Monday, August 31, 2015

Dark in Dries and Dior

Can you tell I am jonesing for cooler weather? A couple of rainy days and here I am bustin' out the blacks!
I give today's outfit a thumbs sideways. I like all the pieces, but not together. Also: it was much better in person.

  • Blazer - Dries Van Noten, vintage 90s, thrifted; first worn here (2nd outfit) in November 2014
  • Blouse - Jacob, thrifted; purchased here yesterday for $9.50
  • Skirt - Morena, consignment; last seen here (3rd outfit) in March 2014 with some crazy stuff
  • Shoes - Half Truth Veda, Fluevog; last worn here last week with double patterns
  • Half-slip - Christian Dior, thrifted; not tracked

I had planned the blouse and skirt together, but not really thought through how I was going to deal with my bra situation. I don't like straps showing that much, and I didn't feel like wearing a strapless. That's just too much boobular business going on for a Monday. I tried a few blazers and picked this one. Nope, not the right one! 

"I decline being in your picture."
I love this Dries Van Noten blazer, but it really only looks right when it's done up. I still marvel that I thrifted this for $18.00. I need to create some proper looks for it! Big sweeping skirts and lace at my throat! Drama!
And what is it about this skirt that makes me create bizarre outfits? I haven't worn it in over a year (!) and yet, it's so unusual I don't want to give it up. It has an asymmetrical hemline due to this big bouf on the side. I think it affects my brain. Brain Bouf, it's totally a thing.

Here's how I've worn it since I bought it. See if you can figure it out!

  • Here in March 2014 (same as the link above): socks?! and gobs of colour. 
  • Earlier the same month here, with my Leia jacket (also not worn very much).
  • January 2014 here with caramel velvet - I'm an urban cowgirl!
  • May 2013 here in Edwardian whackitude. That's probably my favourite outfit with it.
  • Wow, I wore it 6 times in the February 2012 capsule at the start of my 30 for 30 for 12 challenge (recap of February here); the first time is here, and I vaguely guessed at the price as around $28.00.


I tried to wear it this way today as much as possible.
I'm blurry internally too - had to be at work for 8am
The blouse is all wrong with the jacket, but is fine when the jacket is fully buttoned. I did like all the black textures together: the skirt is pinstriped corduroy on flat cotton, and the jacket is a floral brocade. And I do black so seldom that it always feels fun to me.

The stuff:
My feet have been bothering me some lately - I've got tightness in my Achilles' Heel and tendon stiffness on the bottoms. So, the Vedas again.

Circle bling:
Did you notice my shoe clips? They are from somewhere in the range of 1920s to 1940s, I think. Not super high-quality, but solid.


  • Earrings - gift from Lise
  • Shoe clips - vintage fair


Anyway, swing and a miss! Must do better tomorrow.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Weekend Wrap-Up: Stormy, Hypno-Dress and Art, and Some Shopping

It's been a whirlwind of a weekend, and now it's time to chill. I might need to sneak another nap in. 

On Saturday, I got ready to go play Ultimate Frisbee. It was very windy and sort of stormy. 
After I took this picture, I noticed, "What is that on my chest?" Ack! Moth attack! I hopped around and swatted it off me. Very traumatizing.


  • Sweater - Talbots, thrifted; last seen here in May with chartreuse
  • Skirt - Club Monaco; last worn here (2nd outfit) in May, again for Ulty
  • Loafers - Land's End, thrifted; last seen here a few times for the 40+ Blogger Meet-Up in July

One of our confirmed players cancelled due to sickness, so we ended up not playing, which was fine by me, as then I could meet up with Elaine a little earlier for our afternoon of brunch and shopping.
As mentioned, it was hugely windy - this skirt billowed massively!
I layered up for the intermittent rain and wind, with my mauve leather jacket.

The stuff:
I love wearing a thin scarf wrapped around my neck. I think I'll be moving these loafers along after this summer - they are a little tight and not as comfy as I'd hoped.

Silver bling:
I admit, it's a plain to wear a bracelet when you're trying stuff on.


  • Scarf - Beecher's Brook, thrifted
  • Bracelet - Fossil, gift from L
  • Earrings - Fossil, thrifted


After brunch, we went to the St. Vincent de Paul. We both had some good luck.
Another amber glass for my collection, for $3.00.

I've been perusing the September issues of the big fashion magazines (the only time of year I buy them) and ripping out inspirations. I'm loving mod and Victorian, so I was on the lookout for bold 60s and 70s graphics, as well as romantic tops. I also tossed a bunch of skirts recently, so generally scoping for interesting new ones for fall, particularly in longer lengths.

For only $1.00, this fabulous 70s scarf was mine. Orange...
Cat-approved
 ...and purple to go with my hair!

This slate blue-y/grey colour is a tricky one for me to wear, but as long as it's a skirt, it's way easier.
It's a 50/50 wool and acrylic blend, and is very thick and soft. The slit goes right up to the waist! It's going to look sweet with winter boots.

And only $4.00.
I've never  heard of Theo Miles but this article talks about how it was dissolved after only a year in business back in 1994. I guess that's a pretty good estimate of the age of this skirt.

I've been really grooving on grey lately, and I like seeing the front slit coming back in longer-length pencil skirts.
Voila! Vintage 80s 100% wool pencil skirt with a slight A-line, and an interesting detail on the front slit.

And just $5.00!
I am sure that label said "Bianca".

I fell hard for this awesome orange vintage 80s blouse.
It's polyester, and has big swooshy sleeves and a little tie at the neck.

Never heard of the brand, but it's before the mid-80s and the Great Size Shift.
13/14 is about a size 8 in modern clothing.

After the SVdeP, we dashed through the rain and wind to the WIN Warehouse store. I love their vintage selection, and it was 40% off all red-starred tags today.
Like this fabulous scarf, which was $6.50 plus 40% off, so $3.90. Love all those mod colours! So very 70s.

I always scope out the lingerie section for nice vintage pieces.
$2.50 plus 40% off for this camisole makes it $1.50.

My skirt luck held out - more skirts!
I like the funky 90s plaid vibe about this skirt. It's black, blue and white.

It was $16.50.
Thank you, Tommy Hilfiger, for putting pockets in it!

The patchwork style on this skirt caught my eye.
It's a mix of black and dark chocolate brown.

A very pretty mix of textures.
It's by Strawberry Jill, and was $12.50. Strawberry Jill was a local company; an article from the local paper in 2007 - here - mentions a store in Fan Tan Alley).

Although I am quite happy with my black leather pencil skirt (this one), I found an even nicer one.
I was shocked at how soft it is - turns out it's a Canadian-made Danier Leather (Italian leather too).
Their Canadian-made line starts around $200.00 and goes up. I think I got a deal at $32.50.

After a brief nap, I changed to meet up with some friends for dinner out.
I was so excited to wear this amazing dress!


  • Lillies and berries dress - vintage 70s, thrifted; purchased here for $19.99
  • Shoes - The Fluevog Vizzinis, aka Wonders Ayers, Fluevog, customized by me and Vizzini; last worn here in July with silver

This dress was a show-stopper, everywhere that I wore it. I'm impressed by the exact matching of the fabric/pattern on the sleeves, and how it lines up on the side-seam as well.
A nice little slit for waling and doing a little leg show.

I had oodles of compliments all night.
From dinner, we walked over to the relaunched G++ Gallery at Limbic Studios (FB link) and oohed and ahhed over the cool exhibits and installations.

The stuff:
L and I stumbled home late. These shoes were made for walkin'!

Simple bling:
I went light on the accessories, since the dress stood very well on its own. 

  • Purse: TakeFive 
  • Earrings - Aldo Accessories
  • Death Star ring - Soul Flower
  • Shield ring - Nine West


L's outfit: 
Looking dapper, cool as f**k, and seriously awesome. His shirt is Le Chateau, the pants are by Etro, and the shoes are the Fluevog Iggys.

This morning, I strolled out to get groceries and to have a wee shop afterwards.  
I'm really feeling soft pinks, purples and mauves lately.


  • Sweater - Harrod's, consignment; last seen here way back in April with more pale pink 
  • Skirt - J. Crew, thrifted; first worn here earlier this month with white and orange
  • Shoes - Chie Mihara; last worn here (3rd outfit) in June to an Ulty game

I felt perfectly spring-y - I wore the same mauve leather jacket over this for my outing.
It was a little warm once the sun came out, but no complaints about all this pink and purple. So pretty!

The stuff:
I just wore stud earrings. No stuff, only shoes.

I strolled up to the WIN Boutique for a poke around. I found my fall purse!
It's a lovely taupe colour (and shows a bit of crocking!) that's been overstitched in a rough plaid/croc pattern. The hardware is all copper-coloured, and the lining is pink.
Although it says it's Coach, and the store has "authenticated" it as real (and accordingly priced it at $42.50), I can't find anything online that matches it, certainly not the serial/edition number, which would be my first confirmation. It's made in China, but it feels conflicted. A good rip-off or the real deal? We have a couple of Coach stores in town (one in the Bay department store), so it could be an older model.

Either way, I'm pretty happy with it.

I've resisted the fall fashion siren call of the turtleneck for a year now...
Um, yes, that might be an orange turtleneck sweater! It was $15.50 and is by Ralph Lauren.

I have problems with chunky sweaters, but I really want to do them with skirts for fall. I'm hoping that this one will work for me.
It's by Vero Moda, and was $12.50 and has a nice thin drape. I also like the longer back and the wider cut of it. The colour is heathered grey with a tint of dark green.

And finally, now that I have a proper strapless bra, I can wear this blouse on its own if I want to.
I love the cream satin and the black and grey mod-ish pattern. It's Canadian-made Jacob and was $9.50. A good deal!

And that's my weekend! I hope yours was lovely and full of good times.

Friday, August 28, 2015

Casual Friday: Leather Pant Weather

I had to work late tonight, to supervise a hauling company taking away a bunch of crap from our storage area. 
And my work dishwasher is down! It's a calamity! Nothing else to do but wear leather pants.


  • Shirt - Talbots, consignment; last seen here in July for a shopping trip after work
  • Pants - Gap, thrifted; last worn here in February for Valentine's Day
  • Shoes - Down-to-Earth Hadfield, Fluevog; first worn here earlier this month for another long day
It finally rained last night and was damp and even a bit foggy this morning. 

I deliberately went "flood's over" on the hems; they're too short on me anyway, so I turn them up once. As always, the reactions at work about my leather pants are always interesting, but my work is pretty used to my...um, extravagance, shall we say?
I tried a couple of different tops with this - some would have worked better with a heel, but I wanted flats for the day. I kept the top a simple denim shirt to downplay the pants.

The stuff:
I wore these barefoot for a full day and they were awesome. Not a single rub! The leather is softening up nicely too.

Strong bling:
Purple to match my hair - it's an accessory too!


  • Cuff - Catalyst Reaction Leather, thrifted
  • Earrings - gift from L


Have a fabulous weekend, my friends!

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Colour-Blocked and Dotted...and Ted

My scalp is nearly all shed off, and I can finally style my hair the way I like it. I do like it in the "bangs down" style, but it tends to get in my eyes and bugs me. 
And since it's being a little cooler out, I decided to go head-to-toe cashmere. As one does in August.


  • Sweater - Lord & Taylor, thrifted; purchased here for $12.99
  • Skirt - Andres Courreges, thrifted; last seen here in June with dots
  • Shoes - Chie Mihara; last seen here in May with stars and sky

I wanted to wear these dotty shoes again, but they are tricky to wear. Solid colours are the way to go, and since I just bought this dotted scarf recently, that sealed the deal.
I didn't notice Vizzini in the background until I uploaded my pictures
It turned out to be a little warm (just a titch!) for cashmere.

The stuff:
Such lovely dotty shoes! This is the perfect heel height for me (the front has about a 3/4" hidden platform) that's high-ish and still wearable for a full day at work.

Blurry bling:
Nothing caps things off like a bigass necklace.

  • Scarf - consignment
  • Necklace - consignment
  • Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes

One more day to the weekend! Woo!

-----------

On a less positive note, I had some sad news tonight at my WW meeting: one of my long-term members from my Tuesday night died last week. Ted was in his late 60s and although he didn't lose much weight (he was big on wine and cheese and living the good life), I know he just enjoyed coming to the meetings over the past 3 years. He was a funny, sweet and dear man. He was always encouraging me to have my own show, or do something in the public eye - he was a fan of me and always sat right up front and asked hilarious questions. I was hugely saddened to hear he was gone, and will raise a glass of wine to his memory.

Here's to ya, Ted.