Showing posts with label Modcloth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Modcloth. Show all posts
Sunday, April 09, 2017
Friday, May 01, 2015
Ottawa Vintage & Consignment Stores: Do they actually exist?
The other day my friend and I decided to check out some vintage and consignment stores in Ottawa (more specifically, the downtown area). I jump on any shopping adventure, so when my friend suggested this, I was up for the challenge. After doing a few Google searches we both came up with a list of stores. Here are the results.
There were a lot of stores listed in the Byward Market, so we headed there first. We found Workshop Boutique, which was more of a modern vintage than actually second-hand itself. Everything there is made by local and/or Canadian designers, making most of the pieces super cute and unique. However, the price range was not the greatest, as dressed were well over $100 and tops were over $50. Not exactly the bargains we were looking for. Our next store, Victoire, was pretty much the same deal, except it had a very nautical feel, with stripes, anchors, and sailboats decorating the clothing.
Then we hit a dead end, so to speak, hence the title of this post. According to Google, there was supposed to be three other stores in the market- Young Jane's, Gypsy and Company, and Orange. None of them existed at their current address, and we could not figure out if they had relocated or simply gone out of business. In the cute white and mint green building where Young Jane's was supposed to be, there was some sort of spa, and the lady there informed us that the owner of Young Jane's had gone out of the country...I guess taking all her stock with her? At the supposed location of Orange, we found an apartment building with a swanky looking boutique on the first floor, no sign indicating a vintage store of any sort. Walking further along, we came across a small boutique called Adorit, which again had locally made and even eco-friendly clothing at a good price, which was nice.
We then ventured to the supposed address of Aunt Olive's...which proved another dead end. Actually, it was a "green, eco-friendly" cafe (the name escapes me at the moment). So don't go looking for that one either.
We finally hit a gem at Ragtime Vintage Clothing. Another small space, but filled to the brim with everything imaginable, from unwanted Forever 21 dresses to silk shirts and peasant blouses, and costumes from who knows what era. It even smelled like old clothes in there!
Apparently, Livney's Modern and Vintage Wear does exist...except this time we were the ones who could not find it. Google maps said it was in the middle of a field, so it was quite confusing where we were supposed to be. I caught a glimpse of the storefront as we were heading in the opposite direction on a bus back home, and it looked extremely small and as if it was about to go out of business.
The last store we found was AMH (Absolutely Must Have) Style. This store kind of reminded me of a boutique style Value Village: store brands- like Jacob, Le Chateau, Smart Set- for an affordable price; but without the mess and disorganization. It was like the sale rack of stores that you want to shop at, but normally cannot afford.
What did we learn from this adventure? Most likely not to trust Google! Also, that we prefer modern vintage than actual vintage clothing, even if it can be a bit pricey. I think I will stick to my usual stores when shopping (F21, H&M, Smart Set, Dynamite...), and when I want something for a special occasion, I'll go to Modcloth (well, virtually), and Roadtrip Clothing (also located in the Byward Market).
What are your experiences with vintage/modern vintage/consignment store shopping? Let me know!
There were a lot of stores listed in the Byward Market, so we headed there first. We found Workshop Boutique, which was more of a modern vintage than actually second-hand itself. Everything there is made by local and/or Canadian designers, making most of the pieces super cute and unique. However, the price range was not the greatest, as dressed were well over $100 and tops were over $50. Not exactly the bargains we were looking for. Our next store, Victoire, was pretty much the same deal, except it had a very nautical feel, with stripes, anchors, and sailboats decorating the clothing.
Then we hit a dead end, so to speak, hence the title of this post. According to Google, there was supposed to be three other stores in the market- Young Jane's, Gypsy and Company, and Orange. None of them existed at their current address, and we could not figure out if they had relocated or simply gone out of business. In the cute white and mint green building where Young Jane's was supposed to be, there was some sort of spa, and the lady there informed us that the owner of Young Jane's had gone out of the country...I guess taking all her stock with her? At the supposed location of Orange, we found an apartment building with a swanky looking boutique on the first floor, no sign indicating a vintage store of any sort. Walking further along, we came across a small boutique called Adorit, which again had locally made and even eco-friendly clothing at a good price, which was nice.
We then ventured to the supposed address of Aunt Olive's...which proved another dead end. Actually, it was a "green, eco-friendly" cafe (the name escapes me at the moment). So don't go looking for that one either.
We finally hit a gem at Ragtime Vintage Clothing. Another small space, but filled to the brim with everything imaginable, from unwanted Forever 21 dresses to silk shirts and peasant blouses, and costumes from who knows what era. It even smelled like old clothes in there!
Apparently, Livney's Modern and Vintage Wear does exist...except this time we were the ones who could not find it. Google maps said it was in the middle of a field, so it was quite confusing where we were supposed to be. I caught a glimpse of the storefront as we were heading in the opposite direction on a bus back home, and it looked extremely small and as if it was about to go out of business.
The last store we found was AMH (Absolutely Must Have) Style. This store kind of reminded me of a boutique style Value Village: store brands- like Jacob, Le Chateau, Smart Set- for an affordable price; but without the mess and disorganization. It was like the sale rack of stores that you want to shop at, but normally cannot afford.
What did we learn from this adventure? Most likely not to trust Google! Also, that we prefer modern vintage than actual vintage clothing, even if it can be a bit pricey. I think I will stick to my usual stores when shopping (F21, H&M, Smart Set, Dynamite...), and when I want something for a special occasion, I'll go to Modcloth (well, virtually), and Roadtrip Clothing (also located in the Byward Market).
What are your experiences with vintage/modern vintage/consignment store shopping? Let me know!
Monday, June 02, 2014
Spring Outfits, Modcloth, and More
I've noticed that the outfits that I've created recently on Polyvore have all featured the basic plain white tee. I didn't realize this until I looked through them the other day. It just goes to show that it is a staple that can be dressed up or down in very simple ways, such as with a skirt and cardigan, a statement necklace, or a leather jacket. You can never go wrong with a plain white tee! :)
A few weeks ago I finally decided to order a dress off of Modcloth, an online store with the cutest vintage-inspired clothes. It took me a long time to choose, since everything on there is absolutely gorgeous, but I finally decided on this blue knee-length dress with tiny polka dots, and I absolutely love it! It fits perfectly and I cannot wait to wear it! (Side note: I apologize for the awful picture quality; even with editing, the background is still weirdly yellow.)
A few weeks ago I finally decided to order a dress off of Modcloth, an online store with the cutest vintage-inspired clothes. It took me a long time to choose, since everything on there is absolutely gorgeous, but I finally decided on this blue knee-length dress with tiny polka dots, and I absolutely love it! It fits perfectly and I cannot wait to wear it! (Side note: I apologize for the awful picture quality; even with editing, the background is still weirdly yellow.)
It has finally started warming up, so the other day I sported this preppy spring outfit. I got the blouse as a birthday present and I love the little dot pattern on it!
Blouse: Tommy Hilfiger (at Hudson's Bay)
Pants: Smart Set
Last piece of news: I went shopping last week at Winners of all places and I actually found something! Usually Winners is just a mess of different styles, brands, and sizes, but once in a while I do find the hidden gems, such as this crazy t-shirt.
It's so bright and fun for the summer that I thought, well, why not? Tropical print on one side and tie-dye on the other- it's pretty out of my comfort zone but this year I've been wanting to branch out from my standard uniform of floral, pink, and lace. Also, it fits right in with one of the biggest trends of the season that I described in one of my last posts: art prints.
Until my next post, stay stylish! :)
Sunday, February 19, 2012
A Plethora of Fashion News
First of all, sorry for the four week hiatus...assignments, studying, midterms all piled up (but they are done for now!). Though during the times when I should have been studying, I was thinking about my next blog post... I have discovered so much about fashion in the past month that I have no idea how to contain my excitement all in one post!!! My take on spring trends will be coming towards the end of this week (even though there's still snow out there), which will also mark my one year anniversary on Blogger!
Websites I have discovered
DailyLook-http://www.dailylook.com/?showhome=true
Clearly I've been missing out on this awesome, awesome website for some time. Basically, there is a different look posted every day (bet you got that much from the name), and the items go on sale for three days for DailyLook members. The easiest part is that you can sign up through Facebook, which allows you to comment on the look, upload photos of your recreations of the looks, and comment on other member's photos. Also, once you sign up (which I haven't...yes, I know I just said it was the easiest thing in the world), you will get personalized looks based on the outfits or articles of clothing that you've liked. Sounds like fun, right?
Modcloth- http://www.modcloth.com/
I've also been missing out on this one. Modcloth is an online store that sells indie, retro, and vintage clothing with a modern update. The main feature of this website is their collection of cute dresses. (There is a separate link dedicated to floral print dresses- need I say more?) They also sell home decor and offer style tips in their blog. Do the designers Betsey Johnson, BB Dakota, Jeffrey Campbell, and Kensie Girl sound familiar? Browse their styles here too!
Etsy- http://www.etsy.com/
You can find absolutely anything on Etsy, from clothes to jewellery, home furnishings, artwork, toys, patterns, cards...the list goes on. The unique part about it: everything is handmade! If you don't know where to start, my friend Amy makes and sells patterns for the cutest crocheted toys called Amigurumis! http://www.etsy.com/shop/amysgurumis?ref=seller_info
Magazine Comparison
The other thing I want to talk about is actually pretty recent. This past week I received both March issues for Seventeen and Fashion. This was the first issue of Fashion that I got and I was so excited to read something new and...Canadian! This magazine differs so much from Seventeen because it is aimed at adult readers, not teens. The trends are shown straight from the runway, which means high fashion comes with a high price. There are no "outfit ideas" or "runway looks for less;" nope, you get the full designer price (with some pieces from H&M). What I do like about Fashion is that there are actual articles about the trends and fashion, not just pictures of clothes and where they are from. It was exciting to read not only about the trends, but the latest in art, movies, music, books, and TV. A special feature that I enjoyed in Seventeen this month introduced the newest members of the Seventeen Style Council- made up of fashion bloggers (just like me! I wish I was chosen, how much fun would that be?) who all have a unique sense of style. Are the trends the same in both magazines? Yes, yes they are, and you will hear more about them soon! For the record, I like Seventeen for the many outfit ideas, and Fashion for the articles that inspire me to write more blog posts! Browse both magazines online:
http://www.fashionmagazine.com/
http://www.seventeen.com/
Stay stylish!
Websites I have discovered
DailyLook-http://www.dailylook.com/?showhome=true
Clearly I've been missing out on this awesome, awesome website for some time. Basically, there is a different look posted every day (bet you got that much from the name), and the items go on sale for three days for DailyLook members. The easiest part is that you can sign up through Facebook, which allows you to comment on the look, upload photos of your recreations of the looks, and comment on other member's photos. Also, once you sign up (which I haven't...yes, I know I just said it was the easiest thing in the world), you will get personalized looks based on the outfits or articles of clothing that you've liked. Sounds like fun, right?
Modcloth- http://www.modcloth.com/
I've also been missing out on this one. Modcloth is an online store that sells indie, retro, and vintage clothing with a modern update. The main feature of this website is their collection of cute dresses. (There is a separate link dedicated to floral print dresses- need I say more?) They also sell home decor and offer style tips in their blog. Do the designers Betsey Johnson, BB Dakota, Jeffrey Campbell, and Kensie Girl sound familiar? Browse their styles here too!
Etsy- http://www.etsy.com/
You can find absolutely anything on Etsy, from clothes to jewellery, home furnishings, artwork, toys, patterns, cards...the list goes on. The unique part about it: everything is handmade! If you don't know where to start, my friend Amy makes and sells patterns for the cutest crocheted toys called Amigurumis! http://www.etsy.com/shop/amysgurumis?ref=seller_info
Magazine Comparison
The other thing I want to talk about is actually pretty recent. This past week I received both March issues for Seventeen and Fashion. This was the first issue of Fashion that I got and I was so excited to read something new and...Canadian! This magazine differs so much from Seventeen because it is aimed at adult readers, not teens. The trends are shown straight from the runway, which means high fashion comes with a high price. There are no "outfit ideas" or "runway looks for less;" nope, you get the full designer price (with some pieces from H&M). What I do like about Fashion is that there are actual articles about the trends and fashion, not just pictures of clothes and where they are from. It was exciting to read not only about the trends, but the latest in art, movies, music, books, and TV. A special feature that I enjoyed in Seventeen this month introduced the newest members of the Seventeen Style Council- made up of fashion bloggers (just like me! I wish I was chosen, how much fun would that be?) who all have a unique sense of style. Are the trends the same in both magazines? Yes, yes they are, and you will hear more about them soon! For the record, I like Seventeen for the many outfit ideas, and Fashion for the articles that inspire me to write more blog posts! Browse both magazines online:
http://www.fashionmagazine.com/
http://www.seventeen.com/
Stay stylish!
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