Sunday, November 23, 2014

SmallAss Weekend Wrap-Up: Pleather and Houndstooth, and Snaky Dots

We made it! Weekend! There are probably things I should have done this weekend (grocery shopping, going to my niece's soccer game, Christmas shopping).
I didn't do them.

I'm tired. Not of blogging! No worries there - this (*waves vaguely*) is my main creative outlet. Putting outfits together with mindfulness of what I'm doing; looking at the colours and textures, wearing the clothes, seeing how people react to them and me. It's a big social experiment, and I am the mad scientist!

I enjoy the writing aspect, although I've streamlined the "when I last wore it" portion of our program (it's faster for me to look things and do the links all in one go). Sometimes I'm more verbose than other times. As with most of you, I only talk about the surface of my life on my blog. This is no more 100% the real me than the idea you might have about the life of that slightly odd, fashionable lady walking down the street. It's a good facsimile of me, though, at least of my public persona.

My job requires me to be "up" and "on" constantly. I'm very good at turning it on and off, but it's emotionally exhausting (seeing as I'm not an extrovert by nature), and I require a lot of downtime to get my mojo going again. My work has been dominating my life over the past few weeks, since I got back from vacation, but things are easing up...for now. The clothes help me put on a bright and cheery face. "Fake it till you feel it" is one of my mantras.

But enough rambling! The clothes, woman!

  • Top - Jeanne Bekker, consignment; purchased here last weekend
  • Skirt - Nygard, consignment; last seen here back in February with lemon
  • Boots - Miz Mooz; last seen here in February for a blogger tea-time meet-up

I seem to have an affinity for this oxblood/burgundy red lately. It's a good colour on me, and works well as a neutral for popping off jewelry or other vivid textures, like this houndstooth skirt. This is also my second burgundy item that I've purchased that has been made of PVC/pleather. I still don't like the feel of it, but at least it means this sweater is washable.
The skirt is what I think of as one of my "butt" skirts - hee, it does good things for my bum.

My current favourite autumn coat:
I love a long slim coat! The drama of the longer back hem and the velvet mixed with the wool plaid...it just makes me want to stride down the sidewalk with a devil-may-care attitude.

The stuff:
One of my many pairs of red boots - I have a thing for red boots (and shoes!). These are a fabulously girly shape with the folds! and the buttons! and the curvy heel! I also love a narrow ankle on a boot - it's very Victorian.

Big bling:
I got lots of compliments on this necklace (my secret d20s!). Will statement necklaces every stop being a statement?

  • Cuff - Midzo, vintage fair
  • Necklace - Nygard, consignment
  • Spinner ring - Twang & Pearl
  • Pinky ring - P. Sarpaneva, vintage 70s
  • Quartz ring - Uffizzi Gallery gift shop, Florence

I probably should have gone to bed earlier on Friday night, but L and I were having so much fun playing games, that we stayed up till the wee hours. As a result, I slept in on Saturday.
Gack! Much glariness!

This is my link-up to Patti's "Visible Monday" over at Not Dead Yet Style! Go! Go!

Shade my eyes?
I want to loll in the sun like a cat. Bring me coffee.

  • Dress - I'M Isola Marras; last seen here last month in its inaugural wear
  • Boots - Ash; last seen here last weekend, with orange

I didn't think I'd be wearing this dress in the fall/winter too much, but it lends itself well as a light daytime piece, as long as I wear appropriate layers underneath.
In this case, it's tights, a black vintage half-slip on the bottom, and a beige vintage camisole on the top.

I wore this for brunch, watching a movie at home and for going to Winesday with the girls.
It's an easy shape to wear, a lovely fabric to touch, and I like mix of dots and vines and abstract patterns with the starkness of the black leather and studs. This is basically a repeat of my first wear of the dress (linked above), but as always, I've changed up a few details here and there.

Same coat, and my burgundy fingerless gloves.
I heart these boots so much. I wish I'd had them for the past 10, 20, 30 years!

The stuff:
These are excellent leaf-kicking boots, by the way. Don't even think about leaving a pile of leaves out there - they're just asking to be strewn about!

Snaky bling:
I wore all my Italy stuff: the ring, the glass snake necklace and the dress. I always have to balance my snake ring on something to photograph it (in this case, the necklace) as it doesn't sit properly.

  • Purple cuff - thrifted
  • Stud cuff - homegrown vintage 80s
  • Necklace - gift from Mom, Venice
  • Ring - as above
  • Ear cuff/chain - Claire's
  • Turquoise stud - local
  • Snake ring - homegrown vintage, 1985

And you? Are you in energy mode or recharge mode? I know that US Thanksgiving is around the corner (I'm taking those days off next week). As we head into holiday season, do you do it with excitement or dread, or a bit of both? I'm a bit of both, to be honest.

10 comments:

  1. What you wrote about introversion is so true for me too. I need lots of alone time, or quiet time with Sandy, to balance out even a little bit of social interaction. Heaven = football game on now, quiet ticking of keyboards, and a cup of hot tea. Your dress is magnificent - love the swing of it! Thanks for sharing with Visible Monday, xox.

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  2. I love your blog! I'm super unfashionable, but I have gotten some ideas from reading about your outfits. So thanks! I love, the top outfit, especially the boots. I'm in Michigan, so Thanksgiving is Thursday. I also wanted to tell you how much I appreciated your Italy entries. We went to Florence two weeks after you did. So loved the tips! My husband works for an Italian company. So he worked M-F. The weekend before we went to Florence and the weekend after we went to Paris. I did Milan, Bergamo and Lecco on my own.

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  3. I know what you mean about blogging - it's a nice place to have now and then - even if it's only just scratching the surface of what we are about and what we are up to.

    I'm glad you're embracing burgundy - it looks great on you! :) Most colours do though, you dress so well!

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  4. I get it. I'm an introvert forced to do stuff for work that is exhausting and requires re-charge. Too much and I get like you seem to be now. I hope you have the chance to rest and relax.

    People blog differently and look for different things. It's not my place to give you advice but I will report that opening up with personal stuff on my blog has helped me in important ways. It has diminished my fears, grown my confidence, made me friends and taught me that there is emotional support available. Good luck.

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  5. I love these outfits, especially the first. THe top and those boots are fabulous. Love the style and color. Now if only they were an inch in height. Looking fab!
    from the link up
    please stop by, jess xx
    http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com/

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  6. I love how you call yourself a "mad scientist" but I would lengthen it to "thoughtful, creative, artistic mad scientist." Always enjoy reading your blog. You get right to the point in very clever ways!

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  7. I am all for that first look. Certainly the power of houndstooth cannot be ignored - and that is one kick ass top. Its a classic print meeting a modern top.

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  8. Oxblood is a great colour on you, and the red boots are awesome.
    I think everyone finds their own level regarding how much they share about themselves on their blogs. We all give an edited version of ourselves, and that's probably appropriate, it might be a little too raw and over-exposing otherwise. But there's a balance to be struck, between privacy and truthfulness, and I do find that it is harder to relate to people who very rarely reveal anything much about themselves. It doesn't have to be super-personal stuff, but I think many of us feel we want to know something about our fellow bloggers, something more than just what they wear!

    I'm not in the least ready for Christmas, but I will be - we keep things pretty low key, and I like that. xxx

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  9. oh yeah, those boots rock (both of them). Love your red victorian boots with all that burgundy red color (fabulous color!) and love your badass booties and shiny comfy dress!, you look fabulous!
    besos

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  10. I agree with Curtise, and I love the way you strike a balance between public persona and interesting little personal details--without oversharing to the degree that it's uncomfortable or unsafe for you, know what I mean? In any case, your enjoyment of dressing is infectious and inspiring. And yeah, burgundy is definitely one of "your" colors! I have those same boots (AND the laceup version because...well...does there need to be a reason? lol) and they look incredible on you. :-) *purr*

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