WEST COAST - BEST COAST

scenic serious side portrait painting shot.

Well hello friends, it has been a while! I have been a busy bee lately and haven't really had much time to keep up on here. Recently however, I got the chance to gallivant in the forest with some of my buds while rocking gear from local brand, Coastalized Apparel. This shirt says it all and is only the beginning of what's to come. The day was captured by my wicked photographer friend Fernando who is worth an insta-follow here. He also coaxed me off that high up tree we were balancing on to get those epic forest shots. Note to self: don't wear grip-less chucks when climbing trees on a mountain.

Stay tuned for Coastalized Apparel here.

P.S. we are not models.

Against the Grain:

Ohh soooo trendy I am.  Hair half up, snake skin print, dressy sweatpants, and platform sandals.  Trendy is such a sensitive word. I mean there's one thing being on point and then there's another following trends just because someone said so.  I think it's cool to be influenced by trends but not to the point that it alters your own sense of personal style.  How I put this look together was definitely influenced by what's hot for S/S 14 but at the same time I stuck to what works for me.  Those pants fit my body quite flatteringly and they don't hang off me giving me that baggy bum look that can happen with harem/sweatpants style pants. The sandals I found at Value Village. When I came across them I had another pair in my hand that were similar but a bit more extreme.  It came down to knowing which ones I could actually see myself wearing everyday and I'm happy I listened to my gut.  I went with what was stylish while maintaining my own personal style and dressing for my body type.  So go ahead and be trendy but follow your own patterns.  

(shirt and sandals: VV Boutique, necklace: forever 21, pants: Istanbul, Turkey, bracelet: my mama's closet)

All That Glitters:

Tis the Season for glitz and glam, indulgence and of course the gift of giving.  I can't afford to indulge in as many ways as I'd like so at least I can look like it when it comes to my wardrobe.  This snazzy dress was a recent find at one of my weekly thrift hunts.  After keeping my eye on it for 3 weeks I declared against the larger marked sizing, and convinced myself to at the very least to try it on.  Even though it was obviously too big, there was something about it that convinced me it was worth buying and taking in to get altered. The next day, I went into my local seamstress with apprehension thinking about the intricate beading and sequins bedazzled all over.  I knew it was either going to be ridiculously expensive or straight up impossible to fix.  Turned out the cost to get it altered would have been 20 times more than what I paid for the dress itself, being that it would have to be done by hand.  Seeing the disappointment on my face, the seamstress took me to the back of the store and taught me how to sew it myself, step by step, as I held onto her every word through her gentle yet distinct Russian accent.  After some patience and a few late nights,  I had transformed this over-sized outdated throwaway into my latest dream dress.  Amazing how a little kindness can go a long way.    


(clutch: H&M, earrings: The Bay. dress, shoes, faux fur jacket and rings: vintage)

Style Profile: Tara Dawn

 

 

Meet Tara.  She had me at the first clunk of her Litas and the strike of her firey red hair.  We bonded over our shared zodiac sign and love for Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  When we met up for this shoot she picked me up on her bike looking effortlessly rad, which is really her demeanor every day.  Naturally, I had to start taking snaps making that her first look for this post.  This girl is the type that could throw on a paper bag and make it look stylish.  Quirky with an edgy undertone, she's a definite trendsetter and her own individual.  I mean, I don't know if I've ever seen anyone make prints on prints on cat hat ever look that good.  Oh and those killer smiley shorts? Yeah she made those.  Modeled after Yolandi Visser in this video.  What talent.

Here's what she had to say about her personal style:

"I'm like a bratty Lana Del Rey in a 90s chick flick.

I'm influenced by pop music, sunshine, witchcraft and strawberry milkshakes. My icons might be Marina Diamandis, Bridgitte Bardot and Bettie Page.

The greatest time in fashion IMO was the 1960s. More chic than the 70s and 80s but sexier than the 50s perm era, and then we also had Mod Fashion which was sweet.

I don't have a huge preference for fashion bloggers but I do have a huge girl crush on Audrey Kitching.

My favorite places to shop for new things are usually on the Internet, it's the best way to find the specific imaginary whatevers you make up in your head. I also frequent TopShop on Granville, American Apparel and Aritzia for basics. Hands down my favorite articles of clothing are gems found in thrift stores or given to me by friends.

My favourite brands to wear are American Apparel and Cheap Monday. I'm a huge fan of Cheap Monday. Besides their denim, they sell cool fashionable basics that aren't outrageously expensive. American Apparel nails the basics in everything and is incomparably retro chic.

My style advice.. just put it on your body and leave the house."





(Look 1:

shorts: second hand, necklace: Crystal Cactus, bike: Linus x fourstar cruiser

Look 2:

hat: ripndip, shirt: second hand, shoes: matiko

smiley shorts: reworked Cheap Monday

Look 3:

hat: second hand from Nasty Gal when it first started, pants: Wilfred, top: Brandy Melville, bag: American Apparel, glasses: nasty gal, lipstick: The Velvetines in Suede Berry)

Whiskey Dreams and Empty Pockets:

If you don't know Lords of Gastown, now you know.  My love affair for this brand has been hot and heavy right from the very first patch.  Created by my friends Tyler and Nik almost 2 years ago with what started as a nickname for shaking up the Gastown nightlife has now turned into a cultural uprising.  Made from reworked vintage clothes with killer designs and a trailblazing logo, naturally the majority of my wardrobe is spent with these threads on high rotation.  Lucky me, I've had the opportunity to style their Lords of the Runway Fashion Show last fall at Fortune Sound Club and their upcoming Fall Lookbook (photos soon to come).  Not only are they a wicked clothing line but they throw the most bumpin' parties in Vancouver and support local charities, the latest being The Railtown Rally, an upcoming relief benefit party for the Alberta Floods. All donations will go directly to the Red Cross.    

So spread the local love and..

Thank the Lords.


(Jacket and Sweatshirt: Lords of Gastown, beaded onyx navajo skull bracelet: Lords x Lor G Jewellery, top: Brandy Melville, shorts: I made from vintage, belt: vintage, silver bracelets: forever 21)