Double Brunch: In Dots and Red Bookends, and Pink Pants and Pajama With Mom; Plus a Wee Shop

Ah, a gal could get used to this vacation thing...how many more years till I can retire? More days have passed...*waves vaguely*...and they've been spent reading, napping, watching movies and playing board games. Not going out, except for sustenance and shopping! 

Leading with this awesome picture of some wind-blown colourful people! 

This is from today/Thursday - we'll get to that in a minute. 

But first! Here's what I wore to venture out for brunch at the Ross Bay Pub on Wednesday - L had to pick up a package, so he bribed me with food to put some clothes on and go in public. 

I'd nearly forgotten about this new-to-me vintage skirt - y'all know I love a black and white pattern. 

• Top - Beechers Brook, vintage 90s, thrifted; last worn here in April with pattern and dots
• Skirt - Perry Ellis, vintage 80s, consignment; purchased here for $38.00
• Shoes - Truth Pilgrim, Fluevog; last seen here (2nd outfit) in May to see Bonnie "Prince" Billy in concert

Red bookends - any solid colour would work. 

I didn't like the ties that came with the skirt (they're threaded through the paper-bag waist), so I tucked them inside the skirt. 

I cinched a skinny black belt at the waist. 

That's a matching silk black and white polka dot scarf tied in my hair. I let the ends fall down my back. 

Ready to go! 

Take me to lunch! 

The stuff: 

This was the first outing with this new-to-me purse. It holds more than it looks! 

Bold bling: 

I forgot to pick out rings. Oh, well. 

• Purse - Roots 73, consignment; purchased here for $20.00
• Belt - Nygaard, c. 2007
• Silk scarf - thrifted
• Red/black bracelet - Bakelite, vintage 60s, vintage mall, gift from L
• Black/white bracelet - vintage fair
• Earrings - vintage fair

After another fun afternoon doing more of the same, we were up early for the cleaners, and to get ready to meet Mom for the annual Take L For Lunch at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel. We did our same agenda from last June 2022 here, if you're interested. 

I've been putting together outfits of all the new stuff I've bought over the last while, working my way through all of my purchases. Today, these pink pants got the nod. 

• Pajama jacket - H&M, consignment, Vancouver; last worn here in June 2022 with actual pajama pants!
• T-shirt - O-Gen, thrifted; last seen here (3rd outfit) in April, under a copper sequined dress
• Trousers - Talbots, thrifted; purchased here for $19.95
• Sandals - Wonders; last seen here in August 2022 with a lot of silk and velvet

I felt great in this and a lot of folks admired it as we were out and about. 

I like this length of trouser. 

The jacket is pretty fun too - it's like a pajama top. 

I always wear pink, red or white with it, not very creative. 

I love the look of it. 

This was a good outfit for shopping, which is what L and I did after lunch. 

I'm ready, let's go! 

My scarf tied jauntily to my bag. 

And around my head in the Movie Star Wrap while driving in Vlad the Jag. 

Gotta look classy for the rich Oak Bay people. 

Accoutrements: 

I didn't feel like switching purses. 

• Purse - Roots 73, thrifted
• Silk scarf - YSL Yves Saint Laurent, vintage 80s, thrifted

The stuff: 

I love these sandals - I've had them for years and worn them a ton. 

White and gold bling: 

The gold-studded belt drove the gold jewelry. 

• Leather belt - Banana Republic, thrifted
• Bangle - thrifted
• Earrings - vintage fair
• Gold chain bracelet - Dad's
• Silver/aventurine ring - consignment
• Silver/enamel ring - antique shop, Sidney

The view of the Strait of Juan de Fuca (wan-duh-FYOO-kuh). 

We could see Mt. Baker when the clouds scudded past. 

L opened his gift from Mom - her usual KLASSY wrapping job, ha ha! I inherited the Klassy gene from her. 

She gave L a gift card to Fluevog and a bag of dark chocolate raspberry-filled creams (yuck, not to my taste, but very much his!). 

Mom, looking very much CLASSY here. 

Rar, love the leopard and roses! 

Thank you to the lovely doorman, who took our picture outside in the wind. 

Mom's wearing her awesome striped harem pants. L is wearing a cool floral blouse, and matching Fluevog boots. 

We walked Mom back to her car. 

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

L and I drove to Turnabout and had a look through the menswear, finding L a dusty pink blazer that had barely been worn. I spotted this necklace and ring in a case after we'd browsed the main floor. 

L bought these for me - I love them, but they were a bit rich for my blood, at $95.00 for the ring and $149.95 for the necklace. Thank you!! 

I recognized them as Brutalist right away - Brutalist pieces always look well-worn, and not as polished in their construction sometimes. 

They tend not to be made in precious metals or use precious stones - semi-precious or even glass is used. These "stones" are Murano glass - the one on the ring is scratched. 

They're both stamped/signed inside, "Rafael Canada." 

The "gold" material here is brass - the ring's band is stamped with a bark-like pattern and is quite bent - it's obviously been worn a lot. 

The pendant's centre is suspended, and there's that stamp again. 

The designer is Rafael Alfandary, whose pieces were "emblematic of Toronto’s swinging Seventies scene" (good article about him here, all links 'cause I love), and worn by celebrities, including Muhammad Ali, Margaret Trudeau and Prince. Another fun post here from a blogger about finding a piece by him in Value Village and learning about Brutalist jewelry from there. 

I found a few things for myself at Turnabout. 

I like the rock-country vibe of this green blouse - the double puff sleeves slay me. 

The back is sheer (the front is lined), and slashed low. 

Looks like I'll be needing a camisole. 

It's by Free People, and was $29.99. 

It's called the Clarissa top and it retailed for $68.00. 

This is a favourite shade of pink. 

I'm not much of a sweater person, but I can see worn in a slouchy, louche way. 

It's by Massimo Dutti and was marked down to $25.00. 

It's made in Spain, and that's a cotton/viscose blend. 

I'd tried on this dress on a previous visit, but it was too pricey for me. 

It's a straight "shirt" dress, but it has a row of buttons up the middle, neck to hem. 

And also from the mid back...buttons all the way to the hem. 

The cuffs are long but can be flipped back. No pockets (grrr). 

It comes with a long skinny belt that I probably won't wear with it. 

"You bought me a present!"

He immediately went on full attack. 

There are also a line of buttons on each side of the dress. 

You can really unbutton this! 

Vizzini, get out of here, you monkey. 

"Nope, gonna chew on this until you feed me."

Monster! 

If you thought that the pattern of it resembled feathers, you'll be chuffed to know that it's called the Anya Plume Dress. 

It's by All Saints and is from 2019. It's 100% viscose, and you probably shouldn't even look at it too hard, according to those washing directions. And don't snag it! 

I love the feather pattern on this. 

It was $58.00 - it originally retailed for $285.00. 

I bought these thick two-layer yoga pants for lounging around the house. 

They were $9.00. 

No label, just this tag. 

After I wore them for a while, I realized that the leopard was the lining - they were inside out! Ha! 

After Turnabout, we had a quick run-through of House of Savoy, where L got a pair of Fluevog sneakers. I tried on a few things, but once my eyes alit on this suit, I knew I was a goner. OHYESPLEASE. 

The jacket is cropped with long two-button cuffs (I've flipped one back - that's how I styled it in the store). All of the flap pockets are real pockets. 

It's floral printed reverse denim (the inside/reverse is black). 

Waist tab details. The edging is black cotton. 

A gorgeously constructed high waist on this skirt, with belt loops.

That seaming! 

I'm swooning over here! 

This fit like it was made for me. 

Made in France! CLASSY!

And 100% cotton, nice. 

Look at these cast metal buttons. 

It's a flower and says, "KENZO Jeans." 

Yup, I found vintage 1980s Kenzo! 

The skirt and jacket were sold separately: $95.00 for the jacket and $65.00 for the skirt, but of course, I had to have both pieces! I couldn't find anything like this online, but it's priceless to me! Can't wait to wear this. 

Well, I know what MY favourite thing is from all of my goodies (the Kenzo suit). 

"And mine is the kitty spaghetti you bought me."

And what's yours, gentle reader?