Weekend Wrap-Up: Shopping Spree and Kitty Pictures

Hola, my friends! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend! I have had a lovely time.

Let's get started. No Ulty on Saturday so I slept in, followed by L and I going for lunch.

Again, wanting to get "just one more!" wear out of some of my summery things. Much as I adore this dress, it's really not a fall/winter item, so it will be packed up at the end of the month. I last wore it here in June.

I finally got around to wearing my new-to-me gold metal stretchy belt - I loved how it looked with the dress. I did all gold accessories, including my giant (real) gold hoops and a vintage bracelet nicked from Mom's jewelry box in 1984-5.

I love these woven gold kitten heels - they are great to walk in and who doesn't love shiny shoes? Not this girl! I haven't worn them since here in June (3rd outfit) with my "holy ship!" dress, but they've been a wardrobe stalwart for several years. They will also get packed up for the season.

It's been goofy weather lately, but it settled down to lovely and hot by the afternoon. I didn't need this gorgeous orange leather coat except when I was in a chilly air-conditioned store. I last wore it as a topper back here in April (3rd outfit).

The stuff:

That gorgeous belt!

I bought myself this lovely locally-made key ring from Oscar & Libby's for $22.00 (on sale) and wore it right away.

I didn't get the name of the designer, but isn't it neat? It's nice and heavy.

Dress (Coldwater Creek, thrifted), shoes (Aldo, consignment), leather jacket (Danier Leather, consignment), purse (Danier Leather), belt (thrifted), cuff (vintage 60s, Mom's), ring (local).

After lunch, I meandered through my favourite thrift stores. I hadn't planned on going into the St. Vincent de Paul, but I'm so glad I did! I spent a whopping $24.00 total. Check it out.

I am a sucker for Chinoiserie/Oriental designs, and I see a lot of them in the thrift shops, from traditional cheongsams to kimonos to soft jackets. This one caught my eye because of the lovely deep burgundy satin and the cool blue/pink embroidery on the hems and cuffs.

Also: pink satin lining! Woo!

I'd never heard of the brand before, but the designer, Dr. Flora Cheong-Leen, is certainly a woman of many accomplishments! (linking for info only). This is a beautifully cut and made jacket, and I can't wait to wear it! There are two big slits to the waist up either side to flash the hot pink lining. And yes, $8.00! Score! I am pretty sure this would have been a lot more expensive when it was new.

A few weeks ago, the last time I was at SVdP, I tried on this top and PUT IT BACK. What, was I insane? I kicked myself almost instantly and knew there was no chance it would still be there when I went back.

Front

But there it was! I grabbed it and looked around furtively, like someone was going to try to yank it away from me.

It is hand beaded with glass beads on a fine wool sweater.

Back

I can wear it with the V in the front as well. It weighs a ton (I would say at least 5-6 pounds) due to all the beading.

And it's vintage - of course it is! We never see hand-done beading nowadays; it's all cheap construction.

Adrienne Vittadini - a classic 80s designer name! This was made in Hong Kong, and look how gorgeous that beading is! I am sure that this was made in the 80s and that it cost more than...

Yep. $8.00. Score!

It was a great day for vintage:

This is a wonderful fit and is a more vivid emerald in real life.

Although I don't think this is actual vintage, it does have a really strong 80s vibe. The reason I don't think it's vintage? It doesn't have room for shoulder pads! It's also polyester (real 80s would have been silk) and the sizing is modern.

That's also a modern label, and it was made in China. However, it is well constructed and I love the cut of it.

And my luck holds: $7.00!

I also spotted this awesome 70s vintage tie for L.

It was only $1.00.

I headed up the street to the Hospice Thrift Store next, but they're in the middle of turning over their summer stock, so there wasn't much left. The ladies recognized my taffeta plaid dress right away, though! I did get it there!

I found this amazing necklace in the jewelry case:

It reminds me of the gorgeous gold necklaces worn with Indian saris.

Although pricey at $20.00 for thrift, it's a good cause.

 The little metal tag says "D'Orlan" which is a Canadian manufacturer from the 1960s to present.

I briefly popped into The Velvet Crease and found this lovely indigo Dex cableknit sweater for $26.00.

I am looking forward to wearing this with some of my winter skirts.

Last night, L and I and some friends converged on Clive's Bar to have cocktails with Elaine for her birthday. I couldn't resist wearing two of my new purchases!

The vintage tunic demanded to be worn, and I loved how the gold necklace, cuff and earrings (from the previous outfit) popped against the black and pewter. I even did my toenails gold! This is my entry for Patti's "Visible Monday" at Not Dead Yet Style! Are you there? Go!

Like the red jacket of the other day, this pewter leather skirt hasn't been worn since I face-planted off the bus back in April (here, 3rd outfit).

I wore my Kenneth Cole Reaction sandals for easy walking downtown. I last wore them here in June with my chambray dress. They'll be going in the bin with my other sandals.

I had to do some repairs to the front of the skirt where the metallic finish was scraped off (saving my knees from being destroyed). You can see the repairs if you look really hard in the picture above (below my knees). I used modeling paints rubbed on with my finger: chainmail and a black wash to darken it up slightly and blend with the rest of the skirt's colouring. Aside from my painting touch-up skills, my only other option would be to have the skirt cut off and shortened, but how often do you find a floor-length pewter leather skirt with a train? It would have been a crying shame to alter it. Someone at the bar suggested that I glue flowers over the scrapes, but frankly I think that would be an abomination. Tsk.

I think I did a pretty good job on it - you wouldn't know the repairs were there unless I pointed them out.

Isn't that a gorgeous top? I love it. I carried my silver sequined/beaded clutch.

L also dressed up, all lovely in his new blue suit.

It is the new "modern" slim fit with flat-front pants. It's important for our guys to keep an eye on changing fashion too! L is also wearing the Dolce & Gabanna shirt I bought for him on consignment for $30.00, and yes, those fabulous green shoes are Fluevogs.

What a dashing couple we make!

As we were walking to town, a few people commented on our outfits. I walked very carefully and slowly, and when we bussed home (I know! I totally risked it!), I held both the bus door handle and L with death grips. I made it! No wipe out!

Top (Adrienne Vittadini, vintage 80s, thrifted), skirt (BCBG Max Azria, consignment), shoes (Kenneth Cole Reaction, consignment), necklace (D'Orlan, thrifted), cuff (vintage 60s, Mom's). 

And now here we are at Sunday. Vizzini has been cute this weekend.

"Woman, must you always be in my face?"

Snoozing on the couch cushions like a little pasha.

He is down to white eyebrows on one side only.

"I'm rakish like a pirate."

He's been enjoying the sunshine. Not much longer, little bun! The deck gets closed once the weather cools off. I hope we'll have a few more weeks before we have to do that.