A vintage fur coat (a.k.a. the warmest thing I own), and the boots that I promised myself I would never wear...

Not only is it reaching horrendously cold temperatures around here, I've also unfortunately come down with a bit of a flu, which is somewhat evident in these photos if you note the puffiness around my eyes and nose. That being said, I still had a great evening. G brought home Little Big Planet for me (and I'm not usually a video game person, but this one is seriously too cute for words, and the music in it is great) which I've quickly become addicted to, and when I decided that I needed to get out of the apartment for a little bit, we walked down the street and bought a couple of albums I've been eyeing and, of course, took a couple of photos along the way. All in all, I really don't have anything to complain about!

This photo set is real-life as opposed to fashion in the sense that what I am wearing has far more to do with practicality than anything else. As you can see, many of the streets here in Toronto are currently sheeted in ice, making creative footwear choices next to impossible unless I'm taking a cab to somewhere indoors or, similarly, carry my 'good shoes' in my bag until I reach my indoor destination; this brings me to my justification of the Ugg monstrosities currently residing on my feet - they're warm, I don't slip and fall in them and the fact that I dislike them on an aesthetic level results in me not getting upset when they're damaged by various outdoor elements. And I walk basically everywhere I go, so these are all entirely necessary qualities in a shoe for me. So before ya'll go and judge me for wearing them, please take a moment to think about my struggle.

Moreover, taking off my coat for a few quick snaps out in the cold is not currently an option lest I have a desire to die of pneumonia, which I don't. Thankfully I have a bunch of warm, cozy, functional coats that I love and believe to be stylish, the vintage white-gold fur that I wore last night being my favourite one of all. What I love most about this coat is the fact that I can wear a pair of black trousers or jeans with it and still look put together, regardless of how not put together I may feel. The true mark of a great item of clothing is, in my opinion, that it always makes you feel good - in which case my vintage fur undoubtedly qualifies with flying colours.

My plans for this weekend consist of nothing more and nothing less than getting tons of rest, acquiring new outfits for my poppit on Little Big Planet, and drinking as much hot lemon water as humanly possible (not only is it good for me, it's also the most delicious warm drink in the world). And I'm looking forward to it more than I have any weekend in quite a while, because I know that it's exactly what I need right now. I hope each and every one of you goes and has the weekend you want and need as well, and I look forward to coming back on Monday and catching up with you!

Wearing

The white-gold fur coat is vintage.

Underneath the coat I'm wearing a DKNY thin-ribbed black turtleneck.

The black trousers are from Guess, and are surprisingly wonderful.

The black boots are Uggs.

I've no idea what brand the black gloves are, but I do know that they're unbelievably warm and soft.

Utilitarian Chic: breaking up the monochrome with pink tights and a cozy hat

The grungier and more dilapidated an area is, the better the chance that G and I want to take photos in it. Such is the case for today's photo set, and it worked out inadvertently brilliantly for us; there's something very post-communist Russia about wearing an expensive fur hat in an abandoned tennis court...
The weekend was entirely wonderful, the pinnacle of which was unearthing two mindblowingly amazing 1970's patterned jersey maxi dresses at the St. Lawrence Market yesterday morning. The first is from Saks Fifth Avenue circa 1974, and I have a nagging suspicion that the second is an actual Ossie Clark...oh, and both were acquired for a cool $35 sum total! The woman selling them obviously didn't recognize their value, but that works for me so I'm not going to complain even for a moment.

I know that it's unbearably geeky to admit to this, but I'm going to anyways so you can make fun of me later in the comments section if you must: the first thing I thought of when I awoke this morning was the aforementioned dresses, and moreover was sickeningly excited to run over to my closet and look at them in all of their glory. They're currently hanging in what I like to refer to as the closet's 'place of honour', which is where all of my new purchases that I'm to-die-for-in-love-with are placed prior to the first time they're worn.

Anyways, more on what I'm actually wearing today, as the dresses are quite obviously too special to be worn on a predictable Monday (I assure you that their coronation into my wardrobe will be far more grand than that). The black and white flats I'm wearing were purchased earlier in the week out of nothing less than complete desperation on my part, as I had been stomping about the city in 4 1/2 inch heels for hours upon hours and had stupidly forgotten to put flats in my bag before I left the apartment. Thankfully for me, Urban Behaviour exists and sells adorable little shoes like these for no more than $9.99 a pop.

The rest of today's outfit is pretty standard for me, but I will admit that I do enjoy breaking up my usual head-to-toe black ensembles with fun coloured stockings like these fuchsia ones. What I enjoy even more, however, is a gigantic mug of coffee early on a Monday morning...

Wearing

I own a million black turtlenecks, but this wool knit DKNY one is by far my favourite of the bunch.

The black skirt is actually American Apparel's high-waisted Interlock skirt/dress/thing pulled up to be a tube dress.

My fuchsia stockings were purchased at Winners, but are the Hue brand.

The ballet flats, which strangely remind me of a delicious chocolate-dipped macaroon were an Urban Behaviour purchase.

The little box handbag is vintage Ralph Lauren, and something I love but definitely don't find the opporunity to carry around often enough.

My fur hat is vintage.

Plaid, fur and bows in my hair...brought to you by my current 'Mad Men' obsession

I'm feeling awfully peppy this morning thanks to the Daylight Savings Time switcheroo (yay for an extra hour!) that occurred this weekend, though I do have much reason to be peppy beyond that considering the wonderful couple of days just had. It was, by all means, a typical weekend in the life of S and G, but nonetheless a great and much-needed one.
I'm currently feeling very inspired by the 1950's glamour in Mad Men, which may account for the cutesy shift dress, fur-collared sweater and general 'properness' I decided to go for today in my ensemble. At a cool $3 price tag, this preppy plaid Gap dress is one of my favourite thrift store finds ever, and I absolutely want a dress in its style made in every tartan check and pattern under the sun...come to think of it, it's not irrational to take it to a dressmaker more talented than I at such things and have them do this, is it?

Much like black latex leggings, it seems as though very few individuals in Toronto have caught on to the knee socks trend, though in all honesty I find this to be slightly more understandable given the mercurial nature of our current weather situation. Generally speaking, when it is warm outside it is too warm to be wearing knee highs, and when it is cold outside one can pretty much forget about having any exposed skin out with the exception of one's face (and that's what giant tubs of Nivea are for, my friends).

Today is one of those rare and wonderful days of total and complete fashion freedom, where personal style is not determined by how uncomfortable one is in certain garments thanks to the neutrality of the weather! And, on another note, I've come to the conclusion that I need to locate a craft store so that I can make hair bows of this sort in every size and colour imaginable, because $5 is just too much to pay for one no matter how much I may love the way they look.

Wearing

Gap plaid shift dress from the Salvation Army's '50% off day', which I believe most every woman on the planet should have in some form because it's Just. That. Awesome.

The overpriced but amazing hair clip bow is from Claire's.

The knee socks were a great find at the College Street Winners for only $4!

Juicy Couture pumps, which look kind of like the Chloe triple-strapped ones I've lusted over for what feels like forever, are also from Winners.

The fur-collared knit cardigan is 'personal vintage'- translation: it's been kicking around my closet for longer back that I can remember, but only because I feel as though it's one of those timeless fashion pieces that would kill me to not have anymore.

The vintage furs are finally coming out of hiding...

It feels like forever since we here at Modern-Guilt have done a 'normal' post. And while it's obviously only been since last Thursday, there is nonetheless a part of me which has missed our daily outfit photos in that interim period of time. That being said, I cannot express how thrilled G and I are at the overwhelmingly positive response to yesterday's mini-documentary post. We are considering doing more videos in the future, and will definitely keep everyone posted as to when another may rear its head onto the site.
Speaking of Modern-Guilt: The Video, today's photos are naturally the photos taken during such video's 'photo shoot' section, which is without a doubt my favourite bit. It's rare that I get to see G and I as we actually are, and as such it was a huge joy for me to bear witness to what is for all intensive purposes an outsider's perspective on us.
In other news, I will fully admit to the fact that I have somehow slipped into a state of complete and utter disregard for my spending ban…as a matter of [shameful] fact, I spent four hours in Holt Renfrew on Sunday afternoon purchasing everything from jeans to jewelry to a new jacket for G. I've no idea what came over me, but I did for a moment feel as though I had gotten the need to spend, spend, spend out of my system...
That is, until I happened to pass by a Coach on my walk home, noticing this beauty in the window. I can state with no hesitation that I have rarely, if ever, been a big fan of Coach bags, but if this one isn't my own personal version handbag perfection then I really don't know what is. While it's understandable that it may not be everyone's cup of tea, I can assert beyond any reasonable doubt that it my entire pot of tea and scones and everything else that makes tea worth having. Seriously, how amazing would this look with my winter furs?! Argh. I know, I know….I'll stop now.
Beyond the above little consumerist rant of mine, life is going swimmingly well (however, just in case there are any benevolently wealthy benefactor readers out there: please, please, please send the bag to me? Please?). Prior to my Holt Renfrew spendthrift binge on Sunday I did indeed attend a lovely Toronto Blogger's Brunch, of which I plan on giving a detailed recounting in tomorrow morning's post, as this one is already getting super long-winded, even for me…remember what I said about having missed 'regular' posting?
Once again, huge thanks to each and every one of you that left us a lovely comment on the video which we worked so hard on. Your support and love is appreciated more than either G or I are capable of expressing (which is saying a lot, particularly in my case).

Wearing
Coat, shirt, boots, bag: vintage
Jeans: Urban Planet

Gold and Silver and Sunshine

I've deemed this dress my 70's secretary dress, because that's who I imagine wore it before I got my hands on it. Mind you I doubt she was quite as cool as my checkered Vans wearing Nor Cal jacket dude, but nonetheless probably smoked menthol 100's at her desk while reading Vreeland-edited Vogue and lazily flipping through a Rolodex of fabulous contacts, so I don't think she was lame by any standards.

Furthermore, I've determined that I want a billion more dresses exactly like this one but in different patterns and prints. As many of you may know by now, I dislike wearing pants for the most part and, in consideration of the fact that winter is coming whether I like it or not, I feel as though this dress is absolutely perfect to wear under my recently acquired vintage fur coat for a proper, warm and stylish winter look.
I generally go a little bit grunge in this autumn and winter months and leave my boho-ness in summer, but I think I've conclusively decided that this is the year that I'm going to give luxe-bohemian a try...only if I can track down more dresses like this one though. Speaking of which, I am on the hunt for a great pair high-waisted, wide-legged jeans that are flattering as opposed to fattening and suggestions are welcome! Goodness knows I will have to wear pants at some point, and I'd rather have a pair that doesn't make me look like the Jolly Green Giant.
The upcoming weekend plan consists of equal parts fun and relaxation, making for what I believe will be a fantastic one. There are, as usual, a couple of parties to attend (no good concerts though...WTF is with you lately, Toronto?), coffee dates with a friend, and hopefully a bit more shopping, which isn't to say that I should shop, just that I probably will. I hope all of you have respectively spectacular weekends, and look out for a potential post this Sunday which looks to be pretty different than anything Modern-Guilt has done before!

Wearing
Dress: vintage
Tights: Hue
Shoes: F21
Bag: Chanel, vintage
Sunnies: vintage