n9

Water and Oil by Steven Meisel. This is seriously one of the most thought-provoking photoshoots I've seen in a while. I love how Vogue Itatlia has the guts to put this on their magazine and believe that their readers would appreciate this amazinginly beautiful yet haunting photoshoot. Just imagine US Vogue doing it, the mass media would go insane and there would be countless "personalities" sharing their views on this issue. Loosen up! It's fashion, it's art, it's just a simple state of mind sharing a point of view. Anyways, back to the shoot itself. I believe this was shot in a harbour near NYC, and I have to say, the location is spot on. The model casting is amazing, and the wardrobe, well, the wardrobe is not really that clearly visible or identifiable compared to editorials like the ones in US Vogue where a model just jumps in front of a white/creme backdrop in this shoot. Some might say it loses the point of an editorial because the point of an editorial is merely to "sell" clothes, but this is what keeps the creative juice of all that are involved in the industry running. I find myself just sitting here in front of my macbook just staring at these images and I just become speechless, it's like, seriously mesmerizing. I really should head out and buy a copy right away. This is the kind of editorials that would make people want to buy the magazine, this is the kind of editorial that would stop people in their path and make them think. This is the perfect definition of how fashion is not just about glamor and pretty clothes and fabulous jewelry. This is the reality.

n8

from left: Emanuel Ungaro // Balenciaga // Hugo Boss

 

from left: Valentino // Hugo Boss // Christian Dior // Versace // Christian Dior

Found a selection of ties when I went out thrifting over the last weekend. It's usually hard to find nice ties here as most ties that end up in thrift shops are wide ties, and they're not my style at all. I like narrow ties that are easily tied into a half windsor. I especially love the Balenciaga one, it is adorable and the color is amazing. The Christian Dior one in the center of the seond picture has a monogrammed logo at the tip of the tie, I saw a similar one at Holt Renfrew in blue that retailed for $250. I got mine for $4.99. The Versace one is brand new with the tags and package still intact, I was thinking of selling it but I know I'd regret it somewhere along the path. 

n7

Christian Dior Creme & White Gingham Shirt

Christian Dior Paris Collection Off-White with Black Stripes Shirt

 

Christian Dior Chemise Black & White Checkered Shirt

  

Christian Dior Mustard Yellow Shirt

Christian Dior Army Green Shirt

Christian Dior Dark Powder Blue Shirt

Christian Dior Monsieur Light Sky Blue Four Pockets with Pleated Panels Shirt 

Christian Dior Monsieur Red & Navy Striped Shirt

These are my Christian Dior thrifted shirts. I love the fit of Dior shirts, they are usually taken in a bit at the waist, however, the back hems are usually really long, and they look horrible when not tucked. So these shirts are mainly used as my layering pieces now. The cotton are so soft, almost like a cashmere blend. I especially love the light sky blue shirt with the four pockets, very unconventional, yet so elegant. But somehow, I just don't have the chance to wear that one yet. I also love the "dior" monogram on the left chest pocket. The solid color ones are perfect for layering. 

And the most exciting thing is that I got each of these shirts for under $10.

Life is amazing.

n6

Burberry Trench Coat in beige and in pristine condition. I was flipping through the coat section, there were the usual London Fog, Avant Garde, Tip Top and Croydons, and just before I was about to leave, I saw this in the XL section. I picked it up, and it was marked size 40!! My size, which by the way, is supposed to be large, not x-large, but this is Value Village, these people don't know their stuffs, which results in my getting this gorgeous trench coat in pristine condition for a mere $50, which by the way, is the highest price I've ever paid for anything at Value Village. But it's worth it, considereing this trench coat retails for $1500.

Burberry Golf Jacket in mustard-ish green in my size. I love that embroidered crest on the left chest. It looks so amazing. Found this a while back in the Value Village close to my house. It didn't have a tag, so I took it to the counter to ask for the price, and the lady just glanced at it and said, "$7.99?" It made my week.

Burberry Trench coat in Navy Blue. This one was found on the Value Village on Hasting Street.

n5

Donna Karan silk shirt in beige, I think I got this for like $5. It is in brand new condition, just that it was covered in wrinkles when I got it, but sent it to the dry cleaner, and now it looks good as new. It's perfect for layering in the summer.

Super rare Gianfranco Ferre blue and grey striped shirt. This was priced at $3. I bet the pricing people at Value Village had no idea who Gianfranco Ferre is. I think this is from the 70s or 80s' runways. This shirt is not those typical liscensed tailored shirt. It has an exquisite pocket detail, as in the second picture. And what I love most about this shirt is the back side pleats, but I cannot get them to come off nicely on photograph. But the details in real life is so amazing.

Burberry London light blue front panel pleated shirt. This shirt is one of my most amazing finds (I seem to say that for everything, but it's true!) I love the exquisite pleated panels down the front. I love pleats of any kind, that is. It had a bit of stain when I bought it, but I took about 90% of it off, and now only a tiny bit still remain visible, but at $6, it was like whatever.

I am not even 1/10 through all the shirts that I got from the haul, and I already want to go thrifting again.

n4

So I splurged on this Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami Blossom Printed Bandanna last night. It was literally minutes before Holt Renfrew was closing that I stormed in and asked for this bandanna and bought it on the spot. I didn't really think about the purchase. Impulse, anyone? But this print just makes me so happy and cheerful. It is the cutest thing ever. I plan to wear it cowboy scarf style or as a pocket square. It's perfect for the summer. It feels so good, to spoil yourself every once in a little while, even if it's something so little.

n3

These are two shirts that were part of the haul from two days ago. I'm seriously still recovering mentally from hitting the jackpot. These two candied colored striped Nina Ricci shirts are kind of sheer, which makes them perfect for the summer that is slowly approaching. They are perfect for layering. I could wear a simple t-shirt from Banana Republic or Club Monaco, a pair of shorts, and throw these over them, roll the sleeves, and I'm good to go. I am thrilled by these two because the colors are so cute and candy-like. And the fabric, the fabric is super light and super smooth. It is 100% brushed pima cotton. And I got these at $8.99 and 50% off, so that's pretty much only $4.50 each, which is insane, since one cannot even buy a juice from Jugo Juice with a mere $4.50. And yet, I bought two almost brand new Nina Ricci shirts for the $9. They are in excellent pristine condition. I swear they are new and never worn, the only difference between these and a brand new one is the hanging tag, and the price; that's it.

Love the colors of these shirts, and the little NR initial adds a luxurious touch and satisfies the brand whore in me.

n2

These pile of clothes make me glee. Burberry, Issey Miyake, Issac Mizrahi, Thierry Mugler, Nina Ricci, Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein, Oscar de la Renta, Lanvin, Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Missoni, Tommy Hilfiger, Giorgio Armani, Valentino, Versace, Vree & Dreeland, Balmain, Balenciaga, Givenchy, Polo Ralph Lauren, and some other ones that I forgot are in these piles. 

Hand washed, machine washed and home dry cleaned most of these, will take some more to the dry cleaner tomorrow. I vow to not shop for the next two months. I haven't gone thrifting for the last two weeks, well I have, and I spotted some stuffs that I wanted, but I didn't buy it, I waited until today. And thanks god I did, I hit THE JACKPOT. I was smiling all day. It is still beyond me how people just decide to take all these awesome designer clothes out of their closet and donate them to Value Village, like why? But whatever, people donating designer stuffs is good for me.

And the fact that all these clothes cost less than ANY SINGLE ONE of the shirts in the pile bought new at Holt Renfrew or Leowe or wherever else makes me ecstatic.

Will start posting individual images of my new babies once they've been freshened up.

n1

Went to the Vancouver Flea Market for the first time today, and I lived in Vancouver for the past ten years. But honestly, it was extremely disappointing. Maybe I should've went when there is an "antique show," because all I saw today were FAKE Gucci/Coach/Chanel/LV/YouGetTheFlow, Crappily Made Ed Hardy and True Religions that were tacky to the max that made me roll my eyes till I strained a few eye muscles, just CRAP, CRAP, CRAP, there was even a stand that sold just screws, like, who would need to go to a flea market to purchase some rusty screws. I did, however, stumbled across one cool stand that sold vintage photographs, postcards, and other paper products. However, did not have enough time to look around because the stand owner did not seem like he wanted to do business, so I just picked up these two mesmerizing vintage photographs for $1.

It really makes me wonder what they were thinking while having their pictures taken, would they have thought that their photograph would end up in a flea market, and now on my shelf?

Went to Stepho's for dinner, the wait was again horrible, we waited 60 minutes for a table. But again, it's Stepho's, cheap and delicious, so it was worth the wait. I can't help but notice how ugly their tablecloth is. 

Also stopped at H&M to pick up a blackbook project t-shirt, there were a couple that I liked, but I rarely wear t-shirts, so I spent around 30 minutes picking out the one that I really really liked. This Face Lift T-shirt is so witty. Love it.