Wallpaper florals - Part 1: Shoes

I have this obsession with floral patterns I think that stems from a love affair with french countryhouse-esque wallpapers. My brother nicknames my signature floral pattern as "that creepy wallpaper pattern" which closely resembles something between Paisley and Damask. Anyways, the whole point of this is that I tend to buy things that are patterned over things that are plain coloured to the degree that I have now remind myself to buy plain coloured things or else I will actually end up going out looking like I walked through a wallpaper. But just so you can appreciate the prettiness that is floral patterned things I will now post a collection of stuff I really like starting with:

SHOES.

Rachel Antonoff for Bass
http://www.freepeople.com/whats-new-shoes/daydream-saddle-shoe/

Dr. Martens
http://www.freepeople.com/rose-cloud-lace-up-boot/_/cmCategoryID/8a61524b-907c-474c-ab37-f357c9ae11e3/

Boutique 9
http://www.freepeople.com/lace-oxfords/_/cmCategoryID/8a61524b-907c-474c-ab37-f357c9ae11e3/?productOptionIDs=12b8c951-1a20-4ee1-bf90-10c3e51e5a64

Jeffrey Campbells
http://www.modcloth.com/Womens/Shoes/Wedges/-Fine-Furnishings-Wedge

Jeffery Campbells
http://www.modcloth.com/Womens/Shoes/Flats/-Perfect-Photo-Op-Flat

British Wellies

It's that time of year again when the rapidly cooling weather and the threat of the oncoming 4 months of rain means that I am desperately searching for a pair of 'the' perfect rainboots. In Vancouver, there are many options for various kinds and styles of rainboot, but it so happens this year that I cannot find anything I am even remotely in like with.

Now the sad end of my previous pair of walmart rainboots (in which the plastic started to crack and by June my rainboots were leaking rain from the top of the shoe - this is a significant change from my pair two pairs back, which had a hole worn in the sole during the harshest and coldest winter Vancouver had ever seen and I was forced to walk around in a pool of ice cold slush water in my boot for the rest of the day at school), has convinced me that cheap rainboots are not the way to go.

So. I decided to look into Hunter rainboots, because of their fitted shape and durability. The problem with Hunters is that a) they are very pricey and b) they do not have a single colour I like in stores and I refuse to buy black rainboots. Black rainboots may look classy but when it's wet and dreary in Vancouver, I prefer to stomp out in bright colourful rainboots to combat the lack of colour in the world.

And then there are the Brits, who possibly have the most extensive and most adorable collection of rainboots in the world which they refuse to share with the rest of us.

Google has led me to discover this ridiculously adorable line of rainboots by Hunter for the Royal Horticulture Society that is neither sold nor shipped to any place in North America. Look at these beauties:

While I am in love with all of them, the one of the far right is my favourite, followed by the black and white pair and the pastel blue. 

I have decided to move to the UK just to take advantage of their collection of wellies (and I'm actually not kidding that much, since I am now considering on doing a term next fall at the University of Edinburgh). 

If anyone knows where these wellies may be purchased/shipped to Canada, please inform me and I will love you forever. 

The rainboot search continues!

Book Candy

I was on the bus to school the other day, when I caught a flash of a canary yellow dust jacket with "Jane Eyre" printed on it in a bold black type. It had black edged pages.

In the total of less than 20 seconds I had glimpsed it, I was immediately in love.

With nothing more than a quick flash of the words "Modern Library" boxed in black type on the back the book, I set out on a quest to find it.

Alas but it was to no avail.

However, in my google search of Jane Eyre book images, I was suddenly captivated by the lovely photos of Penguin's new line of cloth-bound classics that came out last year.

I have posted them here for your viewing pleasure. Unwrap them with your eyes, savour their colours, their whimsical designs.

And then go out and buy them all so you can continue your visual molesting of them in the privacy of your own home.

Some not-thoroughly-overdone Geek fashion

This wasn't supposed to turn out to be a shopping blog but I'm such a shopaholic shopping occupies my mind about 80% of the time - if not more. So it shouldn't surprise me that much that I discovered this particular item while walking past it in the Roots store window two days ago.

What am I talking about? Roots new clothing line designed by Vancouver's Douglas Coupland.

Why am I ranting about it?

Because of this adorably simple t-shirt dress designed to look like the SMPTE colour bars off-air screen of old analog TVs.

They also have it on a t-shirt, a backpack, a hoodie, arm warmers, a notebook and this gorgeous scarf here:

Ah, love at first sight. <3

Geekery of the Day

"Hardback cover soften the blows"

The perfect clever tagline to go with the perfect clever laptop cover. I would LOVE to have this if it wasn't so ridiculously out of my price range ($79-99). This little nifty thing is made of leather and comes in red and black for 13, 15 and 17 inch macbooks. Someday....

The lovechild of a geek and a nerd

BookBook leathercase by TwelveSouth

Summer buys

After all that talk of clothes in my last post I decided to get off my butt and actually go shopping. Because you know internet shopping is all well and good but nothing is as satisfying as going out there and getting stuff on the spot (no shipping, waiting for paypal transactions to clear, all that good stuff...).

Here are some fruits of the harvest (from Guildford mall, which decided they were going to get a whole bunch of new stock on Monday):

O'Neill 'Sail Away' dress

from Off the Wall - on sale for $34.99

I've been eyeing this number since I first saw it in Sport Chek but it was $70! However my asian instincts reminds me that it will go on sale, which it did. Then, of course, I had to nab it at once. 

Street Society strappy red flats

from Stitches - $14.99

I saw these on the shelf up really high with a spotlight on it and the red was just stunning. It's a linen material and very comfortable. The straps add a classy touch. Love it!

Outfit in action!

Nautical summer outfits temporarily sated!

Random picture of the day (found on my camera when I was uploading these pictures):

Cool boutique window display in Crystal Mall

Blue skies and summer breeze! Summer has finally come to Vancouver! 

Yay!

Style Icons: Taylor Swift, Zooey Deschanel and Emma Watson

I confess: I am a shopaholic.

Not much of a revelation to most people who know me. My closet is like looking into a kaleidoscope, literally. I am addicted to colour. When I am not surrounded by colour I feel an inexplicable urge to colourfy my environment. During the summer especially is when I go on a shopping rampage because 1) the weather allows for a variety of clothing, especially dresses, instead of needing to bundle up, 2) I have more time to do the actual shopping and 3) because the sunshine demands that I find clothes that suit my surrounding environment (sun light makes clothes look infinitely more beautiful instead of dull and drabby).

I especially love dresses. Various relatives will testify to this fact, including my grandmother who will tell you that I have loved dresses since I was a small child, and in fact I loved dressing up.

I love swirly dresses. In fact, one of my criteria for buying a dress includes the swirly factor and how cool I feel when I spin around in it.

But anyways, on to my summer fashion inspirations.

French countryside:
soft floral patterns, dresses, hair scarves, leather shoes, straw hat
- think picnic (this also applies to English countryside)

Mediterranean island:
white peasant blouse, embroidered dresses, brown sandals
materials - cotton, linen
preferably without any kind of buttons, just ropes and ties
- think Mamma Mia! and Lena in Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants

1920's Nautical:
red, blue and white, stripes, clean lines, crisp
dresses and skirts of course.

Kidding, I meant more like:

Oh who am I kidding, it's about the same damn thing.

I've always wanted a pair of those big white mod sunglasses, but being four-eyed greatly limits my choice of sunglass eyeware. Also, having a long face means the only kind of hats that look good on me are ones with shallow brims. I am currently on a quest to find the perfect boater hat.

Anyhow, being financially limited, most of these things are still on my wishlist which is where my style icons comes in: celebrities obviously have no such financial limit as I do. They are expected to be style icons after all. So. That being said, what follows here is a mashup of all the awesome outfits I love from people who clearly know how to dress and have the means to do so. Taylor Swift, Zooey Deschanel and Emma Watson: fashionistas with a classic style that never goes out of fashion, people who say "screw what's in" and wears stuff that is actually flattering and edgy.

Taylor Swift - embodiment of pastoral

Emma Watson - sass and class

Honestly had trouble finding Emma summer pictures because she's always all dressed up so classy. That shall be another post though.

Zooey Deschanel - vintage queen

Oh and if I could own one outfit she wears in (500) Days of Summer I will be perfectly happy.

Still searching for this summer's Little Blue Dress!

Joyce's shopping hit list:

- modcloth
- urbanoutfitters
- Charlotte Russe
- Etsy
- Lulus
- ShopRuche.com
- Yes Style
- ebay!
- Bluenotes (always something cheap worth scrounging)
- Garage Clothing (am in love with their pastel palate summer clothing this year)
- H&M (accessorize!)
- Forever 21 (I think none of their clothing is designed to fit anyone, but their accessories are top notch)

And some final fashion tips: this website is fantastic (College Fashion)