belt it out

There's nothing like a belt to add shape and sophistication to an outfit. A belt is a great way to accentuate the waist, and it can breathe new life into a shapeless shirt or dress. Not feelin' your bold jewellery today? Mix it up, or better yet, "belt it up," and make your belt the statement instead!

We are delighted by this dreamy fashion vignette. The belt is in its glory as the perfect centrepiece to such a charming outfit!

Photo Credit: Cynthia from Steel Oneself

And voila: beauty and the belt! Cynthia is the doll of a customer who bought our "King of the Jungle" belt; you can hear it roar in its fierce juxtaposition to her garment's feminine fabrics and hues. We love pieces that add interest to a beautiful outfit, but we wouldn't expect anything less from the darling of Steel Oneself, an intriguing blog dedicated to Hamilton's visual culture, with an emphasis on style and fashion. 

Photo Credit: Cynthia from Steel Oneself

Fun belts add a playful quality to an outfit or can be your pop of colour, such as our smooching butterfly and rainbow belts from the 80's.

 We can't resist the sheen and shine of chain belts. Another perk is that they can be adjusted to any size by hooking the closure at various points along the body--so whether you want high-waisted elegance or hip-shaking jewellery, both are a piece of (cup)cake! And we swear on Alice's teacup that we're not yanking your chain, adding one of these belts gives an instant BANG!

Even Betty digs chain belts!

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Call us dizzy or do these belts look like they were fastened in Wonderland? Be creative with your belts and try curious ways of loop-da-looping!

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Speaking of curious, finding belts in the most unusual of places is our cup of tea. Alicia has taken a men's polka dot neck tie and turned it into a fun-loving belt.

Photo Credit: Cynthia from Steel Oneself

So by all means...wrap it, cinch it, and belt out how much you love it! Skedaddle down to the art crawl and check out our collection on Friday, October 11th at 6:00 p.m. at 136 James Street North in front of H. Williams Jewellery.

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!