Nov 7th - Outfit #7 - Dancing Queen and a Pledge

Welcome, new followers and commenters! Thanks for visiting my little dusty corner of the interwebz.

I had this outfit planned for ages, and have been dying to wear it. I had to pick a day that I wouldn't be serving food for a meeting, because I am wearing Major Cuffs.

I adore this slinky blush-cream blouse so much! It's got ruffles! It has perfect shoulders (shoulders are key), it has shaping in the body with those fabulous seams. I bought it back in September (scroll way down past pictures of my closet) on consignment for $16.98. Score!

And my goodness - it has Drama! I wafted all over the office today, swooshing my cuffs about and humming ABBA songs.

It's by CAbi and there's a very good explanation of what it's all about here at Wardrobe Oxygen*, and checking out the CAbi website* I think this blouse must have easily cost over $100 new. It has fabric covered buttons and not a single seam is raw or just serged (is that the right word?). Every single seam is bound, and every edge is rolled. It's 100% polyester, but it feels like silk.
*I link because I love - I will be looking for more of this brand when I thrift/shop second-hand

I was surprised to find that I have another CAbi piece already in my wardrobe: the leather vest that I wore in my February capsule. Also an awesome piece.

These pants are also new-to-me:

Ta-dah!

I thrifted them in September (scroll down past the plaid skirts) for only $7.50. As I mentioned then, they have no label (and show no evidence of ever having had a label) - they have no content tags either, which is really unusual. I think they are hand made, which is awesome. The metal hook that does up at the waistband is not like the cheap ones I see on clothes usually, but is very sturdy, and the stitches that sew it on (and the buttons on the waist as well) are actually knotted - not sewn on by a machine.

I have to be thankful to the person who donated these awesome pants - I love them and they fit me perfectly! However, I need to name them since I'll never be able to find them on the blog again otherwise. I think "stovepipe pants" is good.

I'm wearing them rolled up in cuffs at the ankle to showcase the shoes, which are these fabulous winkle-picker loafers:

I took great delight today in showing people the price, which is written on the sole: $4.00. And then explaining that I got them for half of that! Yes! Two dollars. With no tax. Such a score! I thrifted them here, the same weekend as the black stovepipe pants (scroll down to just below the purple buttonflower). I even took a picture of the price tag, I was so excited about my score!

The brand is Two Lips which still seems to make shoes, but they sure don't look anything like these! Mine are leather, made in Brazil and are named "Marcie." At least, that's the name under the vamp. I have a feeling these are maybe 15+ years old - they don't look or feel new to me. Thoughts?

They were deliciously comfortable all day - I had bare feet and they didn't rub a bit.

I kept my accessories simple, just a bit of leopard and some pearls, one of which is real:

I believe this pearl was bought from a "Pearl Factory" booth while on family vacation in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1985. You pay however much it cost (I think it was around $10 back then) and you picked your oyster, they open it up and you get a cultured pearl inside - they varied quite a bit, so I remember being really excited to get such a nice big one. The pearl has a really nice faintly greenish cast. Mom bought the setting for me (I'm pretty sure that's the touristy hook they use!) along with it. I think this may have been a graduation gift from her, as I graduated from high school that year.

Anyway, I don't wear it much, but I do like it, so I think I should wear it more.

Blouse (CAbi, consignment), trousers (no label, thrifted), shoes (Two Lips, thrifted), earrings (Aldo Accessories), ring (gift from Mom, homegrown vintage), belt (Dana Buchman, consignment).

Now, do you all read Citizen Rosebud*? I have that +40 Fashion Bloggers* thingy over there; Bella Q is a fabulous woman and she's encouraging like-minded bloggers to take her pledge*. I have been thinking about something like this for a while, and the timing is good. I mostly shop second-hand already, and the new clothing items I do buy are usually very high quality, locally designed and/or made and ethically produced (i.e. factory workers are paid a living wage). At least, that's what I want to do.
*did I mention I link because I love?

It starts in January, and I may just be taking the plunge...are you?