Really Really Really..Part 2

Outfit of the Week

Because we have been bombarding you with blog posts about all the new (AWESOME!) stuff we have been receiving here at Victoire... I thought, why not do another outfit of the week again? Here I am wearing the newest edition in my closet next to all the new Steel Magnolia jewelry I have got in the past 5 days.. (by the way, rings and bangles GALORE!!).
Let me know whatcha think because I really really really love this tunic. And really really really hate being in front of a camera (but am making a conscious effort to GET OVER IT).

Hand and Shadow, Wolf Tunic - $50

Too short? HA, Never!

Look at the FEROCIOUS teeth. An intoxicated gal told me the other night that I looked like I was about to be eaten by a wolf. I said "I dig it!"

So scary!

Add another animal print and potentially an animal inspired piece of jewelry and you have yourself a full on forest habitat on your bod. By the way this picture is inspired solely by Regine. Remember that blog post a while back about layering animal prints? I DO!

Only FITTTYYY DOLLAAASSS

xoxoxox

Starry Eyes

I changed our little mannequin's outfit today and realized I like the final product a whole bunch, so I decided to post some pictures here. I've been totally into the proportions of this Josiane Perron blouse for some time, but I've been trying to stray away from black lately so I might just end up oogling it until the end of TIME. But, in the meantime, you can oogle away!

Funktional star print shorts! $119, Josiane Perron blouse on sale for $60, and Maison's Keepsake cardigan on sale for $120.

And a fun spring song to cut a rug to while wearing it:

New Betina Lou

Spring/Summer 2011 Betina Lou at Victoire!

Lola dress $130

Janette skirt $100

Heidi skirt $110

We are back!!

As always it will take us forever to actually post about the trip. But what you all really care about is the new Steel Magnolias we bring back with us.


We are loving these collegiate style pins. They are so boss. $10 each


We also have a few of these bitchin' lockets ($45). Oh gosh and I didn't take pictures of them, but bracelets galore! Really cool brass ones that will look mint stacked ($15 each).

Earrings! Of course we brought you back totally-ill earrings $19.

So many new sick necklaces, lots with animals, hearts and whistles. Mostly $35 each.


Wanna get a head start on spring? We got these sandles in today. Seems early with snow on the ground right? But these shoes are tops and will surely go fast. (Dolce Vita, $150)

Made Up

.

 

I thought i'd reblog these vintage make up videos I saw on Unpretentious Bouquet of Parenthesis. Super cute chicks and I love the narrators tips. 

Birds on the brain

I'll be brief. We have received our spring shipment from Birds of North America. Aside from all the cute dresses they've sent some great pants, shorts and skirts! Here is some of what we've got.

Voila...

Pelican dress $184

Mocking Bird Dress $154

Locustelle Dress $174

Aigrette Pant $144

Albatross Dress $159

Oriole Pant $154

MIXTAPE CONTEST GUYS

How would you like fifty bucks in cold, hard Victoire currency? What if I told you that you could win a $50 Victoire gift certificate by doing what I consider to be one of the funnest things ever?

MIXTAPES (or CDs) are one of my favorite ways to get to know someone, and also really fun to make for pals. The possibilities are endless, and they really are almost as fun to make as they are to give to someone. If you've ever wanted to hear a certain song playing as you walk into the store, now is your chance!

Until MARCH 31st, we'll be accepting MIX-CDs in person at both locations. Submissions can also be mailed to:

VICTOIRE BOUTIQUE
246 Dalhousie St.
Ottawa, ON. K1N-7E2

After the deadline, a heated debate will occur at our staff meeting (I'm sure) and we will pick our favorite of the bunch. The winner will walk away with a $50 gift certificate and the title as Victoire's very first mixCD champ.

RULES TO PLAY BY:

• No crazy profanity. The CDs will be spun in the store, so we ask you guys to be mindful of the mixes purpose, but don't freak out if there are one or two dirty words. knowwhatimean?
  
  
• EDIT: MAX ONE (1) submission per visit. But you can stop by a couple of times or send us a couple of individual mailed submissions.
  

• All submissions must include all relevant information somewhere inside of the mix. (SONG TITLES, ARTISTS, YOUR NAME, PHONE # and EMAIL.)
  

• GO NUTS- packaging? album art? write your very own Victoire song? include a letter describing why yours is the best? We love that stuff! Just remember to make a mix that you think would sound great in the store.

Contest ends March 31st and we will announce the winner on here once we've battled it out.

GOOD LUCK xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Dace

As I got in the door of the shop this morning I was met with the postman who delivered me a mountain of parcels. One of them being.....

wowzers

DACE! One of our store staples has arrived. I spent most of the day tagging and steaming these beauties but I made sure to take a quick break to put together one of the party packs the lovely ladies over at Dace sent us.

!

The party packs were put together on the occasion that is Dace's tenth birthday this year and they wanted you all to have all the supplies necessary to celebrate. SO, as long as they last, every Dace purchase will come with a complimentary party pack including mask, pom poms, hat cutout, candles, balloons, and whatever that pink thing pictured above is called.

Alright, without any further ado...

Belladonna dress $180

Quince Blouse $152, Timothy Pant $160

Thyme Belt $120, Quincy Purse $250

Open on Family Day?

YES! Our Dalhousie street location is open today from 11 till 6 for your browsing pleasure! Bring your Family!

Image source

Coat of the future

One great thing about working here at Victoire is that the employees get to scope out all the cool new duds. I felt especially great about coming into the store today and seeing this beauty.

cute as a button

An amazing vintage coat in mint condition with a beautiful fur collar. I was instantly in love, and ready to fork over my money.

(my second favorite Matt Groening cartoon)

It is made by FUTURAMA, so you know that it was quality made to endure the insane winters of the future.

WHA?!

Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. A little too short in the sleeves. Total bummer but, that just means it was meant for you and not me.

Steel Magnolia Vintage Coat $119.

I give it my seal of approval as a totally cute coat that I will allow you buy.

Really Really Really

Outfit of the Week!

I really really really hate pictures of myself. I am not photogenic at all..but there was no holding back when I saw this new Juma Jumper! Can you say ONNNZZIIEEE!

Juma, Buffalo Jumper $280

Steel Magnolia Oxford Shoes, $29

(the sad stare)

This was not an intended boob-shot (was also on the phone with Kristal!). LOOK AT THE BUFFALO! So whimsical! This jumper may be the comfiest thing I've ever worn next to my polka-dotted pj's. It is made of 100%Tencel mixed with 100% Silk. Victoire has so much more merchhh!! ahhhhhh

xoxoxox

MELT

OH MY GOD IT IS SO NICE OUTSIDE TODAY GUYS. I wore a big dumb scarf here today and I really hope I get to leave it packed up on the back shelf until next winter (fingers crossed!). I can't stop thinking about all the fun things spring brings, and as an ode to the snow melting, I bring you another merchandising project I worked on the other day. Before/After shots to follow:

Inspired by spring and all the fun things we can finally do outside (croquet! baseball! picnics! patio beer!) I made the side shelves at our West Wellington location to a little spring-o-vision portal.

I even got to use the cool old breadbox that's been hanging out in the basement for so long. I'm so excited to start some spring baking too - lemon loafs and maybe some cornbread for size. MAN OH MAN.

We also received some NEW Birds of North America yesterday and some NEW JUMA pieces that are to die for. Keep your eyes peeled on here for some pics or, better yet, swing by the Dalhousie location to see it yourself. eeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Can I be a slick fashion lady?

Let's start this post off with a picture of Loulou and say: She will be looking just fine while we are in NYC. Isn't this coat so adorable?? Poncho with shearling fur and wood buttons: beyond! Refinery 29 is gonna love it!



Me on the other hand, well let's just say I am hoping to stay awake long enough to get through our appointments and trade shows. Last week I went to get my eyebrows done, and having hot wax pored onto my closed eyes felt like deep meditation. I was so happy to just be lying down with nothing to do, I didn't feel a moment of the pain.

Now for my problem, what to pack on the trip!! Now I usually love to pack for our buying trips, we get to bring all our cutest things and tie it all together with a theme. But this time: I don't have a theme, I don't even have energy to think of a theme. Is layed back a good enough theme for a NY buying trip? What about if my theme is puke-free clothes? What about trying not to get dirty looks while breastfeeding in the US? (Seriously, is it as bad as people say? Will I feel like a leper?)

After agonizing over this (I know silly right, but it seriously bothered me - I am traveling with Regine, Shasha and Arden, very very cute girls, and I don't want to look or feel like their much older, less fashionable tag-along), here is my plan of attack:

All black structural clothes. It will be like fashion-people outfits... I can do this!


First off: Ursa Minor Leggings ($130 at Dalhousie shop). They are the best, leather in the front and stretch jersey in the back. They go high wasted enough that it feels like you got a tummy tuck. I love them to death.



Paired with this black Valerie Dumaine Jacket (which is SUPER on sale), I can totally pull off the pulled together slick fashion persona. I REGRET not getting a pair of those Marais boots before you all swept them up. They would have been perfect!



And of course a statement bag, no one better than Ottawa star Laura Langford. Big enough to get some diapers in there and avoid carrying a diaper bag, plus with its cross-body strap I can hold Lou no problem.

Perfectly fine right?

Gah, not sure anymore about being all black and slick. Can I can go 6 days with no bows or vintage flare?....Maybe I will repack.... We leave in a few hours....

We heart Montreal

As Katie and I get ready to leave for NYC tomorrow, only now does it occur to us to maybe post some of the pics we took while in Montreal early last week. But upon looking at the few pics we took, I can see why we weren't in a rush to post them. Basically there are like 6, and taken together they look like I tagged along on Katie, Eloise and Nick's family vacation and did computer work in the hotel room instead. Which is not entirely true. We also did fun stuff like saw the Fall 2011 collections of Valerie Dumaine, Birds of North America, Betina Lou, Josiane Perron, went out for an amazing dinner with the girls from Unicorn, ordered St-Hubert (they deliver wine too!) in our hotel room but of course there are no pics of any of that. We did however take pics of Audrey Cantwell's studio when we went to visit with her...which is perfect because now I can bulk up an otherwise kinda lame Montreal travel post with pics of "new pieces by Audrey Cantwell in the shop" cos it really segways perfectly into each other. But for now, pics of Audrey's studio!

Audrey has the best collection of 90s goth girl platforms for her photoshoots.

I wanted to take every little spooky knick-knack home with us. We weren't able to do quite that, but we did bring back with us 3 amazing pillows in the same navajo fabric she had used on some capes earlier this season (a girl after our own hearts using up every last bit of that fabric!). We have 3 and they are 38$ each.


We also went by Yana (of Supayana) and Marc (of Broundoor)'s studio to pick up a few things as well. What's always cool about visiting these guys is that they're surrounded by other self-employed creative folks (Angie of Norwegian Wood and Sarah of Cheap Opulance Vintage also share this space), which is awesome and also why we love to visit with them so much - it's neat to be surrounded by other people who make a living pretty much the same way we do, and I can only imagine being surrounded by others can keep you motivated during those harder stretches. It's also fun to make light of some of the benefits of being self-employed, which is why I loved this:

Anyways, we picked up some great new designs from Broundoor, including a totally new style that is just perfect! There's lots of new stuff at both shops, so come and check it out.

Broundoor, 99-130$

Anyways, now onto the real meat/filler in this travel blog post sandwhich, the new Audrey Cantwell pics!

Audrey Cantwell Lost Boys leather vest, 115$ (worn over a Sessie jumper!)

Audrey Cantwell sheer wrap vest 45$, worn over Genevieve Savard cocktail dress 146$

Audrey Cantwell hooded sheer silk scarf 45$

And even though this visit to Montreal didn't include dinner with Genevieve Savard, it was SUPPOSED TO, until Mommy & Daddy were pooped & Auntie Reggie was a petrie dish of cold symptoms. So Gen still makes it into this pieced-together travel blog post. Check out the rad back on this dress!