Controversial Actions

I did something considered rather controversial in the vintage world: I changed a vintage dress *Insert outraged gasp here* I know, I know, but hear me out. Here is the dress in it's original state, modeled by the lovely Solanah of Vixen Vintage.

Cute, right? And it was on sale, so I had to have it. The package came, I squee'd and I immediately tried it on. The green gingham was amazing, but the rest of the dress did not look as nice on me as it does on the pretty lady modelling it. I bought this dress in 2010, with every intention on taking it in to make it fit better, but instead it just sat in my closet, making it's way through two rounds of seasonal closet changes. Then I found out I was going on my trip next week, and we were going over St. Patty's Day weekend, so I knew I had to dig it up. I did, I took it in, put a couple of darts in it, and it fit so much better! ... but I looked like a big green blob.

So I decided to make a couple of changes to the dress:

First, I decided to remove the green flower buttons. I've kept them for use in another project, but they didn't really suit me, or the dress when it was on me, so off they came!

I swapped in round, white buttons, and I added some white trim along the edge for contrast.

I raised the hem of the shirt sleeves by an inch and added a cuff with white trim. The white makes such a difference, and really crisps up the gingham.

This is what the dress looks like at the moment. I think it looks pretty cute, and it stays true to the original idea of the dress.

I haven't worn it out and about, since I'm waiting for Saturday, but I'll be sure to post pictures when I'm done.

What do you think? Is it alright to alter a vintage piece, if you stay true to the style? Or should they be left alone? I'd love to hear what you think!

Cheers!
~Paige

Travel Here, Travel There

The Mr and I are heading out west next Friday, off to see my family for a week. I'm super excited about it as I haven't seen my dad and youngest brother since July, and I haven't seen my older younger brother (try to figure that one out) since my mom passed away just over three years ago. It will be a good week.

Since I'm a super planner, I'm already thinking about what I want to take with me, and want to wear on the airplane. I certainly do not want to look like this:

Uggs and Victoria's Secret Sweats? Really? From here

I see entirely too many people wearing this on an airplane. I understand the for long flights you want to be comfortable, but there is comfort, and there is looking like a slob. I would much rather take my cues from Dita von Teese's book:

Picture from here
THIS is how you should travel. She looks amazing! She's not wearing any makeup, except for her red lip, so she'll keep her face fresh for when she lands.

I've also done some research and as it turns out, if you're dressed better when you travel, you're more likely to get upgrades and be treated more nicely by the airline staff. I've tried it, and it does work. So, I've put some thought into some outfits that are great for travel.

I love this outfit for longer flights. I always find it hard to relax when I'm in close-fitting pants, and I won't wear sweats thankyouverymuch, so I usually try to find a dress I feel comfortable in, something that is a lot like a nightgown.

Airplanes can be amazingly cold, so if you add a cute pair of tights, a warm cardigan and a snuggly blanket, then you'll be warm and comfortable. The flats are easy to slip in and out of, and a coordinating messenger bag will help you keep everything together. I like the bags with a small side pocket I can shove my iPod and earbuds into. This way, I don't lose them, and they're easy to access.

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I love this one for a short flight. It's super feminine with the bow blouse and swing jacket, stylish with the cloche hat and high-waist trousers, and just slightly whimsical with all of the polka dot accessories. I've added in two of my must-have items: Lipstain and Chapstick. The Mr hates lipstick, and won't let me kiss him with it on, and it often rubs off very quickly. The lipstain keeps the colour on and the Chapstick keeps my lips from feeling dry. And since those short flights usually don't have in-flight entertainment, bring along an e-reader to keep you busy!

This is probably what I'll be wearing on my flight:

My flight leaves at 7am, and we live over an hour away from the airport, which means I will be waking up at oh-goodness-me'o'clock for my flight, and arriving at the airport at about 5:45am. It's a six hour flight, so I am travelling a bit more comfortable than I normally do. I'm going to set my hair in pincurls the night before, and leave my hair in a Rosie style while I fly, so the curls are perfectly set for when I land. My blue striped shirt is comfortable and warm, and the jeans are a great dark wash that make them look more like a trouser.

I'm going to travel with only one small bag and my carry on bag so I can keep everything with me on the flight and I don't have to wait for luggage. If you're going on a trip where you're not expecting to buy lots of souvenirs or trinkets, travel light! It makes life in airports so much easier. I'm also bringing my sleep mask so I can catch an hour or two of sleep and be refreshed when I arrive, and my Kobo to read the Hunger Game trilogy... AGAIN. It was so good, I can't stop re-reading them!

With that, I'm out for the weekend.

Cheers!
~Paige

The Magic of Disney

My Disney room will be my pride and joy, but, at 24, most people give me a bit of a funny look when I express my deep and abiding love for all things Disney. I can't really explain it, there is just something about the feelings you get when you're immersed in Disney, that comes from that place where you're always going to be a kid.

A friend of mine posted this video for me, and I can't think of a better way to show the Magic that is Disney.

With that, here are my favourite pictures from my first ever visit to Walt Disney World in 2006. They feature a 19-year old Paige, so please forgive the hair and perpetual Disney Princess sweater; I knew not what I did.

Cinderella and I

The Goofy Hat

My 'coon skin cap from the Canada Pavilion at Epcot


Cinderella's Castle with the two that made it all happen.

If it has been a while, go and pick out your favourite Disney movie, take a couple of hours, and feel like a kid again.

Cheers!
~Paige

Read What You Want

I love books. I love to read, to curl up in my big, ol' comfy chair with a cup of tea, a big bowl of popcorn and a good book... Or a trashy book... Or a piece of literature. I will read everything from Shakespearean plays, to trashy romances, to ChickLit to proper literature. What I read really depends on my mood. Heck, if I'm out of books, a comic book or the back of a cereal box will do.

Not everyone is as open to reading whatever they feel like, and some will even challenge books and try to get them banned. Then, there is also buzz around the internet about the SOPA, PIPA and ACTA legislations that are being put forward; censorship is a hot topic. So with that, I present:

FREEDOM TO READ WEEK!!

Okay, fine, it's not my idea... but it's a good one! The Freedom of Expression Committee is a committee that monitors censorship issues in Canada, and talks about issues of intellectual freedom, like being able to read what you want, say what you want, etc. Now of course, this is all within reason (hate speech has no place here, thankyouverymuch) and so every year they put out a new list of challenged media. I use the term media, because it's not just books, but can also include films, music, magazines, graphic novels, etc.

What are some of the items on the list? Well, there are some that you kind of expect someone to take offense to, like To Kill a Mockingbird. But then there are also items that come from left field, like Star Wars: A New Hope. Whhhaaaaaa? One of my favourite children's books I Have to Go by Robert Munsch is banned in some parts of the United States.

If you're interested, here is a great list to get you started:

Margaret Laurence, The Diviners
J.D. Salinger, Catcher in the Rye
Rosamund Elwin, Asha's Mums
Alice Munro, Lives of Girls and Women
Elizabeth Laird, A Little Piece of Ground
Mordecai Richler, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz
John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter
Mark Twain, Huckleberry Finn
Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale

Have fun, enjoy, and read what you want!

"Everybody is not for free speech. Everybody's for free speech, but."
— Jules Feiffer (b. 1929), U.S. cartoonist, in Jules Feiffer's America: From Eisenhower to Reagan (1982)

All Business

There are some days, as much as I don't like to, where I can't wear vintage/vintage-styled clothes. Yesterday was one of those days. I had to help out at one of the executive's offices so I had to be all business. Granted, I looked pretty nice, but I felt a little strange not rocking my regular red lips and black eyeliner.

It got me to thinking: if I can't wear vintage to work, what would I like to wear instead?

A skirt suit. You can never go wrong in a skirt suit. I've had days when there was nothing but meetings, and this outfit would have done wonders! The suit itself is pretty standard, but I have to inject some colour! I love how the red and teal play off of each other, and the stockings make sure I stay professional.

I also try to meet up with friends and colleagues for lunches every now and again, so I want to look spiffy when I go out. I also want the look to work when I'm around the office, so I found myself attracted to this dress. It has great lines, is a fabulous colour, and is wonderfully professional. The cream belt and pumps give it a bit of a nautical feel, and I love the emeralds! My birth month gemstone. (Hint hint ;) ) Polka dot stockings for fun, and the swing jacket for cute!

I think this outfit is my favourite, and I don't think it's hard to see why. The folks around my office know how much of a Disney lover I am, so they wouldn't be at all surprised to see me rocking Mickey Mouse earrings and a Mickey Mouse balloon purse. I already have a cute Mickey watch, thanks to The Mr for Christmas. (Thanks, The Mr!) I love purple, so the shirt and flats would fall perfectly in my wardrobe. And glitter gel pens for my own notes. Yes, I already have some on my desk... In my Cinderella pen holder.

But, as you can see, I can't give up the vintage look entirely.

Cheers!
~Paige