The Urban Closet

From My Closet - January 27th, 2012

2012-01-27T19:30:00Z

I haven't been wandering around naked or anything... it's just cold ALL THE TIME, and it's January, and I hardly ever leave my house if I don't have to.

I do so loathe the wintertime. Really, really. So. Much.

So, you will find me wearing pretty much this very outfit, or some variation of it... perhaps with a black knit infinity scarf I bought for Martin, but which I've pretty much claimed for my very own, poor guy. I steal all the good stuff.

This toque with the sequin paw print on it (which I bought as part of a cancer fund-raising effort years ago) I wear all the time. We live in a poorly-insulated old Victorian, and I have very little hair on my head... it is necessary.

I rather like this long black sweater I was given for Christmas... it fairly lightweight, so it trails behind me when I walk - makes me feel like a superhero when I wear it. (I wear it a lot.) I bet it'll look badass when I ride around on the scooter in the house...

My socks have some snowflakes across the toe, because I'm nothing if not festive, yo. I mean, don't I look festive?

Black. Always black. I'm in mourning. For the loss of sunshine that has some actual heat in it. I miss you, summertime. Please come baaaaack...

Also, someone come and clean my mirror, please?

black toque - Little Bear pet shop
black t-shirt - Forever 21
black belt - Gap
black jeggings - Garage
black superhero sweater - Simons

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From My Closet - December 31st, 2011

2011-12-31T20:30:00Z

So, this is my fur hat. It's vintage, and it was a hand-me-down gift. I wear it when it's freezing cold outside. Like, from January to April-ish, since Canadian winters can be brutal, especially in Montreal.

I urge you to take a good look inside your closets and get rid of what doesn't fit, what doesn't suit or what doesn't dazzle you. (Donate your things in good repair - someone out there can use it!!) It doesn't matter how big or how small you are - it only matters how your stuff fits, and how you feel when you wear it. If you don't feel SHAZAM, then why bother?

Of course it matters more how you feel inside, and to have inner peace, happiness, blah, blah, blah, namaste... but putting your best foot forward is never a bad thing. And this is infinitely easier when you have on pretty shoes... or at least a pedicure that isn't chipped. (That's tacky.)

And smile. Always. It's the first thing people see when you meet them... it counts the most.

May your closets be full... of only the things you enjoy. To good health and sequins! Happy New Year!!

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From My Closet - December 21st, 2011

2011-12-22T21:30:00Z

Drinks, drinks, drinks...

I went out for burgers in Old Montreal last night with a photographer friend of mine who's studio is a stone's throw from where we went to eat, drink, and be merry. Andrea Hausmann does some amazing work... check her out.

Anyway, when you hang with someone like her, you really need to up your sparkle... because she's so sparkly. Especially during the twinkly Christmastime goings-out.

Which brings me back to this matte plum-chocolate sequin skirt, which serves me really well for when occasions like these call. Add a sheer black blouse with long sleeves and tall boots, and hope not to look all who-er-ish. I went bare legged, since it's not as cold outside as December ought to be, and anyway, it was all cab-to-door service (see them heels?) Besides, lighting is usually dim in restos at night. And, as I've said before, if the dimples in my thighs offend you, then back the hell up, and don't stand so close to me.

Do you like how I let my ball (just the one) hang out? *snickers* I would have photoshopped it out, but you know how I like to keep it real, right?

Happy Holidays, Urban Moms! Be daring with your holiday wear!! You know you want to...

black sheer blouse - Forever 21, $30
sequin mini skirt - Forever 21, $25
black microsuede stiletto boots - Le Chateau, (ancient)
leopard metallic clutch - Le Chateau, $30
bling - Forever 21, cheap as chips

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From My Closet - December 20th, 2011

2011-12-21T14:31:28Z

Last night, we went to a neighbour's house for an evening of good cheer. Our hostess has one of the best collection of frocks I have ever seen... and she really wears them. And she's got shoes to match, holy crap.

So, since women generally dress for one another, I broke out this fabulous skirt for her first debut - she's been hanging around inside my closet, patiently, since sometime last year - this party was the perfect place to wear her.

She's a smoke-y coloured organza skirt (mmm... shimmer!) with a silver satin underlay, and she has some crinoline under the hem to help the A-line stand up a bit. There's an inverted pleat under the black belt buckle to make it flare, so when I sway from side to side, I look like a bell, in a gorgeous way. Since the I knew the attendees would vary in attire from jeans to downright dressy, I paired it with a plain black turtleneck with short-sleeves. I had heels on in the pic, but them switched them at the last minute for these slouchy stilettos, which looked less formal, all told.

Bracelets on each wrist, and that navy beaded cocktail ring. Bling!! I also tied a gigantic black angora wrap around my neck, to ward off the draft while making chit-chat in and around the entrance of her house... and also because it looks rather smashing.

I can't wait to wear that skirt again... it was tres swish, in a Mad Men kind of way. *swoons* I should have bought it a size smaller (they didn't have one in stock) but it's really not too big once the waist is cinched. And anyway, this way I can eat more pie.

black turtleneck - Forever 21, (ancient)
organza skirt in smoke, with belt - Le Chateau, ~~$90~~ $30 (super-sale!)
black microfibre stiletto boots - Le Chateau, (ancient)
metallic leopard clutch - Le Chateau, $30
black angora wrap - Tommy Hilfiger, (gift!)

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From My Closet - December 19th, 2011

2011-12-19T15:30:00Z

Parties, parties, parties...

I went back to black (I know) but, I fell into the Gap in a most wonderful way a couple of months back, and snapped up this jersey knit dress with a cowl neck and ruching on it's three-quarter length sleeves. It ties casually at the waist. I like how all the "slumpiness" is echoed in the boots, though the outfit doesn't look slumpy at all... it's just pulled together enough to wear to a holiday house party that isn't too fussy or formal.

Plus, can I get a what-what on the fact that I'm in ANOTHER DRESS??! *hi-fives you*

And I didn't mind removing my footware at Saturday night's affair at the door - these boots are ideal for wearing in taxis, and for sitting down once you get to your destination, and not for dancing. Or, at least not for long! (Though I love when they are mutually exclusive, sometimes style comes before comfort. It's not my rule - it's the way of the world.) These boots are the version I settled for while searching for the perfect Moonstruck boot. (You've seen the movie? Cher's boots?! WANT!! I will find them one day...)

I changed up my bling at the last minute, but wore LOTS of this glittery stuff... as well as fishnets. Of course.

black cowl neck dress with ruching - Gap, $35
black microfibre stilettos - Le Chateau, (ancient)

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From My Closet - December 16th, 2011

2011-12-16T21:30:00Z

The holidays are for dressing up! I'm meeting one of my foxes for drinks ce soir, and as she is one who makes me feel like her ugly little brother whenever we get together, I feel need to step things up a notch. (Like last time.)

And can you believe I'm in ANOTHER DRESS??! It's amazing, I know. One of the place I love to shop at really has some great items these days - like this little number, with it's half-length bell sleeves, cut straight and above the knee, with a tie at the waist. But for me, the best part is the collar, which is quite wide, and turned down (like on a dress shirt) but it closes with a single button at the back like this. It's adorable!!

AND! It's in shades of plummy-purple. I know it's still dark, but it's NOT BLACK, for once in my whole life. Baby steps, people... baby steps.

And why yes indeed, those are fishnets in aubergine... do it, I dare ya.

Abstract cowl neck dress - Forever 21, $29.80 ( I KNOW!!)
hoop earrings with beads - Aldo, $15
knotted silver bracelet - Forever 21, $5.80
cream leather and gold bracelet - BCBG, gift!
brown leather boots - Aldo, (ancient)

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From My Closet - December 15th, 2011

2011-12-15T20:30:00Z

When you wear as much black as I do, then you'll appreciate how it's all about the bling.

And as none of us are Astors, or Vanderbilts, we are fooling no one with our baubles - I'm not trying to pass any of these off as the real deal (I mean, c'mon now) but finding good looking costume jewellery to add to your ensemble shouldn't be overlooked. And it needn't break the bank either! With the exceptions of the bracelets, nothing in this groups cost more than $5.80. (The bracelets were between $10 and $15 each.)

And since it's the holidays, full of tres glam velvets, faux fur, satins, and silks, when it comes to the bling, I'll leave you with a quote from Frasier, I remember from several years ago:

Niles: What ever happened to the concept of "less is more"?

Frasier: Ah, but if less is more, then just think how much more "MORE" could be be!?

Same thing applies with jewellery, I reckon, especially during the party season. Bracelets? Stack 'em up... especially if you're in short sleeves. Put on a cocktail ring. Or two, even. But, you know, don't be a fool about it.

PS - If you carefully apply a coat of clear nail polish over your rhinestone-y things before wearing, you'll be less apt to lose a stone, rendering your piece useless after only a couple of wears. You're welcome, internets. ;)

All the bling and things are from Forever 21. (Of course.)

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From My Closet - December 12th, 2011

2011-12-12T20:00:00Z

Well, the holidays are here, and the seasonal parties are already in full effect. Sometimes, getting dressed for such occasions can be a wee bit challenging, since my social scene is relatively small, and it seems like everyone I know will be at the same parties over and over again... so, I really can't have that ONE thing to wear. I'm always looking for items with re-wearability, and always on a budget.

Plus, you'll never catch me in a reindeer sweater.

So, have I mentioned how much I love the colour noir?! As this is the case, I mostly play with the accessories, since that's precisely what accessories are for! Play!!

Saturday night I went to an annual soiree at my neighbours' house, which always begins as a fairly polite meet-and-greet of mixed neighbours and business acquaintances, but ends up being a massive dance party, where party go-ers are lucky to be back home in their beds by 4 AM. It was epic. As usual.

I've had these high-waisted trousers for a few years now - they are black with a silver pinstripe, which almost makes then read as deep navy. They're clingy in the right places, but a nice change in silhouette from my the skinny jeans I wear every day. Paired with this great sheer blouse I picked up recently, it felt easy and not too gussied, which was the right tone for this party. The navy blue cocktail ring and beaded earrings blinged things up a bit (and I threw on a braided silver cuff at the last minute - no necklace though - the earrings were sweepy enough) and it the metallic leopard clutch echoed the metallic sling-backs, which look so coppery in this pic, but they're really a warm silver.

The heels are not too tall... perfect for dancing. Oh my - I think I left my ass on the floor of their house.

black sheer blouse - Forever 21, $29.80
black pinstripe pants - Le Chateau, (fairly ancient)
Dolce & Gabbana metallic snakeskin sling-backs - Winners, $85
metallic leopard-motif clutch - Le Chateau, about $30
bling-y items - Forever 21, about $5 each

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From My Closet - December 6th, 2011

2011-12-06T14:03:34Z

I picked up this little dress recently - it's got a flutter sleeve on one side, but it's sleeveless on the other, and it ties at the side. At first I thought the brown, grey and olive colour-blocking was a bit drab... until I tried it on.

Huzzah.

Especially paired with boots, the whole thing feels a bit mod, which I love. These colours are all among my favourites anyway, and with the right hits of sparkle and texture (like the beaded earrings I also snapped up, a velvet clutch, and the wool pom-pom wrap I'm fond of wearing at this time of year) I tell you, this dress is darling. I'll keep my eyes peeled for more bracelet bling for the next time I wear it.

And also? Look at me! In a DRESS!! Have I mentioned how I never wear dresses? Probably because I don't OWN any. (I know - sometimes I even amaze myself.)

And have I mentioned about fishnet hose before? I believe I have. Please trust me on this and GO GET SOME! Legs look better with fishnets. (Not the catch-a-fish size nets - I mean the petite diamond ones...)

silky one-shoulder dress with side-tie - Forever 21, $29.80
brown boots - Aldo (ancient)
excellent velvet clutch - gift!
beaded drop earrings - Forever 21, $4.80

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From My Closet - November 25th, 2011

2011-11-25T21:00:00Z

So, it was my birthday yesterday, and in between getting cards, and calls, and lovenotes on Facebook and whatnot, I slipped out of the house for half the morning, and perused my precious Forever 21, and ~~basically bought the store~~ picked up a few things.

Like this cute little skirt, which has more of a strié effect, than a stripe. It's got reds, yellows, blues, and purples in it, but it reads as a lively pink. It's stretchy, and not too short. I think I'm in love with it.

I love it with brown - boots and sweater... I could have put pink at the neck, but that could get a bit matchy-matchy in a hurry. (Anyway, there's a hint o' pink in the plaid on the purse.) I bought this grey shawl with the pom-poms several years ago from the place that rhymes with Sinners, which I chose it for the colour versatility, and for the fun of it. I mean, pom-poms can be tres adorable in the right application. The drape of it also makes the neckline appear less comely, since the V-neck is so deep.

It's got a medium-weight to it, so I reckon it'll do well in the spring too. I'm bare lagged in the pic, but I'd wear brown fishnet stockings with it. Or even a deep purple. Got fishnets? You should. They make EVERYBODY'S legs look better, I swear. Try some.

PS - Forty? Is fabulous. Yes.

brown cable knit sweater - Bedo (ancient)
grey pom-pom wrap - Winners, about $20
striped skirt in pink - Forever 21, $17.80
brown leather boots - Aldo, (ancient)
brown purse with glencheck plaid - Aldo, (gift)

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Urban Kid Closet - November 22nd, 2011

2011-11-22T18:30:00Z

She's kind of between sizes just now - size 3 is too short everywhere, but size 4 is drowning her at the moment. Today I belted this muumuu-esque t-shirt over her leggings, which literally pulled the whole thing together. This looks far better than when it was almost dress-like and wrong-looking. It reads more like, tunic. It's all swashbuckler swank. I'm calling it that. It will sweep the nation tres soon. Just. Watch.

Every store has it's own type and cut when it comes to leggings, but for my money, Mexx makes the best ones, especially for this tiny kid. They wash and wear incredibly well, and they cut is slim, so they do all the effective stretching, but don't tend to become baggy at the knees after two hours of wear. That's just a detail... but you know how I'm all about the details, right?

Ava Scarlett wears:

long-sleeve t-shirt with blah-blah-whatever motif - Old Navy, $8
brown braided leather belt - Gap, about $12 (her brother's hand-me-down)
olive leggings - Mexx, about $6 on sale
leopard rainboots - gift (hand-me-down)

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Urban Kid Closet - November 18th, 2011

2011-11-18T15:30:00Z

Sale shopping is my favourite. Especially for kid clothes, because c'mon - at the rate they grow, they require almost an entirely new wardrobe every six months. These kids have no cousins, so the hand-me-downs tend to be few. That's really okay... but ch-ching!!

I peruse the sales sections of the places I like best, and try to buy ahead, to put away for later. Including this little top, which was art of the post-Halloween stuff... I don't think it's actually too Halloween-y! The bat is a sparkly pinkish-red... nothing orange or insanely festive about it. (And you know how much I love stripes...) It wasn't a complete steal in price (but there were extra rebates that day), and Gap stuff tends to wash and wear quite well. I'm considering this a good autumn/winter top, and she can start wearing it again in September, long before Halloween rolls around again.

Cute, don't you think?

Ava Scarlett wears:

striped long-sleeve t-shirt with bat motif - Gap, (sale) $9.79
black slim jeans - Joe Fresh, $16
black boots - Winners, $22
black slouchy toque - H&M Kids, $5

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From My Closet - November 17th, 2011

2011-11-17T18:30:00Z

Okay: Jeggings.

I've been resisting for reasons I can't explain. Possibly because they were everywhere all the time, at the same time as babies wearing diapers with a denim motif on their butts, and I was all, Can't jeans just be jeans anymore? Oy.

Anyway, I was wrong. I love them now.

I was in the market for some inexpensive jeans, and stopped into Garage, who were having a sale, as luck would have it. Buy one pair of jeans, and get the second pair for 50% off. I needed regular blue jeans anyway, so I figured now was as good a time as any to try some - especially for half price.

I love the way they fit - they have lots of stretch to them. And I don't mind the extra length on them (which is ALWAYS the case when you're a shortie like me) since it's fall, and they look perfectly fine without hemming.

The downside? After two washes, they're already fading a bit, but I've found this to be the case with black jeans in general. It's happened with pants I've paid more than twice the amount for. (I'm looking at YOU, Gap!) So.

The other thing is, the front pockets are sewn shut. BOO! HISS!! I like my front pockets to be useful, please... but at least the back pockets can hold whatever I need them to. (Like my hands.)

Good silhouette. Snaky with the ankle boots. Oh, yeah.

black turtleneck sweater - Le Chateau (ancient)
black jeggins - Garage, $36.90
belt - Gap (ancient)
black ankle boots - Winners, about $50 (ancient)

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(On The Way Out) From My Closet - November 16th, 2011

2011-11-16T19:30:00Z

Yeah, this tunic sweater. It doesn't look horrendous or anything, but I never choose it. I love it's softness, and I love the colour. Sometimes three-quarter length sweaters bug me... but that's not the thing. Today I put it on to remember what the hell my problem is.

I love a generous scoop neck on a garment, but this one is just a bit too wide, in that it's constantly slipping off one shoulder or the other, which leaves me forever shifting and rearranging myself to make it sit right. That's never good. And sure, I could have changed the belt on it, and chosen something skinny and black (patent, maybe?) but meh... I never wore it much.

Plus, it sheds a little. Ick.

Now that I've figured out the problem, I can get rid of it, knowing how not to make the same mistake again. Eventually I'll find something in this colour that I like better.

Bye-bye now...

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Urban Kid Closet - November 16th, 2011

2011-11-16T16:30:00Z

So, I've had to do a bit of shopping in a hurry for these kids, since they've suddenly grown like bad weeds, and nothing fit. Enter Old Navy.

I find their stuff can be hit or miss from season to season. (I'm not finding a whole lot for my son there at the moment.) But there's LOTS of cute stuff for girls these days!

I loved the peacock t-shirt with charcoal image, laced with soft pinks and purple, and dotted with gold painted sequins - and that bit of plum-coloured tulle on the bird's head? Adorable.

Sadly, there were no big sales to be had that day (and you know how much I hate that) but a clothes crisis is a clothes crisis. I had to buy some stuff. And it cost more than I might normally spend on a child's top, but in this case it is totally worth it in my books. Plus, I'm pairing it with a grey tutu she's been rocking for probably two years - it's sized 12 -18 months - and it's perfect over grey tights, jaunty argyle leg-warmers and black boots. Right?

Ava Scarlett wears:

peacock motif long sleeved t-shirt in cream - Old Navy, $19.94 (ack)
grey tutu - Old Navy, around $10 (ancient)
grey tights - Joe Fresh, $5
argyle leg-warmers - mummy's cast-off knee highs with feet cut out (clever!)
black boots - Winners, around $22

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