Tired Two-Fer: Peachy-Cream, and Oriental Stencil Pencil

I wonder what life would be like slowed down a little. I feel like I'm go, go, go constantly these days. Miss me? I had a late night on Wednesday, and another late night tonight. I need a weekend!

Last night was my company's big quarterly meeting, and of course, I work the sign-in desk, direct everyone to the coat check, give them drink tickets - and I know every single one of those 100+ people's names!

• Blazer - Le Chateau, consignment; last seen here (2nd outfit, after the murderous cat) earlier this month whilst being well-re(a)d
• Blouse - Marc Jacobs, consignment; last worn here in December 2014 with purple sequins
• Skirt - Eddy & Co., thrifted; last seen here in December 2014 with a Dramatic Jacket and the same necklace
• Shoes - Chie Mihara; purchased here on Monday

I had actually planned to wear the aforementioned Dramatic Jacket with this, but I thought it took away from the shoes too much, so I just went with this nice cream brocade one. 

I took the jacket off here and there throughout the day as my temperature fluctuated. I had 4 deliveries so I was running around like mad! I liked the two close-but-not-quite-matching oranges.

I also presented two topics (the only person who did) at the meeting - my first time using a wireless mic! People were really surprised at how well I "performed" but hey, I do that at my WW meetings twice a week - been doing it for 4 years.

There's no pro like an old one, ha!

The stuff:

Oh, shoes of polka-dotted happiness! They were wonderful to wear all day (I swapped back to my shiny pink runners to walk to the meeting venue), even walking 4-5 blocks to the bus stop last night. I'm excited to wear them again. I think they will look fab with pink...and yellow...and purple...

Ba-da-bling:

I wore an eye-catching necklace since I was presenting - old Toastmaster trick to make your audience watch your face when you're talking.

• Necklace - Aldo Accessories
• Bracelet - Club Monaco
• Big crystal ring - some junky store in the late 90s
• Flower ring - Sarah Coventry, vintage 70s
• Pearl earring - Aldo Accessories
• Crystal earring - local

I loved this outfit - so did my WW group and my coworkers.

Nothing like a fitted top and a funky pencil skirt. I love this silhouette on me.

• Top - Le Chateau, consignment; last seen here in May 2014 with navy and green
• Skirt - Lord & Taylor, gift my my mother-in-law; last worn here in September 2014 in *gasp* white after Labour Day!
• Shoes - Miz Mooz, consignment; last worn here at the same time!

I should wear this top more than once a year, but as long as it looks this good on me, I'm keeping it! 

Goal: wear this top again before September.

Every time I wear this skirt, I moan about how fragile it is. It's PVC, and the stencil-type design rips more here and there every time I wear it.

I actually found a white leather skirt, with these same type of cutouts, by Danier Leather, in a thrift store in Vancouver in March. Totally not my size (would maybe have fit one of my thighs), but at least I know it's out there somewhere. I can dream! For now, I wear this delicate lovely skirt and keep on thriftin'.

The stuff:

When I pulled these out of my spring/summer stuff at the end of March, L was less than enthused. I'm hoping to do another series of "Shoes My Husband Hates" this summer. I wonder if I have 5 other pairs of shoes L loathes?

Blurry brass bling:

Sorry, tired. It's past 8pm and I still need dinner.

• Bracelet - About Tine
• Earrings - Plum

Vizzini was going on about the door again this morning as I was getting ready to leave for work.

"Over here, woman, this way. Oh, you are so stupid."

He meows constantly, always talking to us. I can hear him meowing at L right now!

"Yes, yes, now open the door!"

So I did, and he just sat there. Chicken cat!

An 80s Bonanza of Jewel Colours

I felt a little like a realtor in my red blazer today - one of my coworkers also commented how "corporate" I looked (bright red is our company's colour).

I swooshed my shirt about until he was distracted from the red blazer. At least I didn't have any "you look like Christmas" comments!

• Blazer - Harve Bernard, thrifted; purchased here for $8.50
• Skirt - Helene Strasser, thrifted; purchased here as part of a set (cami and belt) for $16.88
• Shoes - Half-Truth Tanya, Fluevog; last seen here in March for St. Patrick's Day

Someone was being a bit of a photobomber today.

"What was that? Am I getting more food?"

This skirt was amazingly swooshy - it billowed in the wind very dramatically. I think it will get separated from the cami and belt at some point - the skirt is the gem of the set. Swoosh Factor 10! Yes, I said it!

It reminded me very much of a sunflower skirt that I bought at Le Chateau in 1987ish. It was red, mustard, yellow and olive - giant sunflowers! - and was also silk and ultra-swooshy. I wore it until the elastic waistband gave out and the silk rotted away. I always keep my eyes peeled for one in the thrift stores. I would love to find that skirt again. I used to wear it with a long (past the hip) black satin double-breasted blazer (from Suzy Creamcheese - there's a flashback for my fellow Canucks!).

I love all these jewel colours, which were huge in the 80s. Ruby red, sapphire blue, emerald green.

"Suspicious activity under here, ma'am."

The blazer acquitted itself well - I wore it buttoned up all day. Although I had a dark green top underneath it, I never wore it open.

The stuff:

Green shoes are the best.

Blue bling:

All nice and round.

• Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes
• Earrings - local

Off to my WW meeting!

Pink and Pants, and Polka Dotty

This is a longer-than-usual Monday post, but then I've been up to more than usual. 

Like wearing pants! So unusual for me, being a skirt-person.

• Cardigan - Danier, thrifted; purchased here for $19.99
• Sweater - August Silk; last worn here in February with Dolce & Gabbana
• Trousers - Talbots, thrifted; last seen here in March with unusual neutrals
• Shoes - Chie Mihara; last worn here (4th outfit) in September 2014

First wearing of my pink leather cardigan! Check it out - such a sweet piece!

I didn't put much effort into my outfit today, but I'm still happy with it. I love those lock and key trousers and I liked the black/pink/grey combo.

The stuff:

First wear of my fabulous Chie Mihara flats this year - they are going into their 3rd year in my closet. I wish I had more shoes like these. They are the perfect blend of structure, detail and simplicity for me.

Simple bling:

Leather obi for a little waist definition.

• Obi - consignment
• Earrings - Joyce's
• Lapis lazuli ring and Fulvia Ring - Wendy Brandes

Aside from my pink leather cardigan, did you notice my pink hair? 

Sneaky selfie

It's called "Intense Medium Violet" and it's by Feria (yes, I've always dyed my own hair). It's a little more pink than I wanted - I was hoping for purple like my glasses! - but I still like it. I'm interested to see how it fades out, since I have a lot of grey and it's not supposed to be used to cover grey. I'm kinda hoping it'll get lighter pink.

Vizzini was very cute this morning.

"No one cares about your hair, woman. Stay home and let me sleep on you."

He is mid-meow there. He's been very excited about the hall lately, and blocks me from leaving so he can tap his foot on the carpet.

I've had a rough couple of weeks, so I treated myself to something special.

Uh-huh, I think we all see where this is going.

A little retail therapy, perhaps?

OMG SHOES.

These are by Chie Mihara as well - I have been stalking them for half a year at Footloose (link 'cause I love), one of my favourite local shoe stores.

They were $125.00 off the regular price...they were $297.00 on sale. Aren't they gorgeous? I am so excited to wear them!

Raised suede polka dots!

I don't have to justify my purchases (although I keep wanting to, so I guess I feel a smidge guilty), but I am going to be taking a bunch of my uber-high heels to a local consignment store this weekend. Even a few pairs of very-rarely-worn Fluevogs will be going!

I know, shocker! I will document them and allow y'all to say farewell, once I've sorted out what's got to go. I just can't keep shoes I don't wear and that hurt my feet.

Weekend Wrap-Up: Battle of the Yellow Dresses

Ah, it's been a quiet weekend - so relaxing and pleasant. Let us cast our minds all the way back to Friday.

Yellow dress! Isn't it pretty? I did weekend hair to cover up for having atrocious roots.

• Dress - Calvin Klein, thrifted; purchased here for $29.99
• Shoes - Guess; last seen here for Shoe Shine #26, and last worn here with floral and dots earlier this month
• Floral jacket (below) - Paparazzi, thrifted; last seen here in April with dots

Elaine and I went to see Ballet West on Friday night after work. We grabbed some dinner and wine first, and I am ashamed to admit I snoozed a bit during the dances. There were 3 long pieces, each punctuated by an intermission.

I do love dance, but they were long pieces with abstract music. Only the last piece, which was set to Shirley Jackson's classic(ly creepy) story, "The Lottery", followed a traditional narrative and kept me engaged. Review by the local rag here.

I felt appropriately swooshy in this layered buttercup yellow dress. I was shocked to see so many people in jeans and Birkenstocks (with socks, the horror!) - seriously, people! This is the ballet!

I wore this embroidered coat again, as my outerwear garment.

I did wear it a few times to cover up in the office.

With long cashmere gloves and a fur collar for warmth. It's still a chilly out there.

Gah, I love that coat!

The stuff:

If I go full girly, I usually contrast it with punk-y accessories.

Studs-a-rama bling:

I loved the mixed metal studs on that belt.

• Belt - BCBG Max Azria, consignment
• Cuff - homegrown vintage 80s
• Death star ring - Stone Roses
• Crystal ring - Uffizi Gallery gift shop
• Earrings - local

On Saturday, we had Ultimate Frisbee, so why not wear my other yellow dress?

Which brings me to a dilemma: I don't need two yellow dresses in nearly the same cut and colour? What to do?

• Dress - Calvin Klein; last seen here in September 2014 with a shirt layered underneath
• Shoes - Born, consignment; purchased here in November 2014 for $42.95

It was a tough game - my team lost - and we consoled ourselves with lunch out afterwards. I like having something nice on to wear to lunch. No workout clothes in public for me!

I bought this dress new about 4 years ago at Winners for around $70 - it's cotton and has a very wide neckline. It comes up high under the armpits (so you know what that means) and is too big across the back of my neck. I do love the colour and cut, though.

The stuff:

First wear of these shoes and they are awesome! The strap across the vamp is quite high so secures them on my feet. I like the soft blue and the flowers on the toes. They were quite comfy (very squishy inside) and that's not a super-high heel for me.

Badass bling:

I used to wear this belt all the time (I've had it about 7 years), but not so much now.

• Belt - consignment
• Buckle - She She Shoes
• Cuff - Shi Studio
• Earrings - Carracol

Well? What would you do? Which dress would you keep?

Shoe Shine #26

Shoe Shine is on!

Get your kicks by showing your kicks!

These are one of my oldest pairs of shoes. I think I've had them for at least 5 years. I bought them new on clearance at the Bay for about $49.00, and to this day, I kick myself for not buying the same shoes in a cream and brown snakeskin. They're by Guess.

They are the classic black pump, with the perfect toe, the perfect shape, the perfect heel. Well, that's my opinion! Add the red leather lining and I'm in love.

Look at that gorgeous heel. They are still comfortable for me to wear to work (and I've worn them a LOT over the years - you can see the thrashing that the heel has taken, and the patent leather is getting a bit worn. I've never found another pair of black shoes as good as this, but somehow I keep looking.

What's your classic shoe? Heel? Flat? Is it black? 

Show us! 

Want to play? It's super-easy. Anyone can join.

1. Link to a post featuring a fabulous pair of footwear!
2. Include a link to Ephemera somewhere in your post (it's only polite). Leave a comment here if you like (note that comments continue to be moderated).
3. Go to the bottom of this post and click on the InLinks "Add Your Link" button to open a new page.
4. In the "Next Step," you crop the picture you want to display, and voila!
5. Show your Shoe Shine spirit by grabbing and displaying the button in the sidebar.

An InLinkz Link-up

Vintage Pierre, Christian and a Bedsheet

Thursdays feel like my Fridays now, with the extra hours I put in at the second WW meeting I do. It's a good feeling when all the tough stuff is over - bring on the weekend!

I felt smashing in this outfit all day. I am a fan of pattern matching and who knew red and white polka dot was a neutral?

• Jacket - Desigual by Christian Lacroix, consignment; last seen here in February with orange
• Top - Bordeaux, consignment; purchased here for $18.00
• Skirt - vintage 80s Pierre Cardin, thrifted; purchased here for $24.00
• Shoes - Marc; last seen here earlier this month with all the condiments

I am quite smitten with this jacket. Jacket, thou hast smote me. I wore it as outerwear (it looks wonderful done up - pic in the link up there), and also wore it in the office as my topper when I got chilly.

So much amazing!

This the first wearing of the fabulous vintage Pierre Cardin skirt, which I bought with the spectacular Melanie of Bag and a Beret. I stroked the sleek silk all day - it didn't even wrinkle! I loved the long sinuous cut of it, although it doesn't look right with flats - needs a heel.

First wear for this white blouse as well. Yes, I'm having a white blouse thing right now.

"What's in here that I can destroy?"

Note the lopsided shoulders. I really liked how it draped - it reminded me of bedsheet togas (not that I know anything about that, heh).

The stuff:

Wonderful red shoes. This is the kind of heel I can wear. Keepers.

Red and blue bling:

I love all these pieces.

• Earrings - local
• Red ring - Oscar & Libby's
• Swirly ring - Scotland, 1996
• Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes

I'm off to the ballet tomorrow night! What are you doing this weekend?