The Fullness of Skirts, Roses on the Toes

I was happy today to see my spotty hive-legs nearly back to their state of blinding white.

Pasty! (although I prefer pale over tanned).

I actually had this outfit ready to go to wear on Tuesday, but then I remembered that I'd worn the skirt to my WW meeting the last time I wore it (here, emulating a daisy). I loved wearing it again, and liked it with this indigo blue sweater - it let the pattern of the skirt shine a bit more. The skirt reminds me of chainlink fence.

The colour of the sweater is one of those hues that doesn't photograph correctly indoors - the stairs shot is what it really looks like. I last wore it here (blonde!) as part of one of my Ulty quick-change outfits.

I have had many puffy skirts like this over the years, and I've always worn them with a fitted top, and often a belt. It just looks right that way to me.

The stuff:

I am happy to give these awesome wedge platforms their first outing in 2013. I wore them 7 times in the August 2012 capsule (recap here), and they were just as awesome as I remembered. I love the darker red trim, the big rose on the toe and the fun shape over the cork.

Bits and bling:

A slew of sparkly things for my fingers and wrists. Another wear of my Wendy Brandes finger-candy.

Oops, forgot to take my earrings off!

All the red stuff is coral.

Sweater (Smart Set, thrifted), cami (InWear), skirt (Bedo, thrifted), shoes (Miz Mooz, consignment), belt/coral bracelet (Plum), leather cuff (Guess, thrifted), silver bracelets (thrifted), coral earrings (locally made), silver/coral ring (Oscar & Libby's), lapis lazuli/Fulvia Ring (Wendy Brandes).

After work (a crazy day), I bailed on the gym to finish up L's birthday present shopping - I found him some great stuff. I'm so lucky to be married to a guy who's into so many things - he's so easy to shop for! I'll take pictures after he opens everything so you can see all the good stuff I found.

While I was on my shopping whirlwind, I noted that my favourite transient shop re-opened in the mall! I was so excited. They're called Migration (formerly Lotus), and I actually bought the above earrings there. I'm linking here 'cause I love, nothing received in return although I believe Sarah is posting a picture of me she took in the shop - hi, Sarah! The shop carries all local designers, manufacturers and fair trade clothing, jewelry and accessories - they have some gorgeous stuff. I bought several things there when they were Lotus.

Today, I bought these awesome hibiscus flower-under-glass earrings for $25.00.

I really like that they are set in copper. They're made in Vancouver (didn't get the designer's name, unfortunately). I'm still thinking about the shark ring - it was so cool. I might have to go back for it.

Inspired by Nature (Leaves, Mushroom and Birds)

Whew! Another day over and closer to my long weekend! 

I'm often inspired by nature for colour combinations in my clothes (seriously, nature mixes every colour - and it works), but sometimes it's the little details that I like.

Soft olives and neutrals today. This is my trusty dark olive blazer (last seen here over my 70s kitchen ensemble). So we have our green. Lots of green in nature.

From there, we have this fabulous skirt. The colour is called mushroom, and it's pretty close to the mushrooms I buy. I had some mushroom soup today, in fact and it was delicious.

I last wore this skirt for a shopping expedition (here, with a yellow poncho). I love the way it swooshes when I walk.

It's very long, so I roll the waist a couple of times so that it doesn't drag on the ground when I'm walking to and from work.

I wore a mid-height heel at work:

There they are! My un-Vizzini-fied Fluevogs, which I last wore here with my butterscotch velvet jacket.

These are one of the most comfortable pairs of Fluevogs that I own - highly recommended!

My Smoking Lily obi was worn over the jacket (I had a black camisole on under it) - look, leaves! And that wing shape near the bottom is a maple tree seed (a helicopter, if you're from Canada).

My earrings and my spoon bracelet are also leaf shapes. And there are the birds, swooping around my neck in a joyous celebration of spring.

Jacket (RW& Co., consignment), cami (Esprit), skirt (Club Monaco), obi (Smoking Lily), shoes (Wonders Ayers, Fluevog), necklace (gift from Mom), spoon bracelet (About Tine), earrings (Plum), spinner ring (Twang & Pearl), jade ring (Mom's, vintage 70s).

Blue Satin and Tweed Flowers

Another short week for me! As is my wont, I take a couple of days off around L's birthday to hang out and be merry with him. I am looking forward to Thursday, as we are going to see an art opening that our friend Elaine is in, as well as do dinner with a bunch of friends. Things to look forward to...

I nearly forgot about this blue satin blouse that I bought for $16.98 at the beginning of the month (here). We've been having typical spring weather (rain, wind, cloudy, sunny...just wait 10 minutes and it changes), so I ventured to wear long sleeves (plus I'm still spotted, so wanted to cover them up).

I wore this green tweed flower-embellished skirt three times in the May 2012 capsule (recap here), although I had to actually look it up in my handy-dandy spreadsheets to double-check. I must be getting old...

Added pops of burgundy with the nice leather obi.

This skirt doesn't have a slit, so it's tricky to walk in.

The stuff:

 My very well-loved Senscha Teapots, last seen here with zebra stripes.

Sparkly things:

My Foxy necklace is starting to wear out. The chain has lost most of its gold colour, but I do still like the pendant. Maybe I'll just remove it from the chain?

My Wendy Brandes rings for extra-super-powers! They worked - I kicked butt at the gym tonight!

Blouse (Melanie Lynne, consignment), cami (Reitman's), skirt (mystery brand, thrifted), shoes (Senscha Teapots, Fluevogs), belt (locally-made), necklace (Foxy), lapis lazuli ring/Fulvia ring (Wendy Brandes).

A Spotty but Casual Weekend

Happy weekend! I hope you're all having a good time. Thank you so much for all the good wishes on my spots and my bad encounter with the beer - "wine is fine!" as some of you said, and you are so right! I am still spotty, although not itchy and they do seem to be fading a little bit. I took it fairly easy this weekend and had many naps. Ahhhh...

On Saturday, we played Ulty. As you can see, I didn't bother with make-up, so here's the barefaced me.

Eek! I can tell I've only been awake for about 15 minutes there.

This is my first wear of the fluttery purple silk skirt since I wore it three times in the August 2012 capsule (recap here), and same for the purple flat sandals (also 3 wears in the August capsule, too).

The stripey cardi is worn over a grey cami with some sequins near the top; I last wore the cardi here back in April for a casual evening at home.

Cardi (Express, thrifted), cami (RW & Co.), skirt (Le Chateau, consignment), shoes (La Canadienne, consignment).

Today, Land I walked down to the grocery store and back home again, so I just wore another super-casual outfit for being in public.

My striped tee is one that I've had forever. I didn't feature it in a capsule last year because I only wear it as a layering piece, but it's cashmere and cotton and is so soft.

The t-shirt is my Smoking Lily Hama Hama crow shirt, which I featured 6 times in the March 2012 capsule (recap here). Don't be misled, though - I've worn it around the house many, many times.

The jean skirt was worn 4 times in the September 2012 capsule (recap here), but again, I wear it around the house, so it's not like it's getting neglected.

What has been neglected, though, are these sweet Airwalk runners that I rarely wear. Hey, here's the last time (and there's this Hama Hama top - I knew I'd worn it recently!).

Top (Hama Hama, Smoking Lily), long-sleeved tee (Majestic, swap from Caro), skirt (Mavi Jeans, consignment), shoes (Airwalk, swap).

Now, to kick back and chill some more...

Spanish Ladies, the Last of the Jacket, Bad Beer, and 15 Months Between Jeans

Miss me? I had a late night last night, and knew I'd be free tonight, so it's a double-shot of Thursday's and Friday's outfits. It's a wardrobe bonanza!

First up, thanks to both Val Sparkle*, who suggested something more contrast-y with this jacket (last seen here with reds and purples), and Tamera*, who thought it would look good over my senorita dress. You were both so right!
*linking 'cause I adore both of these ladies!

I haven't worn the Spanish lady dress since I wore it three times way back in the September 2012 capsule (recap here).

That's my new blue leather belt for a pop of colour. This dress is great for mixing colours - it has so many in it.

This is the second wear of the jacket and I have decided not to keep it.

Although I like the military vibe, it has limiting features: the double-breasted front is not vertical (it slants to one side), and because of the slant and the double row of buttons, it can't be worn open. Also, the neckline is quite high, and I prefer it a bit lower. So, sorry cute jacket, you're gone.

The stuff:

I will wear these shoes until they fall apart. I last wore them only 2 weeks ago, here, doing a classic 80s vibe.

Sparkly stuff:

My Wendy Brandes rings, and my favourite silver feather earrings.

Jacket (Penguin, vintage), dress (Lirub), belt (Danier Leather), shoes (Feet First), rings (Wendy Brandes), earrings (locally made). 

So last night, we had a Games Night at work. People bring board games, like Ticket to Ride, or Carcassone, and we all play what interests us. We have beer and Subway sandwiches. Anyway, I had a couple of beers, and my last one was an IPA, with a high amount of hops (which seems to be trendy right now). I don't drink beer very often, mostly because of the high calories, but I usually like darker beers, like Guinness.

Anyway, I woke up at four in the morning, feeling uncomfortable and itchy, but put it down to hormones. I'm groggy in the morning, and didn't really get a look at myself until I got out of the shower - I was covered in hives! My eyes were puffed, my lips were swollen, and seriously, red spots everywhere.

After I checked with L (no spots on him), and being able to eliminate bedbugs (ugh, shudder) as the culprit, I guessed that it was that hoppy beer. I sometimes get stuffed up when I have a beer, and I could feel that, only a bit stronger. I took an antihistamine right away, as well as ibuprofen.

You can see a bit of the redness on my chest, and my face is puffy. My life is so full of drama! (or maybe that's just me, ha!).

But I'm feeling better, so that's a relief. Still spotty, but much less. Scary! I didn't know I was allergic to anything. No more beer for me! That's it, I'm not going to take a chance on going into anaphylactic shock.

However, let's move on to more fun topics, like clothes! Are you agog that I'm wearing jeans?? I haven't worn jeans on the blog (I wear a pair of worn-out ones around the house sometimes) since I wore these same cropped jeans four times in the February 2012 capsule (recap here).

I was actually relieved that they fit! You never know after 15 months what one's body will decide to do - like break out in hives.

The tunic top is a thin poly covered in this tree and zigzag pattern. I wore this twice in the all-neutral June 2012 capsule (recap here), both times with this same brown t-shirt cardi, although it shared its affections with other tops that month, as I wore it 5 times.

I had forgotten that the zipper on these pants likes to open up, so I was very happy that the tunic covered that!

I haven't been taking pictures of my outerwear too much, but I've been relying heavily on my leathers. They're perfect for cold spring mornings, and not too heavy for when the sun's out.

Red is the colour of choice for me, most days.

The stuff:

Yeah, I built the outfit around the shoes! I just bought them this past weekend (here) for $24.00 at the local thrift shop, and I had to wear them this week. They are a bit stiff (obviously barely worn), and one of the straps rubbed the top of one foot, as well as a bit of a rub on an ankle, but not too bad. I could feel them softening up as I wore them.

Round things:

The earrings in the bottom left corner are homegrown vintage from around 1993. I bought them at the mall store I briefly worked at, LA Express (sister store of Suzy Shier, for you Canucks).

Cardigan (Alternative Apparel, thrifted), tunic (Dex), jeans (Sandwich, swap from Caro), shoes (Ramon Tenza, thrifted), cuff (SkinZnHydez), spoon bracelet (About Tine), spinner ring (Twang & Pearl), nail ring (Club Monaco), earrings (LA Express. 90s).

I hope you have a great weekend! Happy Memorial Day weekend to my US friends!

Purple Mod Squad

...and from Edwardian steampunk, we move on to the 1960s.

Happy Wednesday - here is a purple dress, which is of course, the one I thrifted for $9.50 this past weekend (here). Based on the style and cut of the dress, I would put it at around 1999-2000. I had a similarly cut (and also purple) dress back then. I really enjoyed wearing the dress - it was super comfortable, although a few times I had to pull it down towards my knees when sitting at my desk.

Which is why I wore tights today. I really didn't want to, it being spring and all, but that's a lot of pasty-white leg!

I love these Look of London tights. They are more patterned in person - in these pictures I sort of look like I have random blobs of colour on my legs instead of roses. Ooh, it's lava lamp legs!

I realize that the green of the shoes aren't quite right with the tights, but I really wanted to wear these! I last wore them back here in February (again with lace!).

The stuff.

Every time I wear these shoes, they get softer. So comfy!

Shiny bits:

The earrings were a perfect match. I love the cool cuff.

Dress (Jacob, thrifted), tights (Look of London), shoes (Fly London), cuff (Lakeland Art Metal Work, thrifted), earrings (Le Chateau), ring (Oscar & Libby).

Edwardian Waistcoat

Ack! I'm caught off guard by it being Tuesday - already! 

I had to get the new-to-me Betsey Johnson top into an outfit right away.

I thrifted it on the weekend here for $2.50 (two-fifty!). I had fun making people at my work guess how much I paid for it. Hee!

I wore it over top of my ruffled white shirt (last seen here, being an office punk). I was happy that both pieces stayed in place well. The stiffness and slim cut of the shirt worked well with this waistcoat layered over it.

And I sat up really straight too. Bonus!

I love the way the collar stands up on this blouse. It felt very Edwardian (as in the era of King Edward).

The funky skirt was last seen way, way back in the February 2012 capsule (recap here), where I wore it 6 times.

The stuff:

Love these shoes - I last wore them here in February with flies and turquoise (and a leather skirt that went buh-bye). I went with brown to pull in the rusty-burgundy colours of the top.

I wanted all the accessories to have a rich brocade type of feel, like the leaves and flowers in the Betsey top. To me, that means more leaves.

The necklace is so cool. It was my grandmother's.

Top (Betsey Johnson, thrifted), blouse (Uno Due, thrifted), skirt (Morena, consignment), shoes (Nine West, thrifted), necklace (Lisner, vintage, Grandma J's), spoon bracelet (About Tine), spinner ring (Twang & Pearl), ring (Poly, thrifted), earrings (Plum).

Long Casual Weekend Wrap Up (and Only a Little Shopping)

Wow, it feels like it's been ages! It's a long weekend up here in Canada: Victoria Day long weekend, where we celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday by um...celebrating. In my city (being named Victoria after the long-ago queen), we have a parade, a rodeo and the Highland Games. Not all related, and I don't go to any of them. I did when I was a kid, but now I prefer to chill and relax and avoid the crowds.

It's been a very quiet weekend, and quite casual, dressing-wise. Here's my Casual Friday outfit for the office.

Oh, yeah, I got my hair cut! It's nice and short again - all that dead, fried previously-blonde stuff trimmed off. Linking up to Patti's "Visible Monday" at Not Dead Yet Style!

This is my new Smoking Lily Tessroc dress, first seen here last weekend. Today, it's layered, with a cardigan over it and a floofy underskirt er...under it.

The cardigan is a nice teal colour - it was worn twice in the September 2012 capsule (recap here). The floofy underskirt was purchased in 2010 for about $29.99 when I bought a ton of Noa Noa samples from Dots (local clearance outlet).

I added my black leather obi over top of the cardigan to pull everything in.

And there are my lovely Fluevog Darjeeling Teapots again - last worn here with my "office punk" look. These are quickly becoming indispensable in my wardrobe - I love them!

The stuff:

I had another pair of shoes picked to go with this outfit but swapped out for these ones in the morning, recalling that I was going shopping with Mom after work for her birthday. Sometimes our shopping expeditions are marathons, so I needed to be prepared.

We had a good shop, although, wow, I am so spoiled by shopping second-hand! I had major sticker-shock with new clothes. I blew my budget on Mom with only 3 items - I could have bought bags and bags of stuff on consignment. Ah well, she really liked all the things we found, so I don't have any issues with it. Our local Danier Leather store was having a major clearance, and Mom found herself a gorgeous white leather jacket for only $149.00. I might have bought myself a little something too...more on my shopping shortly.

I wore some more of my new-to-me thrifted vintage finds.

My cheapy bracelets and rings, mixed with my high-end Wendy Brandes rings. The circle earrings were a present from my coworker Lise who also thrifts. I've given her clothes in the past (I bring bags of goodies in to my work to give away), so this was a sweet trade.

Cardigan (Kersh), Tessroc dress (Smoking Lily), underskirt (Noa Noa), shoes (Darjeeling Teapots, Fluevogs), obi (consignment), bracelets/turquoise ring (thrifted vintage), earrings (swap), hematite ring (Avon, thrifted vintage), lapis lazuli ring/Fulvia ring (Wendy Brandes).

On Saturday morning, we had a game of Ultimate, so I wore comfy loose layers over my sports underpinnings.

It was a little chilly and rainy intermittently, so I ended up with the jacket done up most of the day. It is my indispensable boyfriend blazer, briefly worn tossed over the aforementioned Smoking Lily dress above last weekend (here).

The tee is my emerald green one, last worn with a plethora of greens on St. Patrick's Day (here).

My fluffy skirt was easy for doing my quick-change at the field. It was also handy for changing in the aisles at one of the thrift stores I went to (they only have 1 change room). I last wore it here on a breezy weekend in April.

The shoes are my faithful Kenneth Cole Reaction sandals, worn a whopping 8 times in the all-neutral June 2012 capsule (recap here), and they are starting to show all the wear I give them. I'm on the lookout for something as cool and comfy to replace them, maybe for next year.

They were awesome for a light thrift shop after brunch, and I even walked home in them.

Jacket (Banana Republic, thrifted), top (The Limited, consignment), skirt (Lapis, consignment), shoes (Kenneth Cole Reaction, consignment).

On Saturday night, we strolled down to some friends' place to hang and play a game of "Arkham Horror" - we haven't played at their place before so I had to dress appropriately, both for theme and comfort.

There are a couple of things in this outfit that I haven't featured on the blog at all, or at least in a long while! These slip-on Vans shoes are my "hey, I'm going to the gas station for milk, be right back" shoes. I bought them in Vancouver in 2008: check it out: Sheila old-style! The only thing in that outfit I still have are these shoes and the chainmail necklace.

Some other previous wears you might find amusing:

• July 2008: To see Judas Priest in concert! Yeah, baby! 
• August 2008: To see Beck in concert. The only thing I still have of that outfit is the black cami!
• May 2009: Rock Concert Day at my old work. That Alice Cooper t-shirt is now workout wear.
• August 2009: Travel wear to go visit my in-laws and their hideous mint-green walls (I still have the striped long-sleeved tee).
• December 2009: A Casual Friday at my old work.
• September 2010: What I wore to the Saanichton Fair (after the boogie-ing down in my Desigual dress)
• June 2010: For L's birthday "day of indigence" lounging about. That t-shirt is also now a workout shirt.
• December 2010: Travel wear to Florida and back.

I am struck by how little I do "jeans casual" now - how my style has changed!

The t-shirt is one I ordered from Threadless a few years ago. I don't usually wear it out - it's a fun one to wear around the house or to the gym.

It's called "Zombie at Tiffany's". I'm wearing it layered over one of my many long-sleeved tees, with a couple of rocker leather cuffs on. I also have a swatch of rings (snake, spider, etc.) on, and my silver bird skull earrings.

The skirt is one of my favourite maxis. I last wore it here in February with purples.

Also, with the same socks. Somewhat creepy and ominous flocks of birds...

It was a fun night! It always cools off in the evening here, as the breeze comes in off the ocean, so I donned my lovely yellow leather jacket.

Cross-body bag loaded with jelly beans: check!

Jacket (Danier Leather), t-shirt (Threadless), long-sleeved tee (Jacob, thrifted), skirt (InWear, consignment), socks (Sock It To Me), shoes (Vans).

Here's all the goodies I got while shopping on Friday and Saturday. First up, I found a Canadian-made belt at Danier Leather on Friday with Mom.

Note that "someone" has already gotten his teeth into the end of the belt...

It was $19.99 - love the colour! They had tons of colours - it was so hard to choose!

On Saturday after brunch, I wandered through a couple of thrift stores. At the St. Vincent de Paul store, I found this lovely brooch.

Only $5.00! One of the inner stones is missing; otherwise this is in perfect condition. Not stamped, so probably just department store. Still, very pretty.

This top was a total score:

I love corset-y type tops, and spotted the good construction and quality of this from a mile away.

I adore Betsey Johnson! I would place this top as being mid-90s. Does that make it vintage?

It's a snug fit, but that's preferable in this style. I bet it will work over a long-sleeved top, like a vest.

Check out the score:

But no, it actually wasn't $5.00 - all orange tags were half-price. It was $2.50!! For Betsey Johnson!

And, even better - it was made in the US.

Gotta like that.

I also went to the Hospice Shop. They always have great quality things. I found this amazing purple lace dress by Jacob.

It's quite short, but I still like showing my legs once in a while, so why not? Ha!

The sleeves are see-through, not lined like the rest of the dress.

It was $9.50. Pretty good!

I debated over these, but I'm always on the lookout for good quality, comfortable shoes.

Aren't they crazy? I love the faux croc with the faux python, the little kitten heel, the Mary-Jane strap.

I've never heard of the brand - Ramon Tenza - but I looked them up and the new styles sell for over $300. I guess $24.00 is not too bad.

Leather, and made in Spain. Almost no wear on them too!

Pretty sparkly buckle.

And now, it's Monday, I'm off, and L and I are headed to the gym soon. Ah, long weekends...

Vizzini knows how to chill appropriately.

Stretchy in the sun!

Hope you all had a great weekend!