Tattered Rose will be closed for a while.....

I broke my arm two days before Christmas and have been seriously out of commission (and in a great deal of pain & discomfort) ever since.

I will let you know when we are open again.

To my customers: Sorry about the inconvenience this may cause. I will get back as soon as I can.

Carol
Tattered Rose

Sometimes.....

Things are winding down...the last few days before the Christmas shopping "rush" although this year, it has been more of a slow stroll.

It is not an easy time of year for some of us....lost loved ones, lost jobs, or a sense of not feeling the Christmas spirit the way it used to feel.

Like most things, this too shall pass....eventually. Not the facts of your loss but the overwhelming feelings that may occupy a lot of your time. That is what helps me get through it because I am one of those people who don't especially love this time of year any more. The Christmas season makes me realize how much I miss my Mom who left this Earth on March 6, 2007, just after I opened Tattered Rose in Edmonton. It also makes me think of my family who are far away that I can't be with.

I usually cannot listen to Christmas songs in stores because the tears well up in my eyes and sometimes even make it down my cheeks. I thought it was only the sappy ones but the other day, while in Petsmart buying food for our cats the the wild birds that hang out in our pine tree outside, I found myself getting emotional while "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" was playing. Crazy.

But I am very happy to have helped some of my customers find special gifts for their loved ones....that makes it worthwhile for me.

I always breathe a sigh of relief the day after New Years Eve. The holidays are done for another year and I can get on with my normal amount of crying for lost loved ones, which is only now and then.

For everyone who feels this way, I reach out to you and give you a hug. Sometimes all we need is a hug from a friend.

It will be OK.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Love,

Carol
♥

Tattered Rose Loves Knitwear!

A sort of haiku:

So, this is where the "urban" part comes in. This knitted poncho/scarf. Cozy & modern....and urban.
Tattered Rose is eclectic but not everything has ruffles.
Ruffles are good, great even but not everyone wants to wear them.
We have plenty of non-ruffled clothing to choose from. In fact, we probably have 10 times as much clothing that isn't ruffled than is.
I still love ruffles though.
And lace.
Oh, and velvet!

♥

Holiday Hours

Wishing everyone a safe & happy holiday season.

Love,
Tattered Rose

Tattered Rose is everywhere!

We have this blog and we've been on Facebook for a while....but we are also on Twitter and Instagram (finally!)

Please follow us for the latest from Tattered Rose:

Instagram
Twitter
Facebook

Farmgirl on the Prairies

Once upon a time there was a farmgirl. Aside from her obvious love for her family and friends, she also loved fudge, clothing, and animals, especially cats and horses and grew up knowing she would never be rich.

She would instead be one of those creative people who liked having money but loved following their heart more. The dream of one day owning her own shop where she carried the most delectable clothing & jewellery would lead her down paths she had only imagined.....just not down the path of early retirement.

Yep, this is the owner of Tattered Rose, and while she carries things like sparkly jewels & long velvet evening type dresses and coats, there is certainly more than a hint of farmgirl in every corner of the shop.

#gifts #romanticclothing #edmontonboutiques

The Place to Be!

You never know what any given day will bring. That is why it is very important not to look back, but to enjoy the present....live in the moment, with the belief that something wonderful is about to happen.
That's how dreamers do it.
♥
#bestshoppinginedmonton #shopsinedmonton #edmontonshopping #wheretoshopinedmonton #edmontonwomensboutiques

Tattered Rose Couture

we have our own version of "couture"....not to scary or expensive. Something you can wear in real life and not just on a runway in paris
#edmontonshopping #bestedmontonshopping #edmontonboutiques

SALE!

Surprise mini sale at Tattered Rose today....an additional 20% off items already marked down on the sale rack, including Sympli the Best!

Mr. Kitty thinks this is a gr-r-r-r-eat idea!

Turquoise......why not?

A silk scarf to go with this stunning pair of turquoise & crystal earrings. Be still, my heart♥

In Full Bloom

Tattered Rose is in full boom....and yes, we know this is not a rose♥

It's not (just) business...it's personal.

Had I been born with fine bones and near a city that had a ballet troupe, I might have been a ballerina. However, that wasn't ever meant to be MY story.

Mine was a sometimes sad but nevertheless mostly happy childhood. I was creative from the start....my teachers knew that about me, at least. Oh, and my older sister...she could see that I had a natural talent to sew and create things with my hands. Thank God for her being in my life because who knows where I would be if she hadn't encouraged me to pursue my dreams.

I own a clothing boutique, yes. But it is not like any other clothing shop that I have ever seen and I say that as an objective observer, not as a bragging thing. Maybe if my store was more "normal" and not so "personal" I could sell it and do something else for a while that I love doing, like styling for magazines, photo shoots or other such things.

But it is too much a part of me to ever be sold to any one person who may or may not know how to take care of it that way I do. It is me. So, everything about Tattered Rose is personal and eclectic & different because that is what I am. Good or bad, it is the way things are.

So these Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas starting in October continual sale tactics do not sit well with me, personally. Why? It is too much. Too much selling. Too much pressure for people to buy now! It is impersonal and greed-oriented. I am a retailer, of course, so if I don't sell stuff, I don't stay in business and I really LOVE having my store and bringing in wonderful things for my customers to add to their wardrobes. But I do not wish to wave the message around annoyingly intruding on anyone's life that they must buy now, everything is on sale, buy buy buy! It seems wrong to me, somehow.

I never want my customers to feel uncomfortable but at the same time, I have things to sell. Still it is more than just about selling stuff. It really is personal for me. It is sharing a part of my self and my taste with my customers and letting them see the way they could dress and how they can incorporate this romantic clothing and jewellery into the lives they already have. 

Please don't ever think for one moment that I am apathetic about selling because there would be no point in me having a shop if I never wanted to sell anything that's in it. I simply don't want to do it by jumping on the guerrilla selling bandwagon...like the Black Fridays of the retail world. 

On that note....I personally invite you, customers of old and of recent times, to come in. Explore. Try on. Fall in love with something you know will make you feel wonderful every time you wear it. Then buy it because you are supporting a small local business and are part of the Tattered Rose world....and this is a way of taking a little piece of us home with you.

We're a little bit different and it IS personal for us.

With love & affection.

Carol
Tattered Rose 
♥

Edmonton's Best Kept Shopping Secret!

Tattered Rose™

We don't sell pets or Christmas decorations.
We don't carry candy or chocolate because we would eat all of it.
We don't sell men's clothing.
We don't sell automobiles or snow blowers.
We do not sell lumber, paint or door hinges.

But......

We DO have the most eclectic, romantic, vintage-inspired, unique, divine women's clothing & jewellery around!
With everything from hand-made, home-grown, hand-dyed clothing to the best casual wear we could find (and lots of stuff in between).....we really have something for every woman, no matter what age or lifestyle.

We have to be good at something, don't we?

Some have said we are an Edmonton treasure. Thank you for that.
♥

Can winter be far away now?

There's a light dusting of snow on the ground that may or may not stay this time. For some, that signals the beginning of winter sports like skiing and skating and snowmobiles and making snowmen and snow forts with your children.

For the rest of us, it can be a dreaded time of year because we are NOT snow bunnies nor do we LIKE outdoor winter sports.
What's a girl to do?

Try to be inspired. Stay warm. Shop at an eclectic local boutique (like Tattered Rose) for cozy clothing to wear at home. Wait for something special to happen. Watch old movies with your cats. Drink coffee....

....and maybe, just maybe go for a walk when the snow is falling and the air is not too unbearably cold. Enjoy the prettiness of the snow falling and frost that covers each branch of every tree.
Then, before you know it.......Spring will be here.

Well, that's what I'm gonna do, anyway.

Have we outgrown our blog?

Tattered Rose has had a blog for over 10 years now.......but it seems like we hardly ever post anymore.

Some time ago, we started our monthly-ish newsletter for customers who signed up for it in the store. This is where they can get the inside scoop on what's happening and new at Tattered Rose.

Then came our Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/tatteredrose/

And then Instagram, because everyone told us we really SHOULD be there:

https://www.instagram.com/tatteredrosecanada/?hl=en

And now, we are om Twitter:

https://twitter.com/TatteredRoseAB

So, as you can see.....we are spread quite thin in the "time" department and so our little blog sometimes suffers from a bit of neglect. 

But if you are ever curious as to what new things we have in the shop or what we are up to, you can always check one or more of those other places, besides this blog.

Better yet....come into the store in person. It is bursting with lovely things....literally. Some really cool & different clothing we never had before. New displays and things to inspire you.

Bye for now, my lovelies....and no, we haven't outgrown our blog. We'll try to be here as often as possible.
♥

Friendships

Friendships are complicated because people are complicated. We all have different friendship styles and different ideas about friendships...some of us like to keep in touch on a regular basis while others could go years not making contact with a particular friend. We have different friends who fill different "needs" in our life.....some friends are for shopping & coffee but not much more. Others are for having a good laugh and fun. And then you have that one friend that you can confide in about anything and know they won't judge you.

But what happens when you lose touch with one or more of your friends and it bothers you? What if YOU seem to be the only one who initiates contact? Should you take it personally or be sad about it? Well, that's complicated too but ultimately, it depends on how much you want to continue to be the only one making the effort to keep the friendship going.

Having moved MANY times in my life, I have made many friends, from all walks of life. Through having my shop, I have met more people than I can remember and some of those customers have become friends. 

But even with all of these friendships, there have been times in my life that I felt alone....maybe it felt like that because a friend didn't seem to call me as often (or at all) as I called. Or maybe I felt like it wouldn't be fair to anyone to dump my problems on them and so I remained quietly to myself, dealing with my own hardships or sadness.

If you are lucky enough to still live where you went to school and have friends who still live where you live, I am a little bit envious but realize that I wasn't mean to remain in one place forever. I have experienced a certain amount of travelling and living in different places, being in different marriages and relationships and I kinda like that about me. It has been interesting so far, I must say.

But that can make it difficult to stay in touch with a friend you made in high school or collage or even a workplace. Like you, they are busy with their own lives and hardships. They have made new friends where they are so the need to reach out to you may be diminished or even completely gone.

Being sensitive doesn't make it easy to deal with "lost" friendships, especially when you are going through something where you really could use a pal to help you get through the hard times what ever they may be.

If you are a loner, and are comfortable with your own company, you may not feel the need to have a lot of friends but it is always nice to have at least one true and fulfilling friendship, aside from your spouse. Your spouse won't always understand your dilemma, being from a different species and all. 

I sometimes feel like I am the one who reaches out to friends more. But that is the way I am. I think a lot and act on my thoughts. For example....if I am thinking about a particular friend and some fun times we had, I will often be prompted to email or pick up the phone to make contact with that person, only to realize that they are not in the same place or thinking the same thing at that moment. And I must accept that because to be hurt by another person's behaviour is a no-win situation. You cannot control what another person does, only how you act.

Some friends you don't see for a long time but when you do reconnect, you can just pick up where you left off, as if no time has passed. Perhaps these friends are not meant to be in your daily life or even that often but remain in your heart forever.

So, if you ever feel like you have no friends.....you do. It's just that they are temporally disconnected, to quote Bill Murray in "What About Bob". Try not to feel bad about it.....and just get busy doing the things you love to do or need to do. Hug your spouse or play with your cats. Create something, bake something or watch a movie you love. Go for a walk. Practice your photography. Tend to your garden. Read a book. Go shopping. Clean your oven.....anything that gets your mind off the feeling of loss. Before you know it, you will be so fulfilled and busy, you won't have time to feel sad about that elusive friend. And maybe you will make a new friend.....you just never know what is around the corner. Isn't that exciting?

Tattered Rose on Film

A long time ago, when the shop was located in Winnipeg, MB we were frequently sought out and/or discovered by wardrobe people who were working on films & TV shows that were being filmed locally.
That was a very interesting time.....and I will never forget 2 things:

1. The time a wardrobe person chose several of my own designs for a movie starring Ann-Margret and Penelope Ann Miller.

2. The day Robin Williams walked into the store and I got to joke around with him like he was just a regular guy. 

That kind of thing doesn't seem to happen so much here in Edmonton.....I am hoping it will again one of these days! 

Tattered Rose is waiting for you, all you wardrobe people and movie stars!
♥

Follow Your True Heart

(Photograph by Breanne Marie; Makeup by Chelsea; Hair by Dani; clothing by Carol Simon)

Have you ever wondered how or why Tattered Rose got it's name? I've been asked many times so here is a short version of my story.

I grew up on a small farm in northern Ontario with 3 brothers and two parents (my much older sister was off doing her own thing already)

Being a middle child, I didn't get that much attention except for the attention I could grab by being a silly, funny girl.  My Dad used to call me his "funny one" and that made me feel loved. To me, he was a pillar of strength and honesty.

I observed the way he lived his life. Worked very hard, never complaining about how much he had to work to keep his family going. He came from a long line of farmers and so he always had a garden planted where we could eat raw veggies from the ground topped of with a serving of fresh raspberries for dessert if we were hungry.

My Mom was a fixture in the home...she cooked and cleaned and worked very hard too but my Dad was less accessible and therefore more of a mystery to me. The clothes he wore were functional and never new, it seemed. He would wear shirts with patched and mended holes because he didn't believe in buying new things just because the old ones were a bit worn.

I would often "borrow" my Dad's work shirts and work boots to wear, even though they were way too big for me. I loved the feel of them but it wouldn't be until much later that I would realize it was the humble nature of these mended clothes with years of patina that would be forever in my heart and soul.

Throughout the years, I have worn new clothing and in the past 21 years, most of the clothing I purchased for the shop has been new. But I have always known that tattered, ripped, frayed, lovingly worn clothing is where my true heart lies.

And so it is with great enthusiasm and pleasure that I let you in on my plans for the future of Tattered Rose. Even though it has been stated before, it has become more clear than ever that Tattered Rose must once again live up to it's name.

So we will have LESS mass produced & new and WAY more vintage, one-of-a-kind, pre-loved, faded grandeur in our humble little shop. But don't worry....it will be unlike anything you may have ever thought you always wanted but didn't know until you saw it....in Tattered Rose.

We are SO very pleased with this detour from the norm that will lead us right back to our humble beginnings. Consider it a restoration of design....and there will be something for just about everyone (including new)

We hope you will come along as we explore this facet of our design aesthetic which has recently been a little bit under-explored.

With love,

Tattered Rose
♥

A Shop With a View

So thankful for the view from the shop....even when it's raining or snowing, it is a beautiful view to behold!

Brave Belts @Tattered Rose

Brave new belts.....where no woman has gone before. 

Made in Canada by skilled artisans....the best leather & buckles!

Our newest shipment arrived today and we could hardly wait to put them out and then display them.  So gorg!!!

To Pop-up or Not........

Exclusive Couture from Tattered Rose

This is one of the outfits we had at the St. Albert based Sarasota Show Homes Pop-up event this past weekend......we were in the master bedroom.

It was something I've wanted to try for some time, or should I say try again. You see, many years ago, with my "western" shop there were many occasions that I travelled with my husband at the time, to set up at various locations and pow wows to sell our wares and expand the customer base. It worked quite well but I hated it. I hated the packing up, the set-up and take-down every day, the standing there for long days of talking to so many people my head was spinning.....And then there was the packing up again and unpacking back at the store once we returned. It was exhausting and a LOT of hard work. I am by nature a quiet, shy person so this was WAY beyond overload for my sensitive soul.

BUT, it did work for the business. It allowed us to sell and make money and garner new customers who didn't know about the bricks & mortar shop in Winnipeg, called Way Out West. Many of them became repeat customers.

When that marriage/partnership was over, so was my pop-up existence for it was never me who wanted to do them.

Time has passed and when a recent opportunity came about to be part of this collective of local vendors at Sarasota Homes in St. Albert, well I thought "Why not give it a shot?" So I did. Thankfully, my wonderful husband (a different one from the time I owned my western shop) helped me load and unload the clothing and props I had chosen to represent Tattered Rose, the bricks & mortar store located in Edmonton.

The results?

That's complicated but for this venue, it was obvious that I wasn't there to merely sell small trinkets. My main intention was to meet new people and potential new customers. Most people going through the show homes were there for both the homes & the vendors, to buy small things like jewellery but they weren't really looking to buy couture or other clothing.

I met new people, handed out business cards, got a few new names for our monthly newsletter and sold a few smaller things. I do not consider it a mistake because it was something I had to do. However, I realized that it really isn't my cup of tea.

I like being in my beautiful shop, greeting and chatting with customers who want to be there. You can tell at a glance what I am selling and it isn't only about things...it is about much more than that, for me. It's personal, it's not just business.

♥

Vintage Style for the Modern (Urban) Woman

A Vintage Vibe........at Tattered Rose

Love the look of old photographs that have been tinted. This is a recent photo taken of one of our lovely coats but we tried to make it look vintage.

Just an old-fashioned gal living in a modern world. Does that describe you too?

♥

Some Thoughts About Colour....from Tattered Rose & Company

To colour or not to colour......for some of us, that is not a choice we make...it is just who we are.

For some of us, wearing colour is like holding a big sign that says "Look at me!" and our innermost wallflower just can't handle attention like that. 

We'd rather walk around as if in anonymity, doing the things we have to do with hardly a ripple in our cool, dark waters. We know who we are and we don't need to be the centre of attention all the time.

For others, wearing colour is like breathing...it's just a part of who they are. They walk fearless in this world, boldly facing what ever comes their way. Colour makes them happy.

They do not shy away from the limelight and sometimes they even wear the colour lime....but usually, it is red or yellow because, let's face it: This world would be pretty dull if all we ever saw was shades of black & grey.
 
Except, of course for those of us who only WEAR black and grey! We love our shady little world of dark colours.

So wear your colours or non-colours....be true to yourself and never let anyone dull your sparkle or put a damper on your darkness.

With love,

From Tattered Rose
The people who bring you choices: colours and non-colours.

Our Very First Pop-Up!!

Don't forget.....our Tattered Rose bricks & mortar store is closed today so that we may participate in this exciting pop-up event:

Sarasota Realty (show homes)
Location:  205 McKenney, St. Albert
Time:  12-4 pm
Date:  October 22, 2016

Please come and see us and other speciality vendors if you can!

Exploring the World Around Us

This Saturday, October 22nd, Tattered Rose is doing something completely different. 

The store WILL NOT BE OPEN but we will instead have a mini pop-up store (along with some other vendors) at the above location in St. Albert.

We look forward to meeting some new customers and perhaps seeing a few familiar faces if you can make it.

About Us

Don't let the name fool you....we are NOT a tattoo shop, nor a consignment or vintage shop (although we DO have the odd vintage piece)

Tattered Rose is an eclectic boutique that cannot be defined by one term or word. We have many one-of-a-kind designs that can only be found in Tattered Rose (designed and made by the owner). But we also have bridal and grad wear, casual clothing, jewellery, sweaters, tulle skirts, accessories, jersey clothing, and so much more.

It really has to be seen in person to see what we mean when we say "it's different" but the clothing isn't always tattered....only when it has to be.

Thanksgiving Weekend Hours

Thanksgiving weekend hours:

Friday Oct. 7th     11-3
Saturday Oct. 8th 11-2

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Love,
Tattered Rose

P.S. Jasper is all ready, just waiting for his Thanksgiving dinner...meow.

Quirky.Dark.Romantic...........a.k.a. Tattered Rose

Our Tim Burton-inspired photo shoot yesterday was beyond stunning. All designs were lovingly created just for this shoot and for our model "Emily Rose". These one-of-a-kind creations will be available at Tattered Rose very soon.

Stay tuned for more.............

Do you like Helena Bonham Carter's style?

This is going to be one exciting fall at Tattered Rose!

We kick things off with a dynamic photo shoot this weekend. Our model is a beautiful young red-haired woman who will be wearing outfits designed just for her & the shoot! Colours & styles befitting a fairy-tale princess but totally wearable in the real world....hard to describe so you'll just have to come and see for yourself. 

These one-of-a-kind designs will be available (to purchase) at Tattered Rose next week. We're talking Paris couture-inspired clothing...like nothing you will find anywhere else (in Edmonton) because they are our own exclusive designs.

After that, let's see, shall we?

Woo-hoo!

♥

Closed early Friday, September 23rd........

This is what I do when I have a migraine.....sleep. 

On that note, Tattered Rose is closed as of 2:00 pm today due to a migraine that just won't go away.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

TR

The Song of Fall

(Sung to the tune of that song from the Sound of Music...you know, the one where the children sing for the dinner guests)

There's a sad sort of cooling in the air that we breathe,
'cuz we know what is coming soon.
And geese they are flyin' to the south to be warm.
You'd better get in here by noon.
By noon.
By noon.
You'd better get in here by noon.

Love,
Tattered Rose
P.S. Lots of new, casual chic stuff in and more to come!

Thursday, September 15th......

Tattered Rose will be closed until 1:00 pm Thursday, September 15th to attend a funeral.

We will be back (and open) 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Thank you for your understanding.

♥

Weddings, Brides, Bridal Couture..........by Tattered Rose

Weddings aren't just for brides.....but pretty close!

Did you know that we sell our own wedding designs? Gorgeous lace, brocade, silk, crepe, industrial satin, and other fabrics, some of which are vintage? 

Don't expect a football field full of dresses covered in plastic, though. NO....we have a concise and very special collection of mostly hand made dresses, shrugs, skirts, shawls, hair pieces and bustiers.

For the individual woman who isn't into the mass-produced wedding dress thing. You know what you like and you have the romantic soul of someone who has lived before. You are a bit of a rebel and a dreamer.

Your wedding is going to be in a garden or perhaps a mountain...in the forest, a small church or at a cabin at the lake. You might not even wear shoes.....maybe just for the ceremony and then off they go!

It will be anything but tradtional. 

That's the kind of bride who comes to Tattered Rose for a dress or outfit for their special day.

P.S. Appointments outside of our normal hours are considered, as time allows.

The Victorian Walking Coat

In the world of clothing, there is nothing (aside from the corset) more feminine & reminiscent of the Victorian era than a shaped coat...with a fitted waist that flares out to the hemline.

In bordeaux and grey fleece for now...and a super lux black double knit coming soon.

We love Fall clothing at Tattered Rose and it has started trickling into the shop with much more to follow.

Stay tuned..........

Fall is falling in.

We got some new fleece coats in from Sympli the Best today and I wanted to see what they looked like on a person. 

So, when this lovely young lady was trying some things on.....I put 2 and 2 together and asked her try one on for me.

Then we spontaneously went outside to take a few pictures of her wearing the gorgeous bordeaux coat.

What fun! Thanks again F.

Transition.........

The "F" word.
FALL! It's just around the corner but no worries...Tattered Rose is still in summer mode....well, actually, transition mode. We have completed our store changeover but it is still filled with romantic clothing for any season.

It is fun to find new ways to dress for slightly cooler weather (coming soon) but still have one foot in summer, not willing to let go just yet.

Velvets are big this Fall.....just sayin'.

Thank You!

We just wanted to say "Thank You" to all of our wonderful & loyal customers. 
We really DO appreciate you.........enjoy the rest of the long weekend♥

Holiday Weekend Hours

Happy Long Weekend!!

Tattered Rose is open on Saturday 11-2....yippeee!
 
Hope you can make it.

Got the rainy day blues?

What to do if it rains.....
(a short story by Tattered Rose)

Wear a ruffled skirt from Tattered Rose and spend time with a cat....in other words, make the best of things.

We're here to help. Stop by for a visit....we're open today from 11-3.

We don't have any cats but we DO have ruffled skirts.
♥

our Tattered Rose is BACK!

Like a veil has been lifted.....

As of yesterday, the scaffolding & plywood that completely obscured the front of Tattered Rose is gone!

It was so nice to see the world through our windows again...and that church across the street...and to have customers just wander in because they noticed the store.

We must take comfort in the small things when we can.

 

Love,

Tattered Rose

Tattered Rose PARKING

PARKING at Tattered Rose...

The people working on the condo building our shop is in have taken over our customer parking space at the back of the building....at least for most of the summer.

You may park in one of 3 visitor parking stalls along the side of the building or on the street in front.

We apologize for this inconveninece and hope it doesn't stop you from coming in to see our lovely new items♥