Oktoberfest!

For years now I’ve been trying to round-up the troops to enjoy Oktoberfest in the K-Dub (Kitchener, Waterloo) – the 2nd largest Oktoberfest celebration next to Munich, Germany!  Sadly, I’ve failed every year. 😦

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This year however, a few fun friends and I were determined to dig out our lederhosen and dirndls for Toronto’s 3rd annual authentic Oktoberfest party  – at Ontario Place!  Inspired by traditions started in Munich, Germany over 200 years ago, Toronto Oktoberfest brings a taste of Munich to the City as it captures the essence of authentic food, drink and merriment.

Naturally – we HAD to dress the part!

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A few of my table mates have been painstakingly sewing themselves authentic-looking dirndls to wear to this event.   I had my heart set on  wearing an old Halloween costume I had in my closet of a German Beer Maid.  Figured if this outfit won me 1st prize at my Office’s costume party – it was deserving enough to make a reappearance for this event. (woot! woot!)

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Last year’s winning Office Costume Party outfit (the blonde braided wig was on loan) 😉

Buuuuut then as Toronto Oktoberfest continued updating their FB page as the big weekend arrived …. it seems that their waitress staff were all going to be wearing my EXACT outfit!!!  Le sigh… 😦
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Needless to say, I was heartbroken.  We bought our tickets back in July specifically for the dirndl wearing.  Sooooooo I was DETERMINED to wear this get-up no matter what!

I figured my fancy buttons and a floral crown (Claire’s Accessories)  would do the trick 😉

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A few added button accessories … to look different from the waitstaff 😛
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Floral crown from Claire’s Accessories (oh-so difficult to find in Fall)

There where fabulous hair inspiration in this article —- but y’all know how much I hate brushing my hair, let alone doing it.  In the end, I went for a simple double ponytail look.  Nailed it! 😛

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German Beer Girl costume from Candy Apple Costume (online)

I was told that there was great importance and rules placed on how a dame ties the bow of her apron:

Rightside = married/taken.  Back = virgin.  Leftside = single n’ ready to mingle. As you can see, mine was tied accordingly 😉

Click here for deets on that.

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Me with Liz of The Vintage Inn and Jacquie of TVS

I’m not typically a beer drinking kinda gal …. but this festival allowed you to taste a bunch of different ones, so I did.  You can almost pinpoint the exact moment when the beers started to kick in by the excessive laughing and blurry-ness of each snap….:)

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As per usual, the Toronto Vintage Society ladies brought their A-game, all decked out … in proper German dirndl attire!              ps: I am NOT double-fisting my drinks.  I’m a lady!  I was kindly holding a pint for the photographer taking this pic …geez! 🙂
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And then …there was DANCING!!!
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And other beer-induced shenanigans
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Me and my empty Beer Stein with the WINNER OF BEST DRESSED, Joy!!! She sewed this entire outfit herself, including the adorable hat!!! Mad skillz…with a ‘z’!
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Before vs. After ….. an evening of Oktoberfest!

Turns out we closed down the tent!!!  And stumbled our way out of the Ontario Place parking lot around 1am …. we were halfway to Brampton on foot (or so it felt like we were) before a kind cabbie picked us up and dropped us home safely.  ***Hiccup***IMG_4925

Overall, a fantastic time!  Can’t wait for next year’s Oktoberfest!

Would you be up to going if PPMeow! organized a table-o-fun?  Let me know in the comment section and let’s start planning some beer + costume + blog-reader fun!!!

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Playful Plaid

IMG_5071Last month I ran a special 7-day long Fall Double Feature collaboration series with Style Cassentials, where we explored and put our own twists on upcoming trends for Fall.

One of the big trends this season is being Mad for Plaid!  Today I’m taking a more playful approach to plaid 🙂

Proofs-05There has been a sudden spike in Toronto temperatures lately,  which means getting into full on Fall garb on 20+ degree days, just doesn’t make sense.  So for today’s outfit of the day I decided to wear a sheer plaid shirt, with leggings for an easy, casual look.

Proofs-06Typically early mornings and evenings tend to be cooler – quick.  So in an effort to combat the sudden dips in temps … this light jean jacket and wooly wonderful-ness of this infinity scarf are perfect solutions! 🙂

Proofs-09How I Got The Look:

Jean jacket from Old Navy; Thick wool infinity scarf from Aldo Accessories; Black n’ white sheer plaid shirt from Reitmans; Leather calf leggings from Forever21+; Large cream Coach bag; Beige + sea foam toed heels from The Hudson Bay Co.; jewelled studded flats from Payless; extra thick infinity scarf from Aldo; and vintage bracelets from Spring’s Toronto Vintage Clothing Show

 

Proofs-08What do you think of this look? How would you  incorporate plaid into your Fall looks?  Use the Comments section and tell me your thoughts!

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Photo credit: Lawrence Kerr of LawrenceKerrPhotography.com

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Lindyworks 2014!

Lindyworks is  Toronto Lindy Hop’s annual weekend of workshop wonderfulness! It’s all about Lindy Hop and Vernacular Jazz dancing.  Having only begun my own Swing Dancing love affair (began this past spring, click here for that)…. this was my first workshop ever!  I was uber nervous about being surrounded by actual dancers for an entire weekend (three days) of solid dance instruction to challenge and inspire dancers during the day and to practice your newly acquired skills at evening parties that feature the best LIVE swing bands.

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Here’s the only snap I took during the entire 3-day workshop.  Clearly, I was too busy dancing my feet off… 🙂

THE WORKSHOPS:

 Photo credit: KHPhotography
The organizers of Lindyworks 2014, along with our fantastic guest instructors:  Evita Arce & Michael Jagger AND Sylwia Bielec & Alain Fragman  Photo credit: KHPhotography
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From NYC, Evita Arce & Michael Jagger
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Evita Arce & Michael Jagger
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From Montreal, Sylwia Bielec & Alain Fragman

Moi… in sweaty-workshop-mode … learning new moves and improving on technique

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Photo credit: KHPhotography

Not quite sure what I’m doing looking at the ceiling … perhaps that’s my own ‘personal styling’ of a dance move…

Photo credit: KHPhotography
“Please, Lindy gods, make this room a little cooler…” 😉 Photo credit: KHPhotography
Photo credit: KHPhotography
Photo credit: KHPhotography

Love this one…. “I saw you…with her… Wag our finger in unison”...  STOMP OFF! 🙂

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Photo credit: KHPhotography

Thank goodness for KHPhotograpy for capturing these moments – all I had to show at the end of workshop day 1, was the following Facebook post:

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Sweaty Workshop Selfie vs. Douvercout House Ready Selfie
Lucky for me and for PPMeow! readers that Kahlil Heslop (of KHPhotography), friend and fellow Lindy Hopper, captured the evening and events perfectly!!!
Here are a few perfect snaps that just make my heart oh-so happy with memories of a fantastic 3-days of Workshops, Competitions, Performances and Social Dancing.
THE COMPETITIONS:
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Photo credit: KHPhotography
Check out my gf Erin and her partner Luis (our instructor at Lindy Hop Revolution).  She began in Beginner Lessons with me…and now here she is competing in her FIRST competition!!!  I’m soooo proud of her!!
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Photo credit: KHPhotography
They TIED for 3rd place I’m told!  Woot! Woot!  I may have been an extremely vocal cheering section – She is my hero! 🙂
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Check out the hip action on my instructor Luis…He’s Spanish – his hips don’t lie 😉  Photo credit: KHPhotography

ROUND #1

ROUND #2

PERFORMANCES BY ALAIN & SYLWIA: 
Photo credit: KHPhotography
Photo credit: KHPhotography
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Photo credit: KHPhotography

 FOLLOWED BY PERFORMANCES BY MICHAEL & EVITA:

Photo credit: KHPhotography
Photo credit: KHPhotography
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Photo credit: KHPhotography

I just love the look on everyones faces!  Still can’t believe I got to social dance with Michael (Mic) Jagger – ha!  He’s oh-so-very-fantastically!  **swoon**

Lindy Hop – the most fun you can have with your clothes on.   😉

For Kahlil’s full photo album of Lindyworks 2014 shots click here.

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Click here for JT Photography’s photo album for Toronto Lindy Hop

Now that you’ve seen “What I Did”….let’s talk about “What I Wore” to the Saturday Night Lindyworks Dance at The Douvercourt House – hosted by Toronto Lindy Hop.

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This lovely dress was on sale at the time I was looking for my the perfect dress for Tiki Lani Lanai with TVS.

Profs II-21If you look really closely at the pattern of this dress, you’ll notice they are little chat bubbles/text bubbles.  Profs II-24

Plus giant buttons and a lil’ collar…..Too cute, right? Profs II-23

 How I Got The Look: Dress from Cherry Velvet Plus; Belt & Shoes from Winners -these were not wore whilst dancing 😉 – and the 50s vintage sweater was thrifted from Goodwill.

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Outfit photo credit: Lawrence Kerr of LawrenceKerrPhotography.com

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