Waterloo Region's Thrift & Consignment Shops I'll Go Back to Again (& Again)

photo via Lauren Fleischmann/Unsplash

Originally published for KW Joy & Co. 

It’s Saturday night and I am lit-er-ally sorting my sock drawer. It’s October, it’s freezing, and everyone’s fire tables are en route from Wayfair (mine too), so I have zero socially-distant social excuses here. At this point, I’ve done just about everything else around my house, so it’s time to hit up my drawers for a “fun night in”. Before you start feeling sorry for me, I’m feeling quite content; glass of wine in hand, my fave podcast on, kids making TikToks, my husband happily playing video games - it’s just me and my rather giant pile of socks. TBH, organizing my closet is like my own form of meditation, but make it fashion.

I’ve reached expert level at origami-ing my way through any closet. Jeans, underwear, tees; they all look like perfect little hot pockets by the time I’ve tamed them. Don’t ask what a hot pocket is. I don’t actually know. Hmmm...but I’m pretty sure I don’t want my underwear to be one. Even those cropped hoodies - the fitted sheets of clothing - now easily bend to my will. And yet Kondo downplayed the importance of one crucial element in her quest for wardrobe joy: the subject matter. Naturally, the clothes need to fit and make you feel good right now, but all the folding and pretty baskets in the world will never bring true fashion happiness if the clothing in question has no future.

I curate my closet just like I do for my clients: by keeping or repurposing the gems, storing the seasonal and sentimental, and donating/consigning the rest. After years of doing this (and by “this”, I mean compulsive shopping) I now feel any purchases immediately destined for the trash need a reeaally strong case to come home with me - namely that they’re either a) holographic (because holographic things are bomb) or b) made of natural fibres like cotton, so when I’m finally done with them, I know they will eventually biodegrade. I also try to make sure that whatever I buy, I can see myself (or someone else) wearing that piece 30 times over its lifetime. As I’ve evolved into a more thoughtful, purposeful shopper, I’ve fallen deeper in love with thrifted and vintage pieces. For a sick wardrobe, turns out that all you really need is a curated closet of really good basics peppered with beautiful, thrifted finds. Oh, and maybe a Hot Wheels tee like the one I picked up at H&M last week. I’m only human.

With Waterloo Region’s absolute plethora of thrift, vintage, and consignment options, you can shop more sustainably, stick to your budget and score truly special pieces locally. Win. Win. Mother F’in (fashion) win, y’all.

SEE MY TOP CONSIGNMENT AND THRIFT STORE PICKS AT KW JOY & CO. 

CANADA 150, EH? | These Fashionable Finds Will Make You Feel SO Canadian

via Roots

Originally posted in The CLOSET

Campfires. Gord Downie. Timmies. Pond hockey. Muskoka chairs. Loon calls. Bautista bat flips. Complaining about the weather. Saying sorry. A lot. Paleness. Patio parties. Backyard bbqs. Justin Trudeau doing push-ups.

We might all be different but there's something about being Canadian that unites us. We work hard but we play harder. We love fiercely, we're polite and we're kind - buuut we still like to cause some trouble because how else could we possibly get through 8 months of winter? We love our nature and we love our summers because we know that before too long, they're gone. We're far from perfect but we're working on it. Most of us have never seen a beaver. And most of us will find that last sentence funny. 

Unlike our American counterparts, our patriotism is a steady, quiet sort. While we love Canada, it's not the decal-your-car-in-Canadian-flags kinda love. But with Canada 150 just a few weeks away, this might be the year to get just a little bit loud. 

Rock maple-leaf hats & sweatshirts from Roots (one of our country's biggest retail success stories) or Made in Canada finds from Le Château. Try flirty dresses from stores that you didn't even know were Canadian or homegrown beauty products to help you embrace your short-lived summer glow. Pick up some new shoes from a Canadian fave (shout-out to ALDO) or treat yourself to a few things from Hudson's Bay.  Love this country as much as we do? Scroll below for some fashionable finds that will help you wear your heart on your sleeve this summer.

Happy 150th birthday Canada! We love you xx

SEE OUR CANADIAN FASHION FINDS HERE...

WHAT'S GOOD | Yoga Design Lab

Testing out my gorgeous new mat from Yoga Design Lab. 

Ask any yogi whether great workout wear affects their practice, and they'll all admit it's a must. From pants that stay put to tops that don't get in the way of tricky poses, the gear plays a huge role in the whole yoga experience, right down to the mat. When it comes to hot yoga, the mat becomes especially important since slipping and sliding really messes with your flow. 

When Yoga Design Lab reached out to see if I wanted to test-drive one of their new mats, I was stoked. I had a flimsy Pepto-pink mat that I'd picked up on the way to my first hot yoga class and was in major need of an upgrade.  Yoga Design Lab just launched in Canada but has already shaken up the yoga scene in the States with a growing celebrity following and Harper's Bazaar calling the mats 'stunning works of art'. One look at the mat collection and it's obvious why the yoga world is struggling to catch its collective breath. 

Luckily, there's substance behind the style, too. The mats consist of a natural tree rubber base that's bonded to a sueded microfiber surface, solving one of yoga's biggest problems - slipping. These mats are designed to become even grippier with sweat, making them ideal for everything from hot yoga to power yoga to ashtanga. The Combo Mat construction is unique on the market and took over a year to develop. 

While the mats have it down in terms of design, it's the brand's story that really sticks. In 2014, Canadian surfer/yogi/hottie Chad Turner sold all of his things, moved to Bali and launched the brand.

"I was seated in the back of a packed yoga class while on vacation in Ubud, Bali. Looking around, all I saw was a sea of unoriginal, massed produced, solid colored mats. My thinking was, there must be a way of creating a highly functional product that was also aesthetically beautiful. So the journey began. Long story short, I sold my stuff in Vancouver, packed up a couple bags and moved to Bali with the goal of creating a stunning line of yoga products that inspire more people to get excited about yoga. Really looking forward to finally launching the brand in Canada. It’s a special moment for me.”  

I tried out my new mat a few times last week and cannot believe the difference a great mat makes. Oh, and bonus: the minute I brought my mat into class, my fellow yogis all had to know where I got it. Looks like our yoga class is getting an upgrade. See and shop the full collection on yogadesignlab.com now, and keep watching for exciting new collabs - the company has already teamed up with leading New York Designer Mara Hoffman for a series of limited edition collaboration mats coming out shortly. A must, right? Just consider it an essential (and beautiful) investment in your health.

Happy Fri! xx

 

X's and Ohh's

Photographed by Max Wanger. Via Decor8 Blog

Originally posted in The CLOSET

Lost? Confused? Not even sure where to begin? Love might be a battlefield but we're here to help you navigate it. We've rounded up the winning gifts that are guaranteed to impress your Valentine this year, plus a few sneaky tricks to make your main bae remember just how v. awesome you are.  Happy (almost) Valentine's Day you sweet things...

SEE OUR V-DAY GUIDE HERE...

T.G.I.B.F | Your One-Stop Black Friday Guide

Roller Derby Girls. Bob Ayers via Pivotstar.com

Happy Black Friday my pretties! Hope you've got your helmets. Here's all you need to know (check back for updates throughout Cyber Weekend). Click on the pics for the fine print. Happy shopping!

Banana Republic

GAP

ARITZIA

REVOLVE CLOTHING

ZARA

MADEWELL

ALDO

ASOS

DANIER

HUDSON'S BAY

COS

CHAPTERS/INDIGO

JOE FRESH

RW&CO.

SEPHORA

ROOTS

LOLE

HATLEY

CLUB MONACO

OLD NAVY

BAUBLEBAR

SHOPBOP

ALL SAINTS

STELLA & DOT

FRENCH CONNECTION

NORDSTROM

ABERCROMBIE & FITCH

COACH

TORY BURCH

ANN TAYLOR

MASSIMO DUTTI

NINE WEST

RUDSAK

MACKAGE

TOWN SHOES

MODA OPERANDI