G! Style: Vintage Chic

Add spice to your wardrobe with vintage clothing and accessories.

By Ellen Egan
One person’s trash can quite literally be another person’s treasure – especially when it comes to fashion.  The key is opening your mind to what an item’s potential might be instead of focusing on what simply lays before you.

Incorporating vintage pieces with newer ones in your wardrobe will not only extend its life, but it will also ensure no one else has quite the same style as you.

But what exactly is the difference between vintage and second-hand clothing?

Quite simply, vintage is anything from the 1980s or earlier, whereas second-hand is all clothing that has been pre-owned at any time.  We’re not talking about digging up your old MC Hammer pants or neon scrunchies here.  In fact, the oldest of pieces often add the most character.

The recipe for a successful vintage shopping trip is two-fold: one part luck, one part dedication.  And then it’s a matter of where to shop. Vintage boutique or used clothing store?  There are plenty of shops around town (and beyond) that offer the chance to add one-of-a-kind pieces to your wardrobe.

Froggies, Value Village, and Repeats tend to fall under the used clothing store category.  Here, you will find the most affordable prices (depending on the quality of the item in question) and also the most selection.  They do, however, require the most dedication as they take the most amount of “weeding” to find the goods.

Vintage boutiques, on the other hand, offer clothing that has been handpicked by either the owner or a savvy staffer.  Shops such as The Green Man Vintage & Vinyl and Lou Lou Boutique offer this style of shopping.  This pre-picking comes with a higher price tag, though – the cost of selection and display are factored in, and sometimes even hand-sewn pieces with up-to-date tailoring can be found.  The most wonderful conversation starters abound in the unlikeliest of places, so keep your eyes peeled.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you shop for vintage pieces:

Prepare. Wear clothes you can try items on over top in case dressing rooms are scarce.

Investigate. Look out for underarm stains (especially with silk).  Beyond the unappealing colour, it can also disintegrate over time.

Explore. Sizing changes through the decades and varies from brand to brand, so suck up your pride and try on something on even if it isn’t your size.

Create. Have fun and take some risks.  You just never know until you try it on!

The key to vintage styling is to mix and match with modern basics and accessories to update your look.  That way, you’ll avoid looking like the cast member of a dated black and white movie.

As always, keep it classy!

Keeping one eye on the ever-changing world of fashion, Ellen Egan stays on trend without sacrificing her budget.  Ellen hopes to one day run her own boutique or design her own fashion line.

Add spice to your wardrobe with vintage clothing and accessories. By Ellen Egan One person’s trash can quite literally be another person’s treasure – especially when it comes to fashion.  The key is opening your mind to what an item’s potential might be instead of focusing on what simply lays before you. Incorporating vintage pieces [...]

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G! Eats (September 2010)

Escape to Paradise

The Dunes Studio Gallery and Café offers a sensory explosion.

By Ellen Egan

Every once in a while an experience comes along that actually renders you speechless.

Care to get in on the secret?

Nestled just before the North Shore beaches on Brackley Point Road, The Dunes Studio Gallery and Café exceeds expectations in every way imaginable.  From the moment you step in the door, you’re surrounded by an eclectic mix of beauty: flowers, art, pottery, clothing, jewellery – and the list goes on.  Oh, and did I mention food so delicious you can die tomorrow and be perfectly happy? Yeah, it’s that good.

First, a word to the wise: be prepared to splurge a bit.  Temptations creep up from every angle.  But, it’s worth every penny.  If you’re going to go anywhere for a special occasion or date night, this is your place.  So throw on those heels and iron that dress shirt, because you’re in for a treat, my friends.

No matter where you decide to dine, inside or out on the patio, the views are amazing and the attention to detail is impeccable.

Next up: what to eat?  With a little something for every taste and desire, the menu features local produce and seafood, Island beef and homemade desserts.  The only problem becomes choosing what to finally order.

Your selection comes served on the Dunes’ handmade pottery, each dish crafted in a presentation worthy of applause.  You almost don’t want to ruin it.  But then you realize you’re drooling and can’t help but dive in.  Fun fact: edible flowers do exist.

Post-meal affords the perfect chance to explore the gardens so diverse that every  gardener out there ought to be envious.  Photo op, anyone?  The galleries, featuring tons of local art and furniture, are almost torturous to enter without the urge to spend your life savings – albeit, a pleasure for the senses.  And don’t even get me started on the jewellery and clothing.

So, have you called and made your reservation yet?

Make your reservation soon because there are only a few short weeks left before they close up for the season.

Happy Eating!

What’s that growling noise?  That would be your stomach.  You can thank Ellen Egan for that.  When she’s not noshing and writing, Ellen splits her creative juices as a Communications Officer between Versatile Management Group and the QEH Foundation.

Escape to Paradise The Dunes Studio Gallery and Café offers a sensory explosion. By Ellen Egan Every once in a while an experience comes along that actually renders you speechless. Care to get in on the secret? Nestled just before the North Shore beaches on Brackley Point Road, The Dunes Studio Gallery and Café exceeds [...]

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G! Gets Zesty (September 2010)

A Cultural Affair

By Cory Gallant aka Zestycook

With Lebanese and French ancestry flowing through my veins, it would be an understatement to say I come from a family that enjoys cooking and baking.  I adore Lebanese food, so I wanted to share with you a tried and true family recipe, plus some meal ideas with a cultural flair.

Fatayer

This fatayer recipe will blow your mind.  What’s a fatayer, you ask?  Besides delicious, fatayer is a meat pie pastry that often has different fillings using spinach, cheese or meat.  For this recipe, I opted for a tasty lamb/ beef combination.

Warning:  You may end up eating dozens of these mouth-watering snacks throughout the day.  Seriously – hot, cold, from the oven, on the roof – it doesn’t matter.  So if you’re counting calories, you might want to call a friend over and have them take any extras off your hands…if there are any left.

Ingredients

Pastry
* 2 Cups hot water
* 2 Cups hot milk
* 4 Tbsp. shortening
* 4 Tbsp. white sugar
* 2 Tbsp. salt
* 2 Packages instant yeast
* 10-12 Cups flour

Filling
* Ground lamb
* Ground beef
* Minced onion
* Salt and pepper

Method
1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
2. In a large bowl, place water, milk, shortening and sugar (let melt).
3. In another large bowl place 6 cups of flour, salt, yeast and mix well.
4. Add flour mixture into liquid and mix.  Add remaining flour a little at a time until you get the right consistency. (It is best to have the dough a little sticky)
5. Knead well.
6. Let rest for 10 minutes then cut the dough as if you were going to make rolls. Knead each piece and let rise until each piece double in size.
7. Now roll each piece out as thin as you can in a circle and add a small dollop of mixture in the center and spread it.
8. Pick two sides of the dough together and pinch tight as if you were making a turnover. Shape in a triangle and place on a cookie sheet.
9. Bake until light brown (Do not over cook as the dough will become tough).
10. Brush with melted butter once out of the oven and let cool on rack.
11. ENJOY!

Zesty Tip:  When the bread dough has a sticky consistency, the Fatayer will hold their shape better and not break at the seam.  If the dough is too dry they will bust open and not look as pretty.

Looking to add some spice to your daily routine?
Try a little taste of India with a Curried Red Lentil Soup with Chickpeas and Quinoa.  I love curry in all forms, and this soup just screams healthy…with a spicy kick!

So caliente!
Break out your sombreros, my culinary amigos – we’re going to Mexico with these Mexican Beef and Bean Wraps!  This delicious weeknight meal is easy to make and fun to eat.  Expose the kids to flavours not normally in their diet – they might surprise you!

So make your next meal a cultural affair by experimenting with different spices and foods from around the world – no airfare required!

For more recipes to ‘spice’ up your life, stop by zestycook.com.

Take care,

Zesty

A Cultural Affair By Cory Gallant aka Zestycook With Lebanese and French ancestry flowing through my veins, it would be an understatement to say I come from a family that enjoys cooking and baking.  I adore Lebanese food, so I wanted to share with you a tried and true family recipe, plus some meal ideas [...]

Read more »

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