This past weekend, hanging at home with mom, we decided to do a little shopping at my favourite place, Boretski Gallery. It is a little shop in downtown Belleville, close to my hometown, that deals in everything vintage and fabulous. I don’t know if I have yet shared with you my love of vintage fashion, but it is quite a passion of mine and very close to my heart.

I used to go to Boretski Gallery all the time when I was in high school, usually with a friend or two, and we would spend HOURS looking through all the dresses, jewelry and hats, putting on fashion shows and modeling all the dresses, feeling as special as can be :). Sometimes not buying anything and sometimes splurging on a couple items I couldn’t live without, items that are always among the most special in my wardrobe.

 I wasn’t able to go there as much when I was in university and since I graduated this spring  because I live further away and didn’t have access to a car, but I have always tried to drop in from time to time to check in, say hi and drool over everything in the store.

Visiting with my mom reminded me of all the special times in that store- the time I spent 5 hours with my good friend, modeling all the dresses in the shop for Marina (the amazing shop owner, who kept the shop open more than an hour after closing because we were having so much fun!), and finally settling on an amazing little blue number for my graduation. Or the time that I spent about 4 hours looking through everything in the store and finally splurging on a Marilyn Monroe-worthy gold bathing suit and long black evening coat… I still swoon thinking of these purchases, that are in loving places of honour in my closet!… 

One of the most special things about this shop is that it reminds me so much of my grandmother. My grandmother was a seamstress, a collector of all thing vintage and a very fashionable lady. She was and still is my inspiration, and her house and her sewing shoppe was always filled with amazing vintage clothes, accessories, fabrics and sewing and crafting things that are now part of my collection. Going into Boretski Gallery, and with every turn and little surprise I can’t help but think of her :).

Every time I go into this shop, there is something that I just CAN’T leave without, and this visit was no exception. Browsing through the coats, thinking of the cold outside, I came across this- and I just couldn’t put it back.

I know that I already have a, um.. large number.. of coats, but wearing different winter coats is one of the only things you can do to look different day to day in the Canadian winter, and this one was just the perfect amount of vintage and quirky- and I am really looking forward wearing it and building outfits around it! 

I am so excited to share one of my favourite places in the world, and the best shopping destination in my area! It is worth dropping in just to chat fashion with Marina!

Now I am off to make some long wrist warmers to go with my new coat, and dream about all of the other gems that I saw this visit 🙂 !

xo erin