Ashi's Outfits

Denim overalls: vintage, Melrose {L.A}, Blouse: vintage, Brighton street market, Boots: thrifted, Friperie Renaissance {Montreal}, Tights: AA, Necklace: scooped from my mom's jewelry box, Cameo Ring: vintage, scored  today!

I guess it was inevitable that I was going to start posting photos of my outfits. Now before you cast me as that chick from Clueless with her collection of polaroids documenting each and every one of her tartan, preppy, calamities hear me out!

I get a number of people asking where I get my clothes and I always love the look on their face when I answer 'the little boys section at Value Village'. The truth is you really don't need to spend that much to look fab! It's all part of my recycle for life manifesto. It doesn't mean that I don't ever buy new clothes, but if I can thrift it, I will... and trust me I do!

Plus, I'm inspired. Brighton is a wicked town for individual style. I'm hoping these posts will push me to become a bit more creative with my outfits.

So here starts a new regular feature called Ashi's Outfits!

This little get up was what I wore while out thrifting today. Lenny Kravitz meets farm girl. 

xo Ashi

Golden Girl

I have been strangely fixated on collecting vintage jewelry lately, especially anything gold! While out on my thrifting adventures I've been finding the most charming little gold lockets and leaf-shaped brooches. I especially adore the 70's gold charms. I have been cramming them all on to one chain and wearing them day and night. Renegade keeps expecting these treasures to end up at our weekend market stall, but somehow they keep finding their way on to my bedside table. Oddly enough, growing up I used to hate gold, even though I have the perfect skin tone for wearing it. My dad used to bring me gorgeous gold chains and bracelets from Iran and I'd always toss them aside, wishing they were silver. You can't really blame me, those were my Nirvana & Smashing Pumpkins years. I guess I was too busy wearing my purple dog collar.... What, it had rhinestones! 

xo Ashi

Saturdays

I'm still beaming from this Saturdays market. We had a blast... mostly it was so nice to have dear Renegade feeling better and alongside me for the day. Our vintage stall is definitely growing each week, as we slowly figure out what people like and make a name for ourselves. Reminds me of a TV interview I did ages ago with one of my favourite Canadian companies, Smoking Lily , out of Victoria. These guys do the most incredible silk screened items; from undies to clothing and accessorize, their stuff is all hand made and to die for. Similar to us they first started selling their stuff at a market in Victoria. It was great testing grounds to see what prints people liked and how many of each item to make. They now have several shops and sell their stuff all over, but their business plan was always to grow slow and organically and that's just what we are doing! So far our vintage shades, 80's floral skirts and anchor shoes are a hit. I was worried I wouldn't find anyone to fit into this week's naval pair.

 {they were even too small for me!!!} 

Girls kept drooling over them, but no one was a perfect fit. We finally had our cinderella moment when a lovely little lady fit right in. Phew! I need to start buying bigger sizes.

xo Ashi

Soccer Sundays

The sun was out today and the vibe was good in Brighton. Everyone seemed to be prematurely celebrating an anticipated win against our old rivals, Germany, in the World Cup. I dragged Ashi to a local battle cruiser {boozer, pub} with expectations of grandeur, boasting that England would definitely beat the Krauts 2:1. With celebs such as Mick Jagger flashing on the screen, it was gearing up to be a classic. 

Unfortunately nobody got any satisfaction from this game, a shocking defeat of 4:1 saw England smashed out the tournament and they deserved it. Yes we should have had a blatant goal given to at 2:1 us but we were a disgrace. 

It didn't take long to get over the defeat, with the help of the beach and an ice cream all was forgotten. The residents of Brighton took it a little harder, one guy was seen clearly wiping tears {or pie} from his soon to be burnt England shirt.

New team to follow Argentina, Maradona is a joker!

Renegade x

Hot Hot Heat!

We've had a week of full on sunshine in Brighton, so naturally Renegade & I have taken every chance to frolic on the beach and fill ourselves with ice cream! 

{me: triple chocolate, Renegade: pistachio}

It's a bit crazy... apparently the official heat wave is supposed to start this weekend, but I've already been baking... better make that a double scoop!

All I know is that good weather brings out tons of people to the weekend market and we've got some killer vintage stash to sell tomorrow. Plus on Sunday we're hitting the pub to watch an epic World Cup battle between England vs. Germany!

I've got my sunscreen, straw hat and darling Renegade... good to go! 

Stay tuned for CoCoon Weekend Madness.

xo Ashi & Renegade

Saturdays

Yet another Saturday and yet another day selling vintage at the market. This time round, poor Renegade was  sick in bed, so I had to do a solo mission. Now, once I figured how to secure my mannequin, so that it would stop crashing into the stall next to me {oooops!} it was smooth sailing. In fact our stuff was a hit, especially with the mother daughter afternoon shoppers. The dynamic duo bellow scooped up some gems, including a lovely, straw garden hat that they plan to share {awe!}. I also witnessed the most skillful and well thought out negotiating I've seen in a long time played out by a very stylish 11-year-old who fell head over heels {haha!} for my anchor ballet flats {of course only an 11-year-old could fit into my shoes}. This girl and her mom went back and forth until they decided upon extra duties when it comes to unloading the dishwasher every night and keeping her room super clean! Judging by the look on her face, she plans on doing neither and is stoked to have scored the shoes! Nice!

Overall a brilliant day and.... I've already done all my thrifting for next week!!! 

This whole lemonade stand life suits me just fine. Ciao!

xo Ashiberry

Daddy Dearest

Normally I'd be missing my lovely Dad terribly on this Father's Day, but I can't help but smile. My dad, Iraj, was just over in the U.K for a 10 day visit/ extravaganza. As you can see we had the best time! 

This visit was a bit of a home-coming for my Dad who ages ago did his naval training and studies in England. We hit up all his old haunts, plus a few major tourist attractions that I had yet to see. From Trafalgar Square to Big Ben to Buckingham Palace to The National Portrait Gallery, we rocked our matching aviators and saw it all. Loveliest of all was our stroll through his favourite spot St. James' Park . He used to hang in this gorgeous park as a student, so it brought back some nice memories. We also managed to take the train to my new favourite coastal town Eastbourne , walk all over Brighton and hit every single pub and cafe along the way!!!

Dad was also there for our very first market day and had no complaints {okay maybe just a few} about a day of thrifting with me... which pretty much sums up my Dad, easygoing, incredibly supportive & generous and full of love for me no matter what.

Happy Fathers Day Dad!

xo Ashi

Bits & Bobs

When it comes to my weekly thrifting, I've been completely obsessed with collecting retro homeware; especially all things involving birds & botany. I plan to sell them at tomorrow's antique market ... that's if I can get them off my window sill and into our stall. Renegade found the little hand-drawn rock guy while digging through pebbles on the beach in Hove. Imagine coming across this guy buried beneath the stones. He kind of looks like my dad. Makes me love him even more.

xo Ashi

Face Time

    

I finally had the chance to visit London's National Portrait Gallery while my father was in town. We were seeking out the latest featured collection of Indian Portraits 1560-1860. 

The detailed, opulent Indian portraits had me amazed at their microscopic detailing and fine strokes, but it was a much more modern and simplistic artist who had stopped me in my tracks. Alex Katz is an american artist who is part of the Pop art movement. Although he didn't truly break out of the small clustered art world until his was in his 80s, he has been painting for decades. His main inspirations are people, their clothing and faces; especially that of his wife Ada's who has been his life-long muse. What I love is his attention to detail and style and how he understands how one dresses themselves is just as expressive as a glance or a smile. He obviously surrounds himself with good taste because his subjects are always perfectly accessorized, never over done and always striking. 

Enjoy!

xo Ashi

Birthday Love

Happy birthday Julia!!!

Sending the birthday love to my big sister on her 30th birthday. Julia has always been a great friend and a wicked older sister.

Over the years she's taught me many things... none so funny as when she taught me to ride my bike.

{She took off my stabilizers and pushed me down a hill}

She's an amazing artists, mother and person .

'Appy Birfday' Sis

xo Renegade & Ashi

Arts & Crafts

It may have something to do with a recent visit from my naval father or living by the sea, but I have been gluing and stitching anchor aplliques on to just about everything! 

All you need is an iron, some paper towel or a thread and needle. Easy!

 They are the perfect companion to this captain's daughter's vintage wardrobe and it sure beats having to scrub the deck to look this aye aye sweet!

xo Ashi

{P.S The shoes & dress were delightful thrift store score, best $5 spent!}

Saturdays

Last Saturday kicked off the very first installment of My CoCoon Vintage at the Brighton Street Market. This historic market has been around since the early 1900s. 

We had our very own vintage stall nestled amongst drool-worthy antiques, killer cupcakes and beautiful hand made treats. To be honest, we had way too much fun for two people who are supposed to be 'working'. First off who can complain about working outside, all day, in the summer sun. Second, these scenarios are grounds for pure comedy. From the giant rat that went straight for a group of ladies trying on make-up {Eeeeek} to the market old timers next to us and their evil sense of humour, we were in stitches the whole time. Plus, selling lovely, handpicked vintage to people in person is so much more fun. In fact our first customer was a half Irish, half Persian, one hundred per cent babe who almost bought the whole lot. We're back at it next week, with a forecast that is calling for pure sun and another hilarious day spent with my best friend.

Happy Weekend Everyone.

xo Ashi