Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Sheer Paisley, Velvet and a Snow Day

Guh, another long day, but only 10 hours. Today I did power textures instead of power colours. It worked pretty good.
 I found myself stroking this viscose velvet dress all day, when I was feeling stressed. It's almost like having kitty therapy (pet, pet, purr, purr).


  • Blouse - CABi, consignment; last seen here in March 2017 under a different dress
  • Dress - Mimi Bizjak, thrifted; first worn here (2nd outfit) to the theatre with Mom in December 2016
  • Boots - Babycakes Mini, Fluevog; last seen here with work armour in November 2017
  • Unsafe Ocelot coat (below) - Hilary Radley, thrifted; last worn here on Monday


This dress is so very 90s - that very wide deep U neckline - it's far too skimpy to wear on its own (or is it??), so just like the first time I wore it, I layered a blouse under it again.
 I'm getting down to the last few unworn items this year in my closet - this dress and this blouse are both among the few at the end. I loved both pieces, though, so they are both keepers!

The dress is a deep chocolate brown - and it's the softest velvet ever. I love the bubble hem on it.
 Grey and brown is a colour combination I used to be scared of. It reminds me of chickadees.

Outerwear! It started snowing at noon today, and is still going (nearly 9pm here).
 Book Club was supposed to be tonight, but I had to miss it due to work...but it ended up being cancelled due to the snow!


  • Toque/scarf - Danier
  • Gloves - Parkhurst


The stuff:
 These boots are wonderful to wear and always turn a few heads.


  • Mink brooch - thrifted
  • Snake ring - c. 1986, BC Museum Gift Shop
  • Hematite rings - thrifted
  • Earrings - thrifted


I pinned the fur brooch at the top of my collar - Vizzini wanted to lick it very badly.

So, here are some snow pictures. I walked home in this, listening to music, and it was very calming - so when I got home, I went out and just walked up and down my street.
 I live on a short block of apartment buildings and condos, just out of downtown, but still within spitting distance of a major tourist attraction. All along my street and in the surrounding neighbourhood are massive 200-year-old Gary Oak trees.

You might remember when one fell down in our condo's front yard here in November 2015 (I'm wearing the same mink brooch, ha!). I found out later when it was on the news that these trees are all 2 centuries old, not 50.
 The snow is on the branches so thickly!

I live between two major thoroughfares for getting to and from town, but our little street is fairly quiet.
 Not much sidewalk shoveling yet, grrr. It'll be slippery tomorrow.

 Looking up above my head.
I love the gnarly branches on Gary Oaks.

The manager of one of the apartment buildings on our street came out and started clearing the sidewalks while I was walking around.
 He did everyone's sidewalk. That's so Canadian. Aw!

A Victorian-era house near us.
Spooking lighting from a parking lot. It's nearly 4 inches/10 cm deep. Zoiks!

24 comments:

  1. Gorgeous scenery but I don't envy you that cold one little bit - apparently we've got it coming our way next week - I don't want it!!
    Love your outfit, very dandy highwayman in that fabulous ruffled blouse and luxe velvet.
    Stay warm (and sane!) xxx

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    1. I'm so glad it's over now - I hope you survived yours! Thanks, Vix! I am very highwaywoman, hee hee!

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  2. You look fab in this gorgeous velvet dress, Sheila! It certainly is a good kitty therapy dress and even resembles Vizzini's fur! ;) That blouse looks great with the dress and the boots are fantastic! The trees in your neighbourhood are so beautiful. They look magical with snow on them! XXX

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    1. It's a lovely soft viscose, very strokable. Thank you, Sasha! I love this kind of one-day snow.

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  3. THe only memories I have of my velvet dresses as a kid are not the things I did in them or the places I went to, but sitting stroking the velvet, so I totally get that with this dress!

    I like tassels on my handbags too as I can play with them to keep me occupied - I don't have interactive clothes, but I go for necklaces I can play with for when I'm not carrying one of my more 'interactive' bags, ha! :) Not sure interactive is the right word but I hope you know what I mean - it's late here!

    It's good you got to destress after a tough work day by walking around in the snow too! Hope it's still as relaxing tomorrow morning for you.

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    1. All the more reason for you to get some velvet now, Mica - such great memories! That's funny how we go for tactile things to calm us. The snow was an excellent de-stresser.

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  4. Now that's what I call power dressing! Both the velvet dress and the blouse are fab, and I love how you added the fur brooch. The boots are pretty amazing too. I'm loving your snow photos and the little peek down your street. At 10 cm of snow, Belgium would be in chaos! xxx

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  5. This outfit is definitely a keeper! You look great as always. I enjoyed your snow pictures too. All we are getting here (Tennessee) is lots and lots of rain.

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    1. Thank you so much for commenting, Robyn! I am much more used to rain (and I've been to Tennessee!).

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  6. These are beautiful pictures of the snow but I am sorry that the weather made it necessary that you cancel your book club . You look very beautiful here and I am in love with your brown chocolate velvet dress. Silk, rayon, or viscose velvet is so yummy. I adore the blouse you were wearing underneath it. And you know how fond I am of that ocelot coat !
    ❤️❤️❤️
    Elle
    https://theellediaries.com/

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    1. Well, I couldn't make it anyway (ha!) and we have since rescheduled, so it all worked out fine. Thank you so much, Elle - I love soft fabrics.

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  7. Love the whole outfit but the blouse really appeals to me. So feminine. And it's nice when material is sensually-pleasing. I know how attentive you are to fabrics!

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    1. You love your frilly stuff, don't you, Ally! It's all about the feel!

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  8. Your snow pictures made me shiver! I'm tucked up here in front of the fire praying we don't get any next week. I hate the snow but it does look pretty...

    I loved your outfit. Velvet is just so tactile; did anyone try to stroke you at work? The blouse is perfect with the dress; it's a very ladylike outfit and you look fab in it.

    At least you didn't have to feel guilty about missing book club!

    I bet Vizzini thought your fur brooch was a kitten...

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    1. I hope it passed you by, Vronni! No, people kept their distance - I was far too busy for me to socialize. Vizzini must think I have a lot of kittens! He licks everything!

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  9. That velvet 90s dress fits you perfectly!!!

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  10. The snow is so very pretty. I love how outdoor noise also gets affected by the snow, although we have loud snow scrapers ripping through the streets. Great outfit, and I'm a big fan of the bubble skirt. PS I sent you an email.

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    1. It's really lovely when it's fresh like this, everything is muffled too. Thank you, Mel!

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  11. A bit of stroking therapy sounds like a fine antidote to those long days Sheila. I've never put brown and grey together so will give that some thought...
    The snow shots are beautiful. I remember you being so upset about the tree incident and now when you say it was 200 years old, well it's not such a surprise is it?

    Anna x

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    1. It actually helped! No, not as much of a surprise when a tree is that old, but still sad to lose one.

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  12. Yes, the dress and shirt with that flower brooch on the neck look so good.
    Arggghhh that snow makes me cringe !

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