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

miss v

I was always fascinated when I was younger while shopping with my grandmother (now a healthy 102!) that she could buy a blouse or jacket without even trying it on.  Having made all of her own clothes until she was late into her 70's, she would simply pull her measuring tape out of her purse, measure from shoulder to shoulder and if the garment measured an exact 15 1/2 inches, done deal.  She also told me that with my frame, similar to hers, I should always be shopping in the petites section.  She would school me in my teen years, during my grunge phase, the first time around, that my frame was far to small to be wearing the over sized flannel menswear that I loved, and even though I didn't listen then, her message stuck.  One of the many reasons that I gravitate to shopping vintage is the true fit. Quite different from today where one store a size 4 fits and the next a 00.  Really, 00 is not a size!  And while I don't shop with a measuring tape in my purse, I have a pretty well trained eye for what will work for my body.  The Valentino, MissV jacket that I found recently at a local vintage fair is a perfect example.  While I was initially attracted to the bubble-gum tartan (a first for me) it was only after I slipped it on and it fit like a glove that I was sold.    Gram would be very impressed with this one.  Classic, lady-like and a perfect fit!

Miss V by Valentino (vintage, Wild Thing Vintage, Toronto, ON). Levis (second-hand, 96 Tears Vintage, Toronto, ON). Saks Fifth Ave top (vintage, Lost & Found Vintage, Royal Oak, MI). Shoes (Nine West). Suede clutch (The Gap). Sunglasses (Ray-Ban).

Photos Renza

dreamy leather trousers

 

A few months ago I put up a post of my 'must haves' for spring and I am happy to report that I have found what I expected to be my biggest challenge...wide-leg leather trousers! 

I was in Windsor last month and stopped in my favourite local shop, Jones & Co. Vintage.  I had tried on a beautiful  leather jacket that ended up being a bit small, when Louise, the owner mentioned that the jacket came with matching pants.  I was curious.  Actually, I was salivating! The aged whisky coloured leather jacket was divine, but matching pants? Yes, please. 

The pants were in fantastic condition and after slipping them on, I discovered that they were quite possibly made for me.  A perfect fit. Even the length was just right making them perfect to wear with sneakers or a heeled bootie, as worn in this post.  Thank you Louise, you know me too well. xo

Perkins' - Made in France leather trousers (vintage, Jones & Co Vintage, Windsor, ON ). T-shirt (F21). Basket handbag (second-hand, Regenerations, Pleasant Ridge, MI). Booties, (Zara). Sunglasses (Ray-Ban).

Photos Renza

handmade

You may remember a few weeks ago when I posted 'What I'm thinking about for Spring' that I had included a granny square hand-knit tank on my list.  Well, it has taken a few months to convince her but my very talented friend Diane has agreed to make me a custom one.  I'll be in town visiting family and friends this weekend and plan to meet up with her for a drink and 'unveiling'.  I'm so excited. 

In the meantime, I picked up this sweater at a consignment store in Toronto.  It by no means trumps the granny square design but the fact that it was handmade, evident by its little imperfections prevented me from leaving it on the rack! Oh, and it just so happens to match my new (pre-loved) Fendi baguette perfectly.

Visit Diane's Etsy store here

Sweater (second-hand, Common Sort, Toronto, ON). Levis (vintage, 96 Tears Vintage, Toronto, ON). Fendi Baguette (second hand, Fashionably Yours Consignment, Toronto, ON). Shoes (BCBGMaxAzria). Eyeglasses (Chloe). Bracelets (Giles & Brother, market find).

Photos Renza

back at the farm

Dress (vintage, Regeneration, Pleasant Ridge, MI). Chanel handbag (vintage). Shoes (Zara). Sunglasses (Ray-Ban).

 Photos D Clinton