Double Plaid

Gah, the weather is driving me nuts! I got hit by rain this morning, and now it's blaringly sunny (not that I am complaining!).

I preplanned all my outfits around my shoes this week, as I mentioned...and I am steadily getting more comfortable as I go! I've had these shoes for over 5 years (a long time for me!) and they are like wearing slippers practically.

I wanted to wear this dress again, too (last seen here): I know, boring to wear with so much black, but for me, red plaid doesn't allow for a huge amount of variety.

This wrap sweater/tee (last seen here) is great for layering at this time of year. Plus, it has awesomely large puffy sleeves. Very Anne Shirley.

Check out the drastic difference from glare-y bright facing east (above) and sheltered facing south:

Such great light. I'm starting to enjoy my little "Sheila's Lounge" area out here. It's going to be fab in the summer.

The stuff:

Double plaid with the belt! I felt so clever.

A close-up:

The amazing necklace that Tina sent me a couple of months back.

Dress (Plum), wrap top (Noa Noa), shoes (label's rubbed off), necklace (gift from Tina).

Hippy Chick

Today is rainy and stormy - so much for Spring! I had to bundle up to stay warm - three layers is unheard of at this time of year. Bah!

Usually, when I plan my outfits, I just hold stuff up to other stuff and think, "Huh, that'll do." It's mostly based on colour and texture...but sometimes when I'm not as familiar with a new item, I forget how much the cut of a garment matters.

Take today: This skirt (first seen here) has a very full front, and pockets. It's quite balloon-y over the hips. I forgot about that.

This jacket (last seen in the most recent Wardrobe Challenge) is fitted in the waist but has large pieces in the front that sort of flare out, thusly:

I'm posing the heck out of this, but in actuality it did not really work. I had planned to wear the jacket open, but that was BAD - I looked really wide without my waist defined.

Ah well. Live and learn, right?

Here's a stair shot - I only took one because it's cold out there!

My mom would call that a smirk.

The stuff:

The light is all wonky due to the weather. This is what these shoes really look like, and this is the last time I wore them (I can't believe it's been nearly a year! scroll down past my Paris pictures).

A close-up of the accessories:

My awesome Lucky Brand earrings that L got me years ago for Christmas, and my Grandma J's copper and turquoise ring. That ring is just really cheap stamped copper, but I love that it has wear patterns on it from her wearing it.

Jacket (Le Chateau, consignment), sweater (Kersh), skirt (Plum), shoes (Hale Bob), earrings (Lucky Brand, gift from L), ring (vintage 60s? Grandma J).

Spring Chick

I'm in a 10K race this upcoming weekend, so for this week I'll be doing all low heels to give my feet a rest. Edited to add: I don't run! I walk - really really fast! I'm faster than a lot of runners - my Personal Best time for 10K is 1:07.

Today it's these awesome gold kitten heels: Don't you just love that marigold cashmere cardi? Last seen here (ah, memories).

The skirt is one that I tend to save for Spring and summer - I can't believe I haven't worn it since last July (here)! Heh, I wore it with the same belt, how very uncreative of me, hee hee.

Feeling all swanky with my bigass ring on:

Much as I love the colour, I don't know if I'm going to keep this cardi much longer. It's beginning to pill a bit around the boobs (the curse of the boobs!) and I have other things that are more flattering - but I love the colour!

The stuff:

Shiny shoes!

A close-up:

That ring is in the donate bag - you've turned my finger green for the last time, Too Big Missing a Stone and Made of Cheap Copper Ring! Fie on you!

Cardigan (Future Paradise, consignment), skirt (Vivienne Tam, consignment), shoes (Aldo, consignment), belt (The Bay), ring (Guess), earrings (don't remember, at least 15 years old).

Happy Easter Weekend!

Sadly, this lovely long weekend is drawing to a close. I have really enjoyed my four days off - going back to work will be tough! I didn't do too much, mostly relaxed and hung out with L, as I haven't seen much of him over the past few weeks.

On Friday, we went out for a walk for a couple of hours: These are new-to-me pants. I am not generally a fan of khakis, cropped pants or anything this bland, but these were $7.50 at the thrift store a few months ago and I need a summery casual pant. These are they.

We were down near the water, so I wore my jean jacket as well:

The shoes are also new-to-me. Lately, I've been on the hunt for good quality, supportive flats for summer. I spotted these for $19.99 at the consignment store about 4 weeks ago - I see from their website that their sandals start at $125, so looks like I got a deal! They still had the tags on, so never worn. They were excellent for walking in - they are full leather and have a soft rubber sole. I tried to take a picture of them, but the rich plum colour kept coming out lavender.

This was a garden that I thought was pretty:

The last of the daffodils - the tulips are about to take over. We actually had a bit of sun on Friday, too.

Blouse (no label, consignment), cami (InWear), pants (Mountain Equipment Co-op, thrifted), shoes (La Canadienne, consignment), belt (Plum), jean jacket (Ann Taylor Loft).

We went out for lunch and then went for another long walk on Saturday:

I was actually quite warm - I had a suede jacket on over this that I ended up carrying. These are my other pair of expensive-ish summer flats that I found (I got them for $40 right after Christmas, regular $89.99). These are getting even more comfortable now that they've been broken in.

For Easter, my mom likes to have all of us over (L and I, my brother and his kids, the moms). I like to dress a little whacky for the girls:

The second wearing of my new Fluevogs (last seen here). I'd forgotten about this t-shirt (last murkily seen here), but it goes perfectly with the purple in the shoes.

Yesterday was rainy (as is today - I just got back from a long walk in it), but I still wanted to do a couple of stair shots:

Admiring my shoes in daylight. I have my Santa mug full of coffee.

Coffee goooood...

I just love that leather vest - I couldn't wait to wear it again (last seen here).

T-shirt (H&M, thrifted), vest (CAbi, consignment), skirt (Bebe Sport, swapped), boots (Bellevues Libby Smith, Fluevog), choker (vintage 60s, Mom's).

When I was a kid, the Easter Bunny would leave us a mug on the front stairs of our house - the mug would be filled with some candies and usually a little gift for each of us (I recall a bunch of Avon brooches with solid perfume in them - I know this was one of them).

I thought it would be a nice treat for my 3 nieces:

Happy Easter, Sidney, Hannah and Zoe!

Mae Day!

To my utter delight, yesterday I received a package in the mail. When I wore this yellow skirt, Megan of Megan Mae Daily gushed over how much she loved it - well, I was sure that the store that originally carried it still had them on sale, so I went down (with her measurements) and found one for her and sent it off (it had been marked down even further!). In return, she thrifted a couple of items for me, and today I am wearing two of them.

The first is this amazing tulip skirt: It's a lovely two-tone grey herringbone, 100% wool (and amazingly soft), fully lined. Thank you, Megan, I really love it. I had a blue wool skirt like this back in 1984 that I loved so much - this reminds me of that. I've never heard of the brand, but here's a good write-up.

The blouse was last worn here. I'm not really feeling it - it's too voluminous - so it might go in the consignment pile.

Megan included this sweet note:

That is so sweet - it's going up in my closet.

Back by popular demand, an outdoor shot!

The fabulous Kasmira suggested a martini to loosen up, so that I'm more relaxed in this new setting. Martinis are not really my thing, but I do love a fine single-malt scotch (I'm drinking Ardbeg right now, I like 'em peaty). Mine is in a crystal snifter.

Ah, much better...don't forget: pinky up!

I'm all Legsy McGee in these shots, hee. I probably should have shaved my legs. Whatever.

Too loose, too loose!

It's been a long week...thank goodness for holiday weekends!

The stuff:

I know! They are the Best Shoes Ever. People actually stop me and admire them whenever I wear these. Last seen here, back in August - too long! But that's what you get when you have over 70 pairs of shoes - some just get worn more than others. I need to wear that leather dress again too.

The second thing Megan sent me were these earrings:

They are so rocker...so of course, I put them with vintage rhinestones! The necklace was a gift from L several Christmases ago.

Blouse (Plum), skirt (Etcetera, swap from Megan), shoes (Poetic Licence), belt (Bianca Nygard), necklace (50s vintage, gift from L), earrings (swap from Megan), ring (vacation in Scotland).

I am thankful that my new company gives two days off for the Easter weekend! My old company did not. I am looking forward to relaxing and enjoying what little sunshine there is. Someone who knows how to enjoy the sunshine:

Kitty in the sun!

Have a fabulous long weekend, everyone!

A Little Vintage, and All Second-Hand

I got a lot of comments on today's outfit (I had a work function to go to, so people loosened up a bit after a couple of beers), mostly things like, "Is today Chinese New Year?" or "Why are you dressed so fancy?"

Of course, my answer is always, "Darling, I'm always fancy."

I'm featuring two new-to-me items: the shoes and the slip. This is my third wear of the top (last seen here) - I love it so much. It's like it was made for me. The skirt hasn't been worn since August (here). Wow, I can't believe it's been so long!

I chose to wear the skirt today to go with this new half-slip that I found while out thrifting last weekend. I spotted the lovely dark grey and thick grey lace:

It felt very luxurious, so I hung onto it while I browse around. Here's a shot of just the slip:

It's designed to be worn with the slit on the side - and I think it's meant to be seen! It's too lovely not to show a bit.

I moved it around to the front to line up with the slits on my skirt:

It was $14.95 which I thought was a little pricey...but then I saw this:

Hello! Christian Dior! I think this is from the 80s (the length of it, the fabric feel). The tags are soft and not sewn crooked (that's my bad picture-taking).

I know it's definitely prior to 1995, because that's when the Int. Ladies Garment Workers Union dissolved:

How awesome.

Sadly, the lace totally made friction balls out of my fishnets around the knees, so I will have to wear it with tights or bare legs. Mental note.

The shoes were a real steal:

Yes! $4.00! The thrifting gods smiled upon me that day. Real leather (super soft, like buttah), little ruffles (squee!), and fit me like a dream. I actually walked to town and then home (with two glasses of wine in me, hee) in them with no rubbing or pain at all.

The stuff:

You can see the nice quality of the leather on the shoes, and a bit of the lace of the slip there.

The shiny bits:

I didn't realize until halfway through the day that everything I had on today was second-hand. This necklace is likely from the 50s - it was my grandmother's - and the earrings and bracelet are from the early 70s or late 60s (I'm sure Mom will correct me if I'm off on that).

Blouse (Le Chateau, consignment), skirt (Gianfranco Ferre via Giorgio Beverly Hills, thrifted), half-slip (Christian Dior, thrifted, vintage 80s), shoes (Enzio Angiolini, thrifted), necklace (Grandma J's, vintage 50s), earrings and cuff (Mom's, vintage 70s or 60s).

Chairish is the Word I Use to Describe...

Today's ensemble is made up of two items that I found in the same thrift store. The skirt, like yesterday's leopard cardigan, was on a put-away rack, and the jacket was on a display. Yes, I barge in like I own the place and take apart displays. Hey, that's what displays are for!

The jacket was $18.50 (which is not exactly thrift pricing, in my opinion, but it was a thrift "boutique" and the profits go to help women in need, so I'll give them a pass). I fell in love with the gorgeous portrait collar:
Inigo is watching me - it's very early in the morning before work.

I am seriously a sucker for a cool lapel. The material is actually a very thick cotton, almost denim, but it's fully lined, even down the sleeves. Pretty unusual. I love the fit and the fact that the bottom of it has belt loops (that's my old trust black belt in there). It's French Connection, and I see by their website that their jackets are around $178. I guess 10% of that is not so bad after all!

The skirt was only $12.50, it's by Mia Hansen, who appears to be a Vancouver illustrator. I can't find anything about clothing that she's done, so maybe this was a one-off.

I loved the fit and feel of this skirt all day - the slit at the back is not very high, so I had to take less than my usual big strides. It felt very old-school.

Here's a better look:

The fabric is a poly cotton - I was afraid it was going to wrinkle if I even looked at (doesn't it look like it would, with that raw silk sort of look to it?), but it was amazingly resilient. It has two flat pockets on the front of it, with a chair silkscreened on each. When I first saw the skirt, I thought for sure it was Smoking Lily, because of this skirt. How awesome: I have two skirts with chairs on them!

The stuff:

My second wear of these shoes (last seen here). Love that zipper rose - I wish I'd bought 10 of them to give to all my friends.

Jacket (French Connection, thrifted), cami (Esprit), belt (Plum), skirt (Mia Hansen, thrifted), shoes (kate & mel), zipper rose (Victoria & Albert Museum gift shop).

Leopard and Ruffles and Zippers, Oh My!

On my last thrift adventure, I took my own advice and dug into the put-away rack near the changeroom to see what the store staff had not gotten to yet. It was Saturday afternoon, so I figured the serious shoppers would have already gone through the store and snagged all the good stuff to try on.

I'm so smart. Look what I found! Orange leopard print! Hello, lover. I fell for the kooky taupe ruffles and the big industrial zipper. It was $16.95, which is not too bad, considering it still had the store tag on it (original price $29.00 US). It's by Twelve Layers, from a store called Twelve By Twelve, which my research tells me is a "classier" offshoot of Forever 21.

I knew this sweater would require badass shoes, so I pulled out these montrous heels again (last time seen here). The trick? Trust the heel. Walk in a natural motion - heel to toe - but go a bit slower.

I'm 5'10" in these! (I'm 5'4" in case you wondered). I kept the rest of the outfit to a dull roar (rar) to balance the whackitude of the cardi and the shoes, so straight brown skirt (last seen here), and just a little bit of a red cami peeking out to pull the red shoes into the leopard party.

The new outside venue!

I have not gotten the hang of doing these shots yet. I only take maybe 6-8 pictures TOTAL when I photograph an outfit (yes, including the "stuff" pictures), and I hate it when I don't get the poses right. Taking too long! Need dinner!

The stuff:

The light streaming in doesn't really show how awesomely orange the sweater is. Those shoes are awesome, aren't they?

A close-up:

Simple black accessories...I had enough hoo-haw going on as it was.

Cardigan (Twelve Layers, thrifted), skirt (Tobias), shoes (Carvela, Heathrow Airport), earrings (Plum), bracelet (Le Chateau).

Weekend Outfit - Animal Print and Bare Toes

I hope you all had a fabulous, relaxing weekend! I know I did!

This is my Saturday morning WW weigh-in outfit: I've had the skirt for a while and have been dying to wear it, but it's been too cold. It was still too cold yesterday, but I did it anyway. I demand warm weather!

Anyway, the skirt was one of my great deals at The Bay last month: it was $11.99 on clearance. Not bad! I love the swirliness of it:

This is the second wearing of the top (first seen here) - I remembered that it had a very low scoop neck and wore a cami under it this time.

I love these sandals (last seen here). I had a panicky moment at WW when I couldn't get the left shoe unzipped - I had to weigh in with one shoe on! - but I got it undone eventually. I was worried I'd have to cut myself out of them.

This is my first wearing of these for the season and while they were comfortable, my toes were absolutely freezing all day.