The Thrift Gods Have Smiled Down On Me

Photos by Kyler Kelly

  

Vintage dress

Sandals from India

We at Bouquet of Frocks love a good deal more than anything. Debbie and I love to frequent thrift stores and vintage shops, and although these hunts are very hit or miss, once in a while, we find gems worth the hours of riffling through the musty racks only to come up empty-handed.

This is one jewel I snapped up recently at one of the popular vintage shops here in Montreal. Can we first just talk about how this was totally meant to be....just look at how perfectly floor length this is on me! Trust me when I tell you that in all my 5 feet 1 inch glory, this NEVER happens. I have to hem most of my pants. I buy "capris" and wear them as regular pants. I have never seen the top shelves in my kitchen.

And I just love the flowy, retro, boho silhouette this number cuts on me. It's so unique and flattering. And we all know about my floral addiction...it was a no-brainer. I love wearing it with the sandals I picked up in India, minimal makeup and free-flowing hair, or tied in a low bun. This number has been a real no-fuss, go-to number for me this summer and the black will wear really well into the fall! Thank you, thrifting gods!
                                                     

Heading Out For A Spot of Tea

Hey Frockers, just sharing some quick pics from a recent outing to afternoon tea at Birks. It's quite an affair. You enter the prestigious jewelry store downtown and low and behold, up a small flight of stairs on your right is a small dining room where you can enjoy some rich sandwiches, desserts and tea while overlooking a sea of diamonds. We just managed to catch the blossom trees too, which seem to only bloom about a week, two if we're lucky, every year. All in all, not a bad way to spend a Sunday.

Vintage pumps and handbag/dress from China
                                                                    

The Retro Bride

Marcelle Double Precision Liquid Eyeliner Pen in Intense Black

Maybelline Great Lash waterproof mascara in Very Black

Ardell human hair falsies in 116

NYX Auto Eyebrow Pencil in Dark Brown

NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder in Black/Gray

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in Soft Beige

Jane Iredale Amazing Base Loose Mineral Powder in Bisque

Milani Baked Powder Blush in Corallina

Benefit Watts Up higlighter in Soft Focus

Sephora lip liner in Real Red

ELF Moisturizing Lipstick in Velvet Rope

Here it is, the bridal look you've all been waiting for. One of my favourite looks for regular life, truth be told. It's the classic vintage cat-eye liner with a bright red lip. I already know this works on me, I wear it all the time. It's just a very clean face kind of look where the focus is on the eyes and lips. For my wedding, I would probably kick it up a notch with an even thicker eyeliner, more highlighting shimmer shadow on the lids, and a deeper and peachier blush to tie it all together. 

If you compare the last two images, you might notice the last photo has much longer and fuller lashes. I couldn't decide if this look really needed falsies or not so I'm asking you guys what you think. On the one hand, falsies really add such a feminine, striking touch to any look and I think your wedding is where you can really go all the way in the makeup department. But on the other hand, falsies might take over the eyeliner, which is a key feature I would really want to highlight.

Either way, this is one of my staple makeup looks that I would definitely be confident creating on my wedding day. I think this look is making it to the finals!

                                                 

A Russian Winter

Smart Set top/vintage boots and hat/coat and skirt from China/infinity scarf as muff from Hong Kong

It's official. We are in the heart of winter and my favourite coat is still going strong! Like I've always said, accessories really make the outfit. Just compare a bold and elegant look like this to the understated class of my previous post and you can hardly believe it's the same coat. I paired this vintage hat with a similar faux fur infinity scarf I picked up in Hong Kong last year, but instead of putting it around my neck, I decided to really go all the way and turn it into a muff. I mean, if you're gonna brave the winter like this you gotta go all the way. And just to keep it interesting, I added a few pops of colour and the transformation is complete. I feel like I just stepped out of a Tolstoy novel or something!

Here's to bringing new life to old coats!
                                                          

Best Of 2014

We can't believe it's been a whole other year already, Frockers! This year saw a lot of fun fashion events, collaborations with some great companies, a bit of world travel and of course, more great fashion! A big thank you to all those who have been following our blog and supporting us. We wish you all a happy 2015!

The British Isles

F21 hat/Le Chateau gloves/vintage boots/coat and scarf from China

My favourite winter coat is a keeper for a reason. You too can achieve countless cute looks with something so classic and versatile. If you're like me and don't really have a few extra hundred bucks lying around to buy new coats every winter, you end up repeating a lot of looks with the same coat. But what's so great about your classic coats is, you can build around the main piece with accessories. Not only do they add that extra bit of warmth you so desperately need in the dead of winter, but they can really diversify your wardrobe in a way to make you feel like you practically got a new coat without forking much dough!

And ever since my trip to Scotland this past summer, I've been kind of obsessed with tartan. It's so colourful! And it's a print that's pretty timeless and easy to pull off. You really can't go wrong with a plaid skirt or scarf in the chillier months. Throw in a neutral wool hat, brown tweed gloves and some lace-up boots and you're ready to frolic in the snow. I just love the "British" feel to this look! It's so simple, but all class with none of the drab.

Stay tuned on the blog for another globe-trotting winter look with my favourite camel coat!
                                                               

Modcloth: The Online Retro Heaven

Modcloth dress, skirt, handbag, headband, swimsuit



**This post contains affiliate links and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on the links.

Frockers, if you've been following the blog from the beginning, you will remember how much I love ModCloth. It is one of my all-time favourite online retailers. If you check out their website, I think it's pretty clear why. They have all the cutest indie, vintage and retro-inspired pieces that you can find anywhere! They have everything from clothes to accessories, handbags and shoes to home décor and gift items. And I think because they are an online store, they really put everything into the shopping experience. You can chat with a ModStylist while you shop if you have any questions or need some help and they have a blog section where you can check out their looks on real people and see tons of extra fun stuff like DIY and makeup tutorials. And they are one of the few online retailers I've seen that have a variety of Plus Size Dresses. Diversity of sizing is important to me since I have trouble myself, fitting into the standard S, M, and L. Amirite ladies? And if you need some cool Halloween inspiration, check out their new Halloween Shop! 

Happy shopping, Frockers!
                                                                  

A Royal Affair

Le Chateau dress/Delilah fascinator/lia sophia necklace (c/o)/vintage handbag/old wedges

Le Chateau vest/Simons shirt and bow tie/Mexx trousers/Browns dress shoes 

It may not have been a royal wedding, but that wasn't going to stop me from whipping out my lovely fascinator for the very first time. Seriously, it was collecting dust on my dresser, I've had it for so long and never worn it! I mean it's not exactly a skinny jean in terms of versatility and cute-but-casual wear. And I am the first to don some sequins to school or the office, but going to Stats class in a fascinator would be a bit too crazy, even for me.

But I was recently invited to a lovely fall wedding and decided to take this baby out for a test-drive. And what a scenic drive it was! I paired it with a lovely retro-inspired Le Chateau dress that coincidentally was almost exactly the same colour. Normally, I hate being so matchy-matchy, but this time, it felt right. In this fashion fantasy, I could practically be on my way to Prince Harry's wedding or something!

Pulling off such a statement look is a delicate operation nonetheless. I wanted to go more muted on the other accessories, namely sporting a simple black wedge and minimal accessories. The lead actor in this story is definitely the headpiece, everything else is a supporting character. The necklace (gifted by lia sophia), was the perfect mix of glam, class and restraint. And my favourite tapestry bag added a nice muted pop of detail and vintage vibe to complete the look.

I have to say, this fascinator might be the hardest fashion piece I've ever had to pull off. But I love a good challenge! And like I always say, at the end of the day, it's really all about confidence.
                                                                

Hearts and Apples and Retro Amusements

Garage top/Primark shorts/vintage headscarf/Aldo sunnies/Sammydress handbag/old wedges

Nothing is quite like an ode to summertime quite like a pair of denim shorts. I always struggled with buying shorts. Apparently my proportions are really weird, cause if I found a pair that fit me around the hips, the leg openings would be too big. And of course, if I found a pair that was flattering to my gams, it would be impossible to zip it up. Sigh.

Enter this darling high-waisted number that hugged all my curves and bumps just right. Sometimes it just takes a bit of hunting! For this look, I paired it with a stripped crop top, retro do and headband, heart-shaped sunnies and old wedges. Perfect for a retro vibe on a golden summer day at the amusement park!

P.S. Candied apples are the greatest!!