Thursday 8 September 2011

red canoe

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When I first saw this blouse in a vintage shop in Brooklyn in April, I was strongly reminded of my maternal grandmother. Thinking of it now, I'm not sure she ever wore anything like this. But I knew immediately that I had to have it, and that I had to wear it at the lake, my grandmother's favourite place. My grandparents' house up there was originally built as a cottage in the fifties by my grandfather's father, eventually it passed to my grandparents, and they retired to it permanently in the seventies. My grandmother is sadly no longer with us, but my grandfather continues to live there at the age of 93!

I'm not sure you can really tell from my blog, but one of my main inspirations this summer was: clothes I can imagine my Canadian grandma in. Such as this blouse, easy short, a collared sleeveless playsuit, and jelly shoes. Apart from the jelly shoes, I really don't know that my grandmother wore any of that stuff... I seem to remember her at the cottage in a lot of Muskoka themed sweatshirts, but that's the funny thing about inspiration. It's like catching a whiff of a smell that gives you a strong and sudden flashback, but you can't pin point why it's so familiar.

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P.S. I'm a free bitch baby! Adios thesis! (Hello terrifying job search) But first I'll be visiting all your blogs at long last!

Photos by Shona

blouse: vintage, shorts: from Barcelona (old), shoes: Catalan espardenyes, hat: Nine West, necklace: was Shona's

36 comments:

Virginie's Cinema said...

Y A Y ! ! Congratulations!!! I'm so happy for you that you are done, I'm sure the job search will go well :)

What a sweet inspiration for your Summer style, my grandmother is a major inspiration to me too, she was so glamorous is all situations! Them Canadian women, I swear ;)

Hourray again!!

Emily, Ruby Slipper Journeys said...

Aw, thanks Virginie! I'm sure your grandma was way more glamourous than mine... my family doesn't really do glamour, but I love aspects of scruffy Canadianism anyway!

Emmett Katherine said...

Lovely blouse, I like how you've paired it with the red shoes. That's pretty amazing that your grandfather still lived in his cottage at 93!

Good luck with your job search/congrats on finishing school

Closet Fashionista said...

I love that blouse!!! And yayy for wearing things that remind you of/your grandmother would wear :D Always a good way to remember people who are no longer with us :)
http://www.closet-fashionista.com

Annebeth said...

I love being inspired that way, not a literal inspiration but more like a vision that guides you to make your own choices that fit the image you have in your mind. Practical retro has been my major inspiration for the past year as well so I can totally relate :) congrats on the thesis!!

X said...

You clearly had a very funky grandmother so. This blouse makes me think of candy-striped sticks of rock - they were always the default present for family members when I went on holidays as a kid :) Congrats on finishing your thesis... I'm just starting into a masters with a lovely thesis as its full stop. Eeek. Good luck with the job hunt!

Ashley said...

You look like a little 60s vixen here.

Congrats on your freedom. You earned it!!!!

I've never asked, and maybe you don't want to tell...what is your Master's in?

Bonnie said...

I love how the red in your outfit matches the red canoe. Cute color coordination! :)

http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
Twitter: @GlamKitten88

Deppa said...

Felicidades!! has terminado tu tesis! no sabes cuánta envidia siento de que estás libre :)

Bellísimas fotos para celebrar, están lindas y transmiten mucha paz a través de ellas.

Espero que tengas un lindo día.
Nos vemos!

Emily, Ruby Slipper Journeys said...

@Ashley: I did Urban Studies, and my thesis was about public bicycle programs. : )

Anonymous said...

I love the striped blouse, but I'm very jealous of you having a house near that beautiful lake. You make Canada look really great in your blog indeed :)

Kirstin said...

Yay for the thesis being done! Doesn't it feel so good? The job search, not so much. Good luck with it!

Tori Lynn said...

Beautiful photos. Congrats on your new found freedom, and good luck on your job search!

Amber said...

many many congrats on finishing your thesis!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous look and shots :) Love your descripion of finding inspiration.

Congrats on your thesis free life! :D

C.G. Koens said...

Congrats on getting that thesis done!! WOO HOO!!

Now I have to ask...was the water cold? It looks like it should be.

And job research? Any idea where? Best of luck!

P.S. I totally agree with your comment on my blog - I'm discovering more and more that if I don't LOVE and object or item of clothing (I mean, REALLY love it, not just "it's nice"), I won't use or wear it, so there's no point in keeping it to take up space.

Michelle said...

What a lovely way to keep the memory of your grandmother. Yay for the dissertation!

gee said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!
good luck on the job search..!
i really loved this post..such beautiful pictures.

Heather, 29 Skirts said...

Aww, I'm attracted to clothes that remind me of my grandmothers too, especially my maternal grandmother. I love this striped blouse =)

And congratulations!!! Having your thesis finished must feel AMAZING!

Shybiker said...

Beautiful blouse. And I like your sentiments about clothing.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on being a "free bitch" again! I like what you write about your inspiration...do you have any old photos of your grandmother?

Lovely photos.

Emily, Ruby Slipper Journeys said...

@Terri: I do, though I didn't have a chance to go through them while at the cottage, due to the thesis... I'll see what I can rustle up around the house...

Ashley/ MILK TEETHS said...

yeahh girll! congratulations on finishing up that thesis! I bet you feel so free ;-)

MeryemH said...

nice pics :)

Unknown said...

Lovely shirt, and good luck with the job hunting!

Vanessa, Take only Memories said...

Yay! Congrats!! Where/what kind of jobs are you gonna be looking for? Coming back to Germany?

Rebeccak said...

Yay!!! Congratulations!! You must feel completely wonderful! I hope you are drinking champaign and having lots of indulgent treats. :)

Eleni said...

Ding, dong, the thesis is dead! Congratulations!

Norbyah said...

these pictures remind me of the summers my hubby and i used to spend with our friends at their lake house in lodi, wisconsin (well before we moved to hong kong)...our days of wake boarding grew shorter this time of year and we spent time huddled up for warmth around a little fire on the shore....the light in your pictures is just like what i remember of the dwindling light on those days. funny, they had a red canoe, too.
xo
n

Julia said...

I really love this top! It so totally adorable, ha ha!
-J

lesaltlake.blogspot.com

Emily, Resplendent Tranquility said...

I feel like a broken record here, but your grandfather's lakeside cabin looks perfectly serene. I'd really love to have a home someday so happily situated. Your photos do a great job at capturing that atmosphere of relaxed happiness.

Love all the red AND congratulations on finishing your thesis!

Lily said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog !! Cute photos !

xxLily
goldandgray.com

Vintage Reflection said...

Lovely outfit and lovely location. Really like the red striped top. x

sweet harvest moon said...

These pictures are amazing, lovely outfit :)

caitlin said...

i love this look! it's so simple but somehow perfectly suited to a day on the dock of a lovely canadian lake :) i can't wait until next summer when my parents' cottage is finished on the lake in connecticut--i'm going to be there all the time!

Jazzy E (Hivenn) said...

These look like movie stills! Beaut. x hivenn