rats to riches

sleep standing up

2011-01-12T14:30:00.001-08:00

got this amazing sleep standing up arrowhead rosary necklace from my amazing boyfriend last night! it will be worn with everything.

we met meagan, the designer, a few weeks ago and she is an overwhelmingly nice girl on top of being a badass jewelry designer.

in case anyone else feels like giving me presents, a couple other favourites from her collection include:

bow feathers necklace

grandpa ring

shot collar

2010-11-17T16:37:00.000-08:00

via: stopitrightnow

the chosen ones

2010-11-14T19:27:00.000-08:00

this weekend, i was lucky enough to be *ahem* chosen as a vendor at vancouver's first installment of THE CHOSEN ONES. it was a great success and you'll definitely be seeing my stuff again for next month's incarnation!

here's a little peek at how my display turned out:

don't mess with a good thing

2010-11-14T16:13:00.000-08:00

unless, of course, you can make it better... i have some serious love for a basic black leather biker jacket, but i can really appreciate when this classic gets kicked up a notch or two. or a million.

the brilliant girls of DI$COUNT have done just that, to create these out-of-control masterpieces:

shut up

2010-10-22T09:46:00.000-07:00

i haven't been this wangcited (real word) in a while. thanks for restoring my faith, alex.

alexander wang at opening ceremony

via: knightcat

see you next tuesday

2010-10-15T10:29:00.000-07:00

my bandmate (ooh, that's fun to say!), long-time friend and blonde bombshell allie, aka legs, is playing her first solo show on tuesday.

she has recently posted a few of her songs, which are all phenomenal (that haunting voice!) but my favorite by far is this one:

OLD BOOTS OLD BONES by CIGARETTE LEGS

she started playing it the other day at the jam space and i thought for sure she was just playing an old heart-wrenching classic. it just blew me away.

so... if you know what's good for you, you'll come to the media club on oct. 19th. see you next tuesday!

does not equal

2010-10-14T11:28:00.001-07:00

i have a job that i attend nearly every day - really, it even invades some of my precious weekend time-space continuum. however, i have not been paid since the beginning of august. this black truth is severely limiting my rock-and-roll dreams of buying all the below items necessary to my happiness:

the jack boot:

the pentagram harness:

the shearling drape jacket:

the black lucia sunglasses:

will someone please submit my invoices?!

lest we forget

2010-10-13T15:55:00.000-07:00

my amazing friends turbo, matt and marc put together a beautiful ghost bike tribute to our fallen friend, which has since been removed by the city of vancouver.

hopefully it can be tracked down and replaced, with the proper permits... but if not, here is a photo of the product of their hard work.

in this photo, turbo and matt are being interviewed by a reporter from the cbc... their interview can be heard here.

photo by mark

only the good die young

2010-08-30T10:42:00.000-07:00

you'll be sorely missed.

the lady is a tramp

2010-08-25T11:37:00.000-07:00

lady gaga double-header mon & tues... good start to the week.

what she said: nowhere-fast

today in 1962

2010-08-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

telstar by the tornados:

too little too late

2010-08-12T12:31:00.000-07:00

why is it that i always discover my total dreamboat dream boots when they're only left in ridiculous sizes? behold: the sir barton boot by rachel comey.

... i would have painted the heels black, but alas they won't be mine to massacre.

via: lagarçonne

woman is a danger cat

2010-08-08T16:54:00.000-07:00

new bag up in the etsy shop! leopard print = instant badass.

god is in the details

2010-08-08T15:01:00.000-07:00

via: katelovesme

reinventing axl rose

2010-08-05T11:27:00.000-07:00

totally channelling bambi northwood-blyth from that first photo right now. rockin the red bandanna and tousled hair like nobody's business... good thing i do most of my work on conference call.

in other news, this shoot by the cobrasnake for no magazine is everything i wanna be right now.

via knightcat

front page news

2010-08-03T15:30:00.000-07:00

my faux fox tails are on the front page of the la dama online store!! letty runs an amazing shop and i'm so stoked to have my product featured. check it out!

necronomicon

2010-07-29T10:52:00.000-07:00

new badassness from the genius that is km*rii. this stuff looks like it grew out of some grotesque leather swamp at midnight on a full moon. that's a good thing.

via: oaknyc

all-seeing

2010-07-26T17:51:00.000-07:00

saw the dead weather last night at the capitol hill block party in seattle. the band was phenomenal, obviously, which is unfortunately more than i can say for the crowd. fucking festivals! anyway, the backdrop was INSANE. one of the greatest stage setups i've ever seen.

did a little research and it was put together by silent giants, a design firm out of detroit, who also did these killer posters:

do it badass.

2010-07-23T11:29:00.000-07:00

we're rootin for ya!!!

a preacher's mouth and a rock n roll heart

2010-07-16T10:37:00.000-07:00

saturday night!! come watch me fuck up my keyboard parts at the media club's 4th undercover brothers show.

we'll be paying a boozy tribute to the murder city devils... playing this among other things:

stoked!!!

boom swagger boom

2010-07-15T09:49:00.000-07:00

selling some faux fox tails and other goodies at the gypsy market on saturday. 884 east pender, vancity. come check it out or just come hang out!!

mark took some better pics of the tails... click on 'em to check out the listing in my etsy store!

fake wang real zombie

2010-07-10T13:53:00.000-07:00

just got these shameless alexander wang cat-eye knockoffs in the mail from nasty gal. not usually into obvious imitation, but i caved... and have been wearing them daily since.

also, just rediscovered my love for the shredded shirt. this danzig one's a total winner.

number of the beast

2010-07-06T11:01:00.000-07:00

saw iron maiden play a couple weeks ago, and although they didn't play run to the hills (i KNOW) they thankfully played number of the beast.

... and speaking of which, a fellow vancouverite has started a company with some friends called DARK EARTH 666.

i'm loving the 666 hands tank:

good girl gone badass

2010-06-30T12:41:00.000-07:00

i don't really get starstruck, but it may be difficult to fight the urge to abuse my backstage access for this one...

Rihanna. Sunday. at the Garage.

How hard is she rocking Fannie Schiavoni chains in this video?!?!

cross my art & hope to buy

2010-06-23T15:22:00.000-07:00

200 artists - 400 pieces of art - $200 each

have been pretty stoked on the cheaper show this year, but not stoked on the legendary lineups... problem solved, as i just won priority access wristbands to the show & afterparties, plus drink tickets! yesssss!

the road warrior

2010-06-22T22:54:00.000-07:00

watching mad max and dreaming leather dreams...

zana bayne:

gareth pugh:

topshop:

cushnie et ochs:

rad hourani:

rick owens:

natalia brilli:

these days

2010-06-20T18:57:00.000-07:00

yesterday ruled. f as in frank's fill-a-bag-for-$10 sale yielded some great results, as well as mid-day alleyway beers and hijinks. you know how we do.

photos: thefuturists

long way back from hell

2010-06-18T21:40:00.000-07:00

couple new things up in the store!

fox force five

2010-06-17T16:27:00.000-07:00

i have been wanting a fox tail to clip on my bag for a while, but totally unwilling to shell out $150 for the ones at oak.

found some shaggy off-white fur at the fabric store and decided to try my hand at making a faux tail. not bad, if i do say so myself... although my pants and my apartment are covered in white hair.

here it is hanging from my #1 fave, the km*rii torpedo bag:

i wonder how hard it is to dye fur?

from russia with love

2010-06-08T13:23:00.001-07:00

my latest ebay score arrived in the mail today: a russian garrison hat complete with insane nautical pin.

i know i kind of look like a shriner in the hat and leopard vest... but i'm okay with that.

check out the russian inside! what does it say?! i have no idea!

FTW x 2

2010-06-08T11:26:00.000-07:00

I just won a $100 gift card to Shopbop courtesy of the amazing Molly from Rackk and Ruin but i can't for the life of me choose what to spend it on.

I found these amazing boots and I was ready to go... but they only have one pair left in size 11! Fortunately, my feet aren't that big; unfortunately, I really fucking want these boots!

FTW

2010-05-23T21:41:00.000-07:00

Finally got some lo-fi recordings done and some pics taken... VICTORIES is officially up and running!

pics: mark, as usual

kings of the wild frontier

2010-05-18T21:11:00.000-07:00

30 years ago today. insane photos of the mount st. helens eruption in washington in 1980.

via: rackkandruin

hustle and cuss

2010-05-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

did some more leather-makin' and listed some more stuff here!

the shaman bag:

the leather feather necklace:

the inverted cross necklace:

the focused product arranger:

the photo-man: mark

eye of horus

2010-05-12T08:18:00.000-07:00

gareth pugh triangular stitched leather bag.

brilliant in its simplicity.

via: reborn (restocked and kiiiilling me)

deluxe

2010-05-10T23:07:00.000-07:00

the girl genius has finally launched an e-shop.

naturally, this stacked-bracelet cuff is sold out... but when it's back in stock, can someone scoot on over and pick one up for me? kthx.

bone house

2010-05-10T22:40:00.000-07:00

dem bones

via: bleachblack

rats and rats and rats for candy

2010-04-26T11:03:00.000-07:00

i made some bags and mark took some pics.

they're up for sale here!

a little grave we can fill together

2010-04-22T13:08:00.000-07:00

it's kind of troubling how long it took me to find a working copy of this video...

can't wait for the album to drop on may 11.

The Dead Weather - Die By The Drop.

do you collect weird things?

2010-04-14T15:24:00.000-07:00

yup.

via: refinery29

the heart of the woods & what i found there

2010-04-07T21:52:00.000-07:00

katie gallagher gives me painful hair envy...

as well as style envy, design envy and total-genius-brain-that-kills-it-every-time envy. the girl just recently graduated from RISD and has already dressed The Gaga. no big deal.

she made this dress out of handmade springs. handmade!!!

kg fall 2010:

images via refinery29, katiegallagher

that's me in the spotlight

2010-04-07T21:29:00.000-07:00

the only things i'm really coveting right now are hard-as-nails jewelry and leather jackets. chris habana's fall 2010 preview for "losing your religion" takes care of the first category rather nicely.

via: withasianstereotypes

the boy is mine

2010-04-02T10:02:00.000-07:00

ooooh, someone has a crush on my boyfriend... and my wolf sweater.

his description of himself that morning: "I must have looked like a recently-birthed kitten with my hair all mashed to the side and still stinky."

but hey, some girls like that...

peacock skeleton with crooked feathers

2010-03-25T07:25:00.000-07:00

although aptly named, in my opinion this mad max cuff from ymk for castro is not worth its rather shocking price tag.

it is however, quite inspiring and i can probably whip up a similar pierced n' patched leather concoction without even having to go buy any more supplies than what i already have on hand.

if you have $498 kicking around, it's at oak.

accidents are on purpose

2010-03-24T09:57:00.000-07:00

if you're a member of gilt groupe, you better click this shit right now...

hugely discounted jewelry from bijules, the original provider of girly/badass knuckledusters.

good word

2010-03-18T21:48:00.001-07:00

don't get me wrong, i love uncle karl as much as the next guy. i love reading interviews with him, i've watched lagerfeld confidential, i find the man fascinating and perplexing.

but i couldn't get past the first page of this ass-kissing interview and i was cringing the entire time. the most aptly written thing on the whole page was by the anonymous commenter who called the interviewer a sycophant.

syc·o·phant

a servile self-seeker who attempts to win favor by flattering influential people.

see also: bruce labruce

the hand that feeds

2010-03-16T17:41:00.000-07:00

this snakebite ring is disgustingly cool. i thought it would be hella pricy, but no...

$35?! get right outta town. seriously.

via: withasianstereotypes

strapped in

2010-02-25T14:23:00.000-08:00

these ld tuttle mummy wedges are BLOWING MY MIND.

wrap it up!

via: oak

take back the bonds that break us

2010-02-14T13:32:00.000-08:00

brilliantly simple/simply ingenious jewelry. von kottwitz:

the stunning designer, nina stotler:

think i'm gonna have to hit the hardware store.

last photo via: hanneli

i forgot more than you'll ever know

2010-02-12T17:49:00.000-08:00

100 abandoned houses

... and it's so lonely on a limb

2010-02-12T12:40:00.000-08:00

love like winter

2010-01-29T16:20:00.000-08:00

why is this look so perfect?! it almost makes me wish i had blonde hair again... or at least the patience to straighten it every day.

via: rackkandruin

in lee we trust

2010-01-20T16:26:00.000-08:00

new favourite store... and there's not even anything in there for me!

aftershave, leather goods, and manliness abound.

"Mr. Lee’s has a curated selection of accessories, clothing and accompaniments that we feel are noteworthy, rare and purposeful, and above all else special. In addition to this we carry a template of product that was sold by general stores of the 1930’s & 40’s: specialty foods, hard goods, apothecary, magazines, fine paper products, flowers and notions. A one-stop shop to heal all your hankerings and make life a little sweeter."

via: nowherefast

faster pussycat

2010-01-19T23:11:00.000-08:00

opening ceremony

red velvet

2010-01-17T12:50:00.000-08:00

for kelsey!

via: luxirare

dumpster diving

2010-01-14T21:36:00.000-08:00

drove past this yesterday!

via nowherefast

... and that reminds me:

teenagers from mars

2010-01-14T16:54:00.000-08:00

galactic designs by setareh mohtarez.

... have i mentioned how much i love outer space motifs?!

found via: luxirare

every breath is a bomb

2010-01-14T13:04:00.000-08:00

eerie, nightmarish graphic design meets fashion photography. creepy and beautiful at the same time... definitely something i'd like to explore myself.

pleasepleaseplease check out reed+rader.

found via: withasianstereotypes

schwing

2010-01-13T16:46:00.000-08:00

i like to imagine the sound these would make.

photo: jakandjil

bam bam

2010-01-11T15:11:00.000-08:00

pebbles flintstone never looked so good... i have had these images kicking around for a while, but forgot to post them.

alice dellal, dream cavegirl:

shoot: no
images: obsessee

second skin

2010-01-11T09:11:00.001-08:00

saver's remorse

2010-01-10T12:05:00.001-08:00

while perusing reborn, i was reminded of my other long-lost love: the leather nolex by natalia brilli.

before i even knew who she was, a couple of years ago i saw one of these bad boys on sale for something ridiculous like $90 at holt renfrew... and i didn't buy it. i was sooooo close, and i walked away. i'm haunted to this very day.

that bad for that long

2010-01-10T11:54:00.000-08:00

i figure when you've been yearning for something for a year and the urge doesn't go away, you should probably just give in.

enter the complex geometries junction dress. it was sold out in my size on their site for the loooooongest time, but i just found it at reborn! priced in canadian $$$ no less.

stay gold

2010-01-08T16:20:00.000-08:00

probably the first decent photos i've had taken of me... ever.

it's amazing the difference that good lighting and a good photographer can make!!

hopefully, more of this to come.

photos: mark

lord of the flies

2010-01-05T12:33:00.000-08:00

hit up two value villages in the space of about two hours the other day, and all i walked away with was this weird little glass box.

soooo.... i strung it up on a piece of leather and filled it with plastic flies. obvs.

strapped in

2009-12-22T11:26:00.000-08:00

the whole leather-harness-as-fashion-accessory is nothing new, but i have as yet been unable to find something suitable, as all of my ebay searches tend to yield fetish stores replete with whips and ball gags.

so, i don't know why i've been putting this off for so long... but for christmas, i think i'm going to treat myself to a zana bayne triple wing harness. not sure yet if i should go for the low wings or the vertical...

hit me

2009-12-04T17:40:00.000-08:00

via: cmdrriker

down under

2009-12-02T14:53:00.000-08:00

how do i get my hands on these ksubi shades from the book club collection?! are they available outside of oz?

i need to know this, and i need to successfully obtain them.

this is not open to discussion.

discovered via: gnarlitude

images via: themalcolm

home hardware

2009-12-01T23:34:00.000-08:00

the clinic wedge:

(i <3 jeffrey campbell)

sold out on oak

tracked down through nastygal

boner zone

2009-12-01T22:05:00.000-08:00

they don't make 'em like this in the pacific northwest.

drop-crotch pants, leather harnesses over mickey mouse sweatshirts, neck tattoos: the stuff dreams are made of.

images via: backyardbill

discovered indirectly through: nowherefast <3

meat sandwich

2009-11-30T18:48:00.001-08:00

going to the GWAR show tonight... and somehow volunteered to be in charge of the photographers for the show, which involves escorting them past security and hanging with them in front of the barricade for the first few songs.

this is usually pretty cool, but most bands don't shower their fans with fake blood and... other bodily fluids. needless to say, i'm wearing a white t-shirt. also wearing sequined booty shorts. it all makes perfect sense.

astronomical

2009-11-30T13:04:00.001-08:00

i need to figure out how/where to get silk digitally printed, because i need to make an entire wardrobe of flowy clothes with this print.

the orion nebula:

i love outer space! can you believe this exists in real life?!

image: seeinginthedark

rep that red

2009-11-28T20:36:00.000-08:00

taylor fucking tomasi.

redhead icon.

found via: becauseimaddicted

transatlanticism

2009-11-21T02:27:00.001-08:00

so i bought a piece of artwork at the show tonight... you know, shit happens.

it's the original version of this piece, called "transatlantic soap technician". yeah. it's fucking awesome.

writing's on the wall

2009-11-20T18:50:00.001-08:00

tonight!

one man's trash

2009-11-17T15:08:00.000-08:00

there's a reason this girl is on my list of recommended reads. she can take this:

and turn it into this:

anyone have anything i can jewel-encrust?

images: garbagedress

your favourite weapon

2009-11-16T10:26:00.000-08:00

speaking of stegosaurus legs, how about stegosaurus feet?

these shoes by louise goldin for topshop should come with a "wear at own risk" warning label...

but chainmail is back... why not accessories inspired by medieval weaponry?

found via: carolinesmode

you vandal

2009-11-16T00:48:00.000-08:00

a seriously rad girl that i used to work with (hi kim!) just started up an online vintage store called through being cool. not only is the clothing well picked, the website phenomenal and the photography (by another excellent human, mark) totally epic, but the name is a reference to one of my favourite albums of the late 90's by saves the day.

so... check the through being cool store and check this tune from the album:

like a sultan

2009-11-14T17:06:00.000-08:00

a friend of mine casually threw into conversation yesterday, "fliff! fliff! not even counting it!" and it awakened a deep surge of desire for brad neely videos.

behold... fliff night:

out of this world

2009-11-10T16:59:00.000-08:00

this outer space radness is from... zara?!?!

how in the furthest reaches of the galaxy is this possible?

diy or die

2009-11-09T22:44:00.001-08:00

are these spike/bead things available for normal human beings to purchase? i am not gareth pugh, and yet i would like to attempt to make something otherworldly and fantastic with them.

images: jakandjil, phosphene

silver spoons

2009-11-09T21:02:00.000-08:00

by pinky diablo. want!

found through: rackkandruin

mad max

2009-11-09T15:41:00.000-08:00

i wrote about this bag a while ago... and it's finally back in stock.

i will soon be adequately prepared to live in a post-apocalyptic badass-biker-gang-dominated society.

self-defense

2009-11-02T13:28:00.000-08:00

still not sick of buckles, spikes and studs. must replicate these stegosaurus leggings.

totally feeling the hellraiser vibe from foxyman. girl is a genius.

images: jakandjil, thefoxyman

serious about burgers

2009-11-02T08:52:00.000-08:00

most glamorous halloween costume ever.

i had a ghetto disposable camera, so i'll have to wait until the roll is done to display the evidence. i have to say, though, it turned out pretty epic.

the power and the glory

2009-10-08T16:13:00.000-07:00

i felt a strange compulsion to go into holt renfrew today. i have been in there several times during the last few months, looking for a specific pair of boots that were never there.

but something just told me that today was the day. lo and behold, one pair left. in black. size 39.

and i don't like to talk about how much things cost, but i'm sure everyone has a pretty good idea of the range. here's the important part: they came to... $666. it's like the dark lord himself led me in there by the hand and delivered them unto me.

BEHOLD THE SATANIC FRANKIE CREEPER BOOTS:

(yeah, those are my fucking feet. what.)

ninety-nine, a hundred

2009-10-06T16:43:00.001-07:00

searching for a different pair of shoes today, i forgot all about them when i stumbled upon jeffrey campbell's ninety-nine boots on oak.

hmmm... remind you of anything?

dubious implications regarding ethics and morality aside, they're pretty hot. and they're on their way to my house.

le sigh. i'd never be able to afford/find the real thing anyway. plus, if oak endorses them, it must be okay... right?

... there's fire

2009-10-04T15:43:00.000-07:00

this blog is having a very toxic influence on me.

something tells me i'll be stopping at the smoke shop after my visit to MAC.

death becomes her

2009-10-04T14:52:00.000-07:00

oh shit. going to MAC this evening.

image: withasianstereotypes

black market baby

2009-10-04T09:36:00.000-07:00

found audrey cantwell's website through childhood flames. she does gorgeous work with draped leather and there are some beautiful crushed velvet pieces.

i LOVE the styling of the howl collection. why does the black lipstick look so good?

find her on etsy!!

to keep you on your toes

2009-10-04T09:24:00.000-07:00

fluevog can be pretty hit-or-miss, but i am really feeling these silverlake boots:

kind of a much less extreme version of THOSE nina ricci shoes:

i am not spending that much

2009-09-26T11:35:00.001-07:00

things i am waiting for in the mail:

finalement

2009-09-24T17:34:00.000-07:00

i finally got around to taking some pictures of necklaces i made... and i have posted them on etsy.

have a look! shop rats.

creature from the black leather lagoon

2009-09-21T19:10:00.000-07:00

bought this cramps tee aaaaaages ago (from none other than the fabulous jen of gnarlitude) but never actually got a shot of it worked into my wardrobe, even though i have worn it more often than i dare admit.

seriously, how sick is this rendition of the bad music for bad people graphic?! perfect.

customer service 101

2009-09-21T18:37:00.000-07:00

the people at TUK are amazing. they told me to pick out a pair of replacement creepers because i sent in pics of my newly acquired unworn leopard mondo creepers which were utterly destroyed after two wears. something about a discontinued faulty manufacturing process...

anyway, what do i pick?!!

the first two are my faves, but they don't come in the mondo sole. and i LOVE the mondo sole. what's a girl to do?

with pleasure

2009-09-19T09:40:00.001-07:00

the only thing that can improve a perfect collection of black and white and grey beautifully draped clothing is black/white/grey tie-dye.

pleasure principle ss10:

images: garbagedress

good rats

2009-09-18T19:43:00.000-07:00

lol-arious birthday present from my friend jess:

it's an lp.

kinda wish i had a record player, but this is just so awesome that it doesn't even matter.

tour de force

2009-09-18T19:11:00.000-07:00

art exhibit tonight at ayden gallery.

totally stoked on ben tour:

never sounded as good as melted casio keys

2009-09-16T21:49:00.000-07:00

shades of grey

2009-09-16T21:12:00.001-07:00

images: oak, topshop, barneys, complexgeometries