NINETY-SIX/ winter wear

The temperature in Ottawa is finally dipping below zero and I'm one of the weird ones who actually enjoys it. I'll probably regret saying that when January/February rolls around but for now I'm loving the cold. 

This coat is virtually ancient and I've actually replaced it with a newer model *wipes away tear*. We've had some good times together and it's help me battle through the coldest of winter days but it has rips in the lining and I'm not sure if it will last the entire season. The new coat I bought is virtually the same, just with minor differences. I'm sure I'll introduce it on the blog sooner or later. For now this jacket is reserved for warmer winter days and whenever I feel like taking a trip down memory lane.

I can't get enough of my Nike Roshe Runs. I know I'm going to have to trade these in for a pair of winter boots once the snow comes but I'll wear them every second I can until then.

SUNGLASSES/ Aldo SCARF/ Burberry COAT/ Addition Elle

JEANS/ Forever 21+ BAG/ Zara SHOES/ Nike 

Bag and scarf were purchased via consignment
Photos by Suzanne Waugh

SIXTY-TWO/ insomniac

I'm currently writing this as I'm "sleeping" over at my best friend's house. I put sleeping in quotation marks because they're really doing more of the sleeping, I'm more of a night owl. It can be quite lonely or boring at times but hey, at least I'm doing something productive right now... right?

I've been wearing this jacket pretty much non stop since I bought it a couple of weeks ago. I know everyone owns one like it and it is in no way unique, but I really don't care. I absolutely love it. The pleather sleeves look insanely cheap but I think that they give the piece a certain charm. Maybe I'm crazy. I love how the pockets are big enough for me to fit bits and bobs like bus transfers, lipsticks, change and my cell phone. I also love how its not 100% black.

I've been wearing the jacket with my Burberry scarf because it's honestly so cold here and the scarf keeps me so warm. I've been mixing up my bottoms, shoes and handbags to keep the ensemble looking fresh.

Today I decided to pair it with my MICHAEL Michael Kors skinny jeans and beaten up Converse for sort of a casual feel. I just threw on my Marc by Marc Jacobs bag because it had everything I need in it and I was in a bit of a rush to go out and meet my friends.

My friends and I spent the day doing my two favourite things - shopping and eating. We checked out the new H&M that finally opened up in Ottawa (I might do a post on all my findings later) and got lost in the giant mess that is Bayshore Shopping Centre while trying to find our parking lot. We finished the night with a makeshift buffet of different kinds of junk food (pizza, wings and the like) and hot chocolate with mini chocolate chip biscotti.

JACKET/ Last Kiss SCARF/ Burberry London JEANS/ MICHAEL Michael Kors 

SHOES/ Converse BAG/ Marc by Marc Jacobs ACCESSORIES/ Various 

LIPSTICK/ Raspberry by Joe Fresh

* Photo credit: Laura Kidd

* Disclaimer: I decided to name this blog post 'insomniac' because insomnia is something that I truly suffer from. I understand that it is a very real disorder and that if affects many people's lives. I do not wish to glamourize it it any way and I'm sorry if the title comes across as that in any way. Insomnia is a horrible condition and I really wouldn't wish it upon even my worst enemy. If you follow me on Twitter, Tumblr or if you know me in real life, you'd know that I've suffered from this for years. I despise every second of it. It truly is torture but I felt as though the title reflected what I'm going through and gave a bit of insight as to why I'm the only person under this roof that is awake and the reason why I'm updating my blog at 1:40 in the morning as opposed to you know... a healthy time.

SIXTY-ONE/ key pieces for survival

We all have items that we simply cannot live without. For some people its their favourite sweater, their favourite brand of shampoo or their signature scent. For me, it's a whole mess of things. I'm so seriously brand loyal and once I find a product that I love - I stick to it. Under the cut here is a list of some of my favourite products (from fashion, to beauty, to food, to other) that make my life a little bit easier and make me a bit more happy. Although none of what I listed is crucial for survival, some days it feels like they are.

I decided to leave out some of the more obvious ones, like my iPod Classic, iPhone or my wallet - those are just no brainers. Please feel free to share some of your favourite items in the comments!

FIFTY-EIGHT/ if i had a million dollars

It's no secret that I obsess over designer items, it's honestly like an addiction to me. I scroll through countless online shops and browse through tons of brick and mortar stores looking at amazing pieces that I'll never be able to afford - I don't know why I torture myself. Some people like to go to museums and look at the unbelievable art there, I prefer high end stores. I'm weird like that.

So far I've acquired some of my dream pieces, but the problem with fashion is that styles change every season. I've just been sticking with secondhand classic pieces that won't ever go out of style; it's more practical and wallet friendly. But of course every few months something new comes out that totally sweeps me off my feet and makes me look at my bank account and cringe. I keep telling myself that someday it'll happen, and I hope that someday comes soon. Sometimes I feel as though I'm far too materialistic for my own good...

ANYWAY, here are some pieces that I'm currently dying over from current collections, classic collections and past collections. They are mostly footwear, scarves or handbags seeing as the vast majority of designers do not make clothing in my size, not to mention the fact that I crave accessories.

Some of these items are obtainable, like the Michael Kors watch and the Kate Spade bangle, and some of them will probably torment me for the rest of my life, like the Chanel bag.

1. Louis Vuitton 'Neverfull' GM 2. Giuseppe Zanotti for Balmain buckle boots 3. Michael Kors silver 'Chronograph' watch 4. Kate Spade "Lights, Camera, Action / Steal The Show" bangle 5. Chanel 'Large Classic Flap Bag' 6. Charlotte Olympia red suede 'Bisoux' slippers 7. Tiffany & Co. Ziegfeld Collection black "Spinel" ring 8. Alexander McQueen tan leopard/skull print cashmere pashmina  9. Balenciaga 'Giant 12 Silver Town Bag' in black 10. Burberry stud detail belted rain boots 11. Christian Louboutin 'Gine' black and grey velvet flats

* I could have easily made this into a post about the designer handbags I want, but I decided to hold off on that. Another post for another day, possibly. I only added the three handbags I've been lusting after for what seems like forever. | All thoughts are my own, this post is no way sponsored by any of the mentioned retailers. | All images are referenced back to their original sources.

THRIFTED THURSDAYS/ one

Welcome to this new segment on my blog! I'm going to be calling it Thrifted Thursdays and every Thursday I'm going to be discussing one of my amazing secondhand finds. These finds can be from traditional thrift shops, garage sales, consignment shops or eBay and they can range from handcrafted, to vintage, to designer pieces. I will also discuss different tricks and techniques when buying secondhand.

The name of my blog is Secondhand Rose and seeing as I work at a consignment shop, I'm around used clothing almost daily. Although you do see some of my used clothing finds in my outfit posts, I feel like I've neglected that whole section on my wardrobe here on my blog.

I also believe that there is still a lot of negativity, and almost like a stigma, associated with buying secondhand clothing and I'm here to disprove as many of those myths as possible. Let's get started, shall we?

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I decided to start off the segment with one of my latest and most favourite designer finds. I picked this up at Rikochet Resale, a consignment shop here in Ottawa, and I am head over heels in love with this piece. It is an authentic classic Burberry lambswool scarf and it is a piece I've been lusting after for pretty much my entire life. The trick with buying designer items secondhand is to find a credible shop. There are tons of counterfeit pieces out there and it is sometimes tricky to determine the legitimacy of an item by yourself. I'm wary of items found in thrift shops like Value Village or Goodwill that claim to be designer, and there's no way I'm going to shell out money for designer goods off of eBay. I like to feel the item and see it for myself, or in the case of this consignment shop, know that it was check thoroughly by a trained professional.

Although I have been lusting after this scarf for what seems like forever now, I always knew that it was out of my price range. The scarf I bought is an older style, but scarves at Burberry are traditionally price upwards of $300 (depending on style, materials used, size, ect), and I picked this one up for only $100. The price I paid may still seem steep for a lot of you but you have to understand that this is a classic, traditional piece and it is coming from a company that hardly, if ever, has sales. I also have a sort of passion for designer scarves and I knew that adding this to my (small) collection was a must. I'm beyond happy with this purchase.

* Photo was taken by myself.