tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72124892576392550052024-03-05T18:38:23.687-05:00UNPRETENTIOUS BOUQUET OF PARENTHESESCamillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.comBlogger207125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-52614459504327491502015-04-17T13:19:00.000-04:002015-04-17T14:31:15.327-04:00Recently<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AE6fJo9MaAWKtNZqZWUJ1Uj1bmwyds-i5kYr0QyZwskOnNye_tCBPU5C7ffTUVKoPbNRXpEzb2TVHkgwevBXEfQA10Dk90NYT4HSxwf2PYxpbaf62NR2qahgiZNaH9MEtgAGIXjq1JU/s1600/rsz_mountain-ranges-1913-moser-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AE6fJo9MaAWKtNZqZWUJ1Uj1bmwyds-i5kYr0QyZwskOnNye_tCBPU5C7ffTUVKoPbNRXpEzb2TVHkgwevBXEfQA10Dk90NYT4HSxwf2PYxpbaf62NR2qahgiZNaH9MEtgAGIXjq1JU/s1600/rsz_mountain-ranges-1913-moser-small.jpg" /></a></div>
A list of various things I've been enjoying recently:<br />
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-The <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/fr/firefox/addon/leechblock/" target="_blank">Leechblock</a> add-on<br />
I stopped kidding myself that I would have the self-control of stopping browsing time-wasting websites, or lifestyle sites I read but that fill me with self-doubt instead of providing me with *helpful tips*. I have been spending enormous amounts of time on my computer this semester, and I'd rather force myself to procrastinate constructively if I procrastinate at all.<br />
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-<a href="http://www.collectorsweekly.com/" target="_blank">Collector's Weekly </a><br />
Don't be fooled by the click-bait titles: most articles are in fact interviews with autodidact experts on a variety of subject matters, reunited by their love of collecting. Favourites include <a href="http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/why-nerdy-white-guys-who-love-the-blues-are-obsessed-with-a-wisconsin-chair-factory/" target="_blank">this article</a> about early 20th century folk and blues record collectors, and <a href="http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/black-glamour-power-before-beyonce-and-lupita-nyongo/" target="_blank">this article</a> about the thoughts behind <a href="http://vintageblackglamour.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Vintage Black Glamour</a>.<br />
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-<a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_vault.html" target="_blank">The Vault</a><br />
Slate's American History blog.<br />
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-<a href="http://99percentinvisible.com/" target="_blank">99 Percent Invisible Podcast</a><br />
I discovered a number of new podcasts through <a href="http://discothequeconfusion.blogspot.ca/2015/01/turn-on-tune-in-drop-out-best-podcasts.html" target="_blank">Stevie's list</a>, which prompted me to look around for even more. 99 PI is a design podcast with a focus on everyday objects and historical remnants in the modern world. Favourite episodes include <a href="http://99percentinvisible.org/episode/palm-reading/" target="_blank">Palm Reading</a>, which is about palm trees, and <a href="http://99percentinvisible.org/episode/under-the-moonlight/" target="_blank">Under the Moolight</a>, which discusses Moonlight Towers and the beginnings of public electrical lighting.<br />
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-Milan Kundera's <i>The Joke</i><br />
A novel inspired by a newspaper article about a girl who stole flowers from cemetaries to give them to her lover.<br />
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- Vintage button-front suede mini skirts<br />
As soon as the perfect one pops up on ebay, you can be sure I'll be sporting one. Now, they only appear to have been made in one size too big and one size too small, but I'll be patient.<br />
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-Breaking Away<br />
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I've been meaning to do a full post about this movie; here's the trailer in the meantime.<br />
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-Koloman Moser's Landscapes <br />
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-Traveling to England <br />
I'm very pleased to tell you that my #oldootd/#EHCC participation, even though sometimes fleeting, has paid off. I'll be visiting Oxford, Brighton, and London in May, with the possibility of an extra day trip should the occasion arise. And by "should the occasion arise" I mean that if any of you has any recommendations, or would like to meet up for coffee or a drink at some point, I would be very happy to hear from you - just send me an email.Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-89641616443098589732015-03-23T10:57:00.000-04:002015-04-17T19:27:50.547-04:00Out-Takes from the Life of a Happy Man<div style="text-align: center;">
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Out-Takes from the Life of a Happy Man, by <a href="http://jonasmekas.com/diary/" target="_blank">Jonas Mekas</a>.<br />
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“A motion picture composed of brief diaristic scenes not used in completed films from the years 1960-2000; and self-referential video footage taped during the editing. Brief glimpses of family, friends, girl-friends, the City, seasons of the year, travels. Occasionally I talk, reminisce, or play music I taped during those earlier years, plus more recent piano improvisations by Auguste Varkalis. It’s a kind of autobiographical, diaristic poem, celebration of happiness and life. I consider myself a happy man.” –Jonas Mekas<br />
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I would love to see this in full. Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-16781945925253779832015-01-25T00:38:00.000-05:002015-01-25T00:38:29.634-05:00Style bits and bobs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RB1d8mFTU4SClIQ5-Yd-YCBhWnD3GT9-B150JPdqwZQKAKiD-MKoUSggpJCVrOqvEpXn2a_dyz3xoOkCAc6hNCgNmJQTblA8FbIWwlo44URjLT_DMM5sVkXqTuIidC5uz6K3gaCzHAo/s1600/sarto-valentinofw2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RB1d8mFTU4SClIQ5-Yd-YCBhWnD3GT9-B150JPdqwZQKAKiD-MKoUSggpJCVrOqvEpXn2a_dyz3xoOkCAc6hNCgNmJQTblA8FbIWwlo44URjLT_DMM5sVkXqTuIidC5uz6K3gaCzHAo/s1600/sarto-valentinofw2015.jpg" /></a></div>
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Why hello there. I'm just popping in quickly to show you this AMAZING jacket from Valentino's Men's FW15 collection (photo by <a href="http://www.thesartorialist.com/paris/valentino-fallwinter-2015/" target="_blank">the Sartorialist</a>), plus <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/gallery/2015/jan/24/the-history-of-flares-in-pictures?CMP=share_btn_fb#img-1" target="_blank">two</a> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2015/jan/24/flares-rescued-from-dustbin-of-fashion-history-paris-milan" target="_blank">links</a> a friend shared earlier today, excited at the possible return of this defining fad of his youth: flares for men. This is thrilling news if you ask me, and whether they really come back is of little importance. I will be out there with my newly found, perfect 70s flares on, proud to have an excuse to wear them - since, you know, Men's fashion says so.Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-42644537394928969382014-10-01T02:00:00.000-04:002014-10-01T02:00:09.610-04:00Travel > sweaters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/49026985@N04/15218308107" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#oldootd by C. B., on Flickr"><img alt="#oldootd" height="640" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2942/15218308107_537c18d44e_o.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/49026985@N04/15218068429" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#oldootd by C. B., on Flickr"><img alt="#oldootd" height="640" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2949/15218068429_5486a45698_o.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/49026985@N04/15404787715" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#oldootd by C. B., on Flickr"><img alt="#oldootd" height="480" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2943/15404787715_ae83b31249_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/49026985@N04/15404487582" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="#oldootd by C. B., on Flickr"><img alt="#oldootd" height="480" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3928/15404487582_3de812e39c_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The extent of the situation. The only thing missing is the big box of sweaters that lives under my bed during the warmer months and my entire vintage stock which is off-limits, but definitely not an excuse.</td></tr>
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I've done a lot of talking over the past few months, but not a lot of doing. I've flirted with the idea of documenting all my purchases here and shaming myself into frugality, but gave up before even starting because I thought it would be too much work. Why not just <i>become</i> frugal? Isn't the idea of being careful sufficient? As I'm still writing about it, well, no, it isn't for me. I needed to find a way to keep my good habits up, but also support from peers: there's no fun in getting rid of a habit that brings you some kind of pleasure if there is no challenge or new pleasure to replace it with. This idea of a challenge is very motivating to me, and when Stevie posted <a href="http://instagram.com/p/ti0nt0t4Kh/?modal=true" target="_blank">this</a>, it was all I needed to really start acting towards my goal.<br />
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You see, I really, truly want to visit the UK next Spring. I received some traveling money from my parents for my graduation, and I'd like to built up on that fund especially as I've had to take a bit from it to pay for mundane things. I felt very guilty doing so, and I really want to push myself to keep my eyes on my great shiny traveling goal. Traveling, and the knowledge I can be resolute enough to save up to do so will be much more gratifying than any new sweater, no matter how fluffy or soft (here, I'm picturing an actual sweater from work I've been coveting, oh dear).<br />
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I put together a few rules to keep myself in check especially as shopping is part of my job. I do some buying for both the vintage shops where I work and the online vintage shop I own, and not mixing shopping and professional buying will probably be the most challenging aspect of keeping to my new resolution. There's a few things that, should they appear, I won't pass up (the perfect grey cardigan and a pair of dressy pants come to mind - my finickiness regarding both is enough to maintain my integrity towards my goals), but I won't actively seek out or buy anything online as I tend to do. High street stores are not a danger with me, but the low price vintage shops where I work can be incredibly tempting and I will have to prepare a lovely mental slideshow of various UK locations to keep me afloat on the bad days. Or maybe I should make myself a travel tip jar, in which could I tip myself on days when I feel like I need to be rewarded? Stevie talked about star charts in her <a href="http://discothequeconfusion.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/i-have-nothing-to-wear-is-lie-and-you.html" target="_blank">great *motivational* post</a> about her frugal goals, and I plan to start one for myself - total Camille-bait.<br />
But before all else, I need to be honest with you, or I'll feel like an impostor: I sorely need a few pairs of black tights and will not refrain from procuring them, travel tip jar or not.<br />
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It felt very good to check today as a successful day in my diary, and I
think the experience will provide me with an undeniable proof to a
theory I've been harboring for quite some time: that I'm actually always wearing a variation of the same thing.<br />
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Stevie and I have already started documenting our (one) daily outfit(s) on instagram under the tag #oldootd, and I'm looking forward to seeing what <a href="http://www.sos-saveourshoes.com/" target="_blank">Fiona</a> comes up with. You're very welcome to join us - there's nothing like company to keep (my) motivation up!Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-4702228569723717882014-07-16T22:01:00.002-04:002014-08-19T23:56:45.131-04:00So good.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWc4zoeAqJy9akhl20CkpQV8fZxD19Y3dm4ZfKVlG67X3Oz0T0xWfYGO8sHSq5AIkS7FZ_NpK5F-nnjGCvEpZVUOwFH_qzU1LmWDB7JtRkOKlTkZYU4HWycqd4q8pIx26rpx-w6FcB9WQ/s1600/valentino2015-sarto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWc4zoeAqJy9akhl20CkpQV8fZxD19Y3dm4ZfKVlG67X3Oz0T0xWfYGO8sHSq5AIkS7FZ_NpK5F-nnjGCvEpZVUOwFH_qzU1LmWDB7JtRkOKlTkZYU4HWycqd4q8pIx26rpx-w6FcB9WQ/s1600/valentino2015-sarto.jpg" /></a></div>
Goodness gracious.<br />
<a href="http://www.thesartorialist.com/photos/at-valentino-spring-2015/" target="_blank">Valentino, Spring 2015, by The Sartorialist.</a>Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-77924488741970214022014-06-20T21:57:00.000-04:002014-06-20T23:15:17.795-04:00Mood, June 2014<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/49026985@N04/14468972945" title="Summer 2014 Mood by C. B., on Flickr"><img alt="Summer 2014 Mood" height="750" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2938/14468972945_5732cff2bf_o.jpg" width="500" /></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/49026985@N04/14282361260" title="Summer 2014 Mood by C. B., on Flickr"><img alt="Summer 2014 Mood" height="611" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3900/14282361260_f8903752c9_o.png" width="487" /></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/49026985@N04/14467646582" title="Summer 2014 Mood by C. B., on Flickr"><img alt="Summer 2014 Mood" height="750" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5567/14467646582_d3ef21b20b_o.jpg" width="500" /></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/49026985@N04/14282397148" title="Summer 2014 Mood by C. B., on Flickr"><img alt="Summer 2014 Mood" height="723" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3877/14282397148_0f373efd33_o.jpg" width="483" /></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/49026985@N04/14282528427" title="Summer 2014 Mood by C. B., on Flickr"><img alt="Summer 2014 Mood" height="802" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3845/14282528427_112c3d112c_o.jpg" width="570" /></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/49026985@N04/14468974085" title="Summer 2014 Mood by C. B., on Flickr"><img alt="Summer 2014 Mood" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5154/14468974085_75598890de_o.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/49026985@N04/14467820924" title="Summer 2014 Mood by C. B., on Flickr"><img alt="Summer 2014 Mood" height="794" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5539/14467820924_f947b18ccd_o.jpg" width="600" /></a></div>
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Mood - June 2014.<br />
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Over the past 5 years, the summer jobs I held were all in freezing, over-air-conditioned spaces, if not real fridges. Therefore, I haven't had to truly dress for summer full-time since 2009. But this summer, things are different. I have a new job - more on that soon - and the new sartorial opportunities it offers are particularly exciting to me. Suddenly, everything sleeveless gets worn, I've gotten enough wear out of that silk tank from Boxing Day 2008 for it to finally redeem itself as a judicious purchase, 5+ years later.
Above are a number of images including elements that have been appealing to me lately: soft and muted colours, grey-blues, moss greens, and sunset tangerines; mixes of workwear and flowy fabrics; soft, very worn t-shirts; good, messy, too-clean hair; sheer beige socks (Cheap Date was right all along); and embracing glasses, trying to anyway.<br />
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Sources: <a href="http://www.katrinathomson.com/new-canyon/" target="_blank">Chantal Anderson</a>, <a href="http://instagram.com/p/gwupqqsCom/#" target="_blank">Andy Grellman</a>, <a href="http://www.styleclicker.net/2014/06/11/tali-illustrator-munich/?utm_source=calivintage&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=link" target="_blank">Tali by Styleclicker</a>, <a href="http://turnedout.tv/" target="_blank">Greta Villiger by Maya Villiger</a>, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/100555332/sale-50s-art-print-blouse-mandarin?ref=favs_view_9" target="_blank">Ultramarine Vintage</a>, <a href="http://elisemesner.com/" target="_blank">Elise Mesner</a>, <a href="http://margarethowell.co.uk/" target="_blank">Margaret Howell 2012 (?) ad</a>.Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-19251731224248555782014-05-04T14:35:00.002-04:002014-05-04T14:35:56.018-04:00Fried Rice Connoisseur<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello! Just a quick note to let you know that Joy's interview with me is up on her blog <a href="http://www.friedriceconnoisseur.com/2014/05/q-with-camille-unprententious-bouquet.html" target="_blank">Fried Rice Connoisseur</a>. On the menu: uniforms, vintage and the democratisation of fashion, and Montréal tips. Thank you Joy, it was great to have you over!<br />
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I'm slowly getting used to the beat of not having hundreds of pages to compose, and you should see some frequent-ish posting here very soon.<br />
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<i>P.S. If I may say, Oulipo the cat simply does not take well to being picked up or photographed, ever, but fortunately was not as distressed as he may appear.</i>Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-79870525592031979952014-03-08T19:09:00.000-05:002014-05-10T14:13:20.603-04:00Mood, March<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="1000" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/49026985@N04/12702167425/player/7b218c8fcb" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="821"></iframe>
I've been having a bit of a stylistic identity crisis lately. Blame it on the still very wintery weather around here, or on the fact I've been trying to grow back bad haircut upon bad haircut for the past 4 months, I've been finding it difficult to write concisely about style here even though I've been meaning to and wanting to. I've made terrible purchase decisions since we last spoke, and I think I might start posting my purchases here for the sake of shaming myself into keeping things in check... we'll see.
In the meantime, I'm trying to reconcile the above (glamorous, a bit eccentric, a bit out of the ordinary) with <a href="http://www.unpretentiousbouquetofparentheses.blogspot.ca/2014/01/mood.html" target="_blank">this</a> (classic, minimalistic), because it's when I attempt the first, which I love, that I make 'mistakes' that make me feel uncomfortable.<br />
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<i>Sources, clockwise from left: <a href="http://www.thesartorialist.com/photos/valentino-fallwinter-2014-3/" target="_blank">1</a>, <a href="http://thelovedone.net/products/she-should-have-stayed-in-bed-bralette" target="_blank">2</a>, <a href="http://goodnightday.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">3</a>, <a href="http://www.ciaovogue.com/2010/10/november-1970-uk-vogue.html" target="_blank">4</a>, <a href="http://www.wendybevan.com/" target="_blank">5</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067185/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">6</a>.</i> Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-76210898483912839162014-01-26T15:17:00.003-05:002014-01-26T15:17:56.675-05:00An unplanned design updateJust a quick note to let you know I'm still attempting to figure out the design of this blog. The template I was using was discontinued a few years ago, and as I wanted to make some changes to it, I had to start over from one of the new templates, sigh. Bear with me while this place becomes presentable and home-like again.Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-5168669777685203082014-01-26T11:53:00.001-05:002014-01-26T15:39:54.941-05:00On managing an online vintage shop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">I thought I'd write a bit about certain things I learnt over the past few years of having an etsy shop. Now, I'm definitely not one of the biggest sellers, and I don't have the best product photos or business cards either, but I thought I'd make a list of certain things I wish I knew from the start instead of going through the process of making many mistakes. At first, I was mainly using the shop to sell a few vintage things I no longer wore, plus the occasional amazing thrift shop find that didn't fit me, but even with just the occasional sale every month or two, I encountered pickles I wish I had been able to avoid. So here's my guide to selling on etsy - if it can help just one person to avoid technically <i>paying</i> their customers to purchase from them due to miscalculations, I'll be happy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">When I first started, I was pretty naive about postal services. Back then there was a post office that wasn't very busy not too far away from my house, and I would bring items over to have them weight and the shipping costs estimated. This worked fine until I sold something heavier than a lightweight summer shirt or dress. To Japan. I was unaware of the huge price difference between the various oversea services, and shipping the clogs to the customer ended up costing more than what I had listed them for plus shipping. I ended up technically paying the customer to buy them, yep. So I bought a kitchen scale to calculate my shipping at home, perfect!</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Except I hadn't banked on the fact the envelopes I used the most were swiftly replaced by heavier ones. Meaning my estimates were no longer good, and that I ended up paying for shipping out of my own pocket, again. Fortunately, Canada Post went back to supplying its old envelopes, and I learnt to 1)always keep at hand a few of the average bubble envelopes I use, and b)add 50 to 100 extra grams to the overall weight of my package when I calculate shipping just in case the weight of the tissue paper wrapping tips the scale (sorry) into a different price category.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">2. Policies</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">It's through encountering problems that I have managed to come up with satisfying shop policies that give buyers a sense of what to expect. To be fair, I'm pretty sure most buyers don't read my policies from some of the emails I get, so if something comes up often in those, I make sure to copy it on every item page. I mentioned earlier I always slightly over-calculate shipping, but I also mention in my policies that I always refund the customer if I overcharged more than 1$ for shipping.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">I have also made the mistake as a buyer to assume that a seller who had no policy section simply subscribed to the general way of doing for vintage sellers: no returns or refunds unless the item is grossly misrepresented. The seller got off scot free from selling me boots that were measured from the outside although described as being measured from the inside, and some deep cracks at the toes rather than 'some light creasing.' They completely refused to make arrangements of any type, and the item was not only too small, but too damaged for me to re-sell it. Etsy reviews used to affect the reviewer negatively, so I couldn't leave a negative review for my own sake. Fortunately, most sellers are super nice and will be willing to make very satisfying arrangements. But, both as a seller and as a buyer, take care of those policies!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">3. Finances and pricing</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Until this fall, I was horrible at keeping track of my stock and finances. Not that I'd lose a piece, or forget whether something had been cleaned or not, but I'd put off listing items for a long time, lose interest in them or give up on trying to mend them and would end up just packing them and giving them off to the closest Sallyam. I wouldn't keep track of how much I paid for a piece, or how much I invested in the shop because I didn't actually have that much stock anyway.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This September, however, I decided to turn things around and went over 2.5 years worth of stock, including pieces I had ended up giving away. I preferred to overestimate my costs so as not to fall short, and that technique has been working rather well for me so far.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I made some big purchases in the fall, buying almost all of my friend Penny's stock when she closed her own shop. I discovered Outright (now <a href="https://bookkeeping.godaddy.com/" target="_blank">GoDaddy Bookkeeping</a>), which is a useful free tool that registers all your sales and costs. It needs a bit of decluttering because it also registers my personal purchases and shipping income, but it's made things a thousand times easier for me to visualise. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">When it comes to considering my costs, I prefer to consider my bulk costs rather than a per-item cost when I do my finances. Still, I do keep track of a gross per-item cost when I do my pricing so as not to 'pay' the customers to take my pieces home. I also try to keep my prices reasonable by having a look at the average price/condition ratio of similar items on etsy. While many other elements factor in the pricing of items, I try my best to keep things reasonable while not devaluating the items either. I think it's important to keep in line with the other sellers' prices so as not to devaluate their work. Of course, I have nothing against a good bargain for something that requires a bit of work, or paying more for something very rare in excellent condition!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">4. Stock management</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">That's one element I still need to really work on. I have nearly 60 pieces in the shop right now, and at least three times as many waiting to be listed. I try to make myself feel better by reminding myself I did some really big buying in a very short time, and that of fantastic pieces, but I won't lie, I don't have much of a solution for you here. I might eventually move in a place that has more than 2 closets, that would help, but in the meantime, I just make sure to keep the clean, unlisted pieces on a rack in my boyfriend's office (thank you Jaime!), the listed ones in a pile of clear bins, and the unwashed ones and the ones in need of mending in their respective bins in my own office. I just really need to push myself to stay away from buying more, and list it all already. To be fair, I'm already worrying about what I'll do when all's listed, but if I managed to hoard all of that in a very short time, I'm sure I'll be able to hoard just as much when I'll start running out of fresh stock.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">5. Mentors and help</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">As I said earlier, I'm no professional, and I still have much to learn (not that I won't be learning new things forever anyway!). However, I found that following some sellers I admire on facebook, via their blog, or (silently, as I'm cellphone-less) on instagram has been very fun and instructive. My favourite seller to read is Amy of <a href="http://www.wildfellhallvintage.com/" target="_blank">Wildfell Hall Vintage</a>. I find her truly inspiring ad she has amazing taste and won't shy away from sharing the very good and the very bad of vintage selling.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This guide only brushes the surface of managing an online vintage shop - I haven't even gotten around talking about stain removal, or occupational hazards such as dealing with allergies - but I hope it might be of help to any of you thinking of selling online, or doing so already! </span></div>
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Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-27499967764537577402014-01-17T15:36:00.000-05:002014-01-26T15:02:19.280-05:00Mood<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="618" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/49026985@N04/12158544044/player/a3df633af9" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="800"></iframe>
As I mentioned in my last post, I've been finding that making moodboards, lists, and polyvore sets has so far been helpful to sort through my material wishes, but also just to get the 'coveting' ideas out of the way and leave more memory space for more important things. Above is a moodboard of a few things I've been liking, considering, and just plain admiring from afar.<br />
<br />
Purchased:<br />
-Vintage polka dot blouse. Cropped sleeves, cotton, interesting collar, a bit boxy, on my frame anyway - I didn't want to buy anything for myself, but this is one of these items I've been looking after for years, the price was very decent, and I did sleep on it for a few nights. Claire, of <a href="http://lolaisbeauty.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Lola is Beauty</a>, once <a href="http://lolaisbeauty.blogspot.ca/2010/11/let-me-count-ways.html" target="_blank">wrote about</a> only buying things you don't <i>really</i> need if you were really afraid someone else would go and buy the only one of it before you had your chance - a gut feeling, in a way. This stayed with me for a while, and worked really well until I just forgot about it in this last manic year. I don't get this gut feeling with much items, so it's something I can count on more often than not. Well, I had a 'moment' with this blouse, and no sinking feeling of regret after clicking 'purchase.' I mean, had I designed my ideal polka dot blouse, it would have looked <i>exactly </i>like that. <br />
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Considering:<br />
-<a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/zoegkocsis" target="_blank">Zoé G. Kocsis black romper and night shirt and shorts</a>.<br />
Miss Moss's post brought these to my attention, and both pieces respond to wishes I've had for quite some time. Plus, they're made here, in Montréal!! I like how the romper could be worn as overalls as well in the colder months, and I would definitely wear the night shirt as a day shirt. I've been meaning to replace a few second-hand little boys' shirts I've had for a few years, one because it shouldn't serve as anything but a rag at this point, and the other one, just because it's never suited me that well although I still wear it every week. I like my sleeves to be cropped, and my collars to be fluid, and it would be perfect both in winter and summer, tucked or untucked with rolled sleeves. The matching shorts would just be an awesome plus to be worn as actual pyjamas.<br />
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-Second-hand Bally boots.<br />
I came across two pairs of these on Ebay in my size - I missed out on one, and the other that's still for sale is way too expensive and way too damaged for it to be worth it. I'll be patient, though, as they conform to my vision of the perfect flat ankle boots. I like pointy toes and almond toes on myself, and I like my boots to have some kind of detail on their vamp because of the proportions those create. If you ever find them in a 7 or 7.5 at a decent price/condition (although I don't mind repairable flaws) please let me know!<br />
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Just plain admiring from afar: <br />
-<a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/167081238/on-sale-man-in-the-moon-ring?ref=favs_view_7" target="_blank">Man in the Moon ring by Lux Divine</a>.<br />
Putting it in a moodboard was enough, I like it but don't need it on my finger, especially as I have really tiny fingers and that the ring would probably be wider than any of them.<br />
<br />
<i>To be fair, I'm still trying to figure out how to do this in a non- purchase inducing/coveting manner, as I'm truly conscious that by linking items I'm perpetuating something I'm trying to go against, and the same goes with my having a shop. For now, I think the best way to put things is: 'purchase carefully, and resist the possible temptation I'm laying before your eyes'... or something.</i>
Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-73059599721240356972014-01-12T11:50:00.002-05:002014-01-26T14:42:56.964-05:00On style, spending, and habits<div style="text-align: center;">
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I'm not really one to make resolutions when the new year rolls in, but I do like to take the time to reflect on the past year and try and see what I did well and what I did wrong, and what I can do to change. One of the things I did 'wrong' in 2013 is spending, especially on clothes. I started buying way too many coffees when my thermos acquired a strange taste I couldn't wash off, I ate out way too many times when I ran out of groceries, but truly, my biggest 'vice' of 2013 was acquiring garments.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">As you know, 2013 was probably one of the worst years I've ever had, what with anxiety momentarily overtaking all my waking moments. I felt justified in 'treating' myself, especially as I had just been promoted and received a raise at work when all of this happened. I eventually quit my job and got better, but my online shopping habits went on as they had in the previous months. I should also point out that in the fall, I spent quite a bit of my savings on stock for the shop, and that even though I'm not even done listing that, I still felt justified purchasing more stock. In brief, while I'm not on the edge of destitution, I made some really bad purchases and decisions last year that weigh on me morally.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">As a result of my online shopping to pass time (which I feel guilty about - I not only lost money, I lost hours of my time), I somehow lost touch with my taste and my sense of financial and practical reality. This year, I'd like to remedy to that. I'd like to push myself to be more patient when it comes to what I can realistically find in thrift shops, and what really is 'a good deal,' and what I can realistically buy on ebay and etsy and what I should not. Acne Needle jeans that are too big for me, you would have been a deal had you fit, but now I'm 100$ short and nowhere nearer to have pants. If I can barely buy pants in person, I shouldn't venture to purchase them online.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Over the past few days, I've been making an effort to create polyvore sets with 'things to mull over,' and to keep track of things I like but dismissed so I won't go and convince myself otherwise in some flight of fancy. I've also been finding polyvore useful to help me visualise my style better; I don't know why I left it aside for so long, it's proving to be a useful tool.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I don't think I'll realistically be able to document all my purchases here, but I'm planning on writing more about personal style if only to help me get back in touch with my taste. I'm hoping this will be as interesting and inspirational (this word is overused, I know!) for you as it will be for me, especially as I want to try and do it in a manner that won't spark too many overconsumerist tendencies in me or others. It should be an interesting experiment.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: small;">Above is most of one of my favourite editorials ever (!), from Lula 17, styled by Valentine Fillol-Cordier and photographed by Édouard Plongeon. <a href="http://valentinefillolcordierportfolio.tumblr.com/post/64021386335/lula-issue-17-ph-edouard-plongeon" target="_blank">Via</a>.</span></i></div>
Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-29535821319314577982014-01-10T17:59:00.001-05:002014-01-10T17:59:30.965-05:00Late night listening<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7212489257639255005">Late night</a> from <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7212489257639255005">uboparentheses</a> on <a href="http://8tracks.com/">8tracks Radio</a>.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Track list:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Some Velvet Morning - Primal Scream</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Restless Mind - Flaming Tunes</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">You Keep Me - Index</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">VCR - The XX</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Sea Within a Sea - The Horrors</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A Forest - The Cure </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Transmission - Joy Division</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Original Love - The Feelies</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Tape Song - The Kills</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Cat Claw - The Kills </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Happy 2014!</span></div>
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Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-538947988011004282013-12-30T13:29:00.000-05:002014-01-26T19:33:38.412-05:00Nostalgia<div style="text-align: center;">
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I've been feeling rather nostalgic lately. A few days ago marked the fifth anniversary of my move to Montréal, and I've consequently been in a pretty introspective (and retrospective) mood. I've been thinking a whole lot about the past few years, especially the 'honeymoon' period of my adult life so far. Of course, nostalgia and romanticism being what they are, I try to reason with myself thinking of the truly terrible moments of my first few years living on my own, such as the deaths of friends and family members, my horrible roommate's friends taking over our apartment to the point of our having to change the locks, a mold infestation I'm still paying for with my health, or dealing with two horrible break-ups in my first few months in town. I'm not truly yearning for times past, it's more that I which some elements of the past pervaded more my present life. I loved going to shows on an almost weekly basis, <i>spending more time away from the computer</i> (ahem), and well, almost the opposite, I do miss the blogs of yore which have, for the most, been abandoned one after the other.</div>
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I don't have any conclusions to draw from this above rambling, other than, well, here's an ode to my blogging of yore (???). I'm reopening the 'Parentheses Archives,' (remember?) i.e., a bunch of folders on my computer where I save random images. If the source of inspiration I draw from blogs has nearly dried up (O, fantastic metaphors!), perhaps I myself should try to kick things back into place when it comes to my blog anyway. Or perhaps I should find new blogs to read... Any suggestions?<br />
(Credits: <a href="http://www.lamelancolie.com/index.php?lm=post&id=42" target="_blank">1</a>, <a href="http://www.behance.net/gallery/Motley/6639685">2</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abereswar/5275249256/">3</a>, <a href="http://www.alicerosati.com/PORTFOLIO">4</a>, <a href="http://rookiemag.com/2013/11/sister-sister/">5, 6</a>, <a href="http://www.equinoxgallery.com/artists/portfolio/fred-herzog/2">7</a>, <a href="http://www.garancedore.fr/2009/01/29/pretty-green/">8</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifiwererosemary/4467589899/">9</a>)<br />
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(I updated the previous post with the song I was mentioning, and I'm about to answer all unanswered comments.) </div>
<br />Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-82884903338444615442013-12-23T22:30:00.001-05:002013-12-30T13:31:05.272-05:00Merry Christmas!<div style="text-align: center;">
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In spite of family traditions being gradually challenged and shifted over the past few years, one thing that hasn't and won't change is how much my extended family and I are moved by beautiful renditions of 'Oh Holy Night.' We used to always sing it together at midnight on December 24th, the 20-30 of us, and then celebrate over a glass of champagne or two. Above is perhaps my favourite version besides - of course - the one sung by my maternal family members, who all have very beautiful voices. I'm currently in Hull with my parents, eating good food, drinking tea, and watching copious amounts of Astérix cartoons - I hope your holidays are just as pleasant. Merry Christmas! xox</div>
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Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-34406965569335465772013-12-02T12:05:00.002-05:002013-12-02T12:36:22.137-05:00Lately, or a diary of sortsBrace yourself, grab a large mug of tea, here's a diary of sorts (read: long rambling) of everything that's been going on over here in the past few months.<br />
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Chapter I: School <br />
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My school semester is finally over! I have one exam left in two weeks, for which I have to revisit some oh-so-favourite 16th century texts. That's what I get from wiggling away from my comfort zone for so many years, only to have to push myself to do the best I can with pre-19th century works now that I decided to do Honours.<br />
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I've been having somewhat of a 'future' crisis recently, as I realised I have one month to decide what I should do next year since I'll be graduating in the Spring. I'm still interested in doing a Master's, but I'm unsure of which direction I'd be taking, which exact authors I would like to write a thesis on. I do have a pretty clear idea of what interests me, but the notion of already specialising all of a sudden scares me, as if I was about to limit myself. My other option is to apply to do a certificate in translation, which I might do while I think things through and get a better sense of what I really want to do. As you have most certainly noticed, I've really been taken with my shop as of late, and while I'm secretly dreaming I might one day somehow live from it, I have difficulty keeping myself away from the academia. I often feel like I pigeon-holed myself without realising it the day I decided to take English Literature when I had never gone to school in English before. Had I taken my close second History, I could perhaps start to think about a teaching career of some kind, and that in French or in English.<br />
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Chapter II: Entertainment<br />
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I've been consuming a large number of TV episodes, all of the detective fiction kind. Perhaps that's what I should dedicate the rest of my life towards - could I make some kind of a link between Graham Greene's <i>The Third Man</i>, Paul Auster's <i>New York Trilogy</i>, Truman Capote's <i>In Cold Blood</i>, and just about anything by Agatha Christie for good measure? Anyway, for the sake of my, ahem, 'personal archive,' here's a list:<br />
-Inspector Morse and prequel Endeavour (I absolutely loved both, and watched all of Endeavour twice)<br />
-Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries<br />
-The last episodes of Poirot (yes, I did cry a bit)<br />
-The Bletchley Circle (only one episode left to see!)<br />
-The Sandbaggers (only two episodes in) <br />
I should probably do something else with my free time but, you know.<br />
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Chapter III: Books I want to finish/books I plan to read<br />
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-(My friend) Norm Sibum's <i>The Traymore Rooms</i><br />
<i>-</i>Giuseppe Di Lampadusa's <i>The Leopard</i><br />
<i>-</i>Evelyn Waugh's <i>Brideshead Revisited</i> (I've seen the adaptation, I've read quite a bit of Waugh's work, but haven't read his most famous work!)<i> </i><br />
<i>-</i>Virginia Wolfe's <i>Mrs Dalloway</i> and <i>A Room of One's Own</i><br />
<i>-</i>Thomas Hardy's <i>Tess of the d'Urbervilles</i><i> </i><br />
<i>-</i>Thackeray's <i>Vanity Fair</i><br />
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Chapter IV: Clothing, fashion, and style<br />
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I've been pretty uninspired by new fashion lately, and in response I've buried myself in vintage - that is, more than usual, taking solace in craftsmanship, unusual fabrics, and the plain old silly. I've grown tired of my boys' shirt + always the same skinny pants + huge cardigan combination, but I'm slow breaking away from its comfort and practicality. A few years ago, I would have been pretty happy not to have to think about what to wear, but things have gotten to a point practical dressing has become nearly boring. Trying to find new combinations without spending any money has all of a sudden become a very welcome challenge, and now that I have more free time (and a new, slightly different pair of skinny jeans on its way to me thanks to ebay), I'll be able to indulge in experimenting again clothes-wise. I've stopped reading quite a few fashion blogs recently since little has been stirring my love/gut feeling. I've been looking through four to five year-old archives from my favourite blogs (you know who you are by my ecstatic, albeit sporadic commenting!) to get a bit of a kick back into things. I'll keep you updated when I'll get my everyday, 'practical,' 'sensible' dressing groove back.<br />
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Suggestions are always welcome, concerning the other chapters too.<br />
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Chapter V: Random<br />
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-<a href="http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2013/07/22/archie-revisited/">Aloysius Revisited </a>(yes, this has to do with the aforementioned <i>Brideshead</i>)<br />
-Baking super easy pumpkin pie with pumpkin purée, coconut milk, a tiny bit of soy milk, not much sugar. My friend helped me make one at her place last weekend, and I can't wait for my landlord to repair my oven.<br />
-Repairing an amazing 1920s beaded dress. I just learnt the beads I'm working with may or may not be lined in mercury...<br />
-Finding very fun and special Christmas presents for my loved ones. I make it sound as if I created a board game. It's unfortunately not the case, haha.<br />
-Falling incredibly behind with discovering new music. Must work on that.<br />
-The best beauty advice I've, erm, given myself so far: to stop using anything other than water, a facecloth, and makeup remover as means to wash my face. My skin had been a little too nostalgic for its 15 year-old self since the end of the summer, when I reacted to greasy sunscreen. I thought using a cleanser (and I tried a few) would give me back my 23 year-old face, but nothing happened until I just stopped really 'washing' my face. <br />
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Hope you're well!<br />
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<i> </i> <i> </i>Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-26371770659183959102013-12-01T18:19:00.000-05:002013-12-01T18:21:05.998-05:00Parentheses Vintage Sale + News!<br />
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<a href="http://parenthesesvintage.etsy.com/">Parentheses Vintage</a> has been on sale for the past few days, but I thought I'd give you guys an extension as well as a little extra off if anything catches your eye. From now until Wednesday, you can get 30% off anything in the shop with the code BLOGGYBOOGIE30 because yes, I do enjoy creating codes with very silly names. The pieces above are just a few of the ones you'll find in the shop, and two of them are even *exclusive sneak peeks* (oulala) that will be added some time today or tomorrow. Plus, yes, I cut my hair (well actually my friend did it for me)!<br />
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Also, if you're in Montréal next weekend, I'll be taking part in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/320165464789458/">The Plant's Holiday Art Market</a>! I'll be selling vintage garments and accessories, as well as some handmade jewellery. Come and say hi!<br />
(So many exclamation marks, yes, these are rather exciting times!!!!)Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-17810101848706452092013-11-26T22:55:00.003-05:002013-11-26T22:55:54.778-05:00November<div style="text-align: center;">
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The trees are covered in snow, and I'm completing my last essay of the semester.</div>
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Also, remember <a href="http://www.unpretentiousbouquetofparentheses.blogspot.ca/2011/01/very-special-gift.html">this</a>? </div>
Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-79834331149261406532013-11-07T17:09:00.001-05:002013-11-07T17:09:57.429-05:00Parentheses Vintage etc.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hi!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have shared many adventures with this one, but now it's time to part ways :(</td></tr>
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I promised myself not to make too much shameless self-promotion on here because, well, I didn't create this blog in line with my little <a href="http://parenthesesvintage.etsy.com/">vintage shop</a>, and I can understand why overwhelming it with regular shop updates could be annoying. At the same time, I've been working very hard on the shop, adding in average 5 to 10 new pieces every week, and I've never been so enthusiastic as I am now with the stock I have. Seriously, if my closet were normal-sized, and if I could change my size and shape at will, there wouldn't be much in the shop. The reason why I'm saying all of this is that I'm divided with doing occasional shop updates on here, featuring some of my favourite pieces and talking a little more about them, or not doing them at all, because it would be shameless self-promotion and could feel like empty content compared to the rest of my posts where I'm not, you know <i>selling something</i>. I already have three other platforms to support my bouts of self-advertisement, but at the same time, when I'm really excited about something, I often have an urge to share it here because I feel like this platform allows me to be more genuine and honest.</div>
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So - don't be shy - what do you think of this? Would semi-regular shop updates annoy you?</div>
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(And in the light of shameless self-promotion, might as well, the code BADPUNS will forever give you 10% off on everything in the shop :)</div>
Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-1863367179776259392013-10-26T16:31:00.000-04:002013-10-26T16:31:16.722-04:00Lately<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello! How have you been? The last month or so has been semi-eventful for me, what with having one of my friends' entire vintage stock magically landing on my lap and apartment, and not being able to really make the most of it yet because of increased school work (hello, presentation on Jane Austen juvenilia - hello, trying to find scholarly articles on wild short stories one of the otherwise most written about authors wrote when she was fifteen!).</div>
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I've also been really busy feeling sorry for myself and trying to put off turning on the heat for as long as possible, 'investing' the money I'm saving on electricity bills into my tea and obsessive online video streaming fund, aka illegally watching the new Downton Abbey season, ten years' worth of Inspector Morse and awesome prequel Endeavour, and the newest Poirot episodes all the while ruining my eyesight. There's nothing quite as relaxing as watching detectives trying to figure out which British citizen has murdered another, and why.</div>
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I had been looking forward to the new, and last, season of Poirot for quite some time, especially Miss Lemon, Captain Hasting, and (now) Commissioner Japp were to return, to my great joy <i>played by the same actors</i>. The first fifteen years of Poirot were my favourite, and while I did enjoy the past ten years or so, I found the tone often too sensationalist. I was however delighted by Wednesday's episode, The Big Four, as it was a perfect mix of old and new, especially as the return of the previous recurrent characters provided a return of the formal familiarity which had been somewhat lacking in most recent episodes. As much as I like Ariadne Oliver and George, they're not quite as intricately linked with Poirot's world as the previous three were. Also, if you haven't seen it, here's the trailer for Poirot's last four cases - if you've been watching as lovingly as I have, you'll most likely find yourself holding back a tear or two.
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And what about you, what's new? What have you been reading/watching/wearing/listening to as of late? Hope you're all well :)
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Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-40594604239985543332013-09-26T20:31:00.000-04:002013-09-26T21:39:26.846-04:00Changes and updates, or September so far<div style="text-align: center;">
<script src="http://www.etsy.com/assets/js/etsy_mini_shop.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script type="text/javascript">new Etsy.Mini(6327086,'gallery',4,5,1,'http://www.etsy.com');</script>
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I have a bouquet, a basket of news for you! First of all, I quit my job of over two years a few weeks ago, and worked my last day on Monday. As I don't really have to work while I'm in school, I have decided to take some time off to work on various projects, such as taking ballet classes after a six-year hiatus, getting good enough grades to apply to graduate school come January and... working on my vintage shop.</div>
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I've had the shop for over two years, but have been rather lazy about it until now. Doing the vintage fair last spring was encouraging in the way it allowed me to meet other sellers, other people passionate about vintage in person, but also because it allowed me to become much more concise concerning the direction I wanted to take with what I was doing. I've been collecting vintage for years, but translating what I personally like to see and like to wear into the shop has been more complicated. Some more simple, practical items are great in person, but are difficult to sell through pictures; lighting, photography material and settings are very important, but I don't necessarily have the means to invest in such items at the moment. I've been trying to experiment with what I have, with my peeling white walls and my point-and-shoot camera, and I'm getting closer to having satisfying results than I was ever before. I'm now better at doing things in my manner, without worrying <i>too</i> much about what's trendy and whatnot.</div>
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Taking the shop more seriously means getting my entire collection out of my 'office' and making regular updates - I've never had that many items in the shop before, and yes, that's only about a third of what I have... I've also, you know, a good century after everyone else, consolidated my internet outlets and subscribed to various social media platforms. It broke my heart to do so, but I changed the shop's name from <i>Irene & Irene Vintage</i> to <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/ParenthesesVintage?ref=si_shop"><i>Parentheses Vintage</i></a> (to fit with this blog) because I didn't want to split myself into too many directions. I now have a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/parenthesesvintage">facebook page</a> for the shop, as well as a twitter account (@uboparentheses, if you like a mix of weird nature articles and photos of pretty frocks) and a <a href="http://uboparentheses.tumblr.com/">tumblr blog</a> which I use for both shop-related and personal endeavours. Feel free to add me/join me/read me/send me bad jokes and puns (and I will do the same in return)! Follow Parentheses Vintage on facebook, if only to practice your French (my posts are bilingual!)!!!</div>
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As always, since this blog (and you!) remains my first internet true love, you are entitled to 10% off whatever you like in the shop with the code BADPUNS (why not). </div>
Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-35780945831316285022013-09-22T13:36:00.000-04:002013-09-22T13:36:20.082-04:00Book report - Truman Capote's 'Other Voices, Other Rooms'<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/23023719@N04/2276133983/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="'Other voices, other rooms' - Truman Capote by letslookupandsmile, on Flickr"><img alt="'Other voices, other rooms' - Truman Capote" height="1024" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2112/2276133983_433a91bb6f_b.jpg" width="626" /></a></td></tr>
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This semester, I started attending my first conference class, which involves a small number of students and discussion-based rather than lecture-based teaching. During the first class, in order to ease us into a more casual manner of discussing, our professor asked us to present ourselves and to tell the class what our favourite book was. What was meant to be a casual, get-to-know-you assignment caused a bit of a stir around the table: while having very definite favourite things that you could list at will was normal for most as children, indecision, expanded knowledge, and variety have transformed this formerly easy question into a brain-raking task. I got out of it by adding the words "most recent" to "favourite book", although Truman Capote's <i>Other Voices, Other Rooms</i> is the book I have felt the most strongly about in a good two years.</div>
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I acquired <i>Other Voices, Other Rooms</i> with a gift certificate my boyfriend's mom gave me for my 23rd birthday last June. As the gift certificate was a birthday present, I wanted to use it on a book that would have some kind of meaning tying it with my new year, hoping that the book would have some significant repercussions on my 23 year-old self - those wishes were granted beyond all my expectations. While I originally chose <i>Other Voices, Other Rooms</i> over other options because it was published when Capote was 23, this novel moved me and shook me in a manner that transcends whatever plot description I could provide here. In my late teens, I had the habit of privately dismissing any author that did not appear to have a grasp on the elusive understanding of life I subscribed to; there is a sense of urgency to it, but it arises more from a gut feeling than from any rational notion. I would look for authors whose take on life would give me shivers, and abandon nearly any other that would let me down. Had I gone on this way, I would have passed over great novels, but I cannot help but have a special liking for authors in whose work I encounter this old feeling again. Like George Orwell, J. D. Salinger, and Patti Smith before him (in chronological order of my readings that is), Truman Capote has managed to put into words a desperation and urgency towards life that is difficult to grasp but from which an incredible sense of yearning arises.</div>
Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-36769909633933511612013-09-18T10:41:00.001-04:002013-09-18T10:41:38.972-04:00La rentrée<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/49026985@N04/9801095545/" title="La rentrée by Unpretentious Bouquet of Parentheses, on Flickr"><img alt="La rentrée" height="768" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5451/9801095545_6875ec382a_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a>
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This is what I wore on my second day of school. I have already reverted to wearing beaten-up jeans and dilapidated loafers most of the time (I am in a pressing need of pants, I always put off buying some until my main pair is falling apart), but I thought I'd capture one of my slightly more thought-through outfits if only to push myself to wear dresses more often. I mean, I seem to only wear dresses if you go by the photos I post here, but that's the magic of the blog-life, isn't it?</div>
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In brief, I am wearing the softest silk dress from one of my favourite vintage shops, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/wildfellhallvintage">Wildfell Hall Vintage</a>, with a thrifted cardigan and the most comfortable suede shoes from ebay (which I now realise you can't see). Also, here are my new glasses! A fancy spell got hold of me at the glass shop, so I ended up with these Moscot Bummi. I'm still unable to wear contacts, so I have been wearing them probably more than I have worn glasses in the past ten years. I've gotten used to just not seeing, and I don't wear them all the time, but it's great to have the possibility to see properly again.</div>
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Bonus photos: my boyfriend in his awesome all-green outfit, my cat in his birthday suit, and me laughing with all my uneven teeth out. Plus, gigantic photos! Zoom out to see how they're actually centered!</div>
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P.S.I meant to write a 'part 2' to last post, but realised that all the things I wanted to write about worked better in posts of their own, oh well. Hope you're all well!</div>
Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-80847805263754064462013-09-02T17:17:00.000-04:002013-09-18T10:07:16.762-04:00At the moment, summer's end edition<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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Today officially marks the end of my summer holiday. I will be going back to school tomorrow for the first day of the last year of my bachelor's degree. While I'll probably be sharing photos of this summer and, erm, last winter well into 2014 (I discovered I had 5, yes, FIVE nearly-finished disposable cameras I've been dragging around since last year - three of them are identical, almost explaining the situation), here are a few snaps of one of my favourite outfits of the entire summer which I wore to meet an old friend for coffee. I have no idea why I look so condescending in every single photo (you should see the outtakes...), so, erm, look at my new dress! Look at my balcony neighbour's cat pen! Look at my dying herb garden!</div>
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Now that this is out of the way... I had been coveting that <a href="http://toujours-toi-family-affairs.com/index.php?id=241">Family Affairs dress</a> ever since it came out, and finally got around buying it during Family Affairs' Midsummer Sale. I also finally bought the <a href="http://toujours-toi-family-affairs.com/index.php?id=266">Farrah shirt</a><a href="http://www.unpretentiousbouquetofparentheses.blogspot.ca/2013/03/at-moment.html"> after telling the entire internet and their great-grandmother</a> how much I loved it; I may now start posting multiple photos of me wearing it instead of keeping on rambling about how perfect it is and how I wish I had it. It was well worth the wait as I have been wearing both the <a href="http://toujours-toi-family-affairs.com/index.php?id=241">Swedish Summer dress</a> and the <a href="http://toujours-toi-family-affairs.com/index.php?id=266">Farrah shirt</a> nonstop since I received them!</div>
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In the above photos, I am also wearing my brand new <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/wenvrsleep">We Never Sleep</a> necklace which I won in a giveaway on <a href="http://blog.fieldguided.com/2013/08/we-never-sleep-mega-tassel-necklace.html#comment-form">Fieldguided</a>!!! It's incredibly well-made and simply beautiful. You might already know I <a href="http://www.unpretentiousbouquetofparentheses.blogspot.ca/2011/01/proof.html">used to make jewellery</a>, and I have to say, I see no point in starting again since We Never Sleep owner, designer, and creator Sarah Beaver makes exactly the type of jewels I'd make were I more technically advanced, imaginative and inspired. I'm so very happy to have won, and I may or may not be tempted to buy all of We Never Sleep's other pieces...</div>
Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7212489257639255005.post-34750044880901593732013-08-18T17:54:00.002-04:002013-08-18T17:54:49.502-04:00Housekeeping<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/49026985@N04/9539644449/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="via-thinkingtank-vogueitalia2001 by Unpretentious Bouquet of Parentheses, on Flickr"><img alt="via-thinkingtank-vogueitalia2001" height="371" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3721/9539644449_56d0ac29b3_o.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vogue Italia, 2001, via <a href="http://thethinkingtank.wordpress.com/">the thinking tank</a></td></tr>
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Guess who's had her first vacation in 6 years? Moi! (This last word has to be pronounced in Miss Piggy's voice, of course.)</div>
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My parents rented a cottage in the Outaouais, not far from Maniwaki where my mother grew up, where we stayed for a week. We had numerous visits from family members, canoed through lily pads, saw a beaver dam up close, and read various books and magazines. I got to run and jump off the deck, which is a pretty big deal for me as I'm not a very strong swimmer. I've spent the last week in Montreal, sorting through knick knacks around my apartment and making some rather exciting plans. I got called in to work during my holiday and was rather reluctant to go in, but I got to see my schedule for the next few weeks and saw I'm starting my incredibly part-time school-time schedule early, yay! All this to say, I've had my first holidays in years, and am about to have some extra time off to go to another cottage, rented by Jaime's parents this time.</div>
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In other news, I have decided to take my <a href="http://ireneirenevintage.etsy.com/">etsy shop</a> a bit more seriously, and am going to try and stop making promises for big updates and not make them. I have ACTUALLY (yes, for real!) been adding a fairly good quantity of new shoes (5 pairs out of 14 I already photographed are up!) to the shop, if you'd like to have a look. I have also finally joined twitter (@uboparentheses), a century after everyone else. I have only been using it for the shop so far, but it will also be my personal account if you'd like to add me. I'm in the process of consolidating all of my internet outlets to fit the very name of this blog or a version of it, so expect a few name updates in a near future, i.e. as soon as etsy confirms my shop name change, haha!</div>
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How have you been, what's new with you?</div>
Camillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04821745561347238069noreply@blogger.com0