cafe bar pasta

Dress (vintage, Jones & Co Vintage, Windsor, ON; last seen here altered). Fur (second-hand, May-Court, Windsor, ON; last seen here). Hat (vintage, The Boodle Factory, Detroit, MI). Handbag (Chanel, vintage). Booties (Zara).

What better way to start your weekend than an early morning with friends and a heavy dose of caffeine!
Most mornings you will find Tom, owner of Cafe Bar Pasta on Dundas St W in Toronto, in the front window chatting with locals or a passersby.  Christine, his wife and the one responsible for the fantastic interior will pop in, say a quick hello and then is off; their young son has other plans than to stay and chat.
At night the cafe becomes a fine dining restaurant and bar hosting both dinner parties and intimate first dates.  It has become one of my favourite spots in Toronto. You really feel like you're part of the family.

Photos Renza

be bold

Floral print dress (vintage,  Treasure Chicks Vintage, Toronto, ON).  Denim jacket (Old Navy). Booties (Zara).

Nothing but a whole lotta love for this dress. I was so excited when I saw the bold print and simple cut at the Vintage Clothing & Textile Show Toronto, that I tried it on over my jeans and blouse right in the middle of the sellers' booth, looked at the seller and said, "its perfect, I'll take it". 

Sometimes, you just know!

 Photos Renza

double duty coats

When your coat doubles as a dress, I say it's a win, win!  

I picked up this jacket at a local consignment store because I loved the boxy, sightly over-sized fit.  I had the sleeves shortened to just above the wrist to help with the proportion of the jacket on my frame.  I wanted the size to look intentional, not like I borrowed my husband's coat! I had the piece of beaver fur lying around and had my seamstress cut it to shape and attach a hook and eye closure to the front.  I'm now able to add it to any jacket or top in my closet.  

Leather coat (vintage, Common Sort, Toronto, ON). Fur collar (custom, Shoppe & Tailor, Toronto, ON). Clutch (Zara). Booties (Zara). Sunglasses (Ray-Ban).

Photos by Renza

finding the ideal fringe jacket

So, my western fringe jacket count this season is up to four.  It seems ridiculous but...yeah its a bit ridiculous!  In all fairness to me, one I gave to a friend, one a is pale pink suede number that I plan to to dye black (any tips would be welcomed :), one is chestnut brown suede and over-sized and the one above, is a beautiful tan leather. 

I found the leather version buried in the back of one of my favourite spots in Kensington Market.  It was tiny, a hard find most often and free from any major damage.  I really liked it for its versatility.  Being leather it can transition to night and add some flare to my typical uniform, all black.

Leather fringe jacket (vintage, Flashback Vintage, Toronto, ON). Hat (vintage, Mama Loves You, Toronto, ON). Top (F21). Jeans (second-hand, 96 Tears, Toronto, ON). Bandanna, worn around neck (dollar store). Booties (Zara).

Photos Renza

up all night

I have been on the hunt for a snakeskin jacket for several years now.  Most often when I do track one down it is either not my size or well beyond what my pocketbook can afford.  

I have a laundry list of such gems filed neatly in the back of my mind that for as much as they frustrate me, I can't seem to give up on.  

I stumbled upon the jacket pictured below one night last summer when I couldn't sleep.  I was trolling Instagram as I most often do when I can't sleep and there she was!  Beat up and abused but the price was right, so I purchased the jacket not even knowing if it was going to fit.  

It ended up that the fit was perfect but the tears on the shoulders made it unwearable.  I brought it to a number of leather shops in Toronto with hopes that someone would help me repair it but was turned away several times.  

That was until I brought it to Shoppe & Tailor on Ossington at College.  Maegan the shop owner didn't seemed fazed by the task and her work proved that I shouldn't have been worried either!  As I have discussed before, dropping a vintage garment off at the seamstress always leaves a lump in my throat.  If something goes wrong that's it. The garment can not be replaced.  This is why finding a trusted seamstress is essential when you shop vintage or second-hand.  

Maegan was able to take some of the skin from the inside seams to patch the tears and use a matching suede in a couple of  other spots.  The results were pretty fantastic and I could not be happier. Just see for yourself!

Dress (vintage, 69 Vintage, Toronto, ON). Belt (second-hand, Lost & Found Vintage, Royal Oak, MI). Snakeskin jacket (vintage, @theboodlefactory, Instagram store, based in Detroit, MI). Snakeskin clutch (Club Monaco). Booties (Zara). Bracelets (thrifted, gifted).

Photos Renza