Dressed to the nines!

UpsideDive had a blast at the recent Worn Fashion Journal Issue 11 release. Did you?

photo via Worn Flickr Feed.

Time to Play Santa – The Upcycle Way!

It’s December and you know what that means. The frenzy of buying, or if you haven’t started — making — gifts, for friends and family begins. At least it does in my home. Unless I knit or quilt a blanket, I don’t start thinking about holiday gift-giving until the chill of Dec. 1 hits me. If you’re like me and you’re looking for a way to dress up your gifts, but don’t want to buy wrapping paper, here are a few great ideas and fabulous suggestions that I stumbled on during my quest for creative, eco friendly alternatives.

Use fabric instead of paper! Try your hand at Furoshiki, an origami-like way of folding fabric. A guide published by The Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan shows you how to use the technique to wrap different types of packages. If you use a lovely vintage napkin or scarf, it’s a great way to give two gifts in one.



“What? No gift bag to put that cute vintage mohair sweater you snagged for your sis?” Well, you're in luck -you can make a cute bag out of newspaper. How About Orange shows you how.


Some other great ideas can be found at Craft:, and FeelGoodStyle.

By the way, Upsidedive will also have some handy dandy gift sets with upcycled wrappings coming December 4th: Accessory packs made up of ties and scarves, kitchen packs of salt & pepper shakers and mugs to name a few. If you’re interested in checking out what we’ve got in unique gifts sets, stop by the shop this weekend.

So all you “Secret Santas” out there can be eco friendly, creative and have fun enjoying the gift of giving.

Elee*

Boots are made for walking - so get them ready for slush, salt and snow.

I'm deeply in love with my new (used) leather sheepskin lined Georgettes. Angie calls these gems granny biker boots — I call them my “Gourgeous Georgies.” They're sleek and smooth, with a little bit of a ’60s mod styling. They also have the added bonus of having been made in Canada, which is a rarity these days.

I don’t know about you, but it’s been quite a long time since I’ve been this excited about a pair of boots. I saw them at UpsideDive while there on my weekly work fix (I help out when I can). These boots called out to me: "Psst … hey lady! It's me, the pair you've been looking for." Among the many other excellent pairs of boots, there was something special, and quite cheeky, about this pair.

I awkwardly wear a size 9½ to 10, with one foot slightly bigger than the other. As you might guess, this makes finding a great pair of boots or shoes even more of a challenge. So, to my surprise, when I tried them on they actually fit! Feeling like a modern day Cinderella, I snatched them up right away.

In the past two weeks I’ve been strutting my Gourgeous Georgies around, happily going about my daily routines with a clickety-clack in my step. But with the prospect of snow on the way, I realized I should hurry up and get some waterproofing to protect my lovely boots from the cold weather and the dreaded salt that will inevitably cover every sidewalk after the first big snowfall.

I looked through some of the shoe shops and drug stores in the city and didn’t find much in non-toxic leather protection. Many commercial products have toxic solvents, most of them petroleum-based. I was looking for an all-natural product, but is it even possible to find a non-toxic, all-natural leather waterproofer? Lo and behold, there are some all-natural products out there and online, products such as 'Harness Honey Leather Conditioner', 'Newfoundland Bee Company Leather Waterproofer and Conditioner', and 'Boot Rub' to name just a few. I was surprised to discover that the simplest option is also the cheapest and the most environmentally friendly and even vegans will love it. It’s a product called lanolin, and I've used it before — but not on my boots! Breastfeeding mothers of newborns know what I'm talking about here.

Lanolin, a natural oil found in sheep's wool is another alternative for an all natural repellent. It’s a wax secreted through the skin and contained in the wool that helps keep sheep dry when it rains. Lanolin can be extracted from sheep without harming them; it's removed from the wool during the cleaning process before it becomes a textile like yarn or felt. You can find it in your local pharmacies as “Anhydrous Lanolin.” It can come in a tube, a rich lubricating type of cream that can be easily rubbed into the leather or it can be found in some health stores in a liquid form, usually used for cosmetic purposes. The cost is very affordable and a little goes a long way. However, before applying it, make sure the boot is clean of all dirt. Use a slightly damp rag to wipe them off and let the boot dry completely before using the lanolin. I would also do a test patch on a small (not-too-noticeable) portion of the boot, just in case it darkens the leather. If you’re satisfied with the test results, then go for it and give those boots a good rubbing! Simply rub lanolin onto your boots like you would any other waterproofing treatment, let it dry for 24 hours and voilà — you’re leather is protected!

As for my Gourgeous Goergies, well, they’re getting the spa treatment tonight, a lanolin rubdown that will keep them looking good now and into the new year.

Elee*

Spotted! Vico Magistretti Demetrio 70 table for Artemide

Hey! Came across these photos on North Elevation yesterday, From the photographic portfolio of Charlie Bennet - via Charlie Bennet's facebook. Can you spot Magistretti's lovely low and oh so mod table? This guy's lovely home has a red version of our white one. Love the space too, so crisp and modern. And make sure to check out North Elevation they also run the ever lovely Modern Love, another Canadian website which sells such beautiful things!

Thanksgiving!

We're closed Thanksgiving Monday (Oct.11th) but open again regular hours on Wednesday. We'll have a nice assortment of winter coats coming into the shop next week- some suede trenches, fur collared swings and short jackets, so come by early and check out the site to get first dibs on your winter gear.

And in the spirit of being grateful, we'd like to express our gratitude to all you lovely customers who not only support our endeavour but make our day with your presence. You are appreciated. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Nuit Blanche- 8mm style

we're running some 8mm film over at upsidedive tonight in honour of nuit blanche. come by and check out some fun vintage footage. its on until 10pm -midnight if crowds are interested. who knows what footage you'll see. we'll be rotating a slew of mystery material and some staples- you know, babies gurgling furiously, men in short shorts boating furiously... dat kinda thing.

over n out.

Upside of fall - 30 footwear picks to Dive for!

In these darker times, we're obsessed with texture - suede, embossing, metals, perforations.  It's fall and it's all in the details - fringe, scallops, two-tone, folds. Here's a peek at fall footwear at UpsideDive, and lovelies, this is just the start.