What I wore on RelieF - III

Last night on RelieF it was all about the love of Vintage, repurposing, reclaiming and why these trends have become so popular. I also presented some tips on how to shop smart when it comes to second hand in general.  Vintage is a lovessesion of mine so I was in heaven!  I showed some pictures of my favourite finds and a tiny bit of my clutch collection made an appearance too. 

The best part about this segment was knowing exactly what I wanted to wear from the get go: anything by designer Marnie Kramer and her company The Blushing Maple.  Lucky for me, my segment coincided with the launch of her newest dress line: Viktoria. 

Made of reclaimed wool mainly from sweaters, and  pieced together using raw and exposed seams, the dress is interesting to look at, incredibly versatile and comfortable.  A fall and winter staple, the Viktoria dress can be worn over tights and flats, or stocking and boots or over jeans with a big belt.  I wore a three quarter sleeve black t-shirt underneath but a shirt or a turtle neck would also look great.  The Viktoria dress is really my idea of a perfect dress.  I love it.  $168 sold at the Fresh Collective on Roncesvalles.  V&V with a twist, and let me tell you...I could have had fun all day!

Here's what Marnie wrote on my FB page: 'One of my favourite parts of my business is "the hunt" for the fabrics, which usually leads me to many second hand stores rustling through buried treasures that I can take back to my studio to transform into something new.'  Unique and clever clothes made with love, now that's a cool combo.  Here's the back of the dress.

Go check it out at the Fresh Collective on Roncesvalles or contact Marnie directly by email . If you'd like to show your love for great designers and local work, go 'Like' The Blushing Maple on Facebook and stay tuned! 
To balance the richness and texture of the dress, I went with Guy Latulippe's suggestion and wore this gorgeous Elementals black ceramic necklace by Kelly Kan, $209.  

My own second hand acrylic bracelet :)

Pretty yummy, eh?  It's long (or short), rich, versatile and the variety of black beads make it most interesting.

I could have gone with small back earrings but this dress calls for a bit of an eclectic look (can you see me smile?). Designer's Rita Di Cesare (from Nude Clothes) suggested this brilliant touch.  Citrine stone drop earrings from the lovely collection of Curious Oddities by Kat Shura, $18.  They truly completed the look.

Added suede flower and belt - both second hand!

Back on the show in less than two weeks, and already looking forward to seeing Tamara and Co.!

'Repurposed' and 'Reclaimed' are powerful words and actions.  To me they are synonyms of creativity and always result in small but meaningful victories.  How do these words sound to you?