Monday, February 29, 2016

Gaga Shoulders and Houndstooth

I felt grumpy all day today - it's Monday, plus I'm crabby that Lady Gaga didn't win the Oscar last night. Her performance on the show was amazing - there was not a dry eye in our house. 
A tip of the oversized shoulders to you, Ms. G - you shoulda won!


  • Jacket - H&M, consignment; last worn here in November 2015 with leaves and turquoise
  • Top - Anne Klein, consignment; last seen here in January with oodles of houndstooth
  • Trousers - Topshop, thrifted; first worn here earlier this month with more blue
  • Shoes - Aldo, thrifted; last seen here a week ago with lilac grey

The top (not part of the capsule) was not quite right with the jacket and pants, but by the time I got dressed this morning, I didn't have time to look for something else. Good enough, I said! I like the colours, but the neckline is wonky.
Love the pants and the jacket, though. Keepers!

The stuff:
Pointy-toed shoes are my favourite.

Big bling:
Big in a small way?


  • Earrings - vintage fair
  • Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes


Sunday, February 28, 2016

Weekend Wrap-Up: Visible Gauchos! Vintage Fair-ness! Sunday Patchwork!

Weekend! I hope everyone's been having a lovely one! I've been up to my usual shenanigans, nothing new, really. 
 I have really given up on Casual Friday - if anything, it's just an excuse for me to go even kookier.


  • Jacket - Guess; first worn here in January at a hockey rink
  • Sweater - Dalkeith, vintage 60s, thrifted; last seen here on Monday with jungle print
  • Gauchos - Jones New York, vintage 80s, thrifted; purchased here for $7.95
  • Shoes - Big Presence Desmond, Fluemarket; purchased here on Monday from Sara via the Fluemarket for $70

This is my entry for Patti's "Visible Monday" over at Not Dead Yet Style - get over there! Also linking up to Anne's "52 pick-me-up" series - my aqua skirt below! 

I was rocking the pompadour on Friday, but it didn't stay up for long - I had to make an emergency run for hairspray after work! 

Everyone at work loved this outfit, including me. My newly-thrifted gauchos were the star of the day! I called these culottes when I bought them, but they are gauchos. Why are they gauchos?

Because-I-said-so answer: I loved Barbie dolls when I was little - I had them in all sizes and colours, and I adored playing dress up and fashion shows with them. I sewed and crocheted clothes for them. One of the few store-bought outfits that I had for my regular Barbie was a crisp white shirt and black gauchos that looked just like these ones I'm wearing - I had this set in the early 70s, probably a Christmas gift from my grandparents. My mom told me the pants were called gauchos, and that was an exciting word for me - I learned that they were named after the trousers that horse-back-riding South American cowboys wore.

Probably true answer: Gauchos, culottes, same diff. Similar pants with multiple names. We won't even go into clam-diggers, capris, or palazzos.
I swooshed about in my gauchos and floral jacket, which I took off here and there - it was a really warm day.

Feeling goofy on a Friday morning.
Look! They're gauchos!

The stuff:
I wore these new shoes barefoot for my first wear; they were very good, considering I walked all day in the office, walked to the hairdresser and walked to the drugstore after work. No rubbing at all.

Red bling:
I always like matchy jewelry.


  • Cuff - Rimanchik
  • Earrings - Tania Gleave
  • Ring - Oscar & Libby's


As I was leaving the house on Friday morning, Vizzini was busy.
"What's that ruckus?"
Yes, the kitchen floor is a great place to lick yourself, cat.

There were seagulls on the roof again.
"This situation requires some observation. Please go away."
He was chattering away at them.

On Saturday, I met up with Elaine to go to the Fernwood Vintage Fair.
Here's my aqua for Anne!


  • Jacket - Vero Moda in Blue, thrifted; last seen here a couple of days ago with all the red
  • Sweater - August Silk, thrifted; last worn here in January with fringe and dots
  • Skirt - Pioneer Wear, vintage fair; last worn here (2nd outfit) in March 2015 with embroidered velvet
  • Boots - 1883 Lucchesse, consignment; last seen here last week with burgundy and leather


It was warm enough not to need a coat for the day, what a treat!
I love this crazy skirt! It's such a fun, fringey piece. I really don't wear it much lately - I'm kind of over my "cowgirl" phase - for now, anyway. I won't say never!
I'm loving this tropical bomber jacket.- it's just the right weight for spring.

The stuff:
My ever-faithful cowboy boots take me everywhere.


  • Earrings - gift from Megan Mae


I took my camera on my travels. Warning: those of you still having winter are going to hate us West-Coasters!

Blossoms!
Victoria is full of Japanese plum trees and cherry trees - the first wave is blooming.

I spy a kitty in a window!
I always wave. Yes, I'm that person.

My neighbourhood is full of pink trees.
And painted telephone poles. Various citizens paint them to beautify the neighbourhood. Some are better than others.

I liked the moss growing on this wall finial.
That's probably over a hundred years old - the house certainly is.

Victoria High School.
I play Ultimate Frisbee on that field - our season is starting again soon!

I've always liked this house.
We see the residents out there often.

One of my favourite poles.
I would wear that outfit!

Some of the fabulously-dressed ladies at the Fair.
The food truck was doing a brisk business.

These two were the best-dressed.
Very nicely coordinated!

Fernwood is a fun little community.
The steeple is the Belfry Theatre, where I've seen many plays.

A pretty row of daffodils on the way home.
I love this time of year.

One last pole. This is my favourite of all of them.
I love how the water effect carries onto the sidewalk. Also: tentacles!

After grey skies all day, finally a bit of blue on the way home.
So pretty!

I found a few pretties at the Vintage Show. My first purchase, for $4.00, was this pair of earrings.
They are massive cubic zirconias.

I bought this gold necklace for $5.00.
It lays nicely right at the base of my throat.

I always check pieces for marks.
Ooh, I recognize that symbol.

Yup, it's Givenchy!
It says "Paris New York Givenchy". Likely an 80s piece.

This bracelet and earrings were $2.00 apiece.
The bracelet is stamped "Coro", but no stamp on the necklace. They aren't a matched set, but the blue thermoset "stones" matched perfectly. These are probably from the early 1960s.

Zenkat Vintage had a table of goodies, all 50% off.
The crystal heart earrings ($4.00) just screamed 80s Madonna at me, and the steel cuff ($3.00) fit my small wrist.

These earrings were a dollar.
The shiny gold needed a buff, but they look like nice quality.

I didn't break my budget at the Fair, so after lunch, I wandered over to the WIN Boutique, where I found this funky shirt.
It was $12.95. It's by Max C, London.
I like the pale blue and hot pink - the semi-sheer fabric is a pale pink polyester, but it feels like silk.

Today, L and I went for groceries and brunch. It's sunny!
A casual look for a casual day.


  • Cardigan - Jacob, thrifted; last worn here a week ago 
  • Top - Mossimo, thrifted; last seen here in January under the limelight
  • Skirt - Strawberry Jill, thrifted; last worn here (3rd outfit) in December with these same boots
  • Boots - Mini Babycakes, Fluevog; last worn here (3rd outfit) last weekend with the chicken top

I like this patchwork skirt for the weekend; it and the boots are keepers from my flirting interest with steampunk fashion.
Even though I consider this casual for me, I was better dressed than everyone I saw at the grocery store and the diner.

The stuff:
Luscious boots!


  • Necklace - Venice, gift from Mom


And now, off to watch the Oscars!

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Red, Red, Tropical

Another bunch of as-yet-unworn capsule items! Huzzah! 
That's a lot of red. Good thing I have a tropical print on to break it up.


  • Jacket - Vero Moda in blue, thrifted; first worn here in January with pinks
  • Dress - Talbots, consignment; first worn here in November 2015 for a trip to the dentist
  • Shoes - Marc; just worn here just two days ago, with red, pink and burgundy
The hardest thing about a capsule is the shoes - I always want different shoes! I hate wearing the same ones twice in the same week. 

I may have twirled a few times in this lovely flowy dress, both in the office and for my WW members. It's just that kind of dress. It also has pockets - win!
It's been so warm this week that I didn't even wear a jacket today - this was it! I did have a scarf/gloves on the way to work, but walking to my WW meeting, I actually left the jacket open. Gawd, I love spring! I must take some pictures of the pink blossoms this week.

The stuff:
I love these shoes, even though I'm grouching about them.

Navy blue bling:
A blue obi, blue ring and blue on the earrings.


  • Obi - Bennetton, thrifted
  • Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes
  • Earrings - thrifted


And now...I need some wine! And dinner! Where's my husband?

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Liking Lilac Grey, and Pink Inside

I didn't realize it was Pink Shirt Day today until I was walking around town. Why is everyone wearing pink? I wondered.
I wore pink last year (here). I do support anti-bullying - I was bullied badly when I was a kid.


  • Blouse - Mexx, thrifted; purchased here for $14.95
  • Skirt - Talbots, consignment; last worn here in January with black and white
  • Shoes - Aldo, thrifted; purchased here for $8.50

I felt good in this outfit - this is as close as I get to a plain, corporate look.

Edit: My coworker Greg took this picture of me at my desk this morning - thanks, G!
Hands on keyboard, but I always have time for people, especially my favourites.

Patterned top, plain skirt. The interest is in the details: the ginkgo leaf pattern, the fuzzy mohair of the skirt, my black fishnets.
And I am much happier with a skirt that fits me properly.

The stuff:
First wearing of these shoes, and they were a B+. I had a delivery of 21 chairs today at work, so I had a very physical day - by the time I went to the other office, I was ready for my runners again. It'll take a bit of getting used to with this uber-pointy toes, too - I tripped a couple of times on the stairs (always use the handrail, Sheila!).

And there, see? I was pink inside my shoes.

Blimey, it's bling!
Sparkly things.


  • Necklace - Banana Republic, consignment
  • Rings - thrifted
  • Earrings - local


Our cleaner is here, so off to the bedroom to hide with Vizzini. I mean, read my book. I don't hide from the cleaner, heh.