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Not once have I had a friend take my photo for something like a daily outfit. I'll pose in group shots while out or with my kitty in which I usually end up hiding my face behind her but I get incredibly awkward when I'm alone. I don't know how to properly hold my body if my face is included in the shot but I think these didn't turn out half bad. I had to hold back from laughing quite a few times and I did the "I've just had too much espresso" dance... On another note I've been having such mixed feelings about my hair. For the past three years I've had semi-short hair with little bangs (a less drastic version of a bettie bang) and I was colouring it black (pointless as I practically have natural black hair, it just gets rid of the red undertones which I'm into recently) As of December 2012 I decided that I wanted to grow it out again. I think there is something womanly about long flowing hair and you can do so many different styles and up-do's. Unfortunately I was blessed with incredibly thick hair full of waves that tangle together and make it impossible to comb. I need to get layers added into it so I can lose some of the body and increase some of the natural curl. I'm also undecided if I want to cut my bangs short again or have side bangs (I'm weeks away from them.) Good thing I ran into my hairdresser at the coffee shop today and now she knows I need help making up my mind. Maybe I'll just let her do whatever she thinks is best...who am I kidding, I'm way too particular for that. 

  

Trying so hard not to laugh, especially in this close up... 

Black wicker hat- Thrifted @ The Win 

Sunglasses- Flavour & Decade 

Blue velvet jacket- Lovely Things Vintage 

Lace bodysuit- Thrifted @ Value Village 

"C" brooch (because I love my man)- Thrifted @ The Win 

Vintage leather belt- Thrifted in Vancouver BC 

Leather Coach purse - Retro Rock Vintage 

90's floral skirt- Thrifted @ Value Village 

Thick ribbed thigh high socks- American Apparel 

Red Paddock boots- F as in Frank Vintage 

Lipstick- MAC dubonnet  

Love love, 

Kali 

Heat up the clutch, set at 50 deluxe. 

Over the past few weeks I have been noticing that I'm really not a purse girl. I own quite a few but I wear the same one everyday (Vintage black leather Coach) I find myself drawn only to vintage purses and clutches. Contemporary ones just don't have enough love put into them and unless you have unlimited funds you can't find one reasonably priced that wont just fall apart on you. I have spent a hundred dollars on a leather bag from a local boutique and the leather was such poor quality that it tore within a few months and the strap came off! This is not what I would consider quality. I want something that can come with me everywhere I go and get more beautiful and wonderfully worn in the more I throw it around. Throughout each week I find myself living a couple of different lifestyles and I want a purse that can function for all occasions and still be appealing to the eye and touch. Thank you vintage coach for being the perfect purse for me throughout the past three and a half years. (Yes, It's been THAT long) On another note, when I go out to an event or date night with Cyrus I like to bring a clutch because they add a certain extra something to your ensemble and can completely change or make a look. I rummaged through my suitcase that stores all of my clutches and I found that it was hard to pick just a few to show. They are all really beautiful and very different in construction, colour, fabric, texture and size. 

Constructed of leather and fur with an envelope-like shape and whip stitching to hold it together, this one was love at first sight. I was working as a merchandizer for a vintage/secondhand shop here in Victoria and this was hidden in one of the large gaylord bins in the basement. I didn't sit on the idea of purchasing it and it didn't have a chance to make it into my "holds" on the rolling rack. Needless to say it came home with me that very day. 

Completely hand beaded and made in Japan this fancy little clutch is perfect for night time use. The inside is rose coloured pink satin with a little pocket that contains a tiny mirror. I found it in a thrift store for next to nothing because it had a stain under the beading that was very visible. I'm not afraid of a stain in vintage fabrics and secretly knew I'd be able to get it out. I went home and whipped up my trusty half Dawn Liquid dish detergent half Hydrogen Peroxide 70% concoction in a shot glass and ever so lightly dabbed the stain with a sponge letting the liquid completely soak the clutch. I repeated this the next day when it had dried and the strain came out with no damage done to the beadwork or the satin lining. A couple of weeks ago Cyrus had his "Road to Remulak" skate video premier at a local brew pub, The Moon Under Water and I was his right hand (wo)man in the DVD sales. I dressed fancy in a black 50's dress and fur collar and used this clutch for the second or third time since purchasing it two years ago. I would like to use the excuse that I had one too many cocktails but in reality I'm a huge klutz and when we were about to leave I used the bathroom and when I got up to leave the stall I knocked this beaded beauty into the toilet... (it was clean water but still... c'mon, now I have to do this whole cleaning process again or take it to the dry cleaners when I get the chance) 

Everything about this one is AMAZING (in my opinion) Black leather and snake skin vintage double flap envelope shaped clutch that could almost double as a small laptop bag due to its size. This one came from the local vintage shop that I was working at but it arrived from the Toronto shipment. All I can say is that I have felt lucky in my life to be able to work so closely with vintage and be the first person to see things then I pull them from the box to process and put out on the floor. If I didn't want this one personally I would have used it for a window display or kept it with the mannequin holds in the basement until I felt it was ready to be used or sold to the right home. I also love it because it looks great when used as the statement piece styled down with an oversized knit sweater and black jeans. 

Black and Gold Faux reptile print, I love you. I got this hard bodied clutch about four years ago at Retro Rock. It was a vintage shop downtown Vancouver, BC that I was helping manage alongside an amazing woman, Alicia Ziger, whom I can thank for a lot of my knowledge in the vintage industry. I hummed and haw'd about it for weeks just because I was so busy working and never really went out much and didn't have the need for a clutch but when I saw a women holding onto it and heavily mulling over whether to purchase it or not- I knew I wanted it. She decided against it, with the help of Alicia (one of the many reasons why I love her so much) and I bought it. Score. 

Last but certainly not least. Light pink satin with a gold clasp and cream silk lining. I found this in a thrift shop in Burnaby, BC. I think I paid something ridiculous for it like .99cents. This is why I love thrifting so much, you can get beautiful one of a kind pieces for less then a cup of coffee and the satisfaction is always worth the dig. I found this black satin bow on the ground outside in Victoria and sewed it on, I felt like they belonged together. Plus, who doesn't love a cute little bow? I know I sure do. 

I have recently re-listed this vintage cowhide purse on my etsy shop, Kreature Of The Night. It has a red leather interior (as shown here) and floral detailing stamped along the sides and base. I've used it only a handful of times and I feel that it needs to belong to someone else who will cherish it. Truly a gem. 

Kali 

Love is a carousel that never stops. 

A couple of years ago I was reading an astrology book about the love life of a Libra. I stumbled upon the sentence "love is a carousel that never stops", this wasn't referring to any other sign in specific or a romantic love but the way a libra feels about and deals with all kinds of love. The word carousel originates from the Italian garosello and Spanish carosella meaning "little battle". It was used in the 12th century by crusaders to describe a combat preparation exercise and was a game played by Turkish and Arabian horsemen. In a sense this early device could be considered a cavalry training mechanism as it strengthened and prepared riders for actual combat. The same thing could be said for love and all of it's trials before you find the real thing and are able to survive it.

Take nothing for granted, 

Kali 

GIFT FOR THRIFT

On Monday last week one of my best friends since I was seven came to visit from Vancouver. I had booked the day off so I could spend some time with her and go to a reworked vintage jacket showing at a local vintage shop that opened in the end of last year. I had my eye on one jacket. It had leather sleeves and a leather collar with a vintage army coat body. I would have loved to make it mine but because my shoulders are the widest part of my body the fit was off. However, my friend Mairin was torn between two jackets and a fur and leather clutch. She finally settled on the denim and leather short bomber style jacket (with no help from me because I thought she should have gotten everything. I'm a horrible help when it comes to shopping, especially when It's making as decision between things that all fit beautifully and a purse that would have made jaws drop) Because the fit was off I got that need to shop discouraged feeling and made a spontaneous decision to go and get one of the small tattoos I had been thinking about recently. I ran to Government Street Tattoo and luckily one of the artists, Jonny Murdoch, was willing to keep the shop open and give me my adorable little blue bow. I think he did a wonderful job and it is healing up great. After this, Mairin and Amy wanted to go to Value Village as its the only thing open past 7:30pm on a Monday night in Victoria. Amy found a whole basket full of treasures, Mairin found a black patent 1960s raincoat with a removable hood and I found the shoes I have been searching FOREVER for. Red Patent John Fluevog Platforms!!! I literally was so excited when I found them on the top shelf of the size 5 section (I'm a 7.5-8) that I almost cried. I did that whole, "If they don't fit, I'll make them fit" statement but to my astonishment they are perfect in every way! Monday was a great day.

With love,

Kali

"We rolled the dice and left nothing behind but a mess."

It's finally happened. I have been dreaming of starting a blog since I was fifteen years old. I'm not sure why it has taken me eight years to actually get around to it but when I woke up this morning I decided today was THE day. Above are some of my favourite polaroid photos taken over the past year and a half showing the great loves of my life. My Fiancé, Cyrus Stafford, his son Benjamin and our lovely kitty Olivia, who is about to turn one year old on Benjamin's fifth birthday. I wished for such a long time that I had a better working Polaroid camera (I thrifted this one for two dollars) and luckily, Cyrus' friends, Will and Jeff came to visit in the end of last summer and left one behind for us! It is in beautiful working condition and I am so appreciative that they would do that for our family. 

Thank you universe, 

Kali