Happy Holidays from Mermaidens! ♡

Friday, December 21, 2012

Here's hoping you all have a happy, healthy and bright holiday season filled with beautiful people, things, and sweets! When I see you next, I'll have turned 19 - my birthday is on the 25th eep!

♡,
Kailey

Interview: Lydia from Style is Style

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

I'm super pleased to present an interview with the wonderful Lydia from Style is Style! Smart, gorgeous, and a thrifting pro - Lydia is truly a constant source of inspiration! Her style incorporates everything I love - from leopard print to polka-dots to stripes and floral, and I love reading her posts about exploring Vancouver! I was lucky enough to ask her about her style, taste in music, and her highlights of 2012 ♡

Describe your style using only three words.
Whimsical, femme, vintage.

Christmas is fast approaching - what's on your wish list?
I don't have much on my list this year, I am mostly looking forward to hanging out with my family. I have been eying many a cat themed accessory on Etsy, and I would love to own the Advanced Style book. I've always got pretty vintage dresses on my mental wishlist too!

I loved reading your post about seeing Santigold live from a while back - who are some of your other favorite musical artists?
There are many! Lately I have been listening to Frank Ocean, Florence and the Machine, Fleet Foxes, Brandi Carlile, First Aid Kit, Lana Del Rey, Kimbra and a sprinkling of miscellaneous Top 40. Some standbys for me are Kanye West, The Beatles, Feist and Lykke Li.

Around this time I always reflect on the year that was and make plans for the next one! What were some highlights from 2012 for you?
I think my biggest highlights of 2012 were being featured in Glamour magazine and finally leaving Starbucks to work at a consignment shop here in Vancouver. I am really enjoying my job, and it was kind of surreal to see myself in a magazine that I've been reading for years.

What is your dream job?
I'm not quite sure what my dream job is exactly, but I think that I'd like to own (or at least run) a shop one day. I'm enjoying doing visual merchandising at my current job, and I think that my love of vintage clothing would lend itself nicely to a clothing and ephemera boutique.

I really love how you always incorporate pieces you have thrifted in your outfit posts! Do you have a favorite find?
Thrifting a large portion of my wardrobe means I have a quite an attachment to each find! One of my favorites is a 1980s floral dress that is fit and flared, which I bought back in Grade 11. I always feel great when I wear it, and I even brought it with me on my first trip to NYC.

Describe the average day in your life.
I usually wake up around 8am, get ready and head to work at Front & Company, an independent consignment and new retail shop. I take outfit photos before I start my shift, so my tripod and I are well acquainted with the area close to where I work. At Front and Company, I work on the shop floor as well as in the consignment department, and I also recently assisted with styling the windows. Once I've finished up for the day, I'm probably hopping on a bus homeward. Some nights I head out to see one of my friends bands, or to a shop opening or event. I typically write my blog posts in the evening, so I mow down on dinner while editing and writing. Then I go to sleep at about midnight, catching some zzzs before another busy day!

Want more Lydia? Visit these links!
Style is Style
Tumblr
Twitter

Thank you so much again Lydia!

♡,
Kailey

Mermaidens by Laura Manfre

Monday, December 17, 2012

A little over a week ago Laura Manfre, a U.K. based artist I have long admired for her brilliant skill with watercolors and love for kitsch, surprised me with this! Laura painted this portrait of little old me, and I can't help but feel like the luckiest girl in the world! Such an unbelievably sweet gesture and something I would have never excepted to come about because of starting this blog! ♡

Meanwhile, I really am sorry for how quiet things have been over here lately - I have lots of fun things scheduled but I keep running into road blocks! Tomorrow I have an interview with one of my favorite ladies scheduled, so look out for that!

I hope everybody is enjoying their holiday season (and aren't feeling *too* stressed out by it all)!

♡,
Kailey

Mermaidens Illustrated!

Monday, December 3, 2012

It seems my life dream of becoming a cartoon character has come true! I began following the incredibly talented Kathryn Wilkins after seeing her illustrate some of my favorite blogging ladies, so imagine my utter shock and delight to see that she had chosen me to be part of her Lookbook Illustrated project!

I am positively over the moon and somewhat speechless - I can't get over the attention to detail (my hair looks exactly like that!) and how she drew me holding my new ice cream lamp; squee! I feel like this is what I would look like in Candyland! Thank you so much again Kathryn! Be sure to check out the rest of her illustrations, and if you'd like one for yourself, she is open for commissions!

Happy Monday everybody! Mine has had an incredible start! *_* Any interesting plans for this week?

♡,
Kailey

Ice Cream Dream

Saturday, December 1, 2012


SHOES: c/o BAIT Footwear PETTICOAT: Sock Dreams TIGHTS Forever 21

Happy December 1st! I kind of forgot to mention that I moved about a month or so ago, and stacks of boxes are littering the floor and it has been rather chaotic over here! I haven't really had time to sit down and schedule posts, thus my absence! Currently I am working on some interesting posts (like a DIY, a giveaway, outfit post, and an interview with a favorite blogger) - but until those are ready, please bare with me and take a look at this ice cream lamp I bought on sale at Fred Flare! ♡

Kailey

Thrifting 101

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Since I've been having a really good thrifting streak lately, I thought it might be fun to compile a post of little tips and tricks I have learned throughout my thrifting adventures! There is something so gratifying when, after digging for hidden treasures, you discover something perfect - and that you had no idea existed in the first place!

I found two of these Strawberry Shortcake mugs at Goodwill for .49 cents each!

Find & Frequent
ALL of the thrift stores in your town! It is imperative that you explore as many as you can and frequent them... well, frequently! Thrift stores are getting new things almost everyday, and so the stock is in a constant state of changing - one day you might go and find absolutely nothing, and the next, you hit a jackpot! The Thrift Shopper was an incredible directory - just put in your zip code and it will show you a list of nearby stores!

Leave No Stone Unturned
Look through everything! Go through sheets, toys, records, books, clothing (including the mens and children sections!) - you never know what you might find! It is very time consuming, (and I am still guilty of skimming through things too quickly sometimes!) but chances are you will be rewarded for your hard work! One of my absolute favorite finds was a Disney's Cinderella soundtrack that I found in the very last stack of records there I looked through!

This adorable cheerleader-esque pinafore skirt was missing a button, so I replaced it with two red ones!

Be Open Minded
Found a shirt with an awful shape but brilliant fabric? Instead of wearing it as an actual shirt, why not use it for backdrops or repurpose it into something that you will love? That said, don't go overboard and overwhelm yourself! Try not to buy anything that is truly beyond repair.

Bring Hand Sanitizer
This one is pretty important for me! Bring hand sanitizer when doing your searching (you never know where some of those things have been!) and be sure to wash the clothing throughly before use!

My kitty Turnip investigating!

And now I have to ask: what are your thrifting tips? I want to hear them!
♡,
Kailey

Mermaidens - Musings of a Modern Mermaid ©2011-2014 All rights reserved
Portrait in Header Illustration by Sibylline Meynet designed by Designs Blue Moon