Better off as the fool...than the owner of that kind of heart.

I've been tagged by two of my favourite fashion bloggers out there, Taghrid and Merkovsky, to list 6 unimportant things that make me happy, and consequently pass the tag torch to five other bloggers. Without further adieu, here goes it...

1. Walking home from work and listening to a-wicked-good-song-which-I've-carefully-selected-to-perfectly-encompass-my extremely-specific-mood-in-that-very-moment on my iPod is one of my favourite moments in my day.

2. Yahoo Answers. Whenever I need a pick-me-up I look up something random on Yahoo Answers and am immediately inundated by hilarious/misguided/ignorant/offensive/etc. answers given to questions (n.b. I also found out that sponging a 3 part water + 1 part vinegar mixture onto salt-stained suede shoes will make them look as though they are brand new again, so occasionally I learn something useful there as well....it's almost always by accident though).

3. Marker-like writing utensils. I would hand write with nothing but thin-tipped Sharpies for the rest of my life if it were even remotely possible.

4. Keith Richards' guitar solo in the most epic rock n'roll song of all time - Gimme Shelter. If this song doesn't make you feel like walking into a really cool and sexy dive bar while being cool and sexy and dancing and then getting into a fist fight or something...well, I don't know, but I DO know that I just don't get the way your brain works.
5. There are truly very few feelings as good as finding something absolutely amazing at a thrift shop for little to no money. I know that this is a disgustingly obvious thing to say within the fashion blogosphere but I just can't help it, it's true!!!

6. [I'll preface this one with stating that it doesn't really qualify within the bounds of this tag, as it's not unimportant at all...it nonetheless makes me very, very happy, so I've made the executive decision to include it anyways] Every single time my iPhone beeps and it's a new comment from one of you amazing, amazing people out there in internetland. In all seriousness, no matter how awful of a day I'm having it, all of you with your kind, astonishingly lovely words something which I can guarantee to always immediately brighten my mood! So thank you to each and every one of you.

I tag the following gorgeous people (who, as far as I know, have not yet completed this tag):

Anthea of Clothes Line Finds
Chauss of Je Ne Sais Quoi
Jacquie of Jacquieshambles
Fashion Pariah
Ashleigh of Rantings of a Fashion Addict

Wearing
The wool figure skating sweater is yet another item from my closet which was hand knit by my evil grandmother. I'm aware that the purple and orange colour scheme and completely obvious pattern of it are ever-so-slightly garish, but I nonetheless cannot help but love this sweater. As cliche as it sounds (and IS), this sweater reminds me of a much simpler time when life wasn't messy and complicated and fragile and dependent on anything more than whether or not I landed the majority of my jumps on the rink that day (and apparently I'm feeling grossly sentimentalist today, so try to ignore this diatribe of mine if you may?)
My new favourite jeans. Dark wash denim, wide-legged, J Brand - does it really get any better than this?
Shoes are an old vintage find. They're mega-platforms, so they tend to be the obvious choice with any pants which I haven't bothered to have hemmed yet.

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.

Sky-High Shoes and Straight-Legged Jeans

Ah, 'tis the end of the work week! Make no mistake, it's been an absolutely lovely week, but I am nonetheless very much looking forward to having a couple of days without a billion and one things to accomplish.
The asymmetrically striped top I'm wearing today is a recent purchase from one of the many fast fashion shops on Yonge Street, and as such cost a whole $4.99. It is clearly not of the most admirable garment quality that the world has ever seen, but it is kind of totally awesome when paired with a black leather jacket and stovepipe jeans on a warm November day such as today has turned out to be.

Geekily enough, this whole ensemble brings visions of Elvis in 'Jailhouse Rock' to my mind, which could account for the fact that I seem to be trying to escape/enter/tear down an immovable metal fence in front of an expensive downtown condominium, as per the photo above. While I would prefer to make like Elvis and be playing a wicked retro guitar while sneering sideways at passerby, I only have so many resources at hand throughout the day and must make do with awkward fences for the time being.

Anyways, enough about my fashion worship of Elvis and limited ability to emulate his obviously inimitable coolness. Before you all go off to enjoy your undoubtedly fabulous respective weekends, G and I want to just thank every single visitor, commenter and supporter of Modern-Guilt. We hope you all have the most amazing weekends ever, and we of course look forward to seeing you all back here bright and early on Monday morning!

Wearing

The striped jailbird top is from a store which I don't believe has a name, and sells countless garments made out of the cheapest jersey in the world....you know the kind, every city has them.

The jeans are by Lux, and were purchased at Urban Outfitters.

The patent oxford ankle booties are from Forever 21.

My favourite leather jacket is from Danier.

Peacoat and Jeans: sometimes simple just feels right.

Not every outfit I decide to wear on any given week is going to be the pinnacle of cutting-edge fashion, and I believe today's post is particularly indicative of that. While it's not the most creative or inspiring thing I've ever put together, I will put it out there that I like it and feel like myself in it, and that this which, to me, is the most important aspect of personal style.

Make no mistake about it, I do love trying out editorial looks, creating concept shoots with G and occasionally even going about my daily business in a massive fur coat, six-inch platform boots and a Daphne Guinness inspired headpiece. Dressing up can create a wonderfully engulfing fantasy in even the most mundane of tasks for me, and a life without fantasy or imagination is not one that I can even fathom leading. If you've never walked through the aisles of a grocery store in your most outrageously fabulous clothing while picking up cans of 60 cent soup and green bananas, you truly don't know what you're missing...well that, and we most likely have very little in common with one another.

All of this being said, some days simply call for jeans and a peacoat, and yesterday was one of such days. Without a shade of sarcasm or self-doubt I can firmly state that I didn't actually want to be wearing anything that wasn't this yesterday - which is shocking, unusual and rare, because I virtually always want to be wearing something other than what I'm actually wearing. The red velvet peacoat always seems to lend a nice pop of colour to outfits in the fall and winter months, and the heavily beaded sweater underneath is definitely one of my new favourite vintage finds. Neither are the most exciting fashion pieces in the world but, as stated, some days they just don't have to be to make me happy.

Wearing

Red velvet peacoat is from Target's kids section.

The thin white muslin blouse and beaded ice-blue sweater are vintage.

I've no idea where these bootcut jeans are from as they were purchased eons ago and the tags were ripped off.

The brown suede ankle booties are inherited Hermes.

Tartan tights, a wool hat and an oxford shirt on a lovely November day

The weather permitting my preferred dress sense the past few days has been lovelier than I can express! Yes, we've now seen knee high socks two days in a row, but there's something about this look that reminds me of pre-teen skateboarders in the suburbs...though I am not suburb-dweller, nor have I ever [successfully] ridden a skateboard in my life. Notwithstanding the aforementioned turn of events, I'm still falling for the Alexander Wang grunge chic look, as clearly evidenced by outfits such as the one I have on today.
The vintage Gucci horsebit loafers I have on were one of those entirely perfect and wonderful thrift shop finds; the kind that one can never predict but, regardless, always remembers as that time at the secondhand shops when everything was sublime and exactly as one has dreamed of things being. Unfortunately I've had no such experiences recently, but this does not tarnish my faith in the vintage stores of Toronto - at this point I find it justifiable to chock it up to everything being 'in-between seasons'.
Speaking of the vintage Gucci loafers which I adore...there are may things which I find odd about myself, but one of the most significant ones is that I often take just as much pleasure out of a $7 striped button down oxford found in Chinatown as I do from the most coveted designer items. In all honesty I'm not actually all that excitable when it comes to trend pieces or the most expensive/exclusive/whatever fashion item there is on the market at any given point in time.
After all, such things are extraordinarily fickle in that they change within a matter of mere months, and don't necessarily retain the value which is falsely placed into them in the first place. There is, of course, the exception of extremely classic items which have a style and quality about them that will never age or tarnish, and I'm not a silly enough person to disregard this; I merely consider it to be a seperate issue entirely.
Speaking of inexpensive fashion victories: the white wool beanie hat I'm wearing was knit for me by my evil grandmother, and hence cost me nothing. That point aside, I've yet to find a store bought cap (or 'toque', as more quintessential Canadians than I would call it) which is as comfortable and versatile as this one, and for that reason I doubt I will ever get rid of it. Seriously, what doesn't a hat like this one go with? The answer to that question currently remains elusive in my mind...Wearing
From the top down...
The white wool beanie was handmade.
My striped, button-down oxford shirt was a $7 Chinatown find, and has that slouchy menswear-inspired fit that I love so much.
The black pleated miniskirt is Billabong. Yes, you heard me correctly, I said Billabong...is this any more acceptable if I bought it at a Goodwill? No? Didn't think so. Okay, whatever, I still like it.
The Harlequin patterened knee high socks are yet another 'personal vintage' piece. I've no idea when or where they entered the depths of my closet, but I do know that I have had them forever.
My Gucci horsebit loafers are 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.

Floral Minidress Friday

It warmed up enough today in the city for me to not have to wear sixteen billion layers of clothing, meaning I had nice excuse to wear my vintage floral bubble dress, which was shoddily hemmed into a bubble dress by yours truly. Although this piece is more of a summer trend item than a winter fashion, I love it and will try my darnedest to provide it with the versatility that, as a bright floral minidress, it seemingly lacks.

Today's attempt at such styling versatility brought me to pair my Pedro Garcia leather boots with the American Apparel esque but-really-Urban Outfitters latex leggings that I've recently grown so fond of. Regardless of how saturated the fashion blogs may be with shiny leggings, I've noticed that no one in this city really seems to know that they exist yet (and they therefore gawk at me when I stomp around in them), so for the time being I don't feel too redundant in the sphere of Toronto women's clothing. Plus I felt like the winter-appropriate leather boots combined with the black latex leggings really gave a Victoria Beckham in Antonio Berardi feel to the whole look, which couldn't possibly be a bad thing in my mind.

I suppose I just could not help myself - ask anyone, I've always been a magpie and thus attracted to shiny things - but I did, of course, cover up with my similarly shiny black pleather Guess coat, which I believe was purchased all the way back when I was in the ninth grade. My fashion immaturity at that young age aside, I still like the coat and find it useful - for example, I feel as though it added a weird, I'm-a-futuristic-goth-who-also-likes-floral-prints vibe to today's ensemble which, I'm not going to deny, thoroughly pleases me.

Anyways, I'm off for a [hopefully] more relaxing weekend than the last which was, as previously stated, spent generally rushing about town...filming, concert-going, brunching, depleting my bank account at the Bloor Street Holt Renfrew and, in general, being awesome-but-exhausting. Remember that some work performed on the site yesterday did, unfortunately, result in the loss of all of you lovely bloggers on our blog roll, and therefore if you would like to be added or re-added, please leave a comment or give us a shout at modernguiltblog@me.com and we will be more than happy to oblige!

Best wishes for the most respectively fabulous weekends ever to each and every one of you, and of course catch up with us on Monday morning to see how I managed to spend all of my money Friday through Sunday once again!

Wearing
Franco Sarto boots...a gift from the wonderful G, naturally.
Guess coat, which would probably be more accurately referred to as plastic rather than pleather, but who's counting?
Vintage floral dress, found at one of the many Toronto thrift shops I frequent...
Urban Outfitters leggings.

Windy winter weather and wide-legged jeans

I've concluded that the high-waisted and wide-legged J Brands I purchased during my weekend spending binge are the most perfect pair of pants in the world, and moreover they're seriously making me re-consider my bias towards dresses and tights in the colder months. Could this be a first in the realm of trousers for me? Only time will tell...
Speaking of this weekend, I also attended a Toronto Blogger's Brunch set up by the lovely Anthea of Clothes Line Finds. It was definitely one of the coolest events that blogging has brought me to thus far, and I thoroughly enjoyed conversing in 'real-time' with Anthea, Ashleigh, Danielle and Marta. I very much hope to have similar events set up in the future to continue the informative and interesting discussions we had!
G and I have quite a bit to get accomplished today, though I will admit that I am feeling ever-so-slightly under the weather and am currently daydreaming of laying in bed surrounded by a pile of magazines with a cup of chai tea in hand. Nonetheless, I'm going to pull myself up by my figurative boot straps (as I'm not actually wearing boots right now) and get on with what should be a properly productive day. Plus I'm pretty pleased that I get to wear all of my furry little parkas and long-sleeved 1960's blouses again, which cheers me up enough to get out the door and do what needs to be done.

Wearing
Blouse, shoes, bag: vintage
Jeans: J Brand
Parka: Aritzia

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

Come on lines, they will bend

It just so happens that today's photo not only features three me's, but three of my absolute favourite new acquistions as well: the Herve Leger inspired Bebe bandage dress, my $4 thrifted combat boots and an orange fascinator headband that I bought at The Clothing Show last month (which I can't believe I haven't managed to wear out before last night!). With a piece as skin-tight and revealing as the bandage dress inevitably is, I generally like to grunge things up a bit to keep it interesting, and I'm feeling that I totally achieved that goal with last night's ensemble. Don't you just love it when you have a personal fashion success like that?
Yesterday evening G and I were required at a friend's birthday bash, giving me the opportunity to wear all of my beloved things at once, including my vintage fur coat which desperately needs to make an appearance on here as soon as humanly possible I've concluded, considering I mention it in seemingly every other post. Regardless of the fur-or-no-fur photo content, we had a lovely night.

I do, however, sincerely wish that there were three S's in actuality, as the one that attended last night's party would definitely be at home having a lie-in right now!

Wearing
Dress: Bebe
Fascinator: KC Hats
Boots: thrifted

Karmacoma

The most frustrating thing about loving fashion is without a doubt the fact that new clothing is seemingly never enough. I've lately found myself 'running out of things to wear' and while this is preposterous considering the sheer volume of things I technically have to 'potentially wear' (and, moreover, how much I shop), it's unfortunate nonetheless that hardly any of it appeals to me. I will propose that this is the very basis of my shopping addiction, which is one that I somehow doubt I will ever break.
At the same time, one must remind oneself that there is always dissatisfaction to be found in life if one is looking for it. For example, G and I recently watched a brilliant documentary called Rich Kids, and through exploring the incomprehensible wealth of young heirs and heiresses around the world, the filmmaker discovered that such individuals were by and large far less happy than their middle-class, 'ordinary' counterparts because, well, if you don't have to work to have everything then why work to have anything?
This isn't to say that I would say no to a billion dollars or stop shopping forever, because that would quite obviously be contrary to my very nature; it's merely to provide a new perspective on exactly what it is about shopping and obtaining that satisfies me, and if that's even of real value to my life?Enough with the heavy stuff. In other news, I have decided to couple my better judgement with everyone's advice and not tan...depending on exactly how pale I get (y'all haven't seen me in the winter yet) I may use my trusty Jergens Glow stuff at some point, but in the meantime it's kind of the opposite of a concern for me. What is a concern for me, however, is the fact that Toronto finally hit a minus temperature...with the 'wind chill', naturally. Ah, how I loathe hearing 'wind chill' again.

Wearing

Dress: H&M

Sweater: Erin Fetherston for Target

Jacket: Danier

Tights: Hue

Shoes and bag: thrifted

Yesterday's Papers

So I finally caved and bought the ubiquitous black latex leggings this week, though I cleverly saved myself $15 by going the Urban Outfitters route as opposed to American Apparel (which is still strangely pricey in Canada).
Once on, these leggings are perfect and perhaps the most comfortable article of clothing ever, but - and it's a small but - the manufacturer of these did the weirdest thing by making the ankle without an ounce of stretch, meaning that getting them over my feet is, sarcastically speaking, a total barrel of fun. Nonetheless, I do like them on more than I expected I would, and I plan on making good use of them throughout the winter, as inspired by the mindblowingly creative and fashionable Queen Michelle over at Kingdom of Style.
In other news, I've determined that I very much miss my summer tan, and am hence spending my morning coffee-blogging-desk time debating with myself: to fake and bake or to not fake and bake? If there are two 'institutions' I loathe they would be [most] gyms and tanning salons without question, meaning the very notion of stepping foot in such a place is enough to make me content with being perpetually unfit and pale. That being said, am I really being rational about the whole thing? This is a pretty shallow concern to begin with. Moving on...
While I do quite like the outfit I wore yesterday to run about the city in, it's more the fact that G took some brilliantly psychedelic photos that makes it wicked good I think....n.b. for everyone and anyone who has ever asked or wondered: I have barely ever used a self-timer in my life, and G takes every single photo that goes up on here unless otherwise noted. I am so, so continually impressed with his photography, and is it not like the coolest thing ever that he does this fashion blogging business with me? I seriously feel as though I have the best mate/partner/friend in the world.
I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and isn't feeling the Monday-itis I get from time to time too harshly today. And if you are, keep on keeping on and maybe have another coffee (or whatever your vice is for that matter)...

Wearing

Cardigan: vintage

Scarf and bag: thrifted

T-shirt: Darker My Love

Leggings: Silence & Noise

Boots: UP, DIY-ed