The Pretty Secrets

no friend of mine

2012-01-25T09:16:00.000-07:00

Sorrily, this is the last of the Vancouver content on here for a while. As much as I adore the left coast, I really wish that it would give my hair a break! The humidity transformed my lovely locks into a frizz and no amount of Aveda Smoothing Fluid would fix the problem.

No Vancouver trip is complete without a cruise around Stanley Park, which is exactly where these photographs were taken. To my Van city bloggers, the next time I pop by for a longer visit we will definitely have to meet up.

joshy boy: jacket - house of vintage. sweater - ds dundee. gingham shirt - ben sherman. jeans - cheap monday. desert boots - clarks.

SJ: jacket - mr leonard. turtleneck - vintage. leather skirt - vintage. zig zag tights - betsey johnson. necklace - pyhrra. boots - michael kors. scarf - burberry.

no friend of mine - bleached

x miss sandy

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sight of you

2012-01-23T17:10:00.001-07:00

Last stop before Vancouver, BC was Bellingham for their disappointing Target. If it wasn't for my tights binge at the Nordstrom's Rack in Seattle, Joshy Boy wouldn't have heard the end of it. Some might say I'm a bit of a Target Hooligan and cannot make a trip down to the US without paying a visit.

Finally enjoying my Voodoo Doughnut.

Majestic PNW

We arrived in time for a dinner at Salt down Bloody Alley (some of you may remember from two summers ago our epic double dinner). This time around, we both went for two different BC platters - meats, cheese, condiments with wine pairings and switched seats half way through. In short, it was a taste sensation - the corned beef, I have no words.

After some major tasting, we made our way back to the east end to harass a certain Nannerpuss, the lovely Miss Sara and the always charming Sir Zach. Her door may have been open, but we made our presence known by shouting a new verse to the hit single 'Living in Bristol' the band Engagement Cock Ring wrote on NYE. Through the mail slot our slurred lines went something like this:

I hate mail slots
they're too small
Knock once or twice
then kick in the door
LIVIN' IN BRISTOOOOL

Now that Joshy Boy has returned to this marvelous country, he is already making things happen. While in town he caught up with his old pal, David from West and will now be part of the highly anticipated Wildebeest. This might actually be the Summer of Josh.

By the way, I've started using Pinterest. Anyone else on the bandwagon?

sight of you - pale saints

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sleepless in seattle

2012-01-18T11:29:00.000-07:00

The drive up to Seattle was treacherous at best in rush hour traffic and pissing rain - Joshy Boy managed to make it come together as I DJ'd. Luckily, before sundown we passed by the Gospel sign and the Uncle Sam billboard in Chehalis, WA (Which was, regrettably, covered up. Perhaps he was finally given a warning after such stunning sayings as this, this, and especially this. To read more about this weird roadside attraction (?) check out this and this.)

A weary arrival in the Emerald City found us at Bimbo's Cantina for the ultimate burrito. Since the last time I was there, they have toned down the Mexicano decor. Bummer. There is nothing I love more than a fiesta hanging from the ceiling and a thousand business cards under the glass of the tables. I also realized that my last trip was immortalized in an issue of Parlour magazine. Feel free to read my travel journal here. Scroll down to the article entitled 'No Pity in Emerald City' and you will see a photograph of me joyously sitting on a case of High Life. Am I really that predictable?

If I thought we had a wild night in Portland, I did not realize what awaited me at The Moore Hotel in Seattle. The last time we stayed there I think I was too inebriated to pay attention to the weird vibes.

The howling wind and consistent pelting of rain did nothing to improve the situation either. Joshy Boy dozed off without much worry as I stayed up trying to drown out the creepy noises with the funky fresh sounds of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The witching hour is supposedly midnight which was right about the time I heard every one on our floor struggling with their keys in the door. Really? Everyone came back to the hotel all at once? I had had about enough of Carlton's smug mug so I turned off the light but couldn't shake the feeling of being watched from the washroom. Jostling Jash awake in a panic, he went and turned on a light and mentioned nothing of the fact that he had heard the hotel was HAUNTED until the next day.

In daylight things looked a lot better.

Jash also decided to mention in the morning that you could see into the attic of the hotel from the vent in our washroom. Awesome.

I always imagined Jash as a haughty cob of corn. Thank goodness I finally have visual proof of his natural state.

Short washroom stall doors.

Delicious Russian bakery

Besides being terrifying to the overly sensitive (me), The Moore Hotel was conveniently located near the famous Seattle Market. There we went to the scrumptious Russian bakery Piroshky. Highly recommend.

Next stop - Vancouver, BC.

There were so many songs about Seattle to choose from but I had to pick the most ridiculous one:
Seattle Ain't Bullshittin' - Sir Mix-A-Lot

x Miss Sandy

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dream of the 90s

2012-01-15T10:15:00.000-07:00

We lived to see another day after a wild wild evening in the mean streets of Rose City.

the owls are not what they seem

one day, I too will have a stained glass window of an exploding doughnut... dreamz

Bunk Sandwiches were THE best. Josh dove into the pulled pork as I devoured my sumptuous roasted butternut squash.

The day began at the Doug Fir for a lovely breakfast minus the tetra pack OJ (I'm partial to freshly squeezed). Then on to the main attraction - vintage clothing and record shopping. I came away with a couple of new gems - dum dum girls & marvelous darlings.

We were in need of road sustenance before taking off to Seattle so we popped by Voodoo Doughnuts for a sweet treat and Bunk Sandwiches for a savoury finish. I'm hungry all over again looking at the photographs. Good grief.

Seemingly I am back to my old habits of 'borrowing' Joshy Boy's clothes aka trying to steal them to no avail. I suppose he does deserve to own nice things after his traumatizing experience abroad. He did, however, release an over sized ripped up Riff's t shirt into my custody and for that I am grateful. It is even possible that it was hidden under that luxurious ds dundee wool sweater in the photos above.. but I rather keep that a mystery.

wearing: jeans - bdg. desert boots - thrifted. scarf - paul smith. sweater - ds dundee. handbag - winners. necklace - phyrra. shades - ray ban.

dream of the 90s - portlandia

x miss sandy

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It's too late to turn back, here we go Portland

2012-01-12T13:23:00.000-07:00

It just dawned on me that the majority of my travel photographs were taken with instagram. I'm new to the whole iPhone snapshot phenomena but it does come in handy when you desire a moody quick snap rather than a crisp SLR shot.

The majestic pacific northwest

the jupiter hotel

the moody jewel room - writing courtesy of yours truly

living the high life with the champagne of beers

le pigeon around the corner from the hotel and deeeelicious

drinks at beaker & flask - I half expected to be courted by the mixologist from Portlandia

Joshy boy and I had a lovely cruise down to Portland, OR in our champagne super nova Rio. It was fairly uneventful until we needed to get gas and our GPS kept leading us to any other gas station other than the kind we had specified. It took us down the very questionable Old Highway 99 past the Melody Pines Mobile Estates. The only thing creepier than backwater roads in Twin Peaks country is if nighttime is falling. J's favourite move when passing an extra seedy area is to press the door locks over and over again - I think it's for effect.

We arrived at our destination, the Jupiter Hotel, in one piece. We did pay a visit to the town of Tumwater, WA for a gas up and a beer run. The first stop on any US road trip usually finds us sussing out some Miller High Life - The Champagne of Beers. Truly a pleasure.

Moments after our arrival, Jash was blasting Shaggy, making fun of the obnoxious amount of Poison on my iTunes and keying tall cans of High Life to shot gun. I ended up showering myself in beer. Shortly after we made our wobbly way down the block to Le Pigeon for a delectable dinner. It is a cozy, eclectic restaurant where the menu changes weekly. On first sight of it my mind immediately thought 'PUT A BIRD ON IT.' But hey, that's just me!

portland - the replacements

and your second hand clothes, trust no one I suppose

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tales to tell back on shore

2012-01-11T17:23:00.000-07:00

A hoy! The second part of our journey, a mere five hours after we arrived in Vancouver by train, we were setting sail upon a tug to the island. There is nothing quite like a barnhouse tiki bar new years! We did manage to sneak in a delicious breakfast at Cafe Medina prior to our departure (their Saumon Fume is incredible).

our incredible champagne coloured rental car - her name is Rio and she dances on the sand....

There's a stowaway!

Wearing: Jacket - mr leonard. Tights - wolford. Boots - michael kors. Scarf - burberry. Sunglasses - ray ban. Handbag - winners.

6 months in a leaky boat - split enz

Miss Sandy

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train in vain

2012-01-05T18:26:00.000-07:00

In the last seven days I have managed to travel by train, automobile, and ship (just for bragging sake, a plane will be added to that list shortly.) For Jash's welcome back to Majestic Canada we planned a 26 hour train trip from Edmonton to Vancouver. It was something else.

delirious

The winter scenery was phenomenal. My only major complaint was that there were not enough daylight hours to really appreciate our surroundings. I would highly recommend taking this journey on VIA Rail during the summer solstice. We were in the economy seats which were quite adequate but since Jash is a culinary wizard we brought our own food.

train in vain - the clash

x Miss Sandy

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just strut

2012-01-02T17:31:00.001-07:00

Happy New Year! 2G12 should be infinitely better than the past 12 months - not to say the whole year was a giant waste, I can recall a couple of events that made it all worthwhile:

- Living with one of my best friend's Jash

- Eating at the best restaurant in the world, Noma

- Moving back to the wonderfully bountiful spoils that is Canada

- Interning at Lula, a magazine I have coveted for ages

- All the new people I have met in the past couple of months who have made Edmonton bearable

- Seeing several bands on my top ten list: Prince, Bob Dylan, Raveonettes, Black Lips, Thin Lizzy, Van Morrison etc

I could definitely go on and on about all the things I didn't bother to blog about but I would rather concentrate on what is going on in the present and near future. With that in mind... here is a shoot from last week. Har har har.

Nothing like strutting around the museum grounds in my glad rags.

wearing: dress - nokomis(rip). boots - le pepe from holts. belt - vintage. jacket - mr leonard. purse - louis vuitton. tights - h&m. sunglasses - ray ban. scarf - biba. necklace - vintage.

Just Strut - King Tuff

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a thousand years between

2011-12-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

Now with Christmas insanity a thing of the past and today marking my final working day here in Edmonton there is nothing left but to take a train to another city for a much needed vacation. I have been reunited with Jash once more and we are about to embark on another ridiculous adventure filled with scenic train rides, marvellous meals, a road trip south, and a bizarro NYE. This is most likely my last post until 2G12 so I wish you all a safe a spectacular evening.... may I also offer you a couple of styling tips from my shoot with VUE Weekly.

This coat was aptly titled "The Hundred Hamster Coat" by Miss Emily (another lovely friend I have recently been reunited with.) It is one of my favourite pieces most likely because it is so incredibly obnoxious.

shoes - vintage. tights - wolford. dress - vintage. hundred hamster coat - vintage. sunglasses - 1960s Italian vintage. slip - nanette lepore. belt - vintage. lipstick - chanel.

tangerine - led zeppelin

x Miss Sandy

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i wish that i could stay

2011-12-28T09:42:00.000-07:00

Technically this is a late post for proper Christmas but I would like to think that I am observing Ukrainian Christmas on January 7th - in which case I am actually early. I will always find the loop hole.

For the song, it is one of the best Christmas songs I have heard in a long time (Vince Guarladi Trio - A Charlie Brown Christmas being my number one indefinitely.) I love their adopted guitar rift from The Shirelles' 'Soldier Boy' not to mention the moody lyrics - very Charlie Brown if you ask me. The video in itself is simple and spellbinding at the same time. I guess seeing them up close and personal makes it seem even more surreal. The fact that they're pawing the Phil Spector Christmas Album makes them top notch in my book also.

Thanks to Miss Bernadette who accompanied me on a ridiculous shoot downtown to embrace the amazing light show at the hospital.

the christmas song - the raveonettes
(one of those songs you could listen to all year round)

Merry Grimpus to you all!

x miss sandy

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once more, once around the block

2011-12-24T09:00:00.001-07:00

wearing: crocheted slouch - vintage. satin shorts - vintage. scarf belt - biba. black tank - american apparel. tights - betsey johnson. raggedy anne necklace - tattered rose. boots michael kors. duffel coat - vintage.

The weather in Edmonton has proved to stay consistently mild considering the time of year. It is still bloody cold standing outside in bare arms.... Here is a collection of photographs where I am dying inside - you can see it in my glazed over eyes.

It is the 24th and there will be winter wonderland Christmas-y photos on the way... but in the meantime enjoy my jacket in the bush. It is sort of like a decoration? Does anyone even bother to read blogs over Christmas? Regardless, the video below rules. I wish I lived in a mindless Disney beach movie with Annette as my gal pal walkin' and talkin'.

Miss Sandy

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let me go out

2011-12-19T09:20:00.000-07:00

About a month back my fave rave Michael Rault asked me to escort him to the Alberta Music Awards and I happily obliged - there was a champagne reception after all. Decked out in my Sunday finest glad rags, I met up with Raulteen at the Alberta Art Gallery for some wild times.

I always knew I was vertically challenged, but come on! I was even wearing heels if you can believe it!

Me forcing Nik Kozub of Shout Out Out Out Out to shake a leg. I am persistent.

Audience involvement

And then someone blew a fuse resulting in an acoustic breakdown

photographs courtesy of Dale MaCmillan

Unfortunately, he did not take home the award but we did have a swell time anyhow. I prematurely gasped with excitement when the winner was announced - his first name happened to be Michael as well. My bad. He reigns supreme in my heart but I don't think that counts for much.

let me go out - michael rault
and a drink to go with

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Let's Spend The Night Together

2011-12-17T18:33:00.000-07:00

Let's Spend The Night Together: Confessions of Rock's Greatest Groupies is a documentary I have been dying to watch for A YEAR. Finally, my persistent internet scouring unearthed it on YouTube. Can you believe someone finally got around to uploading it a mere three weeks ago? I know, unbelievable! Please enjoy the six clips that had me up till three in complete awe. Despite having read the book that this doc is based on, there is nothing quite like watching these dolls bond on camera. Sigh sigh sigh.

I have been keeping my eye on this book for a couple of years - I think I need to give in already.

x Miss Sandy

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in las vegas where the electric bills are staggering

2011-12-15T09:55:00.000-07:00

If the last post was low-fi Vegas..... here is the city of sin in hi-fi technicolour. This is essentially a photojournal of our five days in there. Everything is completely out of context and probably order too which is extremely reflective of the type of trip we were on. It appears I was more interested in taking photographs of signs rather than people. There is something about Vegas that inspires me to have my photograph taken with my mouth wide open. Every shot. Pretty much. Did I mention how incredibly windy it was there?

I love Magnetic Fields, they always have such clever lyrics but this song is too true:

'in Las Vegas where
the electric bills are staggering
the decor hog wild
and the entertainment saccharine'

strange powers - magnetic fields

x Miss Sandy

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Can't Help Falling In Love Part II

2011-12-12T23:27:00.000-07:00

After the wedding there was the after party. Between making it rain call girl cards, consuming three In-N-Out burgers in ONE NIGHT..... (I still don't know how I made that one happen) to trying to flag down a cab and later finding out that that is, in fact, against the law there - this evening was full of adventure. I managed to capture quite a few treasured moments on film which is next to impossible to get developed these days so please appreciate this legit graininess as it was NOT an artful filter.

Can't Help Falling In Love - Elvis

x Miss Sandy

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I Can't Help Falling In Love Part I

2011-12-10T00:17:00.000-07:00

This is my 300th post - is that a milestone? I do think so. It almost feels fitting that I should post something majorly celebratory on such an occasion. It seems my wedding posts will not cease! Don't worry, this is the last proper marital bliss post I will make for the foreseeable future, enjoy it.

(Part I of this post is the actual wedding, Part II is the wild night that ensued post ceremony)

Yes, my sister was officially married by Elvis who serenaded her down the aisle to my parents wedding song "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You." It was magical, the pictures clearly indicate that. The bride wore a Calvin Klein dress and Christian Louboutin studded heels. The Iron Maiden of Honour wore her show girl best - a sequin potato sack. I also was the stylist for the second bridesmaid, who we named 'Petra' for the evening. With a silk lined sequin top paired with a 90s Le Chateau skirt, she had a look that could kill.

If you wish to watch the service in its entirety (a whopping 7 minutes) please direct your attention to the video posted on my facebook page.

I Can't Help Falling In Love With You - Elvis

Miss Sandy

p.s. sorry for the awkward photo sizing - most of these photographs were lifted from my sister's facebook page.

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your heart will be mine

2011-12-06T10:00:00.065-07:00

Photos by Kefkism

Well here they are! I am now going to write about the most important thing..... OUR OUTFITS. I mean seriously! Lady Katie is sporting a stunning Vera Wang dress in the shade of her heart - blacker than a moonless night and although you cannot see, beneath the layers of tulle were studded platform Christian Louboutin's. Epic. Unlike LK, I had a couple of wardrobe meltdowns before I settled on this particular combination.

As many of you know, the planning involved in wedding can cause a certain amount of stress. For me... it was my outfit. Despite one of my guy friends insisting the bustier my sister and I had picked out was, in fact, transparent I didn't bother to really inspect it until two days before. Classic. After the harsh realization that family members et al would be peering at my nipples I had to take drastic measures to turn the situation around. My room scattered in rejected garments I finally committed to this ensemble: the skirt we had originally purchased for the occasion as a dress with quilt binding tied around my waist in a bow. Feeling that the costume was missing that certain something, I frantically sewed a last minute doily bolero to tie it all together. My nips were nowhere to be seen! That wonderful lengthy rosary and skirt/dress were wicked finds from The Tattered Rose - a store I could spend hours in poking around touching all the luxurious frothy frocks that line the walls. It is like stepping into Pamela Des Barres Boudoir which is, in my opinion, hallowed ground.

lotion - greens keepers
This song is so catchy and yet creepy of course that was the song my sister and I are getting waaaaay down to in the photographs above. What can I say? We're witchaayyyyyy!

Miss Sandy

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let's jump the broomstick

2011-11-30T10:00:00.001-07:00

Another teaser of the things to come - below are a selection of portraits of the attendees of my sister's Halloween Spooktacular Wedding Extravaganza Best Day Ever. It seems the processing of wedding photographs is a lengthy affair and I am patiently waiting the arrival of the bridal party portraits. Until then.... please enjoy this aesthetic explosion of the witchay variety.

outdoor portraits by Kefkism Design

inside partay shots by Miss Elise

This was by no means a conventional wedding and if anyone knows my sister, they know she would have it no other way. Catered by Edmonton's finest Fat Frank's hotdog vendor who also moonlights as a magician, this was an event so spectacular it could only have happened in South Central Edmonton.

Since Halloween fell on a weekday, my sister and her fiance opted to jump a broom in leu of a proper ceremony.... which we saved for Vegas. That was followed by copious amounts of drink and dance - fortunately everyone was well disguised resulting in very few shameovers the next morning.... aside from the guy who woke up on a bus bench downtown only to discover his cell phone was broken (the least of his problems I do imagine)

Soon to come - our Vegas adventure and the proper bridal party portraits! Who can hardly wait?

let's jump the broomstick - brenda lee

Miss Sandy

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witchay woman

2011-11-28T10:00:00.001-07:00

Remember when I was going on about that Halloween wedding? The photographs are beginning to surface slowly but surely. Here is the Witchay Wedding Series kick off post. I threw a spooky shower for my sister co-hosted by my lovely mother - the dress code was of course WITCHAY. (How many times can I put that word in one post?) All the pictures I took from the evening (aside from the decor details) were on a film camera which it turns out... is not so easy to develop as it used to be. Perhaps one day I'll be able to share with you gals all the grainy gritty shots.... but until then!

Miss Cecily came over the night before to help decorate for this spine-chillingly sinister event complete with cobwebs and creepy crunk goblets. We fittingly watched Bridesmaids afterwards. I'm certain I was the last person in the world to see it, but it was hysterical none the less. If only I could have given a toast that paralleled the amazingness of this. However, I did earn the title of "Iron Maiden of Honour." Awesome.

witchy woman - the eagles

miss sandy

p.s. this video goes out to Miss Katie, the witchay-est bride ever. I would love to meet the person who compiled it.

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dazed

2011-11-24T10:00:00.001-07:00

wearing: levis jean jacket - vintage. the jesus and mary chain t shirt - borrow. satin shorts - vintage. fur hat - vintage. tights - american apparel. shoes - winners.

Enough with the apologies for the dated photos because I'm not sorry, I still think they are relevant and great. I said it. There is nothing quite like borrowing guys clothing. Now that I no longer reside with Jash and have access to his wonderful dandy duds I have to look elsewhere for a bit of guy garnish on my wardrobe. Enter the borrowed Jesus and Mary Chain band T. I have yet to return it but it was wonderful while it lasted.

With music in mind, one of my friends from Toronto started a new show listing site that just launched today and is TOP NOTCH. Back in the day when I lived there I would use the Rotate This ticket board to find out about upcoming events, it pales in comparison to Just Shows. I wish there were one of these for every city. Magic.

Dazed - Bleached
and a drink to go with the band

Miss Sandy

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i want to be your girlfriend

2011-11-22T12:09:00.000-07:00

I feel like a shyster using photos that are so clearly from a month ago but I fully intended on posting all of these to begin with. It's hard to look at these images of fall while looking out my window into a white abyss. I was fortunate enough to experience only one day of it on my way to England last year. It's hard to believe that a year ago I was starting my life over as a sad immigrant in a different country living with The Funk.

I am beyond grateful to be back home with a proper standard of living but there is a laundry list of all the English bits and bobs I miss - flower markets, day trips, mulled wine on the street, drinking in the streets in general, decent public transportation, country inns, seeing amazing bands weekly, my best friend Jash... I could go on but I'll spare you the agony of my nostalgia. This much I will say: Christmas 2011 is going to be on steroids; Sandy's Christmas Village will be bustling once more. Our Sad Immigrant Festivus was befitting of the times but was not my usual style of celebration.

Enough about the distant past! This outfit you may remember from a recent music video by The Old Wives in which I get mugged for my lovely car. The tattered frock was also a semi repeat from a Weekend Kids video that came out a year ago. I am a recycler, what can I say? Or perhaps it is just my music video outfit.

Tired of all the links? Well here's one more! I have recently become incredibly fond of the television show Bored To Death. In my wildest dreams I am Jonathan Ames and I should be making a craigslist posting shortly about being a local Nancy Drew. If none of this is making any sense, I suggest you start watching this HBO original series and listening to all the wonderful tunes featured on it... like this one:

i want to be your girlfriend - bachelorette

Miss Sandy

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yesterday

2011-11-17T11:00:00.004-07:00

Wearing: velvet blazer - highland queen. skirt - vintage. boots - michael kors. hat - vintage escada. tights - american apparel. rosary - tattered rose. black top - vintage holt renfrew.

This probably would have been more appropriate to post back in October. I have never been one for timing. Plaid skirts and black velvet blazers just seem graveyard appropriate - witchay! Who wants to start a girl gang where we dress up, hang out, and play music? Who's with me?

yesterday - the beatles
(live video - totally magical. I would have been one of those shouting girls in the background)

Miss Sandy

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taken by the sky

2011-11-15T10:00:00.015-07:00

wearing: floral maxi dress - vintage. fur coat - vintage. boots - michael kors. suede belt - vintage.

I love countryside graveyards since they are mostly petite and it makes it so much eerier - especially when you're in the middle of nowhere. My favourite is when they feature an unkept grotto; the fake plants are a lovely touch.

Clearly these photos were taken a few weeks prior as Edmonton is covered in a blanket of fluffy white snow. The brown season certainly didn't last too long this autumn. Now that the weather has forced me indoors, I am certain this website Drinkify will be keeping me in good company - not to mention a marathon of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia.

rhiannon - fleetwood mac

(Watch this video for serious Stevie witchay inspiration. She is awe-inspiring.)

Miss Sandy

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he gets me high

2011-11-08T11:00:00.002-07:00

wearing: velvet vest - vintage. tapestry purse - vintage hudsons bay co. burgundy top - top shop. fringe skirt - fredericks of hollywood. suede belt - vintage. hat - vintage halston. boots - michael kors. gold medallion - my dad's from the 60s... it has come full circle!

Hey dolls, as promised I am back with some style shots that seem eons old but were really from a couple of weeks ago. Over Thanksgiving I made a trek out to my old summer stomping grounds of Lac La Biche Lake, our time was brief so I had to pick the main attractions. First one being the pier and the second without a doubt was The Mission. It is so stunning that I curse my youthful self for not appreciating it when I was there on extended stays. Despite its beauty, there were many heavy vibes and I wouldn't be surprised if it were haunted. I'm a believer.

And if you haven't already, check out my winter style tips for Vue Weekly here. The wonderful illustration was done by my fave rave Petey.

he gets me high - dum dum girls

Miss Sandy

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heroes

2011-11-05T11:00:00.000-06:00

Remember that time I fell off the face of this earth? The abridged version of my absence is that I have two jobs and my sister's wedding took up a huge chunk of my time. Before all that wildness ensued, I made a wee cameo in a music video for the local band The Old Wives. You may recall that particular doily dress in a certain video for The Weekend Kids. I am all for the repeat. In fact, any other video I appear in I will be wearing a variation of that dress. Enjoy watching me get mugged for my car and my dignity.

x Miss Sandy

expect more outfit posts shortly!

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the skeleton dance

2011-10-31T05:00:00.001-06:00

ramble on

2011-10-25T09:11:00.000-06:00

It has been ages! I have an arsenal of stock piled photographs from the past month but have been too busy to unleash them upon the internets... (blogosphere?) Over Canadian Thanksgiving weekend I made a trek out to my old stomping grounds - Lac La Biche. We packed our trunk with delicious treats and a plethora of outfit changes. I think my family have resigned to the fact that I'm borderline weird.

Wearing: Suede skirt - vintage. Peasant blouse - vintage. Suede boots - my mums. Tights - american apparel. Hat - escada. Black leather clutch - vintage. Tapestry purse - The Hudsons Bay Vintage. Velvet floral patterned blazer - vintage.

First stop - The Lake. It was algae city, as if someone had dropped turquoise and grey paint straight into the water. The old dock was beyond run down and a beaver is now calling it home. On Canada Day they used to shoot fireworks off of it, I do not believe that happens anymore. I was very disappointed to see such an asset to the town under-utilised and unkempt.

Did everyone else have a fantastic Thanksgiving?

ramble on - led zeppelin

Miss Sandy

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mystic lady

2011-10-16T11:54:00.000-06:00

Miss Katie: dress - le chateau. corset - edmonton sex show. fishnets - sanctuary. hat & choker - party packagers. boots - aldo.

Miss Sandy: velvet maxi skirt, striped bolero jacket, button up top, embroidered tapestry purse, top hat - vintage. tights - club monaco. shoes - michael kors.

Hey dolls. If I haven't mentioned it before, my sister is due to be wed at the end of this month. Since the wedding is a costume party - a Halloween wedding if you will, the shower had a theme too: hats. Both of us went a little buck wild with our outfit choices and were pleased to see we were equally ridiculously overdressed for the occasion when we arrived. Katie in her corseted Rocky Horror number and I in my Marc Bolan heavily influenced attire. The Slider has always been a favourite of mine and this was my inspirational photo - the album cover of course! I think I need more 70s glam influences in my witchay style.

There is still a stagette to come which I am currently creating witchay decorations for - you can only imagine what that means.

mystic lady - t. rex

Miss Sandy

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fortunes

2011-10-06T14:51:00.000-06:00

This marks my last WCFW related post - I really drug this one out considering it concluded last Thursday, but who's keeping track?

Serendipity by Kelsey Mcintyre

The wedding dresses are really what stole the show for me, all her other garments were ready to wear straight off the runway but very safe. The final dress however, stunning!

Beverly Gan

The second the front row were handed tote bags was the second I knew which designer was coming from London. There is an inexplicable obsession the UK has with canvas totes - every conceivable company has their own version with a logo emblazoned on the side - there is even a book dedicated to the tote. The dust sleeve unwraps, unsurprisingly, into a tote as well. I digress. Gan managed to fuse complicated structure with whimsy - get a load of all the origami! Trust me, these photographs do not do the garments justice. It's amazing how much perspective one can gain when they move away from this bubble and experience other things.

What was in the gift bag you ask? A beyond well designed lookbook and postcard, a oragimi crane hair clip, and a simple screened tote bag to carry it all away in! Lucky us.

Edmonton fashion bloggers! Yes... I am the shortest one.
Photograph courtesy of Janis - Dress Me Dearly

After the wildness of Fashion Week wrapped up I whipped over to Wunderbar to see The Fight (whom I still joke with about changing their name to The Party) play their album release. Like most things, I prefer old over new and was more than pleased when I found out they were releasing on vinyl as well as CD. Format preferences aside, the show was PACKED. For such a tight space they sure are able to squeeze people in. My only complaint is their one solo stage light which happens to be red. All my photographs look like I'm in the depths of Hades. Ohhhh welll....

fortunes - the fight

(Click the link to check out the album in its entirety and name your price download of New Young Electric. 'Broken' is probably one of my favourite songs - unfortunately the title doesn't exactly jive with this post. Rest assured it is a hot jam.)

Miss Sandy

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spring and by summer fall

2011-10-04T00:11:00.000-06:00

Janis of Dress Me Dearly and I

photo courtesy of Marie a La Mode

Yes, you guessed it - another Western Canada Fashion Week post! Day Seven to be exact. Sometimes I love the fact that designers use florals for spring/summer; it's so obvious and yet shows their total disregard for being too conventional. I personally love a good print even if lately I have dipping deep into the black abyss and cultivating a very goth palette - I am thoroughly enjoying my witchay phase thank you very much. Come spring I'm sure colour will once again reign supreme. But enough about me - lets turn our thoughts to Spring 2G12 and how yeg designers envision us dressing then.

Genette Salgado was one of the floral enthusiasts - but it was SUCH A GOOD pattern choice. It reminds me of English wallpaper. The entire collection was all incredibly wearable and the overall look was a mixture of the late 1950s and early '60s with a combination of lower hemlines on swing skirts, mini dresses, and short rompers. My favourite part was the attention to detail (are we sensing a theme here?) immaculate finishing and thoughtful design details are what sold me in the end. The flower cut out appliques bridged the wild floral pattern and made for a concordant collection. The shoe choice was also commendable - retro inspired dresses paired with a dainty take on work boots created a more modern look by contrasting elements. Watch the complete show here:

The music is by Edmonton's own electro pop dream team Dreamface

Red, gold, and grey are what's hot in the streets this spring/summer according to the line LUXX and I think it's starting to grow on me the more I look at these photographs. I hate to say it because I feel as though it is over-said but I was definitely getting major Mad Men vibes from the collection. Could you not see Joan working the men in that last red number? Maybe I don't even know what I'm talking about here; the exaggerated bouffants gave me the impression though. That being said, for a brand who's name insinuates high quality, the shininess of some of the fabric (I wasn't certain if it was velvet or velour) did not evoke the sense of that. I may have heard someone liken it to those juicy tracksuits. Oh dear.

Suka by Alisha Schick was flower child meets 70s Biba goddess meets witchay woman and a dash grunge. It's getting late... perhaps I should have wrote this when I'm of sound mind. Anyway, the make up palette was that of bruised fruit similar to the 70s Biba look (Here is a great tutorial on it using original Biba products. It's time to get the Biba fever!) The raw rock and crystal jewelry had me spellbound - especially the sapphire rock links - the geology aficionado in me is dying of shear delight. Now the clothes - more floral but it is a pattern that reminds me of old lady embroidered tapestry purses, which is a good thing I assure you. (Is it just me or did Suka and Serendipity both use this fabric? Anyone know anything about this?) I wish I had a photo of the witchay dress floating down the runway, alas my shot of it did not do it justice so I will let you use your imaginations - or direct you to this shot.

I still can't help but think of this clip from The Devil Wears Prada. Yeah I went there. Perhaps I need some lessons from Maxine Powell, she would set me straight. Anyone else fantasize about going to The Motown Charm School? Just me? Alright then.

spring by summer fall - blonde redhead

Miss Sandy

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prairie fire

2011-09-30T12:30:00.000-06:00

Western Canada Fashion Week has come to an end and I'm left processing what I saw the last three days; I had to let it sink in fully. All I can say - thank goodness for Malorie Urbanovitch. Seriously. The most professional show I have seen yet. The shoes matched (and fit!) courtesy of Gravity Pope. The models were polished (courtesy of Mode Models), the hair and make up were stunning (courtesy of Mousy Browns & Nickol Walkemeyer), and the clothing! There are almost no words.

Seriously witchay vibes from these looks.

Clean lines and an incredible colour scheme I liken to the geysers of Yellowstone National Park and prairie fires prevailed. The one garment that absolutely blew my mind was the two-toned grey and rust sheath dress with black piping.

photo - The Rambling Road Warrior

photograph - National Geographic

It wasn't just the impeccable attention to detail, Urbanovitch managed to create an atmosphere around her collection. I found myself completely silent (for once) watching in awe of what was presented before me. On top of it all, it was cohesive, not exclusively with the palate, but the over all feel as well. I look forward to see which direction she goes in next fashion week.

prairie fire - slates

Miss Sandy

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coming down

2011-09-28T13:09:00.000-06:00

miss katie: fringe top - urban planet. leggings - american apparel. necklace - thomas sabo. shades - dior. shoes - gravity pope.
miss sandy: jacket - st john for holt renfrew. crocheted vest (worn backwards) -vintage. tights - h&m. belt - vintage. black slip - nanette lepore. boots - michael kors. necklaces - prryha & vintage.

Now that we got the Debbie Downer post out of the way we can move on to more interesting things such as what I wore last weekend, what I did post WCFW and how I can't stop listening to Dum Dum Girls new album Only In Dreams which was officially released yesterday. All I do these days is cruise around in the Chevy listening to this album which I believe to be the most perfect thing put out this year.

Both Friday and Saturday found me out listening to live music after fashion fun - Friday was the grand re-opening of the Baby Seal Club. We mostly went to see our friend's band Jaguar Mode - a New Order Joy Division-y sound. (They are quite new and have yet to have an internet presence) We had a minor run in with the police - I keep forgetting I'm not in England where drinking on the street is PERFECTLY acceptable. Fortunately, there were no tickets involved. The club itself has a dive-y art space look to it, very cozy and intimate. It was a great time until I realized people were smoking inside the building at which point I promptly left, but not before blissing out to JM's synthy jams.

owls by nature

Saturday, after a yeg blogger hang out at Next Act, I ran down Whyte Ave in a panic to make it to Wunderbar for Owls By Nature followed by Fire Next Time. Another raucous set from both acts. For Owls, the beginning of 'Put It Away' has a serious Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young harmony amazingness happening. In person it is damn near mind blowing, here is a video that I don't think quite does it justice:

(I love the guy that shouts "OH MY GOD" at the end of the intro)

Thanks again for all the positive feedback I've been receiving the past few days re: Western Canada Fashion Week post and to my new followers! Exciting times.

coming down - dum dum girls

Miss Sandy

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another night

2011-09-26T13:50:00.000-06:00

I would like to preface this post with this thought - the things I am about to write are not with the intention to tear things down and be a Negative Nancy. I truly feel that one can only grow from constructive criticism and if no one says the truth, there may never be improvements to anything anyone does here. I could just glaze over the truth with a few of the photos I took and minimal commentary about Western Canada Fashion Week... but I feel like I would be lying. This event truly has a lot of potential and enough man power behind it that it could be something amazing.

Firstly, I am confused as to why there are no models on the runway. Is there not some sort of sponsorship that could be worked out between Mode and WCFW? Instead, we have friends of friends strutting the catwalk. I admire them deeply and commend them for their efforts but when it comes down to it - that is not their job. They are not trained to do this. Rather than concentrating on the clothing, I find myself distracted by awkward walks and gum chewing. Yes, I counted TWO 'models' chewing gum down the runway. That should not be happening. Granted, some of the buckled walking was due to shoes that fit improperly, I'm surprised no one took a spill. It was clear to see that certain pairs of footwear were more than a size too big - that is dangerous and should not be happening.

Here are a couple of the models I think were fantastic:

the lovely Miss Jessica from Capital Tattoo - most of my sister's bodacious ink was done by her. Mega babe alert.

very witchay

In the end, it was the little things that could have vastly improved my impression. Wrinkled garments finding their way down the runway, a quick steam would have taken less than 5 minutes. The horrific gum incidents - two girls just chomping down, was there not a stage manager present? And then the power point malfunctions projected straight down the runway. Should the public really be viewing your pc desktop at the end of a fashion show? No. It was amateur. All of these things could easily have been avoided if there had been enough attention to detail.

powerpoint is never a good idea unless in a business setting.

With all of that said, I saw some very promising designs from the likes of Arlee Stewart of ninteen92 and thoroughly enjoyed the stylist showcase winners Tomkow + Chung. Seeing as how my whole life is about thrifting, taking old garments and re-purposing them, it was nice to see that idea of reuse being promoted in such a public forum. I am also incredibly excited to see Malorie Urbanovitch present as I fell in love with her A/W '11 lookbook, as well as Dear Frankie by Alicia Martin - a lovely lady I graduated with from Ryerson. It was also wonderful finally meeting the other local gals from the blogosphere: Dress Me Dearly, Marie a la Mode, Adventures in Fashion, Kastles, Sam Moukhaiber, Smitten, and hanging out with old friends Caroline in The City and Robin of The Rambler.

That was just my take on things, my intentions are not to upset anyone as I realize a lot of effort has been put forth to make this event fly. Edmonton, I love you, let's work together to sort this out.

x Miss Sandy

another night - real mccoy

I've been listening to too many 90s dance hit whilst writing this.

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hey girl

2011-09-23T13:59:00.000-06:00

Day one of Western Canada Fashion Week. I wore this.

blazer - st john for holt renfrew. striped t shirt - ralph lauren polo. shorts - thrifted. tights - american apparel. boots - michael kors. purse - winners. necklaces prryha/thrifted. ring - banana republic.

hey girl - small faces

Miss Sandy

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in my head

2011-09-20T12:34:00.003-06:00

wearing: tapestry handbag - vintage. 30s rosary - the tattered rose. seal necklace - pyrrha. slip - nanette lepore. sheer top - vintage. velvet skirt - 90s le chateau. suede belt - vintage. striped tights - h&m. boots - michael kors.

As previously mentioned, I've been on a monochromatic train. I'd like to think I'm channeling both the gypsyness of Stevie Nicks and the bad assness of the Dum Dum Girls. (Have you heard their new album? It's tops!) 'Witchay Woman' is definitely my A/W '11 look and it involves heavy velvets, flowing tops, and miles of vintage fur. A bizarro version of my fave rave's The GTO's. What is everyone else getting into this Autumn?

It was a race with the sun; watching it set over Victoria Hill was spectacular. The only thing that could have made it perfect was if there had been a hot dog vendor on hand. Only in dreams!

in my head - dum dum girls

miss sandy

PS - I recently had my hair cut by the amazing Miss Patricia at Celebrity Hair Salon. It had been a YEAR since this mop top was trimmed and I think she did an exceptional job! There is nothing I love more than having an extra reason to go visit a good friend. Check out her page here - she does wonderful work.

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crude city

2011-09-17T12:50:00.000-06:00

wearing: jean jacket - vintage levi's. men's dress shirt - pierre cardin. suede belt - vintage. mickey mouse necklace - vintage. tap pants - vintage. tights - club monaco. sunglasses - ray ban. ring - banana republic. hat - pilfered from josh. army bag - from my youth. shoes - michael kors.

Hello Champion City! Western Canada Fashion Week is due to begin in mere days and I couldn't be more excited as I will be blogging about it. The last time I attended fashion week in Edmonton it was in its infancy, literally the first year it began. It was a modest affair held at Planet Z but I remember enjoying myself. It will be interesting to see how much the event has grown since then.

I obviously had some civic pride in mind for this particular shoot. Strathearn Drive has one of the best views of the city... although McNally might win top prize for that.

crude city - malibu kens

Miss Sandy

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i want to love you

2011-09-12T11:25:00.002-06:00

Michael Rault, or as I affectionately refer to him - Raulteen has been thrilling crowds across country playing hot jams off his latest effort Ma-Me-O. I was fortunate enough to catch a stellar set he played at The Artery a few weeks ago. Apparently my thrills were caught on camera - look for the striped top working it out on the dance floor. M.R. called it my cameo, I call it catching me in my natural state - liberated by music!

Here is an article I wrote for Parlour Magazine on his album, touring, and ghost stories - the best combination of topics I can think of. Yes I credited myself as 'Miss Sandy Joe Party Karpetz' and I stand by that.

Hope you enjoy the song as much as I did!

x Miss Sandy

p.s. he is going on a mini Western Canadian tour at the end of September - check out the tour dates here!

p.p.s I've been looking at old blog posts and cannot believe a year has past since this happened. I could definitely go for a desert vacation in Joshua Tree right about now as the temperature hovers at 13 degrees.

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heaven can wait

2011-09-09T13:58:00.000-06:00

wearing: tank top - vintage. jean shorts - rodarte for target. sandals - joe fresh style. ring - gold dipped parsley. necklace - gold dipped leaf. head scarf - biba. tooled leather purse - vintage.

The summer has been lack lustre for the past two months and then out of nowhere a streak of 30+ days. I thought it was supposed to be Autumn? Edmonton, please stop playing with my heart - my fur coats and dozens of little velvet numbers are dying to see the outside world! I guess the warm weather is pretty nice too, or whatever. The river valley is finally tolerable since the mosquito infestation is under control, now I only have three bites rather than 30.

heaven can wait - charlotte gainsbourg

Miss Sandy

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transcendental light

2011-09-06T13:22:00.003-06:00

Wearing: shirt - holt renfew. velvet mini skirt - 90s le chateau. necklace - vintage. vest - vintage. striped tights - h&m. hat - vintage. embroidered purse - vintage. suede boots - my mom's from the 70s!

Unfortunately for me, I was unable to attend any of the Latitude 53 patio parties this summer - I heard they were quite the time. I did make a point of checking out their downtown alley way installation; wild horses couldn't keep me away from wildly patterned streets! [EDIT: The lovely Miss Motorjoan was kind enough to bring to my attention that this was not done by Latitude, but rather The Edmonton Arts Council! My bad. And it has a title: Alley of Light... oh the things you learn!] By the time I made it down to take some photographs with my personal photographer on hand (aka my mother) the alley had been a bit soiled... as alleyways usually tend to be.

My favourite part of this whole experience, aside from seeing 'yeg' stencilled all over the ground in hot pink, was when a Canada Post truck slowed down long enough for the driver to shout out "I feel like I'm watching an Austin Powers photoshoot in action - work it baby, own it, feeeeeeel it." And then he sped out of my life forever... On a semi related note, the postie on my route left me a message on one of my letters and actually signed it - 'The Mail Man'. I love Canada Post... now if only they would make Halloween stamps! Sheesh. Hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend!

transcendental light - black lips

Miss Sandy

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fun fun fun

2011-08-31T15:04:00.000-06:00

Do you remember Miss Cecily? She's the greatest.... we went for a cruise down to Highlands to check out one of my favourite houses in Edmonton - The Magrath Mansion 6240 Ada Boulevard. I highly recommend driving by around Christmas time when it's done up to the 9s... but it's still stunning in the summer. We were just a couple of strange girls hanging out on their lawn.

Miss Cecily: blouse - zara. jeans - citizens of humanity. sunglasses - michael kors. ring - forever 21. hair flower - topshop. shoes - joe fresh style.

Miss Sandy: dress - handmade by my nimble fingers. shoes - vintage. slip - vintage. necklace - pyrrha. bitchin' car - 1957 Chevy Bel-air

fun fun fun - the beach boys

Miss Sandy

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sisters of the moon

2011-08-29T13:48:00.000-06:00

my rosary that's engraved 1936 - from the tattered rose

Miss Katie is wearing: jeans - calvin klein. tank top - american apparel. shoes - joe fresh style. rabbit locket - black phoenix alchemy lab. sunglasses - dior. handbag - louis vuitton.

Miss Sandy is wearing: crocheted dress - thrifted. bandeau top - american apparel. tap panties - thrifted. rosary jesus piece - the tattered rose. shoes - joe fresh style. lipstick - make up forever. embroidered purse - thrifted. sunglasses - ray ban wayfarers.

Another sisterly hang out, are you growing fond of these yet? We went for a bit of a cruise in my Chevy along the river valley enjoying the last warm days we have left. The evenings keep getting cooler and just last weekend I had to bust out my 100 hamster fur coat to stay at a comfortable temperature while strutting down the strip.... aka Whyte Ave. The cupcake and cake were from Bee Bell Bakery my go-to establishment for treats. Honestly, they do the best red velvet in Canada, on par with my beloved Hummingbird Bakery in London.

What is everyone trying to squeeze in before the weather goes cold? Personally, I'm looking forward to revisiting all the heavy velvets and furs I've been storing for the past year.

sisters of the moon - fleetwood mac

(perfect witchay fall music.... i love the mac)

major stevie style inspiration located here:

http://goldduststevie.tumblr.com/

Miss Sandy

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sometimes always

2011-08-25T12:48:00.000-06:00

wearing: black tank - thrifted. wild patterned silk pants - thrifted. rock necklace - thrifted. sandals - joe fresh style. sunglasses - ray ban wayfarers. purse - thrifted.

Since I've been back in The New World I have reverted to my old ways - incessant thrifting. I would go so far to say that I might have a problem. In the past week I've come across velvet bellbottoms, white knee high Arnold Churgin boots, and a surplus of witchay items that will be making their way into my fall look. With such a rapid accumulation of treasures, there are some items I will be bidding adieu to - my etsy store is due to reopen shortly.

These silk pants were a real score - look at that flamboyant pattern! Need I say more? This outfit sort of made me feel like a kooky elementary school art teacher, but I kind of enjoyed that. Oh and the Muttart Conservatory, pretty nice place.

sometimes always - the jesus and mary chain

(the actual video! i can't believe it)

miss sandy

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code red at the supermall

2011-08-23T17:08:00.001-06:00

am I getting annoyed, or what?

miss katie was wearing: shirt - victoria secret. skirt - club monaco. tights - joe fresh style. sandals - spring. scent locket - black phoenix alchemy lab. sunglasses - christian dior. purse - louis vuitton.

miss sandy was wearing: red velvet blazer - thrifted. white men's dress shirt - thrifted. black jane belt - club monaco. jeans - club monaco. shoes - salvatore ferragamo. sunglasses - ray ban wayfarers. leather purse - winners. cocktail ring - banana republic.

It took me forever to find the video to accompany this post so you better watch it and pretend you're a punk in Edmonton in 2003.... or something to that effect.

My sister and I made a trip to West Edmonton Mall for a plethora of reasons I can't quite remember. Along the way we decided to do some outfit shots in Galaxyland - formerly known as Fantasyland... before Disney decided to sue the mall.

In 1995 we were introduced to Cosmo and life as I knew it began to change. Suddenly the mall began to develop a design scheme that looked dated post 90s - an explosion of bad colours and cartoonish space decor. I hate it. One of the few remaining originals is the wild west toy shooting range but I'm certain its days are numbered as well - who mourned the loss of the giant whale outside of Le Chateau? I thought the mini railway cave was supposed to be spooky - how does a train go into a cave and suddenly it's in space? This is what I'm talking about.

WEM isn't all bad though, the dudes that surfed the waterpark were pretty hilarious - check that out here. Did anyone ever go to Rock 'n' Ride?

Rants and raves aside, it was nice spending time with my sister, who may be making more appearances on here if we continue to do silly things together (most likely). By the end of our adventure I could no longer walk due to pinched toes and the lovely Miss Katie was gracious enough to push me around in a buggie regardless of all the laughs and stink eyes we were subjected to.

the homewrekers - code red at the supermall

miss sandy

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baby don't go

2011-08-19T10:32:00.000-06:00

wearing: striped turtleneck - club monaco. black skirt - thrifted. tights - club monaco. mary jane heels - thrifted. children leather jacket - thrifted and gifted by Miss Cecily. quartz necklace - sanctuary. leather purse - winners. lipstick - mac ruby woo.

It's the end of August ALREADY? Where has the time gone? I have spotted a few yellow leaves peeking out of the river valley and I am NOT liking it one bit. Without even realizing it, I have begun to dress in fall attire. It appears my subconscious is more in-tune with the weather than I. A/W 11 is going to be very witchay for me I've decided. The last few visits to Goodwill found me exclusively buying black garments. What is your autumn look?

baby don't go - sonny & cher

miss sandy

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hoop of love

2011-08-17T11:00:00.000-06:00

Dominant Legs - "Hoop Of Love" from stereogum on Vimeo.

I've pretty much watched this video about a thousand times in the last week and now I think you should too. They will be playing in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver this fall in case you live there. I wish I were going.

x Miss Sandy

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A charmed hour and a haunted song

2011-08-15T18:02:00.000-06:00

wearing: dress - sanctuary. gold shoes - thrifted. tooled leather belt - thrifted. tooled leather purse - thrifted. rope bangle - kate spade. sunglasses - ray ban clubmasters. necklace - pyrrha

The second week I was back I attended a wedding at Fort Edmonton Park - one of the most magical places to be wed in Edmonton (in my opinion). I took a film camera along with me and have yet to develop the photographs which remain a mystery at this time. My memory of the evening has a bit of a fuzzy haze enveloping it. Here is what I wore to the pioneer shindig.

angel - fleetwood mac
(such a hit)

Miss Sandy

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Miss Pamela

2011-08-12T11:48:00.000-06:00

Ask and you shall receive! A desperate plea over twitter a couple of months ago and then suddenly it appeared - The E! True Hollywood Story of Miss Pamela Des Barres - worlds most famous groupie. The most exciting thing to happen to me on a Friday morning.

Miss P is the ultimate. Her books encouraged me to fly my freak flag WAY high and for that I thank her. If ever you are in the LA area, I highly recommend checking out her personally guided rock tour of Laurel Canyon. It will blow your mind..... that is, if you're into rock history and 60s-70s LA. If not, you should probably pay no heed to this post at all.

Enjoy!

Miss Sandy

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tea for two

2011-08-10T11:02:00.000-06:00

Wearing: dress - banana republic. jane belt - club monaco. sandals - joe fresh style. quartz pendant - sanctuary. leather purse - winners. scarf - biba. jean jacket - thrifted. sunglasss - ray ban clubmasters.

The first place on my essential Edmonton to-do list was The Arbour Room at The Rutherford House - my favourite restaurant in town. Located on Saskatchewan Drive behind the U of A campus, this historical home has been a haunt of mine since I was in Brownies and will hopefully continue to be in my old age. Despite being a not for profit organization, the food here will blow your mind, the surroundings are pretty stellar too. With such a cozy atmosphere and gracious staff, it is little wonder why this place is always boppin'. It is wise to make reservations a few days in advance to guarantee a seat.

My usual order is The Centennial High Tea - it gives one the best array of goodies in perfect portions. To begin with, the petite egg and cucumber sandwiches surrounded by assortment of warm wraps with heavenly cream cheese spread inside. Second course is technically turkey pot pie, but I'm sort of an annoying customer and substitute for the ratatouille penne - a roasted vegetable bake. Finally, the meal ends with sweets. I live for their freshly baked scones accompanied with raspberry butter and Devonshire cream. On occasion they also have lavender cookies but I haven't seen those around in awhile, they are pretty incredible as well.

Besides the tasty treats, I love visiting The Rutherford House because it reminds me of my childhood home which was built around the same time. That house was moved down the hill into Fort Edmonton when I was five - it's on the 1905 street and is called The Firkins House.

Here are some helpful links for others who want to live in the past with me:

The Arbour Restaurant & Tea Room

Fort Edmonton Park

Anyone being a tourist in their own city this summer?

x Miss Sandy

p.s. I just want to make a major shout out to Miss Caroline Gault the new Alberta reporter for FASHION Magazine who will surely give this area the recognition it deserves! What a wild ride!

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bring it on home to me

2011-08-08T15:44:00.000-06:00

wearing: overalls - gap. sunglasses - ray ban wayfarers. polka dot top - club monaco. purse - thrifted. necklace - pyrrha. sandals - joe fresh.

Now that the jig is up, I can start updating with current photographs! One of the best parts about being home... aside from seeing old friends and family... is getting back to my wonderful closet. I thought for my first outfit post I would go a little bit country. Photographs on the edge of town. Look at all this space! I still don't believe it.

bring it on home to me - sam cooke

Miss Sandy

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