Mod Mischief

Chris and I went to the Ottawa Vintage Clothing Show today. It's awesome that they've turned it into a more-than-once-a-year event! While I'm still a little nostalgic for the days when the sale was at the Chateau Laurier, the organizers did a much better job setting things up in the convention centre this time around. There was a better layout, it was easier to navigate between stalls and, without the sun in our eyes , we could actually see the clothing we were trying to buy! We were a little disappointed that there seemed to be fewer vendors with the menswear and military stuff Chris and I tend to gravitate towards, but we still found some great pieces. There are two schools of thought when it comes to dressing for the vintage clothing sale: you can either put on your best vintage clothes in the hopes of impressing all the fashionistas, or you can opt to wear skin-tight spandex so you can try things on without needing to use the crowded, and not terribly private,...

We went to a great party tonight. Our friend threw a fantastic 60s Mad Men themed housewarming. After we got home, I realized that, except for the stripes on Chris' tie , we wore the exact same outfits to a party way back in 2008 !

The Ottawa Vintage Sale had new organizers and a new location this year. And a new name too, it's now the   Ottawa Vintage Clothing Show . While I wasn't thrilled about the location (it's hard to compete with the Chateau Laurier), the vendors and selection of vintage clothes were as awesome as always. We saw some incredible pieces, like that amazing jacket with brass epaulettes, and Chris and I went home with a full military uniform for him and a sailor sweater for me.

One of the reasons we've been so busy is because we were getting ready for Chris' big 30th birthday bash. To celebrate Chris and his best friend Tyson entering their dirty thirties, we decide to throw a prohibition style party, complete with all the home brew our friends could drink. As you may have noticed in my last post , we've been making our own beer and wine for several months to stock up for the party. 156 bottles in the back of Bertha We couldn't fit a party of this scale in our small apartment, and renting a hall was out since we didn't qualify for a liquor license (in Ontario you can only serve homemade wine and beer in a private residence or at a religious ceremony) but a fantastic friend came through for us and offered to host the shindig in his condo's party room. Bonnie & Clyde? We kept the location a secret until the day before the party and, in true speakeasy style, guests had to tell the doorman the password to get i...

At the Ottawa Vintage Clothing Sale we found a fantastic tailcoat for Chris. I couldn't believe it when he tried it on, it looks like it has been tailored for him. We never find things that fit him right off the rack, especially vintage! I told him he needs to wear it with a silk sash and tight pants so he'll look like King Charles. By the way, aren't these videos great? The scenery reminds me of Kamloops. Our finds from the Vintage Sale in 2010 & 2009

Since the majority of decorations for Promdemonium 2011 are being made from repurposed materials, I've had to spend a good chuck of time poking through thrift stores, looking for supplies. Naturally, while shopping for possible decor I couldn't help but also check out possible prom outfits. So now I've got a problem because I've gone and bought no fewer than 3 dresses to wear to Promdemonium. I actually got 4 dresses if you count the pink one I bought this summer , but I've now got other plans for that one Chris won't have any trouble picking out what he's going to wear because we found him a fantastic vintage tuxedo with velvet lapels. I still can't believe it was only $13

fashionistas clearly need their morning coffee fix   As usual , Chris and I didn't find much that fit us at the Ottawa Vintage Clothing Sale today, but we did walk away with a few treasures. Chris got a tie and some shiny cuff links and I found a really cool hat. This Knights Templar feather hat once belonged to a Robert A. Barhydt and since the label inside says "The M.C. Lilley Co." it must have been made before 1925 ! I feel like I should wear it when fighting pirates.

Yesterday was a lot of fun. Chris and I went to the Steampunk Science Fair and saw lots of neat props and great vendors. I picked up an awesome 1960s motorcycle jacket from Zamira for only $35. It's really more Joan Jett than steampunk but I'm so glad she had it at her booth. While considerably more expensive, I'd love to get a custom corset from shameless fashion . All the steampunk ladies wandering around were giving me a serious case of corset envy.

I love the Great Glebe Garage Sale . In terms of exciting annual events, it's right up there with Christmas (although nowhere close to Halloween ). We got off to a bit of a late start, but Chris and I still managed to find some real treasures to bring home in the little red wagon. Cute blue retro luggage set that looks mostly unused. Cost: $15 for all 4 pieces Funky old film reels ($1 for both!), a felt hat ($1.50) and a wooden frame for silk screening (50 cents). Military badges ($5), a glass dome ($2) and a cute bottle (50 cents). Speakers for the stereo a friend very generously gave to us a few months ago ($35). Finally, a tulip table base for only $10! We need a bar height table for the kitchen, so this piece is too short to use as-is, but I'm sure we can come up with a way to make it work. I'm glad we didn't have as far of a walk as last year , it was quite a load for our little wagon!

Tickets are now on sale for Promdemonium 2010 ! Chris and I went shopping for our outfits this weekend and I found an awesome mod 60s mini dress at Ragtime . before I've taken off the sleeves and altered it a bit at the waist. Now I just need to decide whether or not I should take down the hem to make it an inch longer.   after? I can't wait to pair it with a super cute headband with matching boutonniere for Chris. I've ordered a kit from Princess Lasertron and I'm really looking forward to making some felt flowers. The end result should look like this only in mint greens and chocolate browns. Boutonniere by Princess Lasertron As usual, we had a hard time finding anything to fit Chris. I had high hopes for this jacket , but my emails to seller 19 Vintage Clothing have gone unanswered.   Tall Dark and Handsome Supra Suede Blazer Hopefully we can find something similarly awesome. Otherwise he might need to break out the tux t-shirt! Promdemonium 2009

I really need to learn to check my camera settings before taking pictures... Chris and I took a break from the heavy metal this weekend to check out Toronto's Vintage Sale . While, once again , we didn't find much to fit us, we did see lots of great clothes and some awesome hats. We came home with a Henry Heath Limited collapsible opera hat. Isn't it dashing? With a smaller selection and many of the same vendors as the Ottawa Vintage Sale, I don't think Toronto's sale would be worth the 5 hour drive on its own, but it was nice to squeeze in some shopping on our workshop weekend.

I was rather disappointed when I discovered that the dress I've been coveting at Victoire doesn't fit me. It's just too short for my tall frame. I was hoping to have better luck at the Ottawa Vintage Clothing Sale today. I've been looking forward to this year's vintage sale at the Chateau Laurier since Chris and I went last year and found some incredible pieces (including the dress I wore to the Hoos holiday party ). Unfortunately Chris and I aren't vintage sized and we didn't find much that would fit. But the people watching alone was worth the $8 admission and we did get Chris some pretty cool skinny ties. These ties, a steal at $25 for all 3, are from Ian Drummond Collection and were actually worn by the extras in Hairspray !

Our Midsummer Night’s Dream Pajama Party was so much fun. We transformed the living room into the site for a magical slumber party and enjoyed spiked watermelon juice well into the early hours of the morning. What we wore: I found a beautiful 1960s nightgown set at Ragtime ; very Betty Draper , even though I only wore the gown since summer has finally hit Ottawa. I started the night with my fairy wings on, but it wasn’t long before they were gracing the backs of other party guests. Chris paired his donkey ears with a swinging smoking jacket we found on our big Value Village spending spree . My roommate Mike rocked a housecoat and a pussy willow circlet he made himself. Our guests joined in on the sleepwear fun in varying degrees of undress. Most popular drink: Am I really going to mention the watermelon keg again? Sorry. It was just that awesome. How we set the stage: Most of the furniture was moved upstairs in order to clear the way for the queen-sized futon that dominated the livi...

Chris and I went a little crazy in Value Village yesterday. We went in looking for costumes for Burning Man and, $200 later, we left with all of this . It made for a fun bus ride home. I’m always amazed by the generosity of strangers. The contents of our shopping cart would have cost us $50 more if the wonderful woman in line behind us hadn’t offered us her coupon. She wouldn’t even let us pay for the earrings she was getting.

Chris and I woke up bright and early after Friday’s party . We probably could have used some more time to recover from the previous night’s mayhem, but there was no way I was going to miss out on our Saturday plans. Saturday was the annual Great Glebe Garage Sale . We spent all morning pulling my little red wagon through the crowded streets, checking out all the deals and wishing we lived in such a cool neighbourhood. We found some really great pieces and hauled it all home on the wagon. I got new and improved living quarters for Nim and Noi. It’ll need some tlc, but the girls are going to love having all that extra space. Cost: $2 We also found the coolest leather suitcase I’ve ever seen. The previous owner’s last name started with a Z! I can’t wait to do something awesome with it. Cost: $10 I also grabbed several wooden frames for silk screening for 25 cents each, a couple clocks to use in my records for a dollar a piece, and Chris found a styling silk tie for a two...

To celebrate Etsy Day I’ve been perusing the site’s undiscovered shops . That’s where I found these : Won’t they be the perfect little add-ons to any future steampunk pieces ?

The Prom was so much fun! The photos are finally up on Promdemonium’s website , so you should go check them out to see some of the incredible outfits . Chris and I found our prom wear at Value Village . Unfortunately neither one of us tends to fit into vintage all that well. Chris’ styling blazer was a quick fix; it just took letting out the hem on the sleeves. My floor length gown didn’t hit my ankles, so I took it up. A lot. I also added an oh-so-eighties rosette to cover a hole at the bust and even managed to make a matching purse and hairclip out of the leftovers. I think we looked pretty cute. Chris needs brown shoes. My former roommate Meg did a piece on the event for the CBC. For a little taste of what it was like to be there, you can hear it here .

I’m starting to get really excited about PROMdemonium . Ottawa’s version of Vancouver’s People’s Prom , PROMdemonium is the “the radical, community-oriented, gender-bending, bike-loving, enviro-humping, queer-positive, slow dancing, big dress wearing prom you never had in high school.” I went last year and had an incredible time . This year promises to be even better as they have moved the dance into St. Brigid’s , a former catholic cathedral turned into a community centre. I have yet to find a dress but I’m drawing on inspiration from this wicked party on Jessica Claire’s photography website. This weekend’s plans include some serious thrift shop shopping.

Vintage cords in a 36" inseam? For only $5? Or course I had to buy 4 pairs. My favourite part of these high waisted, super wide leg pants has got to be the fabulous labels. How these beauties came to the North Shore Liquidation World after what must have been at least 30 years in storage remains a mystery.

I'm still reeling from my fabulously 50s Christmas cocktail party on Saturday. I'm currently fantasizing about all things swanky and cool. Most popular drink: Polar Bear Martini with an After Eight straw Bonus feature: Didn't stain my sofa and guests walked away with minty fresh breath Soundtrack for the night: Classics from Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra Don't forget Eartha Kitt ! Must-have decoration: Vintage aluminum Christmas tree The real deal is a little pricey so I made ours out of a bamboo pole, some wood dowels and lots of silver garland.