Layers are what makes Fall my most favourite season! But sometimes a girl needs some inspiration to help her shop and repurpose items from her own closet.
That’s when I go to the Fashion Bloggersphere for inspiration. Here is a short Top 5 list of the looks I’m digging this Fall:
#5. Style Cassentials
Pale pink over pumpkin – Cassie of StyleCassentials creating colour combos I never think of ❤ …and those fringed open-toed booties….Gawd!!! Just lovely!
Gawd!! I fell in love with this on the hangers at Tatyana Boutique – before they closed their Toronto location – which means up to 80% discounts on all their gorgeous frocks.
So I picked up this bad boy…and have been patiently waiting for my birthday to wear it. 🙂
Not like I ever need an excuse to treat myself to a new frock …teeheee 😛 ….
But if you’ve got a looming birthday on the horizon – that is an EXCELLENT excuse to treat = a new outfit!
At the time of purchasing this dress, I didn’t really have any plans to celebrate my birthday. All I knew was that this dress needed to be mine.
Click here for more deets of the exact moment this dress stole my heart! ❤ ❤ ❤
Just look at the fun and sassy lace embellishment around the entire neckline ….. ❤
This dress came with a sweet little deep green ribbon belt…. which I chose to wear in my hair instead of around my waist.
Now Toronto’s still pretty lucky with the weather we’ve been getting. So for true birthday purposes wearing this dress solo was perfect!!!
But with Fall officially here now, a girl’s gotta come up with ideas to keep cute + warm.
Here’s my plans for this dress into cooler temperatures….until the snow hits, that is:
This summer I found myself some maxi dresses that I made work for my petite height. Click here and here to see what I mean.
As the weather cools to Fall temperatures … I’m doing my best to avoid jackets, leggings and pantyhose for as long as possible.
Maxi dresses are a perfect solution to doing just that! 😉 I’ve worn this semi-sheer maxi dress many times this summer …. and YUP it can be also be worn as a coverup with your swimsuit!
The 3/4 sleeves with buttoned cuffs are perfect for coverage, without being too heavy and warm for Fall.
I traded the sandals for my zippered black boots to go with the daring vibe of this sheer frock. The boots and fringe purse I paired it with kinda adds some edginess to the allover floral print.
There are a lot of nice little details of this dress:
The entire front is buttoned… I chose to keep it unbuttoned to mid-thigh to allow my shorts to peek out at I move.
The V-neckline highlights the girls … being chesty the buttons tended to gap, so I chose to wear a plunge bra for maximum cleavage and just embraced it! 😉
And the elasticized waist just sinches me in at the right spots, showing off that coveted hourglass figure. ❤ ❤ ❤
Being 5’2 … this dress is hella long without the heels of these boots. But I’ve worn it with flats by tying little knots on the end of each side bottoms and it works beautifully!
I see myself creating new Fall looks as the weather gets colder by wearing this frock with skinny jeans or leggings …hmmm
This dress moves beautifully! Just look at some for these great windy shots taken by Lawerence Kerr Photography. ❤
Live Music! Plays and Performances! Dancing! Sailing! Spas!Shopping!
Outdoor movies! Cultural Festivals! Foods from around the world!
Annnnnnd all of these things are usually FREE and are walking distance from each other! No car required! ❤
Combo Royale performing under the Harbourfront Bandshell
There have been many wonderful fun-filled days this summer – but the most memorable was an unexpected Saturday afternoon that turned into a full day-o-fun!!!
It began with a play – an interactive dark comedy – THE WEDDING – put on by an independant theatre company: The Lighthouse Troupe. As audience members aka the wedding guests, we were encouraged to dress nicely, sign-in at a guest registry, find their table, and interact with the various members of the wedding party, much like a real reception. You know me – any reason to get dressed up is my kind of event! 🙂
After the show… we walked into Harbourfront for their Spicy Food Festival and found a free jazz concert which naturally led to impromptu lindyhopping on grass!
A Large Lady Lindy Hopping – yup! That’s me! 🙂
After that we walked along Queens Quay to Sugar Beach for Sail-in Cinema’s screening of The Princess Bride …
❤ My most favourite movie ❤
Since we arrived kinda late … we found a patch of sand for our blankets way in the back sadly, making the Sail-in screen teeny-tiny.
Plus, it seems we were too late for the courtesy popcorn and back-rests that many around us seemed to have nabbed.
Le sigh…
Our sad seats on the sand, way in the back of Sugar Beach…before the win~INCONCEIVABLE! 😉
THEN….the event announcer asked for a family-of-4 who would/could potentially win a fabulous prize for answering a single movie trivia question.
When they failed…we managed to flag him down and I provided the CORRECT answer… which won us seats on a sail boat to watch the movie!!!
And there were handsome sailors too! #bonus 😛
Knowing useless Princess Bride trivia won us seats on Canada’s Fastest Sail boat! Boom!!!
THIS was our view for the movie … just waiting for the sun to set so that the movie could start!!!
Floating around on Canada’s fastest sail boat, eating popcorn with sailors and watching the greatest movie ever …
A perfect ending to a wonderfully unexpected summer day!
Curious about what I’m wearing?
How I Got The Look:
Dress and crop-top from Forever21+; Shoes from Winners
How would you describe THE Perfect Summer Day? What would it include? What would you do? What would you wear?
Tell me about it in the comments section below. 🙂
Special thanks to Ellie for capturing those dancing pictures! And to Five for the pictures on the boat!
This was our 4th Annual Tiki Party … with surf bands, burlesque performances, rum tastings, limbo and colourful outfits galore … we threw one hell of a party!
Toronto Vintage Society Admin Team
Not quite sure what a Tiki Party is? Click here to find out more Tiki culture.
Click here and here to see what TVS Tiki previous parties were like
A wee glimpse of some of the crowd and performances of the night… Kassandra Love + CoconutThe bigger the hair flower the better 🙂 Moi…before the hair fell flat
What I Bought
There were a number of fabulous vendors on site … which means some shopping had to be done 🙂
This adorable brooch I picked up from Cheap Thrills. I DO Love Lucy! I do! I do!!! Click here to see what I mean.
Then I met Marylou of The Bonnit … and these bad boys followed me home. Perfectly compact rain bonnets with adorable patterns on them!
And they even fit with a giant hair flower affixed to head – bonus!!! 😉
They come 2-per-pack. And soon with colour printed patterns.
Right now she’s offering FREE shipping to all over Canada. Just sayin’ ladies 😉
What I Wore
I picked-up this floral halter-neck dress last year at one of those blowout sales Tatyana Boutique was having.
Kinda loving the lime green centers on blue flowers, all over an all black background. I plan on extending the wear of this dress into the Fall with a black cardi… since it’s been waiting to be worn out for an entire year!
How beautiful is the backdrop of our Photo Booth?
I can’t even imagine how much patience and delicate scissoring it must have taken to get each of these leaves perfect.
Totally worth it tho. Just. Beautiful! ❤
How I Got The Look: Dress and Purse, Tatyana Boutique, Giant hair flower, Fruits of Bali, Jelly shoes from my trip to Malaysia (click here to find out more)
Special Thanks to Joy Tan for snapping these pics of my outfit for me!
Did YOU make it out to our Tiki Party? What did you think of my outfit and this event recap post?
Tell me your thoughts in the comment section below.
Canadians know how to make sure they squeeze out as much summer as they possibly can – cuz Winter is Coming and will last 8+ months of the year! 😦
That’s why we gotta make the most of the August Long Weekend!!!!
This was the first time I stayed in town. The streets of Toronto are filled with loads of party people and tons of Americans who come up for Caraibanna ! The weekend is dedicated to TONS of parties happening everywhere and the weather is usually picture perfect!
I was lucky enough to have some RMT benefit dollars to burn – so I grabbed a gf and we drove to Caldeon, ON to spend the day luxuriating at a day spa!
The Millcroft Inn & Spa had an outdoor terrace, indoor and outdoor pools, an indoor whirlpool, an Infrared Sauna, private men’s and women’s locker facilities with herbal steams rooms and showers.
It was the greatest!!!
Plus, they’ve got an award winning resturant – where we had lunch overlooking this gorgeous pond + waterfall. ❤
This was the 2nd summer in my life where I have come to peace with my body insecurities and donned a bikini (aka fatkini)! 🙂
Summer weather is here, which means I’m looking for easy, comfortable, yet fashionable outfits to take me out-and-about to enjoy all the summer fun this city has to offer!
Being petite – short – wearing maxi dresses isn’t an easy task. This is the main reason I don’t own too many of them. When I *do* find one that I like, there’s usually an additional cost to whatever the tags …hello: shortening alterations. 😦 ANOTHER factor to me NOT wanting to buy them.
Lucky for me Forever21+ had this one is a gorgeous summer orange that really looked amazing against my skin tone.
And the price was right at $22! BIG WIN!
This maxi dress is made from a stretch knit, light fabric. With adjustable cami straps making it perfect for ladies who are short-waisted like me.
There’s an elasticized waist, which I covered up with an old belt to add some more interest to this simple frock.
And a ruffled flounce bodice adds to the neckline showcasing the girls nicely, without being too titty-citty-in-your-face about it 🙂
Now, it’s still hella long for me… but I managed to make it work for my petite height by simply knotting the frock off to the side.
Which gave the entire outfit a summer-goddess-drappy look. Making this maxi work for minis … like me!!! 🙂
Do you like it? Tell me what you think of the way I styled and made this maxi work in the comment section below.
Since shopping in Boston was a total bust (click here Boston trip summary) … I was dying for some much-needed retail therapy!
Lucky for me that I happened to stumble upon some crazy sales over the last few weeks here in The6ix.
Here’s my recap from those Shopping Hauls:
TATYANA BOUTIQUE
Just look at my receipt below from an unexpected shopping trip I made last week – when I got an email from Tatyana Boutique saying that it was THE LAST day to get 50% off everything in store INCLUDING already reduced items!!
What did I buy you’re wondering…?
Here’s a quick snapshot of the frocks that followed me home ….
A total of 3 Tatyana Dresses came home with me: Floral & Lace (left) $60 and the Golden Tassel (right) $17!!!!!
That gold dress doesn’t look like much on the hanger. But it’s vintage reproduction at its very best – hugging curves just right and landing at the perfect height without any alterations.
I’ve already worn it to work!
It’s not every day you find a dress with office-appropriate tassels 😉
And the 3rd dress I got was THIS one!!!! I have no idea when or where I’m gonna wear this …. but it was just magical…followed by ooo’s & ahh’s upon stepping out of the change room.
Perhaps its time I started my jazz singing career just to wear this dress nightly!!! 😉
This gown was over $200. But with this amazing sale, it came home with me for $60!!!!!
This dress has an intricate spider webbed, sexy sweetheart neckline and with a cascading waist with a bow detail in this form fitted silhouette.
A sexy v-shaped back leads to a zip closuer and ends with a striking slit up the back. And even at my petite height (when worn with heels) it’ll be floor-length fantastic!!! ❤
FOREVER21+
I try to avoid doing too much shopping at Forever21+ … for fear of looking like every other plus sized babe in the city.
But just look at these sweet colours and patterns!!! YUP! They needed to be mine!
Foxes on a simple sleeved, belted swing dress! $33
A semi-sheer maxi dress featuring an all over floral print, a buttoned front, a V-neckline, an elasticized waist, and 3/4 sleeves with buttoned cuffs. $33
Stay tuned to the blog for specific outfit posts styling each of these ones soon! 😉
PENNINGTON’S
OH MAN!!! I’ve been ranting about bra’s and bra-blems for a few posts on the blog. With the CAD$ being in the can…it has been preventing me from cross-boarder shopping for over-the-shoulder-boulder-holders.
Being a busty gal…finding my cup size here in Toronto just isn’t affordable.
But then … Penningtons had a crazy, stupid sale…making ALL THAT YOU SEE HERE $22 each!!! Unheard of price for ladies of the big titty committee..right?
Now, although this retail claims to have G & H cup sizes, they rarely seem to have them when I’m shopping. Seems they are super popular and sell out immediately. Sigh..
I managed to find sister sizes (i.e. 44DDDDDD … LOL! you get what I mean) to help compensate for band:cup difference. At this price point…I was determine to make them work!!! 🙂
Oh, I picked up 2 sweet nightys too…for $15 each!
STREET VENDORS & OUTDOOR MARKETS
Summer brings with it the many outdoor festivals, markets and other fun where vendors are selling their wears street-side. And fantastic deals and finds can be found!!!
I’m all about the hats in the summer… sun protection is very important … especially for keeping the once face sun-spot free 😉
Hats! Hats! Hats! Sold at Kensington Market.
Of all the many hats I own, I didn’t have a simple black and white one. So when I found this adorable side-bow-button detail on this one….it had to be mine.
$10 – and basically goes with everything! Whoop! Whoop!
There you have it friends! You’ve gotten the inside scoop on all the newest pieces in my closet.
Were you able to take advantage of any of these deals yourselves?
Got any favourites from what I’ve showcased in this haul? Tell me about it in the comment section below.
Wearing summer appropriate outfits that fit with corporate-life and life-life can be a challenge.
But having solid staple pieces make things a bit easier.
Take this outfit I threw together for one of the few days I’m forced into downtown Toronto office life.
A simple stripped pencil skirt can be worn for work and play. Bone kitten heels are always at the ready at the office.
The crochet top isn’t something I’ve worn to the office before. It’s really from my ‘summer beach time’ wardrobe. But with a solid cami worn underneath, it becomes totally wearable for the office.
A hot pink blazer just pulls the look together, giving the illusion that some effort was made when I came up with this look.
My uncombed hair, on the other hand, gives me away 😛
How I Got The Look:
Pink Blazer, INC Hudson Bay Co.; Stripped pencil skirt, Marshalls; Crochet top, Forever21+; Bone kitten heels, NineWest
For more looks featuring this skirt click here and here.
What do you think of this look? Tell me your thoughts in the comment section below.
There are a lot of nice little details of this dress:
It’s been a while since I’ve taken any snaps on my balcony in front of this classic Petite Plus, Meow signature brick wall. Did you miss it? :p
Toronto Vintage Society’s Tiki Lani Lanai
They come 2-per-pack. And soon with colour printed patterns.
PPMeow! 