White Denim Vest

My last post featured my black faux suede vest. I have invested in a number of vests, but I’ve never had a white denim vest. I love how adding a vest can make an outfit a little more fashionable.

This little white denim vest is from Ricki’s. These are a few of the ways I’ve styled it.

With black and white damask print pants and a black sleeveless top …

and white skinny jeans …

with black and white gingham capris …

It’s so versatile and I love white.

How many vests in your closet?

❤ carmen

Welcome Summer!

Faux Suede Black Fringe Vest

When one of my dancers came to class wearing a black fringe vest similar to one I have, I thought it would be fun to have our photo taken together. Ann is a very fashionable lady and always looks stylish and youthful.

I’ve worn it with apricot and with blue. This time a black and white look.

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings!
❤ carmen

Polka Dot Capris

Time to wear capris, they’re cooler than pants and more chic than shorts. These ones are black with white polka dots and great for a little pattern mixing.

My happy feet are enjoying sandals again!

This tunic is a few years old bought at Budds Department Store (a family business which closed its doors forever in 2016 after 89 years).

The back and one sleeve are black.

If you can’t see the bright side of life,
polish the dull side!

❤ carmen

Faux Layers

Layers add interest to an outfit as well as warmth that can be peeled off if need be. But what I like about faux layers is that I can have the look without bulk. Case in point, this lovely turquoise pullover that looks like I’m wearing a white chiffon blouse underneath.

This could be an easy DIY project. I’ve got a a couple of sweaters that are a little short and I could make one myself by buying a thrifted blouse and bravely cutting a few inches off the hem and cutting around the collar. If I ever get around to it!

Top: Reitmans
Necklace: hand-made by Canadian artist
Jeans: Le Chateau
Vegan purse: Jeane and Jax
Stilettos: J.C. Penny

Do you have any faux layer tops?

❤ carmen

 Linkup: VISIBLE MONDAY TURNING HEADS TUESDAY

Happy Anniversary Drizzle & Shine!

This month marks one year since my daughter opened her eco boutique in Seattle. I’m very proud of Jean, not only because she started her own business, but because compassion motivated her to make this decision. She explains in this video what Drizzle & Shine is all about. Please take a peek into her store by clicking the photo or here.

While in Seattle last September, I had a wonderful opportunity to help out in her unique store and meet some of Jean’s lovely customers. I bought a new wardrobe and featured clothes, shoes, jewellery and accessories from Drizzle & Shine on my blog. Here’s my collection of ethical, cruelty-free and eco friendly clothing and items from Jean’s store.

It was great not having to check labels to be sure it was eco friendly and cruelty-free, because Jean has made sure of that.

Jean has always been fashionable since she was a little girl and more importantly, she was kind and loved all animals. It’s no wonder she grew up to be a compassionate fashionista.

She started her fashion blog before I had ever even heard there was such a thing. Jean’s love for animals and cruelty-free fashion caused her to start another blog, Sunshine and Slaughter, “Your portal to all things compassionate!” In this blog, she shares vegan recipes and restaurants, showing off the latest clothing, shoes, and beauty products from vegan companies, and shares information about campaigns to help animals. A great resource for vegan options.

“Style isn’t worth the suffering.”
~ Jean White

❤ carmen

Blue Roses

My eyes light up brighter than a starry night when a package arrives from Seattle. I know it’s from Drizzle & Shine. Recently, Jean sent me three new things from her eco boutique: a blue tie-dyed dress, a black dolman-sleeved top and this soft-as-silk top with blue roses.

This floral print is not the traditional kind you see on old-fashioned curtains. Rather, it reminds me of the art painted by impressionists and post impressionists like Claude Monet and Van Gogh. Apparently, pure impressionism avoids the use of black paint, but that’s what makes this pattern vibrant with pops of colours.

In my opinion, it’s very impressive!

It’s made in USA by Weston Wear (San Francisco)

Just perfect for a Saturday morning trip to the bakery for fresh pretzels.

“That which we call a rose
by any other name would smell as sweet.”

❤ Romeo and Juliet ❤

❤

Happy weekend dear friends!

❤ carmen

Linkup: VISIBLE MONDAY

 

Synergy two-piece dress – Drizzle & Shine

This lovely skirt is one of the skirts I bought in Seattle at my daughter’s store.

It came with a matching top and I regretted not having bought the top. Thankfully my daughter (owner of Drizzle & Shine eco boutique) had one top left and sent it to me, so now I have three different looks.

Love the unique appliqué floral design, it’s a work of art!

It’s the perfect length for the skirt.

The top is too short for leggings so I’ve added a black top extender. I can wear this top with black pants or white jeans, as well as some other colours.

This time I felt like a little pattern mixing with my “new” houndstooth leggings (one of my dance students found for me at a thrift shop).

The best part is that Synergy Organic Clothing is a fair trade company.

Every month Jean has a promotion for a good cause. This month was for Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest and at the event a $450 spending spree at Drizzle & Shine was auctioned off. I was happy to be included with Jean in the advertising for Drizzle & Shine.

And this photo was shown on the big screen the night of the auction.

Some lucky ladies will enjoy their private shopping spree!

“Drizzle & Shine is an eco-boutique in Seattle with a carefully curated selection of both women’s and men’s clothing, shoes, and accessories, specializing in items that are kind to the earth and animals and made by people who are treated fairly. You and up to 10 of your friends will be the exclusive guests at the Capitol Hill boutique for a private shopping spree where you will learn more about the brands that are featured in the shop while sipping on wine and enjoying some small bites. You’ll have a $200 gift certificate in hand, and all guests will receive 10% off of everything in the store, with another 10% of your spree going to Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest.”

“Doing good has never looked so good!”

❤ carmen

Florals Forever

Magnolia blossoms. One of my favourite times of the year–though brief and fleeting–is when the magnolia blossoms appear. Alas! The blossoms are vanishing like champaign bubbles and photos are all that remain.

Florals are here to stay and will never disappear because they are as timeless as nature. Who could ever get tired of nature? I wear florals through the seasons. I’ve always had florals in my wardrobe.

This semi-sheer blouse is shorter in the front and slightly longer in the back with delicate little pink and purple blossoms on a black background.

A keyhole in the front …

A keyhole in the back …

High low style with a flare hem makes it very feminine. My purple flower purse matches. I love tops that I can dress up or down.

Blouse: gifted
Pants: Le Chateau
Booties: Target (non leather)

Do flowers grow in your wardrobe?

❤ Carmen

Linkups: TURNING HEADS TUESDAYS

Casual Utility Jacket and Pink Roses

We’ve had enough rain; April showers bring May flowers.

It’s delightful to see all the blossoms and flowers blooming, just like the old adage. I’ll be showing fashionable flowers every week for the month of May.

One of my favourite shades of pink. I paired this dusty pink utility jacket with pink roses. Pink roses were my mother’s favourite flowers.

This light-weight spring jacket has lots of pockets and a drawstring waist. It’s from the Gap found in a thrift shop for $5 and matches several of my floral jeans. Looks great with blue jeans and my white jeans too.

Floral jeans are from American Eagle bought several years ago when floral jeans came into style. I don’t care if they go out of style because in my book, flowers never go out of style. The only problem is, I may not be able to buy them anymore when mine wear out. Good thing there are thrift shops!

Magnolias make the perfect backdrop for my floral theme this month.

Pink roses remind me of my dear mother.
What is/was your mother’s favourite flower?

❤ Happy Mother’s Day! ❤

❤ carmen

Linkups: VISIBLE MONDAY TURNING HEADS TUESDAY

No time like the past

Precious moments captured to treasure for a lifetime.

Being sentimental and romantic, I take lots of pictures; even more now since digital makes it so easy with no cost of buying and developing film. One of the reasons I like to blog is to preserve these memories. What you see here is a photo, but I feel the memories of each and every one of these photos and they evoke very meaningful moments of my life: some happy, some sad.

Although we can’t live in the past, I do love to reminisce and spend a sentimental Sunday.

I think of happy days of my childhood, which feel like yesterday and sometimes a lifetime ago.

Today is my brother’s birthday. I dedicate this post to Johnny Dietmar.

Johnny on his first car. Little did my parents know, as they sat him up on the hood of this Opel, that one day he would die in a car accident (he was only 18).

A bear park in Germany. I cried because I was terrified; Johnny laughed. My mom told me in later years why Johnny wasn’t scared. He told her he noticed the bear was wearing shoes so it couldn’t be a real bear. Smart kid!

Brotherly love. In every photo of Johnny and me, we are smiling, but we also had the usually sibling rivalry not captured in pictures. I was four and he was six.

Johnny the drummer boy. He was an amazing drummer with the talent of Sandy Nelson. I couldn’t tell if it was Johnny playing his drums in the basement or if I was hearing a record blasting with Sandy Nelson. He played in a local band in the ’60s and I was a Go-Go Girl with the little white go-go boots.

Johnny in California. Some of the last photos in 1968 (the year of his death). These photos were taken in Van Nuys, California.

The mystery girl. I’m including it to ask for your help. Johnny had been communicating with her when he returned back home to Canada and was quite fond of her. I would so much like to find her to tell her that Johnny died, because I’m sure she wondered why he never wrote back to her.

Please share this photo on social media with this message:

Do you know this girl? Photo from 1968, Van Nuys, California. She would be in her 60s now. The young man is my brother Johnny Czech who died in a car accident not long after this photo was taken. Please contact me on Twitter @carmencoburn

Thank you so much!!

❤ carmen