Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Denim Peplum and Studs

Happy mid-week Friday, my fellow Canucks! Woo, Canada Day tomorrow! Canada will be 148 years old (I know this, because I am a Centennial baby - yes, this means I will be 48 this year).
Like most of the very few people who were actually in the office today, I skewed a little casual in my dress today.


  • Top -  Monteau Los Angeles, thrifted; purchased here for $10.50
  • Skirt - Nygard; last worn here (2nd outfit, after Lindi Ortega) in November 2013 
  • Shoes - Prepare Hi Steady, Fluevog; last seen here on Day 1 of purple hair at work

I'm not really surprised that I haven't worn this skirt in a year and a half - I knew it had been a long time. And as noted, last time I wore it (which was over a year from the previous time) I always waffle about it until I wear it. This skirt is awesome.

Why? Because the pattern and all those little brass studs on it, go all the way around! I love that! I hate it when a pattern is only on the front. I exist in three dimensions, dammit!
The peplum top was great - easy and cute without having to think about it too heavily. I liked the shape of it and the twirl (oh, yes, I do twirl at the office). And note how well the little studs on the shoulders go with the studs on the skirt. Eee! Matchy!

The stuff:
Great klunky shoes of awesome!

Chain bling:
I love all my new chain bracelets, and those earrings! Love!


  • Bracelet - thrifted
  • Earrings - thrifted
  • Ring - POLY, vintage fair


A very Happy Canada Day to all the Canadians out there! I'll be back on Thursday.

Monday, June 29, 2015

Oodles of Colour! And L and Vizzini are The Cuteness

Oh, good golly, I need another weekend! It's so hot! 
Sweater - check. Wool skirt - check. Silly woman - check!

  • Cardigan - Gap, thrifted; last worn here in May over strapless
  • Top - Le Chateau, thrifted; last seen here way back in May 2014 with my dearly departed shoes
  • Skirt - J. Michael, vintage 80s, thrifted; last worn here in February with a galaxy of stars
  • Shoes - Fiel; last seen here in May with Danger Pants
I did love all this colour today, though! I regret nothing!

I guess since I haven't worn this top in well over a year, I should just get it out of my closet. But, but, but, says my Inner Crow (which loves all the shiny things). I don't have to get rid of things just because I don't wear them. I know that. I'm a big girl and I decide what stays and what does not.
But! The blouse can only be worn with someone over it, which is super limiting. I don't like wearing blazers in summer and I only barely tolerated this cardigan today. If I wasn't all bra-strap-o-rama, I would have taken it off.

The stuff:
Love these shoes - they are heavenly to wear. Must wear them more.

Gold bling:
The snake-chain was awesome - it worked perfectly with my all-the-time chain bracelet that I wear.


  • Belt - vintage 60s, Mom's
  • Bracelet - Ellandemm, thrifted
  • Earrings - thrifted


Bonus: Cat pictures!
"Hmmm...what is on this table that I can destroy?"
Vizzini hopped up on L's lap while I was blogging last night. I love this picture of them.
"I like the man."
Nothing like a little bromance between a man and his cat.

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Weekend Round-Up: Light Dresses, Shopping and Cat Pictures

June has been a hugely social month, so I'm glad to end it with a quiet weekend. 

First up: Ultimate Frisbee!
L was getting more work done on his tattoo sleeve yesterday, so I was on my own to lug around the cones and field markers. I did forget my water (L always packs it) but one of the other players let me drink some of his.


  • Dress - Amanda Laird Cherry, thrifted; last worn here (3rd outfit) in September 2014 again as an Ulty dress (I'm so original)
  • Shoes - Born, consignment; last seen here (4th outfit) earlier this month with lettuce

This dress is very slippy and slide-y, but it's great in super-hot weather, which is what we had on Saturday! Our heat-wave continues! It was bright, sunny and around 25 degrees on the field, so we wimped out and only played to 15 points. My team trailed and lost at 9-15. Boo.
I went for lunch in this afterwards, then popped in to see how L was doing at the tattoo shop. He is a trouper - work around the elbow and inside of the arm is not a walk in the park.

The stuff:
Minimal bling on weekends and hot days is a trend I'm continuing.


  • Earrings - 5th anniversary gift from L


I continued on my walk around town (still lugging the cones, my cleats and stinky workout clothes!), and popped into a couple of places. Because it was underground and out of the sun, I visited Lovely Things Vintage. It's a dark little cave of a store, but it was cool, both in temps and stock.

Check it out - I found my holiday party dress for this year!
It is a stunner on. Being bias-cut, it moulds well to the shape of my body, and the fishtail hem is flirty and twirls satisfactorily. Looking forward to wearing this! It was $32.00 and is by Joseph Ribkoff, a long-standing Canadian company (all of their clothing has been manufactured in Dorval, Quebec, since the company's inception in 1957; linking here 'cause I love Canadian companies!). This gorgeous emerald dress is made in Canada.

I browsed through the WIN Warehouse store and found a couple of things, including a replacement for my too-snug denim shirt (this one here, 2nd outfit).
This one is by Talbots, and was $14.50.

I always keep my eyes open for good stuff for L - I found this glorious yellow and orange shirt.
It's by Banana Republic and was $14.50.
Great pattern! It has French cuffs too.

I am a sucker for a nice leather cuff. This one matches my hair!
It's another one by Catalyst Reaction Leather (I have 3 by them now), and was $8.50.

I was complaining recently about my crappy yellow belt being PVC and too long.
There we go, all better. This one's by Liz Claiborne and it's all leather. And it was only $5.50!

By the time I finished at WIN, I was getting a bit tired and sticky. I quickly popped into The Velvet Crease and fell in love with these Zara trousers.
I know, patterned cropped pants are so 2 years ago, but whatever. They look great on me, they have pockets and they were only $26.00. So there!

Vizzini has been dealing with the heat very poorly.
"Ungh...too hot, make it stop."
He has become Sloth Cat.
"I will just hug this wall here."
He keeps trying to cuddle, but then he gets hot and flops off.
"And then I grab your toe! Now, make it not hot, woman."
He barely stirred as I took pictures of my new stuff.
"Don't...have...the energy...to eat...belt..."
Today, I strolled to town for groceries and then a quick detour to the WIN Boutique.
It's quite overcast now, but still a baking-hot 27 degrees. We might have a thundershower - it's trying to spit rain a bit.


  • Dress - Club Monaco, vintage shop in Vancouver; last seen here (3rd outfit) in April for another stroll to town
  • Shoes - Born, consignment; last worn here (2nd outfit) a couple of weekends ago

I have certain dresses and shoes that I usually only wear on weekends in the summer.
This is a quintessential pairing of two favourites. This silk dress breathes beautifully.
"Get it off!"
I had this purple cardigan in my bag in case it got chilly, but I totally did not need it. Too hot!

The stuff:
Comfy walking shoes.


  • Earrings - Gift from L, Venice


I had a nice little shop and found a small group of good things, including this cool skirt.
It is a stiff raw silk (maybe?), with tapestry around the bottom border. It is shiny gold, red and black pinstripe on the main part of it.
No tags or evidence of labels - I think this was handmade by someone. It was only $6.00!

I also found this nice stretchy denim-look peplum top.
It's by Monteau Los Angeles and was $10.50. It's got little brass studs on the shoulders and the peplum has a high-low hem thing going on. The fit was awesome.

I scored in the jewelry case with a bunch of chain bracelets.
This one is leather and gold metal with two little rhinestone studs. I always have issues with bracelets being too big (I have really small wrists), but that does mean that small cuffs are often in the thrift stores.

I spotted the silver one of these herringbone bracelets first, but had to have both.
 They were $9.50 each, and both have little tags that say "Ellandemm"
Ooh, these likely sold for around $30.00. Nice!

I also noticed the nice quality of these half-moon earrings.
Both earrings have the mark "CN" on them, but I haven't been able to find anything out about it.
However, any kind of mark generally denotes good quality, so go, me. These were $8.50.

Vizzini, how do you feel about all my recent purchases?
"No one cares, least of all, me. Now, turn this heat off."
He's so rude.
"I have business to take care of, woman."
I'd be grumpy if I were in a fur coat, too.
"Enough of your pictures! Leave me!" 
Better get used to it, buddy - more hot weather is on the way this week.

Friday, June 26, 2015

Casual Friday: Team China and Team Canada

With the FIFA Women's World Cup* being hosted in Canada and the finals in just-across-the-pond Vancouver, our football/soccer fans at work are in a friendly pool sponsored by our social committee. *linking 'cause I love women in sport
Yes, of course, I'm the organizer. Today was "Wear Your Team Colours" day.


  • Top - Le Chateau, consignment; last worn here (2nd outfit) in April with white stencil and these same shoes
  • Skirt - Smoking Lily, thrifted; last seen here while carousing around town for L's birthday
  • Shoes - Miz Mooz, consignment; last worn here in May with fresh purple hair

I figured most people at work would be cheering for Team Canada, but I want Team China to take out Team USA. It's nothing personal (really!), but if the US is knocked out, it will make the pool more exciting, since currently I have a five-way tie. Totally selfish of me!
However, despite not dressed for the home team, most of my outfit is actually made in Canada. The top is made in Canada and the skirt is made in Victoria. And everything except for the necklace and bracelet is second-hand!

The stuff:
Love these shoes.

Theme bling:
My grandma's necklace is so sweet - I always get comments on it when I wear it.


  • Necklace - Grandma J's, vintage 60s
  • Cuff - Mom's, vintage 60s
  • Bangle - thrifted
  • Earrings - thrifted


It's a quiet weekend for me ahead, and the weather is looking amazing. It might go up to 25 degrees! I know some of you live in hotter climes - but we do have high humidity too (77% right now), so it feels hotter. Ulty is going to be a challenge!

Have an awesome weekend, my friends!

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Think Pink (and Purple)

I had to satisfy the HR ladies today by wearing some colour for them. 
This was my next outfit up, so this is what they got. I wore the jacket as outerwear, taking it on and off and buttoning/unbuttoning throughout the day. I also rolled the sleeves up further in the morning and left them that way.


  • Jacket - CABi, consignment; purchased here for $19.99
  • Top - Anne Klein, thrifted; last seen here in April with floral and dottiness
  • Skirt - Club Monaco, thrifted; last worn here in April to see Whitehorse
  • Shoes - Pearl Hart Bellevues, Fluevog; last seen here in December 2014 with mustard and a Grand Plaid

Verdict on the jacket: I like it! I wish it had pockets, so it won't last in my closet forever, but it fulfills a good spring/summer function, which is to keep the sun off me and add a light cover to outfits.
I love this rich blue top - the draping is excellent in the boobular region.
"No, I won't be in your picture!"
The skirt is a favourite - I love the cracked glass/ice pattern and the navy blue wide stripe down each side (a bit hard to see in the pictures).

The stuff:
I'm quite surprised that it's been six months since I wore these shoes! They were a little warm for my WW meeting (which is non-air conditioned), but fine in the office.

Plain bling:
I wear fewer accessories in the summer.


  • Stone earrings - Le Chateau
  • Lapis lazuli ring/Fulvia Ring - Wendy Brandes

Wine and pasta call to me! I must run!