Birthday With Mom and the Kitties in Bomblazer and the Cover Skirt, and a Wee Shop

Happy Birthday to me! It was a treat to have the day off and to be able to spend it with Mom...and the kittens! 

Mom gave me a Fluevog gift card, some fluffy warm socks with cats on them and a bag of chocolates - all of my favourite things! Thank you so much, Mom! I especially liked the card, which was perfect. 

My day started with our cleaners, who were greeted with curiosity and friendly sniffs of the cleaners. Michael and Ashley fell in love with Whateley and Barnabas, of course. 

And then I played around in my closet, creating an outfit suitable for the day. This skirt had to be part of it! 

• Bomblazer - Zara, consignment; first worn here in September with wacky pants
• Tee - Banksy 2005 exhibit merch, consignment; first seen here in August with jeans at the office
• Skirt - Erdem, consignment; last worn here in March with cowgirl vibes
• Boots - Prepare 2.0 Tracker, Fluevog; last seen here in January with a lot of blue and red

I always think fondly of our Tweed photoshoot (link here if you missed it) whenever I wear this skirt. 

I like the mix of luxe fabric - the brocade is practically 3D on this, and note the sheer Swiss dot fabric in those box pleats. 

Still pushing boundaries at 58! 

I went with double the belts, because...why not? 

The bomblazer worked much better this time - I enjoyed the ultra-cropped oversized fit.

I had rapturous reactions to my outfit at Christie's and Pocket Clothing, where I stopped for a wee shop on the way home ('twouldn't be my birthday without a wee shop!). 

My outerwear ensemble includes a big velvet ruffled scarf and leather driving gloves. 

And a giant 80s eelskin purse. 

I felt totally cool. 

This outfit ticked all the boxes for me! Happy! 

The stuff: 

I had a 3-brooch cluster on my bomblazer's lapel. 

• Eelskin purse - vintage 80s, thrifted
• Leather gloves - Danier, c. 2008
• Zipper rose - V&A Museum gift shop, 2011
• Frank Turner cassette pin - tour merch, 2024
• Fabric rose stick-pin - Mango's boutique, gift for L he didn't want

Love those boots. Very comfy. 

Black bling: 

Favourite things. 

• Grommet belt - gift from Ruth
• Leather/medallion belt - Mudd, vintage 90s, thrifted
• Silver/Lucite bracelet - Alexis Bittar, consignment, Vancouver
• Black Lucite/crystal bracelet - Alexis Bittar, consignment, Sidney
• Jet/crystal choker - vintage 1960s, Grandma J's 
• Silver snake ring - BC Museum Gift Shop, 1986
• Silver/onyx spider ring - gift from Mom & Dad, 1986
• Crystal earrings - thrifted

Mom arrived and I positioned the chair for her so she could get to see and play with the cats. 

They both greeted her at the door (many sniffs), then buzzed around the living room area. Whateley checked her out from atop the scratching post house.

Playing coy. 

They're full of beans, and did much chasing and fighting and rolling around. 

Mom teased them with an old robe sash, a favourite toy.

They both wacked and clawed, scampering away and coming back for more. 

Mom's a pro at entertaining kitties! 

They were both very interested in her walking poles, chewing on the rubber feet. Little monsters! 

But of course, they are kittens and easily distracted. 

Whateley looking out the window and Barnabas batting at a spinning ball toy.

After laughing and tracking them around (seriously, Kitten TV should be a thing), we went for lunch at Christie's Pub. 

"Happy Birthday!"

Thank you so much for the wonderful lunch, Mom! I love you! 

I splurged on a salmon burger with onion rings; Mom had a salad, but I see that onion ring hiding on the side! 

It was SO yummy. I haven't had onion rings in over a year! 

I walked home and of course I stopped in at Pocket to say hi to Annie and have a look around. Staff Mimi and Nate were lovely, thank you, hi! 

I recognized this gorgeous sheer brown ruffle-front blouse for amazing quality and design. 

Ruffles at the cuffs and what's that at the bottom? 

A ruffled peplum! So I can wear it tucked or out.

The design is paisley in shades of brown. 

The buttons say RL Ralph Lauren. Guess who it's by! 

Showing the faint gold line on some of the design. The texture of the blouse is slightly wrinkly all over. 

I noticed that there was a store address on the back of the tag - that should help date it. 

Yup, they vacated the lease in 2018, as noted in this WWD article here (very interesting read), so it's no later than that. The style is heavily reminiscent of the early 00s.

It probably came with a camisole, and this is likely where it was secured, removable for washing.

So much hand-done detail. 

Of course, it's Lauren Ralph Lauren, and it was $42.00. Not cheap but this is a consignment store - they have so much good stuff!

Worth every penny. I can't wait to wear it!

I definitely had to have this amazing hip-bag/cross-body bag.

It's very soft fuzzy faux-fur. The bottom pocket is huge (fits my phone). 

And inside the main section, there's another zip pocket. The big industrial zippers are very well-made. 

It's by Niko and..., a brand I've never heard of. It says, " to be pure and natural, old and new, warm and cool, classic and trendy, simple and sophisticated, to be myself...it's 25% combination. Est. 2007. Cool & Slow Life. www.nikoand.jp" 

It's a Japanese brand, still around. It was $28.00.

I've been eyeing this silver and turquoise bracelet for months, and finally decided, what the heck, it's my birthday, I'm buying it. 

$68.00 is a bit, but I know I'll wear this a bunch. 

.925 Mexico stamp. 

It's had a bit of wear already, but I like that - it's got a history. So do I! 

And now, my friends, I am signing off both the long weekend! I'll be back on Monday with tales of adventure (and more kitten pictures). 

The peanut butter fudge caramel cheesecake that Mom and I shared. YUM! 

Fall Plaid, Bark and 70s Brass...and Kittens!

I went with a classic autumn look to show off the new-to-me plaid blazer. 

It's in good hands with my Bark Skirt and brown boots, both old favourites that I've had for years. 

• Blazer - Bianca Nygard, thrifted; purchased here for $20.00
• Sweater - Betty Barclay, thrifted; last seen here (2nd outfit) in February, layered under a Dries tunic
• Skirt - Gunex, thrifted; last worn here in March to the periodontist
• Leather boots - Rockport, thrifted; last seen here in September with a Jammy Dress

I mostly looked like this in the office, although I did get a little warm at times. 

I preferred the look with the jacket on. I did the belt over the sweater as a nod to the 70s vibe. 

The jacket is really lovely quality.

This was a very comfy and happy outfit. I twirled for colleague Kristina.

Incognito. 

I loved the belt over the blazer - I felt so chic! 

The stuff: 

Lady of the Flies! 'Tis the spooky season, after all. 

• Silk scarf - Smoking Lily, thrifted
• Wool beret - consignment
• Fur rose - thrifted
• Leather gloves - Picabo, Powell River

Brassy bling: 

I remember Mom wearing the pendant in the 70s/early 80s. 

• Belt - Pringle of Scotland, vintage fair; last worn here in February 
• Carved cinnabar bangle - consignment
• Brass/leather cuff - vintage 70s, Mom's
• Brass horoscope necklace - Mexican, vintage 70s, Mom's
• Brass/glass ring - Raphael of Canada, vintage 70s, consignment
• Brass Brutalist ring - vintage 70s, vintage mall
• Bronze ring (not shown) - P. Sarpaneva, vintage 70s, vintage expo
• Metal rose earrings - Betsey Johnson, swap from Cat
• Mink rose brooch (not shown) - thrifted

I left the brooch on the jacket and I always forget the bronze ring. 

Cat pictures! L was out last night and I was left with galloping fur demons. 

Much chasing, rolling around and tiny, tiny meows. 

Whateley, what are you doing with that remote?

"Return the Man or you'll never change the channel again."

He chewed on it. 

When I got home from work tonight, I heard a scuffle! 

Kittens in the tub! This is a BIG favourite thing to do. I'm sure find the shower curtain on the floor at some point. 

Tonight as I worked on this very post, Barnabas came to visit. 

"I LOVE you."

He has the loudest purr! He stayed there for a while, even letting me type around him. 

"I'm going to be a star!"

Barnabas is such a lovely little guy. Aw! 

I'll be back tomorrow with Mom-Day and my birthday! 

Cold Shoulder and Chalkstripes

I built this outfit around the new-to-me sweater, wearing it plain for its debut. 

I have plans for layering a shirt under it, but it's still too warm out for that. 

• Cotton sweater - All Saints, consignment; purchased here for $30.00
• Wool trousers - Red Valentino, consignment; last worn here in January for New Year's Eve
• Booties - Matisse, thrifted; last seen here in April with red linen
• Loomed Lady coat (below) - vintage 1960s, thrifted; last worn here in December 2024

A lovely sunrise glow on the Castle.

Clouds are beginning to build up here and there. 

I ended up tucking in the sweater which made things a little bulky around the hips.

It's a thin-ISH sweater and is 100% cotton so I risked it. Lesson learned! 

I loved wearing my 100% wool chalkstripe trousers again - a few new moth-holes have appeared, but I don't really care. 

They're Valentino! and I sewed the cuffs myself! 

The Loomed Lady returns! I know she's a favourite of many of you.

It was warm enough to just wear it open like this. I took the gloves off immediately (and forgot to photograph them). 

The stuff: 

I love these wedge booties - they're pony hair (it's actually cow). 

• Silk scarf - Halston, vintage 80s, consignment
• Snake brooch (worn on coat) - antique mall, gift from L
• Wool gloves (not shown) - Parkhurst

Mexican bling: 

The big round bracelet, the tile bracelet below that, the necklace and the spider ring are all Mexican in origin. Cool. 

• Belt - vintage 90s, consignment
• Silver "S" cuff - Taxco, Mexican, consignment, Sidney
• Silver/Mexican obsidian "face" bracelet (I also have matching earrings) - Mexican, vintage 1950s, Grandma J's
• Silver earrings - Israeli, consignment
• Silver/crystal ring - Soul Flower
• Silver/obsidian ring - consignment
• Silver/obsidian spider ring - c. 1986, gift from Mom & Dad
• Silver/obsidian necklace - Mexican, consignment, Powell River

Velvet Vampire Repeat (Yes, There are More Cat Pictures)

After that wonderful, restoring weekend full of kittens, it was a shock to go back to work. 

As it's my birthday week, I put some effort into planning outfits for all the occasions I have planned, right into the upcoming Thanksgiving long weekend. Fun times ahead! 

• Velvet/embroidered jacket - Tahari, thrifted; last worn here in January...with all the same things! 
• Silk tuxedo blouse - no label, thrifted; last seen here in January
• Wool dress - Dolce & Gabbana, vintage 90s, thrifted; last worn here...in January!
• Leather boots - Baroque Velazquez, Fluevog; last seen here...wait for it...in January

I had to laugh - the last time I wore this jacket, dress, blouse AND boots was together! I put together the exact same outfit! 

I haven't done that in a long time - I'm a staunch NON-repeater of outfits, although certain elements do tend to be paired together. 

I'm completely happy with wearing this entire outfit again - I love it, and had a few compliments on it. 

I did Fire Warden training in this, and shepherded my colleagues out of the building in my hardhat and high-viz vest. 

And now that I look back at that January outfit...I did my training and fire drill in this then too! How weird is that? I wonder if any of the other tenants remembered it? Oh, well. 

My coworkers were amused that two separate people shouted at me out in public - one person in a truck coming out of the parkade (sorry, I couldn't hear your name) and my old neighbour Sarah. "You're famous!" said Keith. 

Let the kitty-bombing commence! 

Barnabas is checking out the place, still exploring. My scarf boxes have been sniffed, but there's been no eating/biting (so far! We remain on high kitten alert). 

The stuff: 

I did change up all my accessories from the last outfit, so it's still a little different. 

• Silk scarf - Smoking Lily, vintage 90s, thrifted
• Leather gloves - Coach, consignment

Pointy bling: 

Four spiders, one snake. 

• Necklace - Stella & Dot, thrifted
• Leather/metal bracelet - Jenny Bird, consignment
• Hinged eelskin bangle - vintage 80s, thrifted
• Spider earrings - can't remember
• Silver/obsidian spider ring - c. 1986, gift from Mom & Da
• Silver snake ring - c. 1985, BC Museum Gift Shop
• Spider brooch - vintage mall, gift from L

The necklace converts to three different lengths - I wore it on the smallest setting. 

I will not deny you cat pictures and fully embrace that this blog will be overtaken by the kittens. There will be cat pictures most days.

Barnabas found my robe.

"My robe."

The licking commenced. Whateley pins Barnabas for this. 

"And then I'm going to lick the other ear!"

I introduced them to my closet in a calm way, gently pushing them away from anything tempting.

"Am I supposed to be impressed?"

Whateley was totally chill about it. My closet is "Vizzini-proofed" so there are no hidey-holes for them to sneak into, and I keep all laces tucked in. 

Barnabas' turn. He was more interested in the mirror, standing up(!) to look at himself. 

"Who's that? Another kitty?"

Neither of them has been that excited to get into the closet, even when I put all my week's outfits together. 

I caught this pre-play moment. 

"Tag, you're it."

And there was much galloping!