Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Velvet Rage, and Snakes

I spent much of today seething with quiet rage. Why do I always forget about velvet?
I mean, not the fabric itself, but about how clingy it is!


  • Jacket - Simon Chang, vintage 80s, thrifted; last worn here in September over a black floral dress to a vintage fair
  • Dress - Betsey Johnson, vintage 90s, thrifted; last seen here almost exactly a year ago in November 2018 for a different vintage fair
  • Shoes - Marc; last worn here in March with ruffles and McQueen
  • Sleeveless coat (below) - Only, thrifted; last seen here in October


I've only ever worn this dress either on its own or with a short cropped coat over it, so I really didn't properly consider the ramifications of my full outfit choices.
It's totally fine on its own. I met up with my old boss from Fairweather from 1999-2000, Tammy, for dinner and a catch-up tonight, and wore the dress like this.

And although I love it just styled simply, it's far too boobtastic for work.
I realized after I took these pictures that I forgot to put my bracelets on,
It's very low-cut. Fine for dinner, not so much for work.

So I layered this lovely dark green vintage double-peplum blazer over it. And trouble started.
The velvet sleeves gripped the jacket lining, pulling it up, and bunching the sleeves up in my armpits! No! They don't belong there!

I wore the jacket buttoned up like this all day. I had to remove my bracelets (to get the jacket off) and then wrestle out of the jacket without tearing the lining to get it all evened up again.
I did this about 6 times all day. Take the jacket off, fix the sleeves, put the jacket back on, feel the sleeves riding up again. The rage grew.

It's such a pretty jacket. Look at those sweet ruffles.
In theory, this should have all worked out fine.

The colours are good, the shapes are right.
 But you always have to take the fabric - especially velvet! - into consideration.

Outerwear. One block from home (and running late, so I couldn't go back), the bottom hem of this coat was bunching up around my butt.
I spent my entire 20 minute walk trying to wrangle the coat back into place, while I had my purse slung across me, and balancing my travel mug of coffee. Everything really wanted to be all smushed up around my waist. Rage!

The stuff:
I have developed a bunion on one foot, and these shoes were not as comfortable as they once were. I am going to have to look for lower-heeled dressy red shoes (yes, I know I already have red shoes, but they aren't like these!).

Snaky bling:
I made some of my coworkers nervous by wearing double snake bracelets. It's okay, they're not real!


  • Brooch - Monet, vintage 60s, vintage fair - first wearing, purchased here for $5.00
  • Coil snake cuff - Whiting & Davis, vintage 70s, vintage fair
  • Double snake cuff - vintage fair - first wearing, purchased here for $18.00
  • Earrings - vintage fair
  • Spinner ring - Twang & Pearl
  • Amber ring - c. 1996
  • Gold fill/red stone ring - RLG & Son, c. 1930s?, Grandma S


I made Tammy a Zentangle before (in 2015 here, picture here), but heck, why not make another one?
We had a lovely dinner out, laughing and filling each other in on our lives. And the rage magically faded away...

28 comments:

  1. That dress is fabulous but I hear you with the problems, velvet can be like wearing Velcro, it stick to everything. My crushed velvet dress behaved itself yesterday, I half expected the skirt part to be up by my knickers after walking around town.
    What a mare about the bunion and that those gorgeous shoes aren't as comfy as they once were. I'm sure you'll find the perfect red, lower heeled pair very soon, you have the best shoe luck! xxx

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    1. Yes! It's exactly like Velcro! So annoying! I nearly wore a leather jacket, and I know I would not have had the same issues. It's certain fabrics (like wool) with velvet that make it stick, plus the addition of my bag across my body.

      I was so sad, but they really hurt, and I just can't do that. I know I'll find another pair that are more comfy.

      Delete
  2. How frustrating that your outfit didn't just stay in place - I hate when an outfit needs to be adjusted through the day, puts me in an awful mood! I'm glad you still had a lovely end to the day though :)

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    1. Yes, it really did fill me with rage and frustration at times, Mica! Worth it, though, for the lovely evening.

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  3. I hate clothing that does annoying things like you experienced yesterday! Ugh.

    I love velvet too, and am wondering if some velvet is less likely to do this bunching up than other kinds, as I don't recall this ever happening to me. I am sure I have conveniently forgotten any of these miserable incidents! But perhaps cotton velvet, or even rayon or silk velvet, don't do what polyester velvet does? I don't know what the content of that beautiful dress of yours is, but it might be worth paying attention to?

    I admit that this gives me pause, as I was considering bringing my beautiful vintage velvet maxi skirt with me to Oregon next week, for my Thanksgiving outfit. . .But I don't recall it ever bunching up. Hmm.

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    1. It's the worst, isn't it, Linda?

      It's not the velvet itself, but the fabric that's up against it. Velvet sticks to wool and unpolished fabrics, like cotton or polyester weaves. It compounded by the fact that I carry my bag cross-body, which adds to the friction. The dress is a polyester stretch velvet and is very clingy - when I've worn it before, I wore a leather jacket over it with no issues (slippery lining).

      I think you should take your maxi skirt, but just be careful with your purse/bag and the coat you wear over it.

      Delete
  4. Oh, that outfit is absolutely gorgeous, but yes, velvet can be a pesky fabric to wear. I was wearing a velvet maxi skirt to our last flea market, and I had to keep adjusting it all the time. I'm loving your bling too, especially those snake bracelet. Ouch about the bunion though, that sounds just horrible. At least these fabulous shoes didn't trouble you. xxx

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    1. Thank you so much, Ann! It can really be a pain! I found that my cross-body bag makes it much worse - I wonder if you found that too?

      The bunion is a literal pain, and unfortunately, these shoes were quite painful. :(

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  5. Have to back up and say every outfit since (and including) Friday has been super, and you wear each one with flair and style! I quite like your skirts, as well as this dress; they complement your shape and the colors/patterns are perfect for this time of year. In general I am a fan of skirts with blazers/jackets of almost any type, the more interesting the blazer/jacket, the better.
    Given the irregularity of my ability to post comments, almost feel like I should state a blanket "super!" to fill in on those days when am unable to leave a comment. :-)

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    1. Aw, thank you, Laurie! I love interesting jackets and blazers too. I will accept your blanket "super!" and thank you so much!

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  6. I sometimes forget to take in account the materials too. We cannot think of everything, can we? You look fantastic in that velvet dress. It is a shame it doesn't sit well with that gorgeous vintage blazer. Sometimes the materials just don't play along.

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    1. It's true, we can't think of everything! Thank you, Ivana - I still liked the look overall.

      Delete
  7. I have one velvet dress that I only wore once. I don't like velvet on my body. It irritates me. But your outfit is looking good and the shoes are fabulous!

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    1. I like velvets a lot, so it's challenging and I need to remind myself more about the "fighting" and clinging. It's so annoying! Thanks, Nancy!

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  8. Sorry that this gorgeous outfit was so uncomfortable, but it looks so lovely!, love the colours, your matchy shoes, your velvet dress and the cute jacket with a péplum!, that's a fab shape!. Velvet is delightful but can be so clingy!
    I think that most of us have experienced those 'sleeves riding up' and/or 'bunching up skirt' which is even more annoying (I once flashed my undies to some coworkers when I remove my coat and my skirt was all bunched up around my waist) ;DDD

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    1. Thanks, Monica - I really liked the outfit other than that, even though that was super-annoying. Oh no! I haven't quite gotten to flashing, ha ha!

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  9. You look beautiful, but that is a totally stressful outfit situation!!

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  10. Love this outfit! I hate jackets where you have to take your bangles off to get the sleeves off your arms...

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  11. That's so sad that the dress fabric created such a struggle - the jacket looks lovely with the dress, as you pointed out, the shape and colours work together so well.

    I've had bunions for over 10 years now and they make it so hard to find nice shoes that are wide enough across the front to accomodate them. I'm sure I'm going to have to live out the rest of my days in fancy sneakers.

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    1. It was frustrating, for sure. I really wanted it to work!

      Mine is only a tiny wee bunion, so it's not caused any fit issues with my shoes yet, but I am noting shoes that cause me more pain, and I'm editing them out. It makes me sad, but that's life!

      Delete
  12. That is a lovely dress, though I can see how all the bunching and pulling can be rage-inducing - I have a velvet dress that always does weird things to the sleeves of any woollies I pop over it.

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    1. It's the curse of velvets, Mim, it really is! I loved the outfit otherwise.

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  13. Oh wow looks like you really struggled in this outfit - if it had not been for the fact that you wrote about it, I would have never guessed!
    This dress looks fabulous but I agree you need the jacket for work.

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    1. I know, but I had to be honest with y'all this time, Lorena! Thanks so much - oh, definitely the jacket for work. No boobs at work, lol.

      Delete

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