My Absence

A quick note on the silence of this blog over the last week.  I was working at the Coterie show (fashion tradeshow) in New York last week, and well, I didn't bring my computer nor did I have the energy to update my blog.  That's just the kind of blogger I am.

Just to round out my profile - I'm not on Facebook, rarely use my cell phone, and think tweeting, in general, is kind of stupid.  I know, some unpopular opinions.  You can just add them to my growing list.

Shoe of the Week: Curious but Cool

These odd little shoes are the result of a collaboration between Puma and Phillipe Starck.   To me, they're a cross between clogs, Finnish house slippers, and an egg - or something like that.  I bought them at Daffy's, where they were marked $5.00; however, I only paid $1.25 because they were 75% off.  Even if I wear them once and donate them, they'll be worth it.  I am, however, thinking about making a crazy orange felt dress to go with them.  We'll see how that turns out.

Shoe of the Week: Feeling Frisky

I could feel very frisky in these leopard-printed calfskin pumps by Rochas.  I particularly love the heel.

Definitely Not Fashionable

On Sunday I ran 16.5 miles as part of my marathon training. I've switched to a 10/1 run/walk mode (run 10 minutes, walk 1 minute) for the longer runs, and it's making a huge difference - both physically and pyschologically.  I plan on running my marathon that way.  I ran a half marathon the previous Sunday, and it left me feeling a little despondent.  I felt tired, hot, and cranky and wondered how I'd ever run a full marathon, so having a new strategy and putting a few solid runs under my belt since then has helped immensely.

Besides being able to wear shorter skirts and dresses and my increased endurance, I have another, more hardcore, sign of my work pounding out the miles.  Note:  these photos are not for the faint of heart.

Behold!  Runners' feet:

My lovely blister (thanks to my poor choice in socks for the half marathon):

I know!  It's pretty scary, but are you surprised to learn that I'm proud as well?

I've never had pretty feet.  No one in my family has pretty feet, but we work with what we've got.  You'd be surprised what a little pedicure can do to make these bad girls fit for daylight.

Shoe of the Week: End of Summer

Last week it was about dressing up again.  This week it's about sloughing about in a bit of casualness comme les Français.

Dapper Day in Toronto

Yesterday was a day to catch up with some friends and errands in Toronto.  Yes, I'm often cranky about the city and its inhabitants, but it also has its strong points.

Firstly, we stopped at the Melissa, a vintage store I wrote about in a post at the end of November.  It's still going strong, and Melissa herself pulled out this incredible white open work/lace 60's dress that I would never have chosen for myself, but after trying it on, it is mine.  I'll post a photo of it soon.  Who knew that I'd once again let the hemline stop at mid-thigh?  It's probably all that running.

While poking around the shop, this dapper fellow came in:

Meet Craig Renaud, a fledgling fashion designer.  I really liked the mix of elements in this outfit:  the lace at the cuffs, the buttoned and chained waistcoat, the walking stick, etc.  One thing you can't see is that his bag (the strap crosses his chest) had all these band names and patches on it.  I appreciated the creative anachronism displayed.  It made it quite modern.

After our errands, we headed to Fresh for dinner.  I was excited that we had the same waiter we'd had months earlier because I'd loved this tattoo:

How tough is that?  "Read More."  Again, it's a call to engage in a more traditional medium, and of course, as a writer, I'm all in favour of people reading more. 

Crafty and All That It Entails

For me, crafty is an excellent word because it emcompasses so many areas.  The area in which I am currently trying hardest to be crafty (and heretofore has not necessarily been a crafty area) is money.  Yes, I know, times are hard, the economy is struggling, jobs are being cut etcetera etcetera, and I'm not saying that in a blase way.  I'm saying it because those are the ways people try to make it sound like it's nothing new, that everyone is doing it, a way for them to negate your attempts.  I'm not sure I believe that. (I really wanted to "buy" that, but I'm on a budget.)

Nonetheless, I am shopping my own closet so far bringing back at least one, if not two, vintage Jil Sander suits, and a long black leather Banana Republic skirt.  I'm looking at the September issues of magazines and seeing what interests and inspires me.  Of course, as a curvy girl who knits, I'm loving the return of the sweater girl look - full skirts and fitted pullovers.

A problem with being crafty is often thinking "Oh, I could make that," so I rarely buy sweaters anymore and will often turn away from a dress or skirt I think I could make.  The problem is not with thinking one can make that, but believing one will make that within the time one wants to wear it.  For example, on my "Projects List" is a glitter t-shirt, which was to be my version of a Meadham Kirchhoff t-shirt from S/S10:

I'd say I was maybe halfway through.  I'm almost done with the lining and then should be able to whip up (hah!) the top layer, but hey, it's September already.  Guess it'll look great next spring as well...

I've already knit my contribution to the chunky cabled sock look and thankfully already have some sweaters that will do work quite nicely this fall.  However, there are plenty of free patterns on Ravelry, like these two, that definitely echo what we're seeing in our magazines if you're feeling crafty.  (Please note, knitting is not a cheap hobby.  Really.  Sometimes it is less expensive to buy the sweater, or you could do as I have - thrift a knit sweater in a suitable weight, unravel it, and harvest the yarn!)

Wishbone sweater published in Berroco

Shauna sweater published by Louet

I'm looking forward to finding even more ways to be crafty this fall.   I'll keep you posted.