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

altered state

I believe that all garments are a work in progress.  Sometimes I have a hard time getting rid of things that have great bones; pants in a bold shade of purple but the leg just isn't flattering anymore or a jacket with gigantic shoulders but made of the most beautiful wool.  

Alterations and a trusty seamstress are both something I'm quite fond of.  Case in point with these jeans.  I mean it was not a huge alteration but I think the look it quite different.  

The last time I wore them in a post was in July 2013 (how was it that long ago?) They have since been in my closet for some time but I still really loved them. I thought about options for a few weeks and settled on simply shortening them above the ankle.  I figured that this would allow me to wear them with flats or sneakers, something that was not an option when they were so long without losing their massive size.  I must say that I'm quite happy with the result.  Throughout the winter I have worn them with ankle boots and sneakers and look forward to pairing them with platform sandals come spring. *Just make sure when hemming jeans, especially a distressed pair that you spend the extra money to have your seamstress salvage the original hem and reattach it at your desired length.  It makes all the difference.

Faux fur vest (thrifted, Kensington Market, Toronto, ON). Top (Joe Fresh). Vintage Men's Levis (Urban Outfitters, Toronto, ON). Shoes (Nine West). Clutch (vintage, Salvation Army, Windsor, ON). Necklace (vintage, Jones & Co. Windsor, ON).

Photos Renza

photobombed

Dress (vintage, WeAretheOthers, Windsor, ON). Shoes (Nine West). Clutch (vintage, Value Village Thrift, Windsor, ON). Sunglasses (Ray-Ban). Bracelet (Shashi).

Photos D Clinton

this weeks' finds

1. Levi's with patches (some serious alterations required, stay tuned!). 2.Vintage letterpress tray (to be repurposed as a jewelry tray). 3. Camouflage New Balance sneakers. 4. Beaded evening dress (My seamstress really came through on this one.  I found the dress at 11am, stopped by her shop by 11:30 and picked up the dress (a much shorter version) at 3:30 to wear out that evening!). 5. Travel trunk with drawers. 6. Gun city bag by Vlieger & Vandam (Snagged for 60% off at Zane).

Photos taken with iPhone

polka dot mini

Dress (thrifted, Regeneration, Pleasant Ridge, MI. $13; alterations to take this dress from a 1x to fit $30). Hat (H&M). Boots (Topshop). Rings (Etsy).

Photos A Mingay

leather trousers makeover

Often times my inspiration when vintage and thrift shopping comes from looks that I see on the runway, in magazines and on the street.  I love the challenge of finding garments that may not be perfect but have 'good bones' and making them work to satisfy my style cravings.  I am in love with boyfriend trousers and while you can find this style in denim at almost every store right now, I thought that this look in leather would take it to the next level.  Finding the leather London Fog trousers pictured above was kind of a happy accident.  I was actually shopping for a leather skirt that I had plans to deconstruct and make into a purse.  While I found a skirt last seen here, it ended up fitting so well that I actually added it to my wardrobe rather than tear it apart. I grabbed these pants as a back up because of the amount of usable leather but when I tried them on, I was inspired to make my dream of leather boyfriend trousers come true.  After a visit to my trusty seamstress and a lapse of just 24 hours, I had my very own custom leather boyfriend trousers. I guess my purse idea will have to wait!

Leather trousers (thrifted, Penny Jane's Vintage, Windsor, ON $25; alterations $42). Top (H&M). Shoes (Aldo). Bracelet (Hudson Bay Co.). Sunglasses (Ray-Ban).

Photos A Mingay

fresh off the chopping block

A couple of weeks ago I posted a photo of this dress, recently purchased at Regeneration in Pleasant Ridge, MI. on Instagram. Well, it is back from the seamstress and fresh off the 'chopping block'. Check out the transformation.

David Brown for Jacobson's paisley dress (vintage, Regeneration, Pleasant Ridge, MI. $10; alterations $22). Belt (Zara). Suede booties (Aldo). Perspex clutch (MNO logie buy it here) last seen here. Ring (thrifted, Penny Jane's Vintage, Windsor, ON.  $10).

Photos A Mingay