Moda Mama

Takin’ It All In Stride.

June 15, 2015
/
2 COMMENTS

Lace-pants-long-kimono-sweater-johhny-cash-tee

Saturday: my girl’s birthday party.
Saturday eve: our games night.
Saturday middle of the night: Carbon monoxide detector goes off and we spend a total of two hours outside while the fire department comes, checks our house, concludes it’s a malfunction and false alarm, and leaves.
Sunday: coffee.

Sunday after coffee: if this is the problem I’m dealing with right now, life’s pretty okay. People are being persecuted and hunted around the world just for being alive. Which is right up there with me losing a couple hours sleep right? *that was sarcasm in case you missed it*

Here’s to perspective. Happy week everyone.

Pants & Shoes – ThreadSence // Tee & Cardigan – UO // Necklace – Homegrown Boutique

Price of Admission to Jamaica

May 18, 2015
/
6 COMMENTS

Arnhem-jumpsuit-beach-ocean-boho-style-gypset

First real day in Jamaica. It was an exciting one let me tell you. First I discovered that my external hard drive had been stolen from my checked suitcase, then I fell and broke the glass top of a table in my room, paid for it, and decided to head to the beach where nothing could happen to me.

Until I got in the water and got stung by a jellyfish in the first three minutes.

Seriously right?! Honestly, I just had to laugh, because to have all this happen in a span of hours was a little ridiculous. Hilarious and ridiculous. I breathed, had a little moment, then moved on. Things happen and there’s nothing you can do about it.

After treating the sting, I went back to swim for an hour, and decided to just focus on my beautiful surroundings. Just chalked it all up to the price of being in stunning Jamaica.

Plus, how can anything be wrong when you’re surrounded by pink buildings!

Jumpsuit – Arnhem // Sandals – I forget // Necklace – F21 // Sunnies – Lace Affair

One Woman Dance Party

May 4, 2015
/
6 COMMENTS

You know when you’re driving and you pull up to a red light alongside other cars, and in the car beside you you see that person? There’s that person who is blasting music, bobbing their head, drumming their hands, and is clearly singing as loud as possible. Either unaware or not caring that people are watching them, they make faces, act out all the bits of the song, and wait with anticipation for the guitar or drum solo acting it out on their steering wheel.

That person is me.

Janis Joplin, Rolling Stones, ’70s hits, and Queen. Yup.

For the record, my driving is superbly precise – I just do it while having a one woman dance party.

Kaftan – Arnhem // Pants – Lululemon // Boots – Aldo // Necklace – Gypsy Love Store // Turquoise Bracelet & Hat – ThreadSence // Turquoise and Red Bracelet – eBay // Rings & Sunnies – F21

*linking up with Honest Mom*

Jennifer Fukushima Promo Code!

April 29, 2015
/
1 COMMENT

I’m a little OCD when it comes to care of my clothing, and generally possessions of worth. Not because I’ve got some strange attachment to them but because I’m very frugal. If you care for it, it will last a long time right? I still have clothes from high school. I know, right?

But a classic red dress never goes out of style. So I’ve kept it. Same with this Jennifer Fukushima cardigan – or the one in green. It’s one of those pieces that can stand the test of time because it’s a classic. Plus, Toronto made, with a focus on sustainability and renewable resources? Yes please!

Whether your style is boho like mine, vintage, classic, minimal – whatever – this fits right in. But can we please just talk about the incredible texture on it? Can we? Okay.

Look at all the delicate and detailed pattern shifts and changes. Amazing. It’s also really soft and light. When I picked it, I was kind of expecting a slightly stiffer tweed like material, but this just bends and moves and sways in the wind. Plus, I kind of think of blue as a neutral – mostly ’cause I have so much of it, that a classic blue just goes with anything I own. I’m totally wearing this as a light layer over summer dresses in the next few months….sometimes a great little cardi is the perfect alternative to a kimono on those days you just want something light, or you’re, you know, not as obsessed with kimonos as me, and actually prefer to look very put together. Whatever.

And hey, guess what? Jennifer has kindly extended a 30% off discount code to ModaMama readers for the month of May! OMG!!!! Yeah, get on this. Use code “MODAMAMA30”

Tweed Cardigan – c/o Jennifer Fukushima // Top – Ruche // Cords – Gap // Boots & Turquoise Bracelet – ThreadSence // Silver cuffs – gifts // Long necklace – TopShop // Turquoise necklace – bought in Europe

*This is a sponsored post.

Thanks for checking out the fabulous

folks that support ModaMama.
Linking up with WIW*

Breezy Arnhem Maxi Dress

April 13, 2015
/
4 COMMENTS

The sun is shining, the temperature is up and the breeze is blowing through my dress.

Walking around I finally felt that beautiful thing that is the breeze blowing through your dress, and the sun caressing the back of your neck. It was warm – well warmer – than it has been for a long time. This deliciously light, soft, and breezy dress has been in my closet for a little while. It was calling, nay screaming, out for the barometer to rise. A long and light dress with floral prints epitomizes Spring to me. There’s something about that feeling when you’re walking down the street and can feel sun, material, and a warm breeze on you at the same time. It’s a calming feeling, a soothing feeling, a moment that makes you breathe and love life

Dress – Arnhem // Necklace – Gypsy Love Store // Ring – F21 // Bag – Target // Socks – I forget *old* // Boots – Aldo

*linking up with Style Sessions, and Trend Spin*

Class It Up A Bit With A Floral Fit and Flare

April 3, 2015
/
10 COMMENTS

Fit-flare-floral-dress-bow-wedges-womens-fashion

Dress – ModCloth // Shoes – Locale // Purse – H&M // Earrings – I forget *old* // Tights – Hansel from Basel

Sometimes. Occasionally. Once in a while. From time to time, I can class it up a bit. You know pretend that I’ve got a touch of the lady in me. I went to a film premiere and decided that this night I would do just that. I also decided to do this because before the film a new trailer of another film I’m in that’s in post-production would be revealed. And in this film I play one half of a swinging couple….so I thought I should at least be a lady in person for a bit…since on screen. Well, let’s just say there was a moment I was certainly blushing. Thank goodness it’s dark in the theatre!

Fashion Week and the Persistence of Black Clothing Everywhere: A Call To Arms

March 27, 2015
/
2 COMMENTS

Kimono – Arnhem // Top – UO // Jeans – Dittos via UO // Boots – Locale // Necklace – bought in Spain // Rings – F21 & misc

This week has been all about Toronto Fashion week – or World Mastercard Fashion Week. What I’ve found most interesting in attending the shows is that while the clothing on the runway is fascinating and creative, this isn’t the case in the fashion industry attendees. *before anyone gets up in arms, I’m not talking about every single person – I’m talking about numbers here. The vast majority*

The shows are vibrant and unique, and though they aren’t all things I personally would wear or I personally love, they are all interesting to look at. I’m sorry to criticize or rub people the wrong way, but the persistence of a sea of black at fashion week is to me unacceptable. I’m not saying that wearing black is uninspired. It’s that the black outfit is interesting if it’s the only one. But when the same outfit – you know, the black tight pants, black heels and a variety of ‘urban chic’ blazer/top – is multiplied by five hundred it becomes banal.

The attendees of fashion week are those in the industry. The leaders, the representatives, the lovers. This is where we should all be showing our own personal style. Where colors, textures and patterns should come alive.

I’m not talking about peacocking *that fad of wearing ridiculous clothes to be photographed by the press at these events* I’m talking about every attendee celebrating the freedom of expression and joy of design that I feel fashion affords. But no, I walk in and see twenty black pleather leggings, ten thousand black pumps, and a vast ocean of black with a very occasional dot of color.

Is it wrong for me to make a call to arms for us, the industry representatives, to celebrate what’s beautiful about fashion – self expression and personal style? If so I don’t want to be right.

I’ll be that non pleather-legging-flat-booted-bright-colored-messy-haired pariah, and it’s okay that I stand alone. I’m an introvert anyway.

Miami Outfit: South Beach

March 12, 2015
/
6 COMMENTS

Tank – Love Nail Tree // Skirt – Arnhem // Necklace & Hat – F21 // Sunnies – Lace Affair // Sandals – FreePeople

Walking around Espanola Way and the rest of South Beach in my graphic tank from Love Nail Tree was somewhat satisfying to me. This particular one is about the perversion, and decline, of the Amderican Dream; so, I found it humorous to be a Canadian walking around with this on.

But of course, no one noticed, they were too bust looking at the fabulous skirt from Arnhem. Loved thie fabulous way it just swished with me.

*linking up with Fab Favs*

What to Wear to an Indie Launch Party.

February 17, 2015
/
4 COMMENTS

Lace top – FreePeople // Jeans – Gap // Belt – Lucky Brand // Scarf & Clutch – gifts from Poland // Necklace – Natalie B.

Just before the mountains of snow descended upon us, before the weather fell to a painful minus thirty nine degrees celsius, before Toronto turned into the ice planet Hoth, I went out. I went out and got some photos on a balm plus one degree day. It’s sad to think that I long for the warmth of plus one.

I stood there taking pictures for the launch party of another brand, and I remember thinking, “This isn’t too bad. I could handle this kind of Winter.” Oh what a fool I was. I had no idea what was coming. Every year around this time, the outfit posts slow, because I doubt you guys are interested in seeing the same pair of eyes peeking out from under the same blanket day in and day out…sitting beside a space heater.

*sigh*

*linking up with Style Sessions*

Spelly Service

February 13, 2015
/
10 COMMENTS

Spell-gypsy-collective-kimono-fringe-scarf

Kimono – Spell Designs via Turquoise Lane Shop // Top – Ruche *old* // Jeans – Dittos via UO // Necklace – TopShop // Scarf – SheInside

I know customer service. I run my own business, and to me customer service is paramount. There are many talented people who can deliver a wonderful product, and that’s true of any business. But what sets certain companies apart is their customer service.

I recently had a terrible experience with a company that shall not be named because I don’t like to speak ill if I can avoid it. Without getting into details, they did not disclose certain aspects of the product and were downright rude when I contacted them regarding it, and did nothing to resolve the situation. The whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth – metaphorically. I will certainly never shop there again.

What’s poignant is that at the same time I had an issue arise with Spell. It was simply an unfortunate series of events, with no one being at fault per se. They could have done what the other company did, which was essentially to say, “Whatever. What are you gonna do about it?” But no.

Not only did Elizabeth, one of the owners, contact me and make sure I was taken care of, but also Emma, one of the customer service reps, was methodical in her resolution. They went above and beyond. Above and beyond what I hoped, and certainly above what I expected.

By doing so, I felt like I was valued not just for my credit card number, but valued as a person who they want to have great retail relationship with. I feel like customer service is about the bigger picture: knowing what your company’s mission statement and attitude is towards others. And Spell certainly has a very positive one.

Plus, the clothes are super awesome! That Hendrix jacket on my dreamlist. And clearly, not even a snowstorm will stop me from wearing one of their kimonos.

*linking up with Trend Spin*

Category :Pink