Savouring autumn at the creek

Outfit details

1940s/50s flower adorned straw hat: etsy seller Bettes Bargains
Prescription eyeglasses: (frames) Venus Eye Design V-12
1940s inspired autumn leaf necklace: Handmade by me
White vintage slip: eBay
Dark orange cardigan: eBay
1950s yellow pencil skirt: eBay
1950s beaded gloves: eBay
1950s corduroy bucket purse: etsy seller Rue 23 Vintage Clothing
Nude seamed stockings: eBay
Straw hued heels: Anne Klein
Lip colour: MAC Diva   

Photography by Antonio Cangiano  




     




   


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Earlier this year as summer was just beginning its beautiful reign, I wrote about my feeling regarding the unspoiled beauty and peacefulness of the area in which we now live, and how I could not help but marvel at the resplendence of once again knowing tranquility.

A few months on and I still feel my as though my soul is enveloped by these same thoughts when I step outside of my house, especially in the early morning or late afternoon into dusk hours. The purity of the unspoiled air, the rustle of the leaves as the trees whisper secrets to one another, the thousands of stars like dangling like diamonds over head, are all gifts that humble and astound, especially after being away from such a setting for so many years.

Where once we lived in the hectic, exceedingly noisy, sometimes dangerous, generally polluted realm of an area just north of downtown Toronto, we now open our front door and stair at some sublimely pretty woods that back onto a dusty camel and sage hued hill, that looks much like something plucked straight out of an old Western film.

There are no houses blocking our view, and traffic on the small two lane street that runs past us often comes to a complete stop for minutes on end during the later part of the evening and early morning. Nestled between the road and picturesque hill, one finds Penticton Creek, a body of water that runs down from the mountains that back our little town all the way to the sandy shores of Okanagan Lake.

I know it well, this beautiful little creek, having spent a great many childhood hours playing along (but never in - I heeded your warnings, mom, I promise) its banks and rocky edges. Yet despite our proximity, I hadn't yet had a chance to really get down to the water's edge and say hello to it again until very recently. I'd been going through a rough spell health wise and the day these shots were taken was the first time I'd been out of the house in nearly a month, which made filling my lungs with as much crystal clear fresh air an especially happy event.

After carefully (heels + loose earth are never the best combination) making our way down to the creek, Tony began snapping and neither of us could seem to bring ourselves to stop (posing or pressing the shutter). The air was warm and crisp and the golden leaves that were starting to form on the tall trees around us, the light had a magical quality to it that beckoned the soul and made you want to lay down and take a nap in the great outdoors like a pixie resting under a toadstool.

Penticton Creek, which includes a walking path directly above a good chunk of its length, is a popular spot for locals or all ages to enjoy an outing, and is particularly popular with dog owners, who can always be seen up and down its elegant length. On the day when we were there a very energetic, splendidly cute Husky came bounding into the water just a few feet away from where were standing and Tony instantly cast his lens on it.




The chipper dog was wearing a bright green collar which could be seen in all but one photo (pictured above), and I what I love about that shot is how, with its collar tucked into its long fur, it almost looks as though we were encountering a wolf in the woods, further adding to the fairy tale like quality of the whole sublimely lovely afternoon.

While we are being treated to a particularly (unseasonably) warm autumn this year, like a welcome home gift from the universe to celebrate our return to British Columbia, this is still Canada after all, and I know that in a few short weeks, it's very likely the creek - like the whole town itself - will be cloaked in a thick mantle of snow once more.

As such, I'm now trying to head over for a walk along the water's edge as often as possible, though I do usually slip on sandals or saddle shoes instead of heels, unless of course a photo shot such as this is in the cards that day.

In either case, just look for the the vintage wearing gal who's dividing her time between gathering bouquets of autumn leaves, petting the many adorable puppies that come bounding by, and counting her blessings that she’s able to live in such a breath-taking setting.

The cute cropped sweater with really long sleeves

Outfit details
Pearl necklace: Birthday gift from Tony ♥ Faux pearl earrings: Claire's Cropped grey and white striped sweater: thrifted Vintage white lace full slip: eBay Black vintage gloves with black stitching detail: etsy seller ilovevintagestuff  Faux pearl stretch bracelets: Real Canadian Superstore Vintage Saks Fifth Avenue black patent purse: etsy seller MK Retro Vintage black velour pencil skirt: etsy seller Lady Kitschener's Vintage Emporium Black seemed nude stockings: eBay Black pumps: Payless Lip colour: MAC Russian Red
Photography by Antonio Cangiano  
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This outfit really captures the sort of thing I typically wear when running errands, such as grocery shopping, going to the library, or stopping by to visit someone, when the weather is having one of those lovely "not too hot, not too cold" Goldilocks approved kind of days. It's also precisely the kind of thing I'd wear to go thrifting or yard saling in, too.

It's a relatively simple look in terms of the fact that there aren't too many components to it, which is A-ok in my books, as sometimes it's wonderful just to let one or two garments or accessories take the limelight. In this case, the star of the show is this darling grey and white striped cropped sweater that I picked up at  Value Village a few months ago, and have been wearing quite often ever since.

Being petite (5'2"), I frequently find that sweaters (and cardigans) are cut much to large for me in the sense that they often hang down to my thighs (at times when that's not the look I'm going for) and/or have scads of extra fabric in the shoulder area. In such instances, it's cropped sweaters to the rescue! They usually hit me right around my navel and so are fantastic for partnering with medium to high waisted trousers, jeans, and skirts, such as this classic black velour vintage pencil skirt.

The only teeny-tiny qualm I have with this sweater, and I've encountered this before with cropped tops such as this, is that the arms are rather long. I realize that I don't have particularly lengthy limbs to begin with, and am certainly no stranger to pushing up or cuffing my sleeves on all manner of shirts, sweaters, dresses, and jackets, but you'd think that given the scaled down proportions of a cropped sweater, the sleeves might be a tad shorter. Nope, no dice there. It's as though, to help make up for the lack of fabric at the bottom hem, the designers felt like they needed to attach it all to the sleeves.

So in this case, I just sort of scrunched and pushed the sleeves up a tad, yet still tried to keep them fairly far down my wrists, as it wasn't the warmest of days out when were grabbing these snaps. No matter though, it's still a great little shirt with a charming illustration of a sophisticatedly chic woman taking her dog out for a stroll. If I had a dog, which unfortunately I do not, I would try to mimic her pose while wearing this very shirt (and ensure someone took a picture of it).

Though their arms are sometimes long enough to house a family of outstretched boa constrictors in, I say three cheers for cropped sweaters. They often to call to mind stylish lasses of the 1940s and 50s, are a great way to include knit wear in your summer and early autumn wardrobe (when sporting two pounds of Fair Isle knit is out of the question), and can look wonderful on gals of all heights and shapes, those lucky lanky armed lasses very much included!

I'm cherry happy that October is here

Outfit details

White stretch headband: Ardene
Prescription eyeglasses: (frames) Venus Eye Design V-12
Cherry earrings: Claire's
Green cardigan: Old Navy
Cherry print 1950s style bobby top: Freddies of Pinewood
Rhinestone cherry brooch: eBay
1950s red gloves: eBay
Thicker red and green bangle bracelets: Forever 21
Thin pink, red, and white bangles: etsy seller Me She Designs
Thin green bangle: thrifted/flea market
1950s navy blue wiggle skirt: eBay
Red vintage purse: etsy seller I Love Vintage Stuff
Red and white striped bow peep-toe wedges: Payless Lip colour: MAC Russian Red

Photography by Antonio Cangiano
(BTW, yes, I do realize that I'm on something of a fruit pun title kick this month. I knew I could only keep my love of cute puns under wraps for so long!)  





 
 




 







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Hands down, bar none, autumn is my favourite season of the year. Each of the four have their shining points, their worthwhile merits and reasons why I enjoy and treasure them, but at the end of the day, there's just no comparing (in my books) to autumn's sublime beauty, crisp temperatures, bountiful harvest, festive celebrations, and that fact that it houses our wedding anniversary.

Though the cherry growing season - which usually happens here in the Okanagan Valley throughout July - is behind us now, before the we dig too much deeper into my beloved autumn, I wanted to share these photos that were taken a while back when one could have probably found a few cherries on the branch still.

I know that some people view cherries (or at least the wearing of them) as almost being a twee, over-used way to express one's interest in vintage fashion, but I think that's flat out silly. If - like me - you just happen to love cherries (I grew up in a town with thousands of cherry trees and spent each summer picking and helping my mom can cherries, which is when I fell in love with anything depicting these juicy red fruits) and vintage, then by all means wear that combination until the cows come home, if you so desire.

Much as I adore cherries, it struck me as I was sitting down to write this post that I don't actually have too many items in my wardrobe featuring them. In fact, you're viewing the bulk of what I have in one swift go here. There are a few other accessories though, which I'm sure you'll get to see over the course of time. And while I might not have too many pieces with cherries on them at the moment, I certainly have a fair number whose hue - like this eye-catching vintage purse and pair of bright red gloves - are redolent of sun-ripened cherries.

These shots were taken in the neighbouring community of Naramata (which you may recall me chatting about in this post from last May) on a charming, itty-bitty slice of beach that's owned by a local church, but which is open to the general public when not in use for church related activities.

It's a gorgeous little spot - no matter the season - with a small pier that includes (as you can see in these snaps) a lifeguard's chair (you know, that day very may have been the first time I've ever sat in one), a few serenely pretty willow trees, and nice stretch of sand which I spent a few moments barefoot in after we'd finished shooting.

On the peaceful, sunshine filled afternoon when we were there, only two other people were at the beach, so it was almost as though we had the whole place to ourselves. A point which certainly made getting unobstructed photos as easy, and fun, as (cherry) pie!

Gingham, polka dots, lots of peach, and my favourite kitty necklace

‘

Outfit details
Prescription eyeglasses: (frames) Venus Eye Design V-12 Gingham headscarf: eBay Peach pearl earrings: Claire's Adorable sterling silver and Swarovski crystal kitty necklace: gift from Tony ♥ Grey shrug: Fairweather Peachy-pink peasant style top: Thrifted Black bangle bracelets: Claire's Peach rose bangle: Forever 21 (I think) Grey bangle: etsy seller RecycleBuyVintage Vintage black velour pencil skirt: etsy seller Lady Kitschener's Vintage Emporium Polka dot purse: Payless Nude and black seamed stockings: eBay Black pumps: Payless Lip colour: MAC Russian Red

Photography by Antonio Cangiano                                         ♥ ♥ ♥

Last month I showed you a part of my parent's lush, gorgeous garden, and today you get to see the deck that overlooks said verdant backyard oasis. Much like the garden itself, my parents built their home themselves (my parents run a reno business) from the ground up a few years ago. It had been a longstanding dream of theirs to do so, and they did a terrific job of creating a cozy home that's just perfect for the two of them (with room for the many friends and relatives who love to come and visit).

Though our condo is two floors, we don't have a deck (as is quite common with condos), so I just love spending time on my parent's. The view looks down over part of Penticton, as well as a neighbouring tree covered hill - and of course down on their lovely garden, which was especially green when these photos were taken earlier in the season.

Interestingly, it occurs to me as I'm writing this that I was wearing my beloved Swarovski crystal kitty necklace in the last set of photos taken at their house, too. This wasn't intentional, but it's not surprising either, as I simply adore that necklace (a gift from Tony) and slip it on almost as often as my equally cherished strand of pearls.

Perhaps it's the influence of my 80s childhood (when this colour combo was quite popular), but I've always loved black and pink together, or in this case black and sweet peach with a touch of charcoal grey thrown in for good measure. It can be elegant or fun, youthful or deeply chic, just depending on the pieces and how you style your overall look, and is a combination I reach for often.

I like mixing patterns in the same outfit, but usually try to ensure that they match or are similar in some capacity. In this case my polka dot purse and gingham headscarf share the same two classic colours, so they work harmoniously together (and, I think, add a fun dose of cuteness to this look).

Way back at the start of the year in January I talked a bit about some of the issues I have with my hair. Though I did get it cut shortly there after (and have maintained, more or less, that length ever since), the other concerns remain, chief amongst which is the ongoing (it started when I was 14) thinning issue I have. The problem is getting worse and at times it's getting trickier to hide or mask the problem (especially since I have more thinning happening on the top of my head than on the bottom areas).

Not that I really mind (loving these pieces as I do), but I've been wearing more headbands, headscarves, kerchiefs, and hats this year to try and hid some of the thinnest areas, while still trying to maintain some semblance of volume on the bottom (which isn’t very thick thick these days either).

It's a losing battle, I fully know - a point I've made about as much peace with as I can. A wig (or wigs - why stop at just one?) is in my future for sure, but for the time being I'll just keep making the best of what remains on my head (and hope you'll forgive the sparse patches that appear in some photos of my hair).

On a more upbeat note, let's chat about this black vintage pencil skirt. It's a definite cornerstone piece in my wardrobe and one that I reach for all the time. Given it's hue and shape, it's about as versatile as a skirt can be, especially since it also hits at a great below-the-knee length that I just adore (if it looks familiar, that's likely because you're remembering it from posts such as this and this one).

In my opinion, so long as you enjoy wearing skirts, a skirt like this is one that every gal needs in her wardrobe (trust me you'll get a massive amount of mileage out of it).

Though these photos were snapped a few weeks ago, with autumn on the horizon, it won't be long before all that greenery in the background at my parent’s house starts to take on a gorgeous rust, gold, and scarlet tinge once more. As a result I'll soon have a whole new colour palette to (hopefully) model against in the coming weeks. How exciting!