Christmas Wish List

It' been a while since my last post. Honestly, I just haven't been very motivated to take pictures or write. It was finals week and then I had my first week of vacation, and I just wanted to spend the time away from an eye-straining screen and a keyboard.

I know it's a little late for a Christmas wish list, but I thought I'd share it anyway. I got most of the things I wished for this year, thanks to my own hard work and perseverance (heh) and my loving friends and family. It's weird, because I had such a difficult time coming up with a wish list. It wasn't that I had a hard time narrowing things down. It's just that it was so hard for me to come up with things I really, really wanted. From no particular order, here's a list of eight things I would love to see under the Christmas tree.

One of these two pairs of boots will most likely be Dan's Christmas gift to me. We haven't gotten each other presents yet because he's been so busy that we agreed to order each other's presents after New Year's, when he gets back to Halifax. The boot on the right is Sorel's Joan of Arctic Winter boot, which is the most practical choice in terms of keeping my toes warm and frostbite free this winter. The boot on the left is the taupe version of Betsey Johnson's suede Daynaa boot. It has scalloped edges, an optional fold over style, and a Marilyn Monroe print on the bottom of the shoe. 

The next two things on my list are bath and skincare stuff. For months now, I've been trying to make the shift to more natural bath and skincare products. I now only use sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner and Lush moisturizer. Speaking of Lush, a few nights ago I took a bath with the Comforter bubble bar, and it reminded me of Lush's awesome bath bombs and bubble bars. I take showers more often, so a Lush bath to me feels like an in-home spa experience every time. For soaps, I recommend Honey I Washed the Kids and Alkmaar, for bath bombs, I recommend Butterball and Twilight, and for bubble bars, the Comforter. Recently, I got a sample of the Josie Maran Argan Oil from Sephora and I love what it did for my dry skin. For almost $15 for a 0.5oz bottle, I figured there had to be a cheaper alternative. I found the site natural.ca which sells natural, organic, and local skincare products. My first order will probably be the Skin Management Program and a generous bottle of their Argan oil. 

MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium because my dry skin loves it and I'm almost out, and Roots wool socks because they are the socks of your typical Canadian (I'd wear these for luck during my family's citizenship test) and they look super warm. 

Now we're talking the more expensive things on the wish list - things I would not feel comfortable having people buy for me. On the left is Dannijo's Hixson necklace, a gorgeous silver plated peter pan collar necklace adorned with colourful Swarovski crystals. To be honest, I would take anything from Dannijo because they're tough, man-repeller-inspired jewelry is right up my alley. On the right, we have Soia & Kyo's Collette Toggle Coat, a camel-coloured pea coat with fur trim and roomy pockets (I love pockets). This isn't necessarily the coat I want as it was the first thing that caught my eye when I searched for wool toggle coats. A toggle coat in navy or camel with wood and leather details would be absolute perfection. Link me if you've seen something similar to what I've described. 

Sneakerhead

I am definitely not a sneakerhead. I do not collect fresh kicks - classic Jordans and multi-coloured Dunks. For years, the only pairs of shoes I've had remotely close to a sneaker were my pairs of black and cream Chuck Taylors and a pair of generic white plimsolls. This past summer, I was browsing through Fashiontoast when I saw Rumi Neely sporting a pair of Isabel Marant's Bobby sneakers - I fell in love. They were a simple colour, pretty nostalgic in design, and they looked super comfy too. As with the Dicker boots, these sneakers were way outside my budget so I settled on fawning over them online.

The day after I saw that blog post, I was walking around Georgetown in D.C. and I decided to check out H&M. I remember finding a black sweater with a kelly green peter pan collar, and I remember thinking that was the only thing I was going to buy (I just came from a whole week's worth of shopping in Boston and New York). Then, I found this pair of beige sneakers up on the shelf and I thought: neutral colour, suede material, nostalgic design = H&M's version of the sneaker. I took it off the shelf and brought it with me to the counter - the rest is history.

Sneakers from H&M

True story: every time I wear them I feel like I have tons of street cred.

How can I satisfy what I want for the world and what I want for my closet?

American flags in Washington D.C.
Disclaimer: I'm not American

I was browsing through my twitter feed when I saw Bryan Boy post a link to this blog post, OP ED: Hypocrite Chic?, by Fashion Editor at Large. I thought it was really interesting because it discussed two conflicting things that I am quite passionate about. I have been struggling with my personal political convictions and my love for fashion as a form of creative self-expression. Ideally, I could just address both by wearing only thrifted or vintage items, or eco-friendly and local fashion. The Salvation Army and Value Village in my city are not within walking distance of where I live so it is quite inconvenient for me to go thrifting. Vintage stores in Halifax tend to be pricey and the sizes tend to be too big for my petite frame. Eco-friendly and local fashion are expensive, and often not my style. I'm sure there are amazing green designers out there that I have yet to discover, but I just haven't really made it a point to do my research. I have found a heap of excuses around these 'sustainable' forms of fashion; I acknowledge that it takes effort, but I often find myself resorting to these excuses anyway. The Occupy movements have made me think a lot more about my consumer habits (very powerful stuff for any ordinary citizen; don't underestimate it); while I think I'm doing pretty well on most fronts, I find myself struggling with fashion.

When I think of capitalism and our global economic order, I don't immediately think of the clothes on my back. The objects I picture in my head are usually commodities: food, oil, minerals, etc. From my studies, I've learned that commodities or primary products play a huge role in determining the socio-economic well-being of people within a society. If I want to make a difference in my consumer habits I usually look into what type of commodities I purchase.  For example, I don't eat fast food or processed food nearly as much as I used to. Even if our pantry is stocked with instant noodles and fast food joints are in every corner of this city, I try my best to avoid all of it. I still live with my parents so I don't have to buy groceries, but if I did live by myself I know I'd be more conscientious about the kind of food I'd buy. I'm convinced that I will eat less meat (once or twice a week) and only buy from local farmer's markets (expensive but the quantity per week will keep costs down) as soon as I move out. Right now, if I make a meal for myself, I usually stick to simple, home cooked meals incorporating as little processed ingredients as possible. It has gotten to the point where the thought of a McDonald's cheeseburger makes me want to gag or the thought of Tim Horton's makes me think of the coffee farmer who isn't paid fairly for his work. Through my eating habits, I am decreasing demand for products marketed by multinational corporations and increasing support for local producers. Though my actions create a microscopic dent in the economic system, I am still doing something to try and bridge the socio-economic gap that is so pervasive in our societies. I mean, that's the whole point of the Occupy movement.

The message of Occupy Wall Street is not based on anti-capitalism or anti-corporation, as Fox News would like you to believe. Activists are challenging global and national economic systems which have exacerbated gaps between the rich and the poor and threatened the fundamental ideals of democracy. Activists are challenging these systems because they only benefit those who are already in power, and leave people with no choice but to live their lives within a largely homogeneous, consumerist lifestyle. Arguments against the movement usually point out to the fact that many of the protesters are wearing Nike sneakers made in a sweatshop in  India, driving to Zuccotti Park on gasoline from Chevron, and fighting a government that has given their grandparents the elusive American Dream. These are all ignorant arguments, and it completely points to the fact that people want to remain apathetic. They have the time to make stupid memes, but apparently not enough to learn the true message behind the movement. If people bothered to read, they would know that people have to resort to these mega-corporations because they have monopolized their respective industries. Independent and local businesses have limited capabilities to grow because there is no support system for them unlike multinational corporations which are bailed out by governments. In turn, corporations become huge stakeholders in politics, thus dictating policies which will obviously favour them at the expense of the 99%. The mutual support from multinational corporations, governments, and institutional actors creates a global system which exacerbates inequalities within societies. Additionally, citizens cannot get their voices heard because they simply do not have the lobbying funds - like the Koch brothers - to get governments to listen. In that sense, one can argue that democracy has been reduced to bribery. It's a strong statement but I think it really makes one question if democratic participation is awarded based on monetary value.

With all of that in mind, where does that leave my love for shoes and clothes? Do I have to flip my consumer habits in order not to be labelled a hypocrite? I admit I am a hypocrite. I advocate for institutional change on the global economic scale, for better labour regulations in EPZs, and for the creation of more sustainable products among a multitude of other I-wish-for-a-better-world kind of dreams. I feel strongly about these things but I am wearing leggings made in China, a Beatles shirt from a controversial, right-wing, Christian company, and a hoodie from a sweatshop free clothing manufacturer owned by a guy with multiple sexual harassment lawsuits. Where do I begin? How can I satisfy what I want for the world and what I want for my closet? Is it even possible? Do I have to sacrifice one to get the other?

Fashion is a way of expressing one's creativity and individuality and I don't think it will ever go away. I have way too much fun wearing maxi skirts and having people look in my direction because my clothes are actually moving - omg. However, I do acknowledge that I have to make some changes in my consumer habits; I have done so with food (which I love) so I don't see why I can't do the same with my clothes. It will be a long process and it will eventually require me to look for new places to get my fix, but I am hopeful that it will be worth it. I think I'll end up being a lot more prudent with my expenses, and I think I'll end up with a lot more unique pieces, with better quality and sustainability. If my eating habits now are any indication of the kind of happiness and fulfillment I might expect, then I am looking forward to this new direction. Likewise, this blog will take on a new direction too.

When it comes down to it, I prioritize the message of OWS over a Proenza Schouler PS1. Do you?

Isabel Marant Dicker Boots and Possible Alternatives

So, for a while now I have been enamored by the well-regarded Isabel Marant Dicker boots, particularly the one in taupe. Sadly, they are way above a university student's budget, especially a university student who's not bright enough to get some rich dude (or daddy) to pay for her tuition, so I scoured the internet looking for a more affordable alternative. The entire summer, I researched and came across a few that are currently featured in the Piperlime website. Some of these replica inspired booties include Report Marks Boot, Steve Madden Pembrook Boot, and the Dolce Vita Jamison Boot. All three boots are between $109-129 which is a steal compared to the $615 Isabel Marant boots. Of course, you're paying for quality (sage suede and Cuban heel, probably chopped off a Cuban tree by Castro himself) and brand name. But at those price points, the Piperlime boots aren't so bad because the material is still suede and the heels are still made of wood so I definitely think these are great options for more practical and cash-strapped girls like me.

Isabel Marant Dicker Boots (source: net-a-porter.com)

Yay! I found great alternatives to the ideal fall shoe. But, there was a problem. I had finally settled on either the Report or Steve Madden boot because I preferred their more narrow and feminine construction. The problem was they were out of my size and half-sizes up and down. The earliest they could ship either one was October 24th which is over a month from now. I can't wait because I am so terribly impatient and because Nova Scotia's seasons can change at any given moment. Basically, I have now until the end of October to frolic in the midst of warm-coloured foliage; thus it would be totally pointless to get my fall boots at the end of fall. You see what I'm getting at? So, I needed to find a new alternative.

I decided to check out Aldo. I figured Aldo offered free shipping, which is sort of a rarity in Canada, and they often release collections of trendy shoes so they must have something similar. I did find something similar in terms of shape, but not exactly in terms of color. This wasn't really a problem because the reason I liked the Dicker boots in the first place was because of the shape and overall construction of the boot. I love the dip at the front, which is super flattering on skinny ankles - at least from what I've seen. It has that cowboy boot effect without going all out yee-haw, if you know what I mean.

Aldo Qualheim Boots (source: aldoshoes.com)

Anyway, back to the Aldo boots, I found the Aldo Qualheim which comes in either cognac or black. Unfortunately for fans of the black Dicker boots, Aldo was being stupid and decided to paint the wood heel black instead of leaving it be. Had they left the woodstacked heel untouched, it would have been nearly identical. However, the Cognac ones look awesome and the stitching looks very similar to the ones offered on Piperlime. It's also the cheapest at $100, and even cheaper when I used a 15% off coupon. Sure, the colour isn't exactly the same but I love how it looks on the screen and who knows, maybe there's an off chance it looks lighter in real life. We'll see when I get it and then I'll post pictures for comparison. I already have a number of possible outfits incorporating these new babies, and because of that I couldn't be more excited to welcome the fall season.

What's your go-to shoe this season?