In the Bag

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My relatively new purse just busted its hardware, to my surprise… and I’ve been considering an appropriate replacement. A good bag, at $160, isn’t ‘cheap’ and I could reasonably expect it to last more than a few months. Right? So, on with the new and the next. What should I get?

And will it go with my hand-me-down silk blouse with circle appliques in mauve, plum and pale violet, with shell buttons? Today I paired it with dark denim, some clunky boots and a delicate necklace. Warm and cozy with my nubby oatmeal cardigan coat.

In the Bag by jc-alison featuring gold necklaces

Sunday Dance Party

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Every Sunday I go to dance. I head downtown to run errands and then check in at the studio. On a good day, we go out after a sweaty class to share a drink and catch up. For an all day walk-around, you need something you can throw on over your tights and yoga top… but you should definitely be ready for the unexpected… or even a perfectly planned post-class dance party.

Sunday Dance Party by jc-alison featuring black tights

Grey Day

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Heading out for a morning of grocery shopping and then to play with my nieces. Later, fish tacos, beer and cooking up a storm with my wife’s family. Comfort and kid-friendly clothes are a must.

I’m on the lookout for a new black purse; must be small, cross body and have well-zipped compartments for ID, money, etc. It will be our new ‘going out dancing bag’ – for hands-free shakin’ on the dance floor.

Suggestions?

Grey Day by jc-alison featuring long dresses

Endless Summer

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I am squeezing the last beautiful drops of our warm weather before Canada’s bitter winter comes and really kicks my butt. I am enjoying the days of high waist culottes and summery lace tops, crochet vests and jewellery that reminds me of our travels to Santorini. I won’t give in yet, despite knowing that by Halloween there might be snow on the ground.

Stay tuned for some awesome updates, coming soon… and not just in the wardrobe department.

There will be a special shout out to AutumnUpdates and some news.

How are you holding on to Summer, or is Autumn on your mind … and more than just because I mentioned a sweet blogger by that name?

Endless Summer by jc-alison featuring a bead necklace

Pen Pals: Rifle PaperCo. – A Fashion Love Letter

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While organizing the basement I came across a box with the label “Letters From My Love”. It contains all the correspondence between my grandmother and grandfather during WWII. Unfolding the yellowed paper and seeing their words to one another on the page is real romance, right before my eyes.

I am a sucker for a good romance. Whether it’s “The Notebook” or a Rifle Paper Co. patterned dress, in the same print as the notebook that my wife and I used as a guestbook and then as the ‘Year One Of Our Marriage’ journal… a little flowers never hurt, to add a touch of rose-hued nostalgia to the scene. I was thrilled when I found a Rifle Paper Co. dress in exactly the pattern of our notebook. I plan to wear it with a sweetly patterned coral, cap sleeve cardigan, a carousel necklace (from yyzimports.ca, pictured above) and a vintage piece of my Nana’s, costume jewellery at its finest. I will be in bloom – and loving it.

Rifle Paper Co.

The Dress. Rifle Paper Co.

A sweet vignette; I imagine that this is what life looks like in a sweetly patterned dress.

It is. Truly.

Pen Pals: Rifle Paper – A Fashion Love Letter by jc-alison featuring blue wall art

Falling Deeply – Day and Night

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Look of the Day:

For a cool fall day, veering into night, a blouse with sheer details and lace. Switch up those accessories for evening, but definitely keep a bold lip, perfect skin and a flush on your cheeks. Faux fur, of course.

Falling Deeply – Day and Night by jc-alison featuring a black jacket

Quick Change Artist

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Quick Change Artist by jc-alison featuring j crew jewelry

Stay Golden

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Headed to a birthday party… with live steel drum band. I’m wearing a hand painted silk top with bat wing sleeve, and depending on how much I need to carry, how much the temperature drops and how long I’ll be on my feet … the rest will figure itself out. I can hear the music already!

Stay Golden by jc-alison featuring a vintage purse

Royal Botanical – button ups and maxi skirts with a flora and fauna twist

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What I wore: an Anthropologie Kelly green maxi skirt with embroidered waistband, plus whimsical footwear and a sleeveless button-up patterned with monkeys, pineapples, toucans and ferns = botanical perfection. What a prized specimen!

Royal Botanical – button ups and maxi skirts with a flora and fauna twist by jc-alison featuring a green vase

Flowers, All Grown Up – Fresh prints, cutouts and new lengths

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I love a good floral print dress. But I’m trading the youthful, sometimes juvenile vibe of a mini dress and taking it to a midi-length. Florals with a dark background, cutouts or abstracted print are my favourites. I am keeping these variations in rotation this fall! Let’s call them perennials.

I have loved this look for quite some time and was happy to see my dress crop up on Aria in Pretty Little Liars.