt really dressed up in this outfit. 

Once I was out I realized how Christmas-y this outfit is with the green and the rhinestones on the sweater. I'm ok with it though. It's subtle. 

 

I love this sweater. I bought it for $5 at Value Village. I nearly fell over when I plucked it off the rack. It's a combination of my favourite things: black and sparkly. And can we talk about my slip for a moment? I know it might be a bit hard to see in that last photo, but the green polka dots on it are an exact match to my skirt. Match made in vintage heaven. 

Black 50's Rhinestone Studded Sweater: Value Village

Vintage Rhinestone Brooch: Vintage Glory

Black Patent Belt: Le Chateau (came with a top)

Green Vintage Skirt: Ragpickers

Vintage Green Polka Dotted Slip: Vintage Glory

Black Tights: Ricki's

Black Ankle Boots: George

Best Vintage Purse Ever: Value Village

Lisa.xo

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2013

unsourced via Pintrest

I hope you were all nice this year and got what you wanted from Santa! I was naughty, as usual, so I'm hoping for the best! haha!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Lisa.xo

Outfits: Vintage Hudson Bay Point Blanket Coat

In what seems like a million years ago - the internet has a funny way of stretching out, or conversely, compacting time doesn't it? - I posted a Wishlist post about wanting a Hudson's Bay Point Blanket Coat. I wrote that post 2 years ago now, but I'd been on the hunt for one of these coats for much longer.
Sometimes I would actively search and other times I would forget and it would fall off my radar. Either way, I've been on the hunt for about 5 years total.

By no means are these coats rare, but it seems that most of the coats I've found for sale are mens, or I find a ladies coat and it's miles too big on me, or moth eaten. Or, it's just too damn much money and I can't afford it. All of these factors have kept me from buying one over the years.

Well two short weeks ago I finally found my coat! Strangely enough a friend of mine had it. He randomly texted me and asked me how much they sell for and I was dumbstruck!! We texted back and forth for a bit, he sent me some pictures and I made him a very reasonable offer. We met, I tried on the coat and it fit!! We made the exchange and I've been in coat loving heaven ever since!! (Is that enough exclamation points for you?!! Can you tell how stoked I am to have this coat?!?!)
I won't tell you this coat was a bargain, but he got a good deal and I paid less than internet retail. Win, win.

There is just something purely Canadian about a Hudson's Bay Point Blanket Coat. It's iconic, instantly recognizable. They are true collectors items, which are deeply tied to the fur trade in Canada's history. Coats made from Hudson's Bay Point Blankets have been handmade or manufactured since the 1800's. Hudson's Bay doesn't even sell these coats in the classic style with any regularity anymore. There have been a few special production runs, collaborations with designers and revamped coats with new looks, but the classic coat with that true heavy blanket wool has not been sold by the company since 2000.

Mine is from the 60's. I had originally been looking for a peacoat, but I love the hood and belt detail on this coat. It's much more feminine.

The coat is a perfect fit. And I just can't get enough of wearing it with my vintage racoon fur hat. I feel like a fur trader in it. And that's really what I love about fashion: that clothes have the power to transform us, let us assume different identities.

Vintage Raccoon Fur Hat: Gift Shop at The Canadian Costume Museum

White Knit Scarf: Ricki's

60's Hudson Bay Point Blanket Coat: bought from a friend

Black Leather Mittens: Danier Leather

Black Skinny Jean: Forever 21

Black Leather Riding Boots: thrifted, Salvation Army

Green Purse: Claudia Firenze

Lisa.xo

Colour Need Not Apply

I am practicing what I preach this winter. I keep posting inspiration posts with all black outfits and I have barely worn any colour at all since before the snow melted! I'm hooked!
I've been mixing it up with some white and grey, but colour has definitely taken a backseat in this winters wardrobe.

Here are some of my favourites:

* top - Joe Fresh * belt - thrifted * dress - thrifted, from Buffalo * pumps - vintage *

* sweater - thrifted, Club Monaco * bird brooch - vintage * skinny jeans - Forever 21 * belt - Jacob * riding boots - thrifted *

* cardigan - thrifted, Joe Fresh * tee - thrifted * flower brooch - Ricki's * skirt - Debbie's Vintage * pumps - Forever 21 *

* sweater - thrifted, Issac Mizrahi for Target * necklace - Le Chateau * skinny jeans - Forever 21 * belt - Jacob * boots - Le Chateau * 

Do you snuggle up in dark colours for the winter months? Or do you combat the cold with bright hues?

Lisa.xo

Trim the Tree

Well it officially feels like Christmas in our house. I set up the tree and put up our Christmas decorations today. I even got The Boy (who can be a bit of a Grinch) to play Christmas music this afternoon!

Now I just have to start the dreaded shopping and put some presents under that pretty tree.

Lisa.xo

Outfits: My Dream Coat and a Quick Hello

Hello!! It's been a week or so since I've showed my face 'round these parts. I've been busy with lots of things.

Work has started up again. We open officially in a week. I'm currently working at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre on this show(they have a strict social media policy, so that link is all I'll be posting in regards to this project -it's fantastic though and if you live in Winnipeg I highly recommend it). So, as usual, work is keeping me pretty busy.

This past weekend I was interviewed by Shaw TV Winnipeg as part of a new series featuring Winnipeg bloggers. That was incredibly exciting! We did some thrift shopping and then shot some clips at my house too. I will be sure to let you know when the episode airs and post a vid or a link! Many, many hours were spent scrutinizing my outfit...let me tell you! haha!

Otherwise, it's been business as usual - trying to juggle time with friends and family with my busy work schedule, as well as trying to keep the "blogger guilt" at bay as I found myself too busy to post.

Oh! And the snow has finally settled in to stay here. So I finally got to wear my Vintage Dream Coat. Big smiles over here about that.

click the image for a larger view

Black Wool Beret: thrifted

Vintage Dream Coat: thrifted, Value Village

Best Purse in the Whole Damn World!!: thrifted, Value Village

Black Tights: ?? had them so long I can't remember..

Black Booties: G21 - Walmart

Lisa.xo

Wishing for Snow Seems So Wrong...

But I'm dying to wear my new-to-me vintage winter coat.

I have always wanted a green fur trimmed vintage wool coat, but when I find them they are miles too big for me or are too worn for me to consider buying them.

Until yesterday...I was hunting at Value Village for Halloween costumes (no, not vintage for the hoard collection...actual halloween costumes for The Boy and his brother) and I found this coat. I was afraid to try it on...I really couldn't afford it this week, but it fit like a glove and I couldn't leave it there...it's my vintage dream coat people!!

It was +20 Celsius today...which is unseasonably warm for October in Winnipeg and all I can think about is snow..I just want to wear this coat.

Lisa.xo

Baby, It's Cold Outside...

We're trapped in southwestern Manitoba today. There is a massive snowfall warning - winds gusting up to 50 km/hr and we could receive anywhere from 10 - 20 cm of snow over the next day!

This is one of our vans buried in snow. 

The school we were supposed to perform at this morning was closed (due to weather conditions) and we were unable to drive to our second school (in another town) due to weather and road conditions.

What's a girl to do?
Hunker down in my hotel room and shop for summer dresses on Etsy!

These beauties have hit my "Favourites" list:

buy it here!

but it here!

buy it here!

buy it here!

buy it here!

buy it here!

Stay warm!

Lisa.xo

Louis Riel Day in Dauphin

Monday was a holiday here in Canada. Most of the country calls it Family Day (I believe BC celebrates the holiday next Monday), but here in Manitoba we call it Louis Riel Day.

Louis Riel was a Canadian politician, a founder of the province of Manitoba, and a political and spiritual leader of the Métis people. (Wikipedia) 

Our tour currently has us residing in Dauphin, Manitoba for about a week and Dauphin has a rich Aboriginal and Metis history. Alissa, her boyfriend Christian (who drove up from Winnipeg to visit us!) and I ventured out to Fort Dauphin on Monday to partake in some Louis Riel Festivities!

Warning! This is a picture heavy post!

A couple structures inside the fort.

Here we are helping ourselves to maple syrup on a stick (sometimes called maple taffy)! It's so delicious! Better than a lolipop!

Maple syrup is heated until liquid and then poured in a line on the snow. Then before it hardens on the cold snow you take a wooden stick and roll up the line of syrup until it's a ball on the end.

This is the inside of the Archaeology Laboratory. It's full of fossils and artifacts from the surrounding area.

Inside the museum. I found the Fur Bale intriguing as well as the fur value chart.

More stuff in the museum. These were part of the WWII exhibit. Mostly I liked the sunglasses...

I couldn't resist taking photos of the amazing embroidery and bead work of these items. So beautiful!

The Dauphin Dramatic Society. This photo is so causal and jovial compared to so many turn of the century portraits. I especially like the gentleman holding the violin bow up to the lady's neck on the left side of the picture.

This is the blacksmiths shop.

And the trading post.

I loved this woman's Hudson's Bay coat. She was kind enough to let me photograph her. She told me after that her coat belonged to the museum! And that it was warm!

At the end of the day we went on a horse drawn covered wagon ride! 

And if I may leave you with this puzzling photo. The evolution of the telephone...switchboard to iPhone.

So as you can see we're having lots of fun between work. We get home on Thursday night for a day and a half before we head back out for another week. Couldn't come too soon. I started to feel homesick today for the first time. 

Lisa.xo