could it really be spring?

Leather skirt (vintage, Value Village Thrift, Windsor, ON $10). Blouse (F21). Necklace (thrifted, L & K Antiques, Tilbury, ON $10). Shoes (Nine West). Clutch (street market in Miami). Sunglasses (Ray-Ban).

Photos A Mingay

sweetheart

Dress (vintage, Jones & Company, Windsor, ON $68). Cashmere coat (thrifted, MF Vintage by Mother Fletcher's, Ferndale, MI. $21) last seen here. Belt (Zara). Clutch (Aldo). Shoes (Joe Fresh) last seen here. Sunglasses (Michael Kors).

Photos A Mingay

Inspired by the Stella McCartney Fall 2011 RTW Collection

Photos Style.com

the walkervilles

Its been a while since I put up a music post, so given that it is  Canadian Music Week, meet The Walkervilles. With a classic Motown and rock' n roll sound of the 60s, these boys also know how to rock a suit and tie! Catch them Saturday at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto and March 30 at FM Lounge in Windsor.

Photo K Kavenaugh

granny boots

Trench (Gap). Jeans (Gap) Scarf (Zara). Lace up boots (vintage, Jones & Company, Windsor, ON $46). Purse (Cooperative)

Photos A Mingay

cashmere

Cashmere coat (thrifted, MF Vintage by Mother Fletchers, Ferndale, MI. $21). Silk top (Wilfred). Skirt (H&M). Shoes (Hugo Boss). Necklace (H&M). Satchel (Cambridge Satchel Company). Glasses (Gucci).

Photos A Mingay

plaid now showing

Plaid wool jacket (vintage, Public Butter check them out here, Toronto, ON $10). Denim jacket (F21). Bodysuit (Talula Babaton). Skirt (Joe Fresh). Boots (Hunters). Hat (American Apparel, with netting that I added). Necklaces (vintage, Chief Salvage check them out here, Toronto, ON $30; L & K Antiques, Tilbury, ON $32). Bracelets (BCBG, F21, Swarovski, Club Monaco, Henry Bendel).

NY Times Street Style

walk like a man

Coat (Zara). Denim jumpsuit (F21). Oxfords (Hugo Boss). Dior clutch (vintage, Lost & Found Vintage, Royal Oak, MI. $46). Sunglasses (Ray-Ban). Jewelry (vintage rhinestone necklaces, F21, H & M).

Photos A Mingay

a lady and her fine hats

Pictured is Bernice McPhail and her friend Grace Mills at the train station in the 1950's.

When I purchased a few of the hats from the vintage hat series, the store owner also sold me a head form that she had acquired with the lot of hats. Upon further examination of the carved block of wood, I noticed that there was some writing on the bottom of it. ‘Bernice McPhail’ had signed the bottom, included her address and the year, 1964!  Who was Bernice McPhail? My interest was sparked….

A couple of weeks ago as I was putting together the first post for the vintage hats/giveaway, I remembered the head form and thought that it would be crazy if I could track down Bernice McPhail, ask her a little bit about her hats and where she learned the trade.  After a couple of hours of searching online, I was able to confirm that although ‘my’ Bernice McPhail had passed away in 2010 at the age of 96, she does have a daughter currently living in Texas.  As my search continued, I was able to confirm her daughters name; Mary Lee, and the town in Texas where she was living.  My initial contact was with a woman from a quilters group (after finding a picture of Mary Lee on her blog). I emailed her to ask if she knew ‘my’ Mary Lee and if she could put me in touch with her?  The woman was kind enough to forward me an email address, but indicated that she hadn't spoken to Mary Lee in a couple of years so she was not sure if the email address was still current…I drafted another email, explained who I was and that I was looking for a little information about the back story on Bernice and her hats.

Within 24 hours, I received a response that brought tears to my eyes and confirmed that the world is not such a big place after all…

Hi Stephanie:

You did well !!

Yes, Bernice McPhail was my Mother. She passed away 2 years ago at the age of 96 and she lived a happy life of quilting and doing crafts. She and her sister Avis Taylor, also deceased, made many hats. Avis taught millinery in the 60's and 70's. Mother started a quilting group at a local church, and taught crafts for the local Adult Education Program in Chatham, ON.  Mother was a member of the Chatham quilters and her hand quilting was exquisite.

They both  made and wore hats for years , when it was in fashion, always matching their outfits ... suit and hat or dress and hat (that was the fashion in the 60's & 70's , no slacks or pantsuits for them!) . They wore the hats for "dress up" , and of course, church and weddings. I received many of her hats while growing up. While she might have made a hat for a friend (to match her outfit), she did not sell them commercially. Hats were "very expensive " in those days; the purchased ones costing $35 - $65, and sometimes near $100! These crafters tried their hand at making them and found it a great craft to pursue. They also made matching purses and shoes all from the same fabric of the outfit.

The antique dealers were very interested in the hats when we closed the house on Queen St. I am surprised they are popular at all! I am a fiber artist and modern day quilter, but not a vintage lover ....I am pleased to think you admired Mother's work ... she was a busy gal.   Mary Lee 

A few of Bernice's hats.

vintage hats + GIVEAWAY winner

Thanks to all of you who participated in my very first giveaway, hopefully the first of many to come. 

Hat #1, Week 1 (above) was your favourite by a landslide.  Thank you for all of your comments, likes and dislikes.  Feedback is vital to grow and I really appreciate it.

The winner of the vintage Coach bag is Jenny Wentworth of Obsidian Soul & Dreamcatchers.  Jenny, please check your inbox for an email from me.

12 hours in detroit

My friend Jess was in town yesterday for the Muse show, so we decided to spend the day vintage shopping and taking photos for the blog in Detroit.

We started the day at the famed abandoned Packard Plant building. Aside from in pictures, neither of us had ever been there before. We circled the building in my car first, looking for a place to shoot some photos.  I'm not going to lie, I was a little apprehensive when we stopped at an opening that looked straight into the centre 'courtyard' of the structure. Me in my heels, Jess with camera in hand, not really sure what or who we were going to encounter.  It was eerie to walk up and find a mound of shoes.  Men's and women's shoes, heels and boots. Almost as if they had been placed there for a photo shoot, as props, in the past.  There were literally hundreds of shoes, some still elasticized together in pairs.  In Steven Kutrz' recently published article on Detroit in ruins in the NY Times (here), Mark Binelli (Rolling Stone Magazine) said it best: He compared ruins like the Packard plant to cathedrals, writing that “they can feel beautiful and tragic at the same time.” My sentiments exactly.

Metallic top (vintage, Mama Loves You, Toronto, ON $26). Pants (Jacob). Leather jacket (Zara). Booties (Steve Madden). Clutch (H&M). Sunglasses (Ray-Ban).

Photos J Sands

Some of the days finds from Mother Fletchers and Lost and Found Vintage

Muse

Photos S Mingay