on the roof

I don't tend to wear a lot of vintage clothing, but this isn't because I don't like it. In fact, I love it... when it fits properly and I don't have to do too much to it. However, living abroad, I haven't found much in the way of vintage, or even thrift stores/charity shops. Occasionally I'll make an Etsy order or buy something off Ebay, but in general, international shipping rates are a bit of a turn off as well. However, I made an exception for this dress, and I'm so glad I did. I love the creamy, crinkly fabric (so different from anything contemporary that I own) and the colourful embroidery at the collar and hem. I truly feel that I'm wearing something one of a kind in this dress... with some Irish dancer references thrown in!

As to why I'm wearing a belt on my head... well, I've been so jealous of all the wonderful milkmaid braids sported by practically every blogger this summer. My hair is much too short to make decent ones, but I thought a braided leather belt would pay homage to the look until I can grow my hair enough to try the real thing!









Shona, as usual, was looking pretty great that morning as well, so I thought she should share the limelight.









Outfits:

Me:
Dress: vintage, from decomposed tree on Etsy
Shoes: Fly London
Earrings: Lynn Fisher, Granville Island, Vancouver
Belt: Stolen from my mother

Shona:
Dress: Lady Dutch
Shoes: Steve Madden

i capture the castle

Last Sunday, while in Mexico City, we went to Chapultepec Castle, located in an enormous park that I wish there'd been more time to explore. The castle was located on a small hill (a five minute walk at most, but there were scores of Mexicans in lines waiting to take a little train up and down). It was a great little trip, and I definitely want to plan my weekends better from now on. I never would have discovered the castle in my usual wandering way, and I think it's pretty much unmissable.

Outside there were gardens and wonderful panoramic views of the city, inside were sumptuously furnished rooms, historical exhibits, and some of the requisite Mexico City murals. The one above is by Juan O'Gorman (such a Mexican name!) and really represents the nature of the city: chaotic, full of people and big ideas.







Mirror mirror on the wall...


While I thought waiting for the train was a bit silly I wouldn't have said no to a ride in this...


I dressed with comfort and unpredictable weather in mind; matching the patio was a happy accident!




statues of the niños heroes, or six child cadets who died defending the castle at some point in its history... sorry, I must have not been paying attention during that exhibit!


Outfit:
silk shorts: oysho
t-shirt: random
bag: stolen from my mother
sandals: aldo

Mexican Monsters

I had a great three day trip to Mexico City, even better than the previous ones because I actually planned some things to do for once. My usual routine when travelling is to show up and wander the streets, waiting for interesting sights to come and punch me in the eye, but since I'd already done a lot of wandering in this city and I didn't have a guide book, I hit up Trip Advisor for some ideas.

That led to us going to the Museum of Folk Art (Museo de Arte Popular) which I highly recommend to anyone visiting the Mexican capital. One of my favourite things about Mexican culture has always been its skeletons and skulls, its monsters and fighters, and all the magical and colourful components of a mythology based partly in Pre-Colombian culture, partly in Catholicism, and partly, I think, in the mad mixture of the two.

There was nothing fusty in this museum, it was a well-edited and well-displayed collection (pieces ranged in age from Pre-Colomibian to early 21st century), housed in a dramatic white building that was once an art deco fire station. Today I'm sharing with you a few of the monsters...





I'm sparing you guys pictures of me because, after a seven hour bus ride and changing in the hotel lobby bathroom, I looked a bit like a combination of these two guys, except with redder eyes:





Won't you be mine?


The rest of the band!

And last but not least, I loved this lady's feather eyelashes and delicate cut-out robe! Fashionable, no?


Most photos by my boyfriend, who was on a roll that day, and also still had some battery in his camera!