A Wee Shop in Jacko and Celery; Squirrels! and Flowers

No Mom-Day today, unfortunately, as the weather didn't cooperate, giving us an orange haze of forest fire smoke and hot temps. Take care of yourself, Mom, we'll be back before you know it. 

As I was already dressed and nearly ready to go when Mom called, I decided to give myself another little "back to school" shopping trip, and went for a stroll down the upper part of Oak Bay Avenue. 

Jacko comes out to play! I was excited to wear this piece, and planned the outfit around it. 

• Jacket/Poncho "Jacko" - Junya Watanabe X Adidas, consignment; purchased here for $294.00 by L (what a guy!!)
• Abstract top - handmade, vintage 70s, thrifted; first seen here (2nd outfit) in July with taupe tulle and turquoise
• Trousers - Zara, consignment; last seen here in April with phoenix sequins
• Shoes - Fly London, thrifted; purchased here for $18.00

A few more pictures than normal so you can get an idea of how my jacket-poncho sits and moves. 

It likes to sit on my shoulders - no sliding around. The wide kimono-like sleeves hang at my wrists naturally. 

Playing around with the styling - hand in pants pocket. I love these celery green swooshy pants - this is the last wear of them for the season, and as they are quite thin they don't stay out for cold weather. 

And hand in jean jacket pocket. I think the original Levi's jacket was a men's style...because of the big pockets! 

With the added stud/button done up and arms out. 

It looks a little weird like this, but it was very comfortable to wear. I had my hands in the jean pockets while I walked. 

With my arms stuck out, so a very natural pose, ha ha. 

The pieces sticking up at the back of the neck didn't bother me - this is why I have my hair cut much shorter in the back. 

Incognito. This is how most of the world saw me. 

Can't use a purse with this type of outerwear, so the cross-body/bum-bag was deployed. 

I only took Jacko off while I was trying things on (and I try most things on over my clothes). 

This groovy abstract top will be staying out - it will go with a lot of my fall wardrobe. 

Accoutrements: 

Can you tell I'm looking forward to having my fall Brutalist collection back in my jewelry? The belt and brooch both fit that category.

• Belt - Suzy Roher, thrifted
• Bum-bag - thrifted
• Silver/enamel brooch - Passille-Sylvestre, vintage 70s, consignment

The stuff: 

Awesome shoes! I wore these around the house all morning, noting where they were a bit tight, then did a few judicious slices with the X-acto blade. I had no rubbing issues, hooray. My feet were tired after 4-ish hours of standing/walking, but otherwise these were excellent. 

Brutalist bling: 

Mom's choker is one of my treasures. 

• Brass/sandalwood/amber choker - vintage 70s, Mom's
• Carved cinnabar bangle - consignment
• Leather/metal bracelet - Jenny Bird, consignment
• Brass leopard ring - thrifted
• Wood Klimt ring - Dots
• Stone ring - thrifted
• Clip-on earrings - vintage 70s, vintage mall

I visited Good Things Consignment Vintage first, and noted that they have a small collection of clothing and accessories. I spotted this gorgeous leather jacket right away. 

It's a warm white, not quite cream. 

Some of it is perforated, with solid leather on the sides and inside of the arms, and edging the pockets.  

Showing the custom lining in the arm - it has a T and a tower symbol. Each cuff has two snaps. 

Looks like someone unzipped the...hood? and removed it. 

You can see the creamy white colour well there. 

Custom zipper pulls. 

An expensive detail. 

Wow, look at that lining! Paisley and a checked pattern. I note that the paisley is lined up down the centre! 

Two inside pockets (it must be a man's jacket, sigh), including one that buttons. 

It's from Kane Straith, a local store that used to be George Straith, established in Victoria in 1917 (about them here). Aw, Kane died in 2021...so we know this is prior to then. 

That is hand-stitching on the leather next to the aqua piping. That's also a custom button. 

The content tag was hiding inside the other pocket, which zippers! 

Lambskin and 100% silk lining! Made in Spain! 

This is by Torras, and oh, my goodness, I'm shocked by how much a similar one on their site is - on sale for $1200! (regular price is a cool $2K). 

It was $58.00. I bought it for L - I knew it would look great on him. 

I had a rummage through the jewelry case, entertaining the two somewhat bored clerks. Everyone was talking about the death of Giorgio Armani, very sad.

The ladybug pin is cute and will be fun to add to brooch clusters, and was $10.00. The malachite ring isn't marked or stamped but it was on sale for $8.00. The open design is easy on my big knuckles.

The other ring is sterling silver and that's a green amber stone mounted on it. 

Stamp! 

It's meant to hang down, and it fits my pinky. 

I've never seen a ring like this! How cool! It was half price, $22.50. 

From Good Things, I walked half a block to House of Savoy, where Emilie and Molly were working. I browsed around for about an hour and a half. 

The Audrey Hepburn "Breakfast at Tiffany's" iconic image! 

It's nothing fancy. 

And it was only $10.00. 

The necklace took my breath away - I fell hard for it. This is the back of it, just to show you the texture of the materials.

It's brass, with wood (the dark sections) and Emilie and I debated whether the orange parts are dyed bone. This was $75.00.

I also bought this fine gauge knit sheer sweater. 

I like the pinky-red colour - this will work well for layering in cooler temps. 

A little leather patch on the back of the neck. You can see the texture of the knit here. 

The tag says "1978 Diesel." 

It has alpaca and wool, but mostly nylon. 

Some of you are already itching, sorry! I don't mind the slightly scratchy feel of wools. 

Tags! This logo was in use from 2015 to 2020 (link here 'cause I love).

Similar sweaters on their site are around $350.00 new. 

This was $58.00. 

It's going to get worn a bunch! 

From House of Savoy, I walked back home, stopping in at Pocket for a browse. I fell for this suede dress. 

It's a loose sheath, not fitted, which is a nice change. The gold dots are metal studs with prongs on the back bent into the leather. 

Made in Canada! That's an old tag...

I remember when everything was lined in acetate - it was the 80s! 

And that's a classic Danier Leather 80s tag - it's the same one on my ORANGE LEATHER SHORTS. 

That red on the tag means this has been through a thrift shop - WIN used to do that back in the mid-00s. 

It was $68.00...not exactly a thrift store price. 

But that colour! And it feels amazing on! 

I tried it on again at home (without all my other clothes on) and found a Value Village tag down the inside seam. 

$29.99 is more like what I'd expect in a thrift store. But Pocket is a consignment store - all the work is already done, and it's nothing but good stuff. 

I laughed when I saw this skirt on the sale rack. 

Look familiar? I have the matching top (worn here). 

It's by April Cornell and was only $12.00. 

Of course I bought it! How could I not?

I gasped at this - I saw a woman wearing this Adidas jacket at brunch months ago! I was envious then. 

I wonder if it's her jacket? Do you see the Adidas letters in the bottom section? It kind of reads like leopard print. There are two pockets camouflaged there.

I found a tag down the side. 

That sure looks like 2021. 

I noticed the Farm Rio logo on the tag. 

The textile is nylon with a mesh lining. 

A little pricey considering they still sell it in a different colourway - retail is $65.00. 

But I love Annie and her charming store - I'm totally fine to pay a bit more and support my local shops. Home I went!

And now...SQUIRRELS. As I was chatting with Mom in the morning, I wandered out onto the deck where three young grey squirrels were scampering around the Garry Oaks. 

I see a tail disappearing above, and one racing up the trunk. 

And racing down again! 

They were so fast! 

Sorry about the glare, but this is the only picture I managed of all three of them. 

I like that the one on the right has an acorn in her mouth. 

More chasing. 

Followed by more scampering. 

Bounding across the lawn! 

Very bouncy squirrel. 

A pause to look at the lady on the balcony. 

"A Noted Kook."

I like the white tummies. 

See the one on the right? 

A funny pose.

Caught running down the tree. 

Really focused on that acorn. 

Ah, I love local wildlife. 

And lastly, before I leave you for the weekend, sharing some flowers that my colleague Rej sent me yesterday.

I've been helping her out and she's happy with me. 

These are all the same arrangement! 

It's different from every side. 

I'll keep this going for weeks. 

Such a lovely thing. 

And I am also grateful to you, Dear Reader, thank you for being here! I'll be back on Sunday with tales of adventure!