black and white

Please Excuse Me For a Moment.

Often I have the urge to write. It’s where I go when I don’t want to go anywhere else. Often I sit down just like I am now with no direction; mind racing in thirty-two directions, my thoughts crashing into imaginary walls as I watch from afar and judge their motives. Full moon tendencies are on a high tonight in my veins. I can see the full moon across the room through the window, six floors above the late night streets of downtown Toronto. Oh hey, werewolves. I just blanked. So I opened pinterest and the first quote I saw (no joke) was this… “To make the right choices in life you have to get in touch with your soul. To do this, you need to experience solitude, which most people are afraid of because in the silence you hear the truth and know the solutions.” Shh. I’m not afraid of that. I crave the challenge or the truth. What about you? And why did I see that right now…

Now what… dot dot dot…

You know what is refreshing? Reading the true tales of humans. The icky parts. The imperfect race through it all. Just lay it on the line. Because you feel so called ‘normal’. Being in the new age social media scene eats at me sometimes. (How’s that for true tales…) I adore it. I adore the sharing and creativity and artistry of it. I adore seeing the highs of fellow acquaintances and strangers. I enjoy cheering them on from my smartphone. I also adore being raw. Being real. Blurred lines. I enjoy truth.

And so I leave this raw, blurry note with not much direction or purpose but I leave on a high because I have an outlet to be real (with possible judgement) and I’m okay with that. Risk is an addiction. I hope you trust that you’re wonderful enough, no blurred lines, to do the same. -k

“Don’t let someone dim your light simply because it’s shining in their eyes.”

Life Observations from the Peanut Gallery.

Please excuse me if I don’t talk too much, it’s loud enough in my head.

Mama asked me today if I was happy. I said yes. And I wish that for everyone and I don’t want to lose it. And it’s taken me some time to find the place where the madness and the mellow meet. Where they mold into magical type moments with the people who love like you do. Stay away from people who make you feel like you’re hard to love. Don’t say maybe if you want to say no. Balance hard work and wild nights wisely. They’re both equally necessary for guided growth and gratitude. Stop the analytical archery and listen to your intuitive heart; it always knows what’s best for your next steps and say somethings. Be the same person privately, publically and personally. The mesh of the meetings brought me happiness. I don’t make new years resolutions. The new year just reminds me to work on the ‘what I want to do’s’ that rumble through my head until I silence them with success. Baby steps beat the ‘but I wish I had’s’. Put the good energy that touches you to good use, it’s hard to find. Enjoy the damn good deep dark dreary dense delicate delicious daring doable dreamy damn good ride. I wish that for you. Here’s to new year good things, darlings/dudes. -k

‘In the end there doesn’t have to be someone who understands you… there just has to be someone who wants to.’ – Robert Brault

Kat’s Closet- TIFF 2012

And on continues just another manic Monday. It’s been a whirlwind month, ticking off days towards another change of pace. Sipping multiple coffees and squeezing in some final late nights before the transition into another basketball season starts.

TIFF is one of my favourite times in the city. Busy streets and restaurants, beautiful people from around the world and the magic of the movies.

I hit the scene in a pretty simple palate. When the weather starts getting a bit chillier I always tend to grab the black, white and greys. I’m not sure what it is. Maybe just a refreshing something new after a summer of brights. Here are three looks from my week. I doubled up on some pieces but that’s the beauty of finding some real good staples; the mix and match game. And happy new week to you. Make it awesome. -k

Silk Blazer – Zara
Shirt – American Apparel
Lace Shorts – Urban Outfitters
Silver Collar – Zara
Shoes – Kelsi Dagger
Headscarf – A random piece of fabric in my closet

Shirt – H&M
Leather Skirt – Vintage
Necklace – Zara
Shoes – Michael Kors
Purse – Zara

Silk Blazer – Zara
Pleated Shorts – Skirt
Corset – Jacob
Knee High Tights – The Bay
Shoes – Kelsi Dagger

Kat’s Closet- Weekend Edition.

I’ve been slapping the “staycation” card on the table all summer. And it’s been winning me major good times. And so as the summer glow fizzles a little more each day I’m for sure as heck taking advantage of the last hoorah.

Enter this weekend.

It was maybe the new moon, my broadway bound insomnia or that bad tuna salad I ate friday afternoon that put me a little left of center this weekend. I painted my toenails black. And I was in a carefree state of mind and rambled together whatever the heck jumped out of my closet at me with twenty minutes to dress to impress. Or not impress. I was not out to impress. A black and white palate was the tone of taste. Bright anything was not guiding me through my milky way.

Friday I met new people. Amazing people. Sauntered down Queen West to the Savoy and Beaconsfield and Brooklyn. Let the good times roll in a rock and roll soul inspired ensemble. This KISS tshirt started as a tshirt seven years ago. I cut a hole in the neck three years ago because it was fraying. I cut the sleeves off a few weeks ago. It’s tattered and torn and I can’t get enough. Threw a sheer black dress over lace shorts and went with some dressy heels for shits and giggles. Rockstar on the top, girly on the bottom. Just a whole lot of me.

Shirt- Some vintage store on Queen West that’s not there anymore. Time flies.
Dress – Same as above.
Lace Shorts- Urban Outfitters
Shoes- Marc Fisher
Jacket- Danier
Purse- Zara
Lipstick- Costa Chic- MAC

Saturday I spent the day at the zoo. Decided that all animals are spanish because at 3pm they were all siesta-ing when we arrived and we were looking for action. I got home in need of a siesta from the sun and had birthday shenanigans to attend at a dive bar on Dundas. Danced to the best 80s jams ever. Let go. Loved life.

Tshirt- Sauce Hockey
Varsity Jacket- Forever 21. Shocking, eh?
Pants- H&M
Heels- Aldo
Purse- Urban Outfitters
Glasses- Vendor in Soho NYC

Put yourself in a zone of magic. Nobody is here long enough to do it any other way. And I hope you had a magical weekend too. -k

kat stefankiewicz