Most Clever bag ever

Grandpa elbow patches on my purse? Yes please! Evon Cassier of CLEVERSCENE makes these 'Power Suit' bags, a.k.a. my new favorite things, from upcycled men's suit jackets. If I were a bag person, I would definitely buy the one pictured above. A few of these remind me of my man's awesome but past retro suit obsession, which I was a total fan of (he was in a ska band - enough said). Sigh.

Multiple posts courtesy of the non-stop snow.

Library camo, Part 2

Oh goodness, this 'dress' is absolutely delightful. This display was done by the fabulous artist Kate Cusack, whom I found thanks to Margaux Lange's great interview with Deep Glamour. This is the ultimate library camo, hands down. Perhaps I should do this with our vast collection of books on my day off tomorrow...

Check out Kate's Etsy shop for some breathtaking zipper jewelry - this woman does everything!

Waist wraps and bustles

I feel a twinge of guilt in regards to my blog writing this weekend. I had two absolutely stupendous posts lined up, but I believe they either froze in the snow somewhere on the way to my keyboard, or never left their wordy homes at all. Sigh. I personally don't blame them though, as I would've loved to stay inside this entire weekend myself if I had had the choice. Not that I didn't enjoy having the opportunity to forever preserve my toes in cross-country ski sock encased curlicue formations whilst watching slightly insane cyclists ride round and round a treacherous course yesterday. But I digress.

Off to Etsy to save my blog for the end of the weekend anyway. I do lament the fact that I no longer have my waspy form to fit into this OOAK ArtLab waist wrap (I love that - "waist wrap"; pictured above). I'm just strangely drawn to Patricia's expertise in handling industrial elastic, as with her Bustle of Lysistrata and Clinical Harness. Just gorgeous. (Edit: This piece is now available to be made to your/my measurements!)

And speaking of bustles, I'm so glad to have re-found this incredible high waisted steampunk skirt by PINaR ERIS. This has been in my Etsy Favorites list for literally eons, but as it's tucked back so far, I'd forgotten all about it. And now it's also available in lovely taffeta fabrics! I'm definitely going to be revisiting the idea of ordering myself one, as I'm a sucker for this style of skirt (and it is obviously quite a well-reviewed item from Pinar). Just wondering if I should dive in and order it in red plaid, seeing as I've thus far chickened out on wearing my last red plaid purchase. The black taffeta would make a gorgeous holiday skirt, although my new old Vivienne Westwood pants might get jealous...

I need $1394

With today's wind chill dragging the temperature down to -13 degrees today, I am in dire need of this Vivienne Westwood Anglomania coat. I technically could just stay all bundled up inside with a blanket or two, but since I promised to go with the man to watch the Canadian National Cyclo-cross Championships taking place in one of our city's parks, I'll need to be all bundled up outdoors for the afternoon. I believe this is actually the same coat I blogged about before, but I think it's much more public friendly in black. Otherwise you look like you're just wearing your blanket with a belt. Not that I'd really care though, since it's a fabulous looking blanket.

Emotional Sculpture

I am in complete awe of these pieces from Johan Ku's 'Emotional Sculpture' collection. And also in complete need, as I'm absolutely frozen in this arctic tundra I live in. I think if I had to choose, I'd want the ball gown to layer directly over my standard university issue sweatpants. Simply incredible (the dress, not the sweatpants). I wonder if my mom could be convinced to try out some 'soft sculpture' like this...Mom?

Happy 200th post blogiversary to me!

Edit: After doing some more digging, I found out that these pieces are from Johan's 2004 Master's degree collection. To check out some more of his work, click here to go to his website.

Bullet-proof Bib

Well, the F/W 09 installment of The In-laws Visit has come to an end. So as I sit here typing my post in a pug-infested Label of Hope sweater, I dream of my outfit tomorrow that can and will consist of as many ruffles and delicate layers as I like. It will need to consist of many layers at that though, with the day-long snow fall we had today and the below zero temperature that will apparently be sticking around for at least the next week or two. I will not despair, however, as long as I can have the new ArtLab Couture Bib No. 2 Noir as one of these layers. I love my Charlie Chaplin/Industrial Couture bib so much, and so I fully expect this new version to creep into my wardrobe even more with the gorgeous "bullet proof vest/harness/armor/pleats" added to the already wonderful ArtLab bib-ness (?). I have a feeling Queen Michelle would love one of these as well.

Winter is upon us

I've lived here all my life minus 8 months, so I know I should be used to my city's neurotic weather. But seriously? Snow on October 8th? Seriously?!! Sigh. I wish I had this oh so comfy Gathered Hoodie Dress by Emily Ryan to keep warm in. And I wish my job didn't consist of going in and out of 2 degree coolers and -50 degree freezers all day. Again, sigh.

Crash love is a burning thing

I am quite distracted as I write this post. I'm in the process of finally listening to the newest album of my once favorite band, and my ears and heart are in the bitterest of battles. Not sure what the outcome will be here. If this ends horribly, however, there are quite good parts of this day to (almost) make up for it.

1) Our car is fixed, at no (immediate) cost to us. I hear we owe the in-laws a trip to Europe when my man is a rich and famous librarian, but I think that's far enough away to not have to stress about the costs of 4 holidaying adults. ((The opening two songs were quite catchy, I have to admit.))

2) I've received all of the Christmas presents I've already purchased (only one more major one to go!), and they're all absolutely wonderful. I'm secretly hoping no one likes any of them so I can keep them all. ((Ooo, this song hurts quite a bit.)) P.S. The complexgeometries stifler sweatshirt is beyond amazing. Everyone should get one in steel grey. Just saying.

3) I had the best cheesecake in the entire world for lunch today. Pumpkin Kahlua, topped with cream cheese icing and a deliciously chewy ginger/molasses/spicy cookie. I felt a tad silly eating my huge dessert in a lunchroom full of dieting people, but mostly scared that any moment one of them would steal it from me to feed their starving selves. ((Okay, you can't beat his 'Oh!'s. Sigh))

4) I came across this gorgeous architectural jacket by Amoelbarroco, aptly named the 'Black architecture jacket'. Just lovely. ((Hmm...those lyrics at least sound like the old stuff.))

5) And that reminds me of Alexandra Groover's gorgeous and newly-vamped shell hooded dress. Sigh. I dream of the day I will own the jacket version. ((...))

So the verdict? They should've at least had a black album cover. Just doesn't fit.