Category :Brown

What Rules?!: How To Mix Leopard Print and Plaid

leopard-scarf-plaid-shirt-sparkly-dress

leopard-scarf-plaid-shirt-sparkly-dress

leopard-scarf-plaid-shirt-sparkly-dress-tapestry-shoes

leopard-scarf-plaid-shirt-sparkly-dress
Leopard scarf – SITC  //  Plaid Shirt – Guess  //  Sparkly Dress – Pink Owl  via Shopruche //  Tapestry Shoes – Restricted  //  Tights – HUE  //  Ring – Spotted Moth  //  Earrings – F21

Mixing leopard print and plaid is a rule that should be broken, but wisely.  I think the key is to keep everything else rather neutral and to stay in similar tones.  I mixed this shirt because both the shirt and the scarf share a deep, rich warmth. 

True, I didn’t stick to all neutrals in the palette, adding tapestry shoes, and sparkles; so maybe I broke several other rules too?  I still think it works as everything tends to stay in that ‘deep warm’ category. 

And if not, then the only people who saw this were the construction workers who have become my regular outfit taking audience. 

p.s.  Yes, that is my girl in the background wearing a jacket over her pajamas.  Hey, it was that kind of day.


Next week, since it’s the holiday season, we’re breaking out the sequins for day by breaking the “Sequins are only for the evening” rule.

Never Give Up Style, And Always Change

Fluffy-cardigan-brocade-red-dress

Fluffy-cardigan-brocade-red-dress

Fluffy-cardigan-brocade-red-dress

Fluffy-cardigan-brocade-red-dress
Brocade Dress –  Jealous Tomato via Shopruche  //   Fluffy Cardigan – Darling via Emerging Thoughts  //  Necklace & Boots – Threadsence  //  Tights – F21

Cute clothes for women, that’s what we think about when you think fashion blog.  But then I share that I’m a mom, and people say they never would’ve guessed, and look at my outfit.  Who says that the second we become Moms, or Dads, that we’re relegated to mommy jeans and cardigans?   Though it would be hilarious to see a Dad in mommy jeans. But I digress.

I firmly believe that style is not relegated to one stage of life, or to one age of life.  Style, in my mind, is a reflection of where you are in life, and what you’re feeling and thinking in that moment of time.  It’s ever in flux.

Perhaps, that’s why I don’t believe in a uniform.  A uniform implies no ebb and flow.  It implies a certain stagnation to me, a lack of experimentation and growth.  But maybe that’s me.  Maybe they’ve got it all figured out and have arrived at their true and complete selves – their personal nirvana and have no where else to go.

Me?  I am ever curious about what’s around the corner.

*linking up with Style Sessions, WIWW , Passion for Fashion, and Trend Spin*

A Necessary Barrier From the World

Cardi – Free People  //  Tank – Love Nail Tree  //  Infinity Scarf – Look by M  //  Boots – Feet First  //  Necklace – Threadsence

Our city is going crazy.  Our current mayor *Rob Ford – google him…no seriously, do it. You’ll see what I mean* is making Toronto a laughing stock.  Seriously, I don’t know how he’s still in office. 

On these jaded and cynical days, I end up reaching for soft, loose, and chunky things.  Perhaps I’m unconsciously trying to create a protective barrier between myself and those things that have me feeling like our world is going down the crapper. 
Perhaps, it’s not so unconscious. 

This tank from Love Nail Tree also fits.  The design is a commentary on the American dream – the perversion and decay of it more accurately.   So perhaps, while I reach for a protective barrier, I also can not quiet the instinct in me to not go quietly into that gentle night, if only through the use of a wise graphic tee. 

You Want Something Done, Do It Yourself

Top – Camilla Tree via Ruche  //  Cords – Le Chateau  //  Kimono – made by me!  //  Shoes – Threadsence  //  Turquoise necklace – I forget  //  Waterfall Necklace – c/o Atterley Road  //  Ring – Body Blue //  Sunnies – c/o Woodzee   *enter to win a pair*

You know that old saying, right?  Well, I’ve been coveting a few awesome fringe kimonos, but with price tags upwards of one hundred dollars on the ones that I want it was never gonna happen.  I budget and live within my means, and those means do not include hundred dollar kimonos.  So, I thought, “You want one?  Make it happen.”

Browsing through this huge fabric warehouse not too far from home, I stumbled across this gorgeous gray chiffon fabric and had one of those butterfly in the stomach moments.  It was the perfect material with it’s soft gray and white leaf print with specks of blue, and subtle silver sparkle.  Done.

The roll firmly tucked under my arm, I promptly waded through the fringe bin and found this long, soft, ivory fringe to match.  Copying another kimono that had been a gift from my mom, I then starting cutting and sewing.

The weight of the fringe as it swings back and forth while walking.  There’s something very satisfying about that.

Total price tag – $32.  That’s more like it.

*Linking up with WIWW, Style Sessions,  Trend Spin, Fab Favorites, Friday Style*

How To Style A Party Dress For Day

Dress – c/o eShakti  //  Shirt – Esprit  //  Boots & Silver Bracelet – Threadsence  //  Necklace – F21  //  Cuff Bracelet – Ebay  //  Tights & Socks – HUE 
Choosing this gorgeous dress from eShakti was easy.  It was the one that gripped me in its beauty and didn’t let go.   What’s lovely is that eShakti allows you to completely customize the sizing on your order, so my frame which has a hard time fitting into women’s clothing was completely happy in the perfectly fitting dress that arrived on my doorstep.
But finding places to wear a fancy dress isn’t always the easiest task, so I decided not to let this beauty stay hidden in my closet.  By adding a denim shirt and combat boots the whole outfit was instantly drawn down from fancy night to casual day. 
The only thing I regret is not doing something a bit more elaborate with my hair, but alas I am a mama short on time, and the odds were not in my favor this day.  In retrospect I think I would’ve done a faux hawk like before. 
eShakti is offering two ModaMama readers a $30 gift card to be used towards any purchase that you may desire.  Just enter using the widget below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spinach Into Chocolate, Sartorially Speaking

Dress – Zara   //  Scarf – bought in Venice  //  Tights – F21  //  Boots – Threadsence  //  Glasses – Lace Affair  //  Earrings – I forget

A sweatshirt dress with a cool embroidered pattern is the sartorial equivalent of rich dark chocolate and delicious wine.  It’s elegant and luxuriant and just a plain old treat.  It feels wrong, like you’re not behaving or something, by wearing such a comfortable sweatshirt dress.  It’s like you know you should be eating spinach, but chocolate just tastes so good.  You know you should be wearing something perhaps more ‘put together’ but sweatshirt material just feels so good. 

And the best thing is you can fake it into being chic.  It’s like having spinach that tastes like chocolate.  Now that would be something!

The Boy Who Wouldn’t Look At Me

Shirt – Campus Crew //  Jeans – Gap  //  Boots & Necklace – Threadsence  //  Bag – Matt by Matt&Nat  // Ring – Body Blue

Sometimes I’m just not feelin’ it.  So I throw on a pair of jeans and a plaid shirt.   And on those days I go back to the 90’s and elementary school and that boy in grade eight who was so cool with his careless and artfully tossed on plaid shirt, and I was the seventh grader just wishing for him to look at me.

It’s not a painful memory because potential crushes in the innocence of youth have so much hope and optimism in them.  It’s actually quite comforting to remember the silly ways I tried to get him to notice me.  And I laugh.

Another Horrible Mother Moment

Sweater – ModCloth //  Skirt – Ruche *altered by me*  //  Boots – Call It Spring  //  Tights – HUE  //  Shirt – Smart Set  //  Necklace – F21

Ever seen that movie Sophie’s Choice with Meryl Streep?  So she’s in a concentration camp and a Nazi makes her chose between her two children – which one lives and which one dies.  She gets to keep one.  The rest of the movie revolves around this choice.  It’s heart wrenching…and I’m going to make a joke involving it.

I say, ” We’re going to Gramma and Grandpas.” 

Baby Girl says, “I wanna take my babies.”

I reply, “Nope, you can only take one.”

Sophie’s Choice for toddlers.

Just as dramatic… to a three year old. 

It’s The End of the World

Shirt –   H&M  //  Vest & Sunnies – F21  //  Jeans – Gap  //  Boots – c/o Dansko  //  Necklace – Threadsence

It’s been such a hard week this week.  With the health issues Baby Girl has had this week, and my resulting exhaustion and overwhelmed feeling.  I’m ready for a shut down.  I’m in that critical mass state where everything feels huge.  
We’ve all been there.  It’s not the end of the world…but it sure feels like it.


*linking up with Fashion Informant and  Trend Spin*

Everything Is Malleable

Dress-  Moon Collection via Ruche //  Shirt –  Cotton Candy via Threadsence  //  Boots – Feet First  //  Ring – Spotted moth  //  Bracelet – F21

Nothing is relegated to specific categories in fashion any longer.  Which is why all the ‘rules’ can be broken.  A bridesmaid dress like this one can be worn when running errands around town.  It suits those needs just as well as it suited my needs when I was maid of honor at my best friend’s wedding.  
I think that’s part of the reason I’m starting this new link up.  I want us to show each other, to inspire each other, on the magical and fun ways we can break all the fashion rules and look fabulous doing it.  I love seeing what someone else comes up with and having that spark my imagination.   
*First rule we’re breaking:  no white after labor day.  So style an outfit, post it anywhere – doesn’t have to be a blog – and come back to link up next Thursday! No follows required.*
Follow on Instagram