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.