tie one on

Perhaps you are burning with curiosity as to why we are speaking of scarves in the heat of summer. Befuddle your brain no longer: scarves are welcome during any season! You may think we're a little wonky for wearing them in the warm months, but all of dizzy alice's scarves are lightweight and ideal for any midsummer night's dream!

We adore scarves because they have so much muchness! They are such a versatile accessory; the places you can tie are endless! Scarves also add oomph to an outfit with ease as they come in a kaleidoscope of hues and patterns, adding depth to any ensemble.

 

Tie a scarf into a lovely bow around your collar.

 

Scarf: $4; Skirt: Alice goes to Oxford, m, $12; Bangles: prices vary

The flutter of a scarf on a pretty purse is so dreamy, wouldn't you agree?

 Scarf: $4; Hat: The Straw that Broke the Camel's Back, $20; Skirt: Honey, I'm Home! s/m, $25 (danier leather)

 

Loop them through loops as a fancy belt or create a playful embellishment on your hip.

 

 

 Scarf: $4; Shirt: Alice's Daydream, m, $8; Skirt: Denim Damsel, m/l, $12

In the heat of summer, we tend to want to get our hair off our neck - no better way to dress up your 'do than adding a silky scarf to your tresses. 

 

 Scarves: $4 each; Skirt: She's a Wildflower, s/m, $13

 

Need some step-by-step tips on how you can "tie one on"?

Luckily, Lilith Moon, a creative lovely lass, gives us a tutorial of 10 different ways to tie a head scarf :

 

 

Still aren't convinced you can wear a scarf in this heat?

Try tying an oversized scarf into a flowy summer dress!!

(oh-em-gee!!)

 

So shout it from the rooftops and from the street corners, "scarves are spectacular for summer!"

 

We hope you find several stunning ways to style your scarves. Next time we pop-up (Fri. Aug. 9th), be sure to check out dizzy alice's striking scarf selection!

 

 

Leave a comment or send us an email on how you show off your scarf!

cuckoo for crawls

If you were crawling on Friday, we don't have to tell you about the undeniable vitality this city has to offer. We are always in awe of the interesting people we meet during this remarkable event. What makes these evenings so exceptional are the people flooding the streets - storeowners, vendors, and visitors alike have made art crawls the obvious place to be every second Friday of the month. If you haven't already, check out Human Stories, a blog which gives a heartfelt and honest account of various Hamiltonians.

Musicians kept these fabulous flocks of people tapping their toes, dancing in the streets, and letting the good times roll on every street corner.

And of course, it wouldn't be an art crawl if not for the art.

We have so much fun at the James North art crawl and there is no better way to describe it than a "feast for the senses." Marvel at the splendours of artwork and the whimsical wares of vendors and storeowners, listen to toe-tappin' tunes that will send you dreaming, and let your tastebuds soar when you devour the unique flavours home to James North - such as the Portuguese Natas at Ola (if you haven't tried one of these delectable bundles of joy, then what are you waiting for?) Click here for Hamilton Hive's review on Ola and the Best Portuguese eateries in the city.

Some highlights for dizzy alice would be meeting a salt and pepper shaker enthusiast. This man was so grateful to find us because he had a hankering to make some additions to his collection; needless to say, he bought all the shakers dizzy alice had to offer!

Another girl was amazed with her retro skort find. Not only did she fall in love with the happy polka dots of this piece, but she knew it would add the perfect function to her bike riding.

A visit from a past customer was very rewarding! She told us exactly how she likes to wear her brooch - she loves to embellish her shirt by wearing the brooch on her hip and wanted to thank us again for the  striking piece.

A big "thank you!" to the lovely ladies, Steph and Maggie, who brought a special allure to our tea party - they sat so stately, you could have mistaken them for the red and white queens themselves!

We give a warm 'fare thee well' to the following dizzy alice items. We know they have made their way into lovely new homes.

Sunny sunflower clip-on earrings:

"Caucus Race" brown leather satchel bag:

Fresh green and white scarf, as well as elegant gloves:

(Stay tuned to an upcoming blog on wearing scarves!)

These glamorous earrings as well as the "Black Widow" wide-brimmed hat featured in our past "Mad Hatters" blog post:

Thanks again to all family and friends who came out to support us.

We hope to see new and familiar faces at our next pop-up!

Until next time, peace, love & curiosity,  

dizzy alice xo

What is your favourite part of the art crawl? What do you hope to see more of in August?

Leave us a comment and let us know!

Many of dizzy alice's photos are taken by the talented

Travis Muise.

If you'd like to contact him for your own photos, you can reach him by email

travis.muise@gmail.com

mad hatters

Hats are outstanding. Period. "'nuff said." A hat creates a presence, a bold statement that says, "Look! I'm different, I'm distinguished, I'm distinctive, and I'm darn right fabulous!" Hats are even categorized by darling names (and rightfully so!), such as the "Cartwheel", "Halo", or "Mushroom."

chart source

Hats have such a legacy! Can you believe there was a time when women wouldn't leave their homes without a hat on? No matter how fabulous an outfit was, it was just not complete without a sassy hat. Hats were such a significant accessory during the 1950's that they would often come with complimentary lipstick and nail polish recommendations.

 It was a dismal time in fashion history when hats started to lose their appeal in the mid-1960's - preposterous, if you ask us! However, dizzy alice is happy to announce that...*drum roll please*... the chapeau is making a comeback!! This revival has been made possible by hat devotees, such as Kate Middleton, whose impeccable taste in hats and fascinators reserves her a seat at any mad tea party! 

photo source

Similarly, the Royal Wedding and Queen's Diamond Jubilee have also put hats and fascinators back on the map. It's always a pleasure to relish in the eccentric glory of the headdresses at these particular events. The enchanting designs make you feel as though you have stepped into a fairytale. This is one of our favourites:

photo source

Wouldn't you agree that a hat can take an outfit from "everyday" to "that sh*t cray"? Whether you are wearing a hat for function or fashion, dizzy alice has the one for you! 

We have the perfect hats to bask in that warm summer glow.

Hat: Queen of Spades $12; Top: Lemon Twist $12; Skirt: Alice Sails the Seven Seas $14; Earrings $5; Bangles vary

Hat: Black Widow $17; Dress: The Hookah-Smoking Caterpillar $15

Shirt: Fallen Flowers $10; Skirt: Pink Floyd $10; Tapestry Purse: Mid-Century Pennyfarthing $15

Or hats to wear at events such as weddings or swanky soirees.

We love the moody blues found in this 1930's Turban. The bow at the back is magical!

1930s Soiree Chapeau $12; Necklaces & bracelets vary

How fascinating are fascinators?! They give a mysterious aura, a pop of colour, and a fun flair suited for a plethora of outfits. We love the infinite blusher on our "Off With Her Head" fascinator.

Hat: Off With Her Head $20

"Dinah's Daydream", our pretty purple fascinator, is fit for the queen herself!



Hat: Dinah's Daydream $20; Dress: Golden Afternoon $15; Lady Profile Brooch $5; Earrings $5 



Wear a hat for every day errands, a coffee date with a special friend, or lunch on a patio. "The Straw that Broke the Camel's Back" is perfect for such occasions. This casual felt hat can be dressed up or down with an addition of a beautiful blingy brooch or a big bold bow .

Hat: The Straw That Broke The Camel's Back $20; Skirt: Honey, I'm Home $25; Necklace: Anubis $15 ; Purse: Caucaus Race $20 ; Scarf $4



We are thrilled that hats and fascinators are becoming trendy once again because they can make any occasion feel like a royal affair! Be mad as a hatter and add some pizzaz to your parties by implementing hats and fascinators as a theme. They bring so much colourful energy, making events even more memorable!

So if you're hankering for a hat, come visit us mad hatters and check out our collection at the James North art crawl at 6:00 p.m. this Friday July 12th at 136 James Street North in front of
H.Williams Jewellery.
See you there!

Skirt: Alice Goes to Oxford $12; Purse: Audrey & the Red Queen go Shopping $15; Ring & Bracelets vary 

The Mad Hatter: "Your carriage, my lady."

Alice: "A hat?"

The Mad Hatter: "Of course. Anyone can go by horse or rail,

but the absolute best way to travel is by hat. Have I made a rhyme?"

What's your favourite type of hat? We'd love to know! Leave us a comment:

brilliant brooches

Brooches are an accessory that have long been neglected in the world of fashion. We find this such a shame because we can't get enough of these playful pieces! In our dreamy wonderland, every woman would be donning brilliant brooches to complete their outfit. Our hope is to revitalize the idea of the brooch, free it from its frumpy reputation, and perhaps even inspire you to incorporate them into your wardrobe with confidence! Just look at all the creative ways these intriguing brooches can be fastened!

Add some fun and flair to a hat!

Hat: The Straw that Broke the Camel's Back $20 (brooch included)

We love the way they spruce up collars:

Double chained brooch $10; Shirt: Twinkle Twinkle Little Bat, $9

Dangling pearl brooch $10; Shirt: Fallen Flowers $10; Hat: Black Widow $17

Apple brooch $5

Bring some shine to your waistline by pinning a brooch to your belt!

Silver burst brooch $10; Dress: The Hookah-Smoking Caterpillar $15; Hat: Black Widow $17

 

Or for these sultry summer months, we love the idea of them pinned to spaghetti straps on tanks or dresses!

 

Butterfly brooch $3; Hat: 1950s Soiree Chapeau $12, Necklaces vary in prices.

There are endless possibilities when it comes to wearing this versatile accessory. Here, Vanessa's mother has attached a brooch to her necklace to make it a sparkly statement piece.

How clever!  

We also grow weak in the knees for projects that incorporate brooches. The brooch bouquet, for instance, is sure to add vintage elegance with a modern twist to any wedding. Add a couple to fresh flowers for glimmer and interest or use many for the entire bouquet! Even attach one special beauty to the base of the bouquet. These brooches make such beautiful keepsakes from a very special day!

 If you're as much of a Mad Men fan as we are, you've noticed how our favourite character, Joan, adorns a brooch on just about every outfit.  

What a vintage vixen!

Here is dizzy alice's very own Joanie brooch!

Joan's brooch $10

 

 

Not only do these beautiful brooches posses their own whimsical stories, but create new ones as well. One of dizzy alice's splendid memories was fastening an Avon collector's brooch "just so" to a lovely lady's lapel during the June art crawl. This brooch is an old fashioned telephone and we are just delighted it went home to such a charming Hamiltonian.

What a curious piece this is -- especially since the cell phone has replaced the landline for many.

Here are a couple other lovelies in our collection:

Leather sunflower brooch $3

Umbrella brooch $10

Lady profile brooch $5

Dangling pearl brooch $10

1950s Victorian revival hand-painted brooch $10

We simply cannot resist the way brooches add a little panache to any outfit and we hope you now better understand why we swoon over this brilliant accessory.

Be sure to check out our ever-growing collection at Friday's art crawl on James Street North!

How do you like to wear your brooch? We'd love to know! Leave us a comment!