Bigass Long Weekend Wrap-Up: Grunge Friday, VFF Nightmares, Strapless at the Bengal, a Disappointing Game and Some Retail Therapy

Well, that was a fun weekend! I do need another weekend, though, to fully recover. Thank goodness this is a short week...and L and I don't have any plans at all this week. Cause for celebration, that is.

And what the heck is this? This is my take on grunge. It's our corporate Stair Challenge event again (of course, I'm running it), and our teams this year have to be musical groups - my group is grunge (we're called "The Shame") and Friday was our Team Spirit Day.

• Jean jacket - Ann Taylor Loft, purchased in NYC in 2007; I don't track my wears on it
• T-shirt - Plum, thrifted; last worn here in December 2015 with argyle legs
• Long-sleeve t-shirt - Calvin Klein, thrifted; I don't track wears for it
• Skirt - Ralph Lauren, thrifted; last worn here (2nd outfit) in November 2015
• Boots - Ash; last seen here in January with blues for brunch

The purple plaid shirt around my waist was borrowed from L's closet at the last minute.

I had a hoot wearing this outfit all day. I was a little shocked that it didn't elicit more of a reaction from my coworkers - I guess they are all so used to me being wacky on a daily basis that this was just more of the same.

It nearly made me regret missing grunge the first time around - I was more into heavy metal back then (my boyfriend was in a death-metal band).

I felt very very visible in this, but it's not quite good enough for "Visible Monday!"

"Really?"

The stuff: 

That's a lot of accessories.

Badass bling:

The toque belongs to L, but everything else was in my closet.

• Belt - gift from Ruth
• Studded cuff - homegrown vintage
• Leather cuff - Guess, thrifted
• Chainmail necklace - locally made
• Chain bracelet - vintage fair ($1)
• Snake pin - Christmas 1985, gift from Mom and Dad
• Snake ring - vintage 1986, Royal BC Museum Gift Shop
• Death Star ring - Soul Flower
• Earrings - 10th anniversary gift from L
• Ear cuff - Claire's
• Raven pin - local
• Fluevog button

Right after work, I had to rush home! It was the Gala Opening Night of the Victoria Film Festival! (VFF)

I'm a ghost!

The theme was "Dreams" and as I quoted to the local rag, "I don't do dreams; I do nightmares."

Yowza!

• Dress - Marjorie Hamilton, vintage 70s, thrifted; last worn here in October 2009 (yes, you read that right) with jeans and boots
• Liquid gold leggings - Adam & Eve; first worn here for my birthday party in October 2013
• Boots - Prepare Hi Adventure, Fluevog; last seen here for a corporate hockey game in January

Pretty normal from the back.

Not so much from the front!

"That's my face!"

I bought the little top-hat fascinator a while ago - I've pinned another black feather fascinator onto it to make it extra floofy.

I look grumpy but I'm in character.

Nice and warm (and covered) in my ocelot coat. 

The stuff: 

I didn't need much jewelry for this outfit! The velvet leopard gloves (not pictured here) were bought for me by my mother-in-law several years ago - this was the first time I've worn them.

• Earrings - Aldo Accessories

The boots are quite enough on their own!

I loved how the liquid gold of the leggings peeped out along the lacing up the sides.

I found these in my purse the next morning.

Fortune cookie quote by Terry Pratchett: "Only in our dreams are we free. The rest of the time we need wages."

A shot of peppermint schnapps and one of raspberry vodka. "Take with VFF until 2/14. May cause hysteria." Hee! People dressed up like Sigmund Freud gave them out. 

L and I did matching make-up - modeled after Alice Cooper. 

"Going out again?"

Doesn't he look dashing? Scary? Both?

We're quite the power couple. This is my entry for "Visible Monday" over at Not Dead Yet Style - Patti is the hostess with the mostest!

We rode the bus to town in these get-ups, grabbed a slice of pizza and went to the opening movie, "My Internship in Canada", about a Haitian man who comes to rural Quebec and assists an MP - it was quite funny, and we got to meet the star, Irdens Exantus.

We had our picture in the paper - photo by Darren Stone:

I tried to take my glasses off for all the photos.

As we waited on the red carpet to go into the Gala After-Party, we were entertained by dancers with glow-hoops.

Most of my pictures were a bit of a blur - there were free drinks, which I took advantage of!

The after-party was in an empty store-front - it made for an interesting industrial feel.

Cats flying above a bed....

And there's Salvador Dali peeking in through the window!

I see you!

I enjoyed the band - they mostly played modern stuff.

My friends Vero and Justin. 

Chefs cooked up wonderful hors d'oeuvres.

I didn't have any. Velvet gloves are messy for eating.

Dancers doing "Thriller", I think.

Vero again - that's the fluffiest, prettiest feather boa I've ever seen.

She's wearing one of my old dresses and a necklace that I passed along last year.

I am always disconcerted by animal mascots.

I see you, creepy bear!

No, wait, this bear is way creepier...

Ah! Run away!

I spent some time chatting with Irdens.

He was a lovely man.

The hoops over near the bed were used for some aerialist spins and such.

Personally, I would not have chosen to have their underwear showing through, but hey, that's just me.

There were a few dapper-looking people there.

Phew, scary bear has her head off.

I loved this lady's outfit.

That's Drew peeking behind her.

Check out this fabulous 70s dress!

I love seeing people really going all-out for fun events.

There's Yvonne!

Hi, honey!

We stayed till the end, then cabbed home.

Yes, my love, I'll take your hand. Take me home to bed!

Where I slept in (not too late), and then got up and got dressed again!

More fanciness!

• Dress - Betsey Johnson,thrifted; purchased here for $8.00
• Shoes - Half-Truth Tanya, Fluevog; last worn here in December 2015 with big purple plaid

The Bengal Lounge in the world-famous Empress Hotel will be closing in April for renovations, and is likely gone for good. I, and many of our friends, have great memories of the ol' girl, so about a dozen of us met up for an afternoon/evening of good times.

I adore this dress - it was quite comfy to wear, and didn't have the boob slippage I was worried about.

I bundled up for the walk to town.

It's the Unsafe Polar Bear!

The stuff:

My feet were quite sore after all the carousing the night before, so Saturday saw me in kitten heels all day.

• Purse - vintage, thrifted
• Fascinator - Heart's Content
• Earrings - Stella and Dot, consignment
• Gold ring - Dad's, Francis Jewellers, c. 1965
• Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes

L and I went to Milestone's on the harbour for lunch - thanks for the gift card, Mom!

A bit grey out, but not bad for February.

The rose stained glass window in the Empress ballroom.

 The Bengal Lounge sign.

Complete with elephants at the entrance.

It's very British East India-themed.

Right down to the tiger skin on the wall above the fireplace at the end.

The last time I took pictures here was back in 2012 when we did the Steam Con Expo (link here).

 Gorgeous wood everywhere.

Old (probably racist) murals.

Karen getting a big hug from Randall.

 Karen and Nick.

Karen wore a gorgeous vintage dress, a little faux fur stole and a vintage hat.

Cat and Nick.

 Cat has a great eye for mid-century modern jewelry.

Looking fab, ladies!

My BFF since I was 13, Janet.

We have a personal history with the Empress from when we were teens: we used to sneak in and use the bathrooms!

Which haven't been updated in well over 30 years.

The same tile, marble and wallpaper inside the stall that was there in 1986! 

After the Bengal Lounge, we went to The Commons for more drinks and some food. 

Elaine and Linda Linda.

L and Randall.

We crashed early that night, and then awaited our friends for our annual Super Bowl party. 

I was very tense; my team, the Carolina Panthers, was in it! 

 Casey won the football pool this year, so his choice for the loser, Chris, was a Bud Light Apple.

"Tastes like sparkling apple juice," was Chris' assessment.

Despite L wearing one of my old Panthers jerseys, and our own little panther Vizzini...

My team crumbled in the face of Denver's defense. Crap. L and I played some board games last night and then fell asleep on the couch.

I've been moping around for the day.

"Hm, what do you want?"

 He never sleeps here. What a weird cat.

"I'm sorry your team lost."

Thanks, buddy, so am I.

Today, I desperately needed some down-time, so I walked to town to get groceries.

They should be arriving any minute. I love free delivery.

• Sequin-bottomed dress - no label, consignment; last worn here in October 2015 to go to Seattle and Nashville
• Boots - Dirty Laundry, thrifted; last seen here (2nd outfit) in December 2015 for shopping with Elaine

 A really simple outfit - I just wore a purple leather jacket over this (forgot to take a picture).

It was good to be outside in the sun.

The stuff:

After a weekend of excess, both sartorially and gustatorily, simple things appealed.

• Earrings - Glee

I've been looking for over-the-knee flat black leather boots for a while - they are darned hard to find! I spotted these in BCBG Max Azria just after Christmas, but they didn't have my size. Today, they did!

Long tall beauties!

The back is elasticated material, for a nice snug fit.

I was very happy.

They were 50% off too - a very good deal for leather boots. These were $206.00, regular $411.00, and are by BCBG Max Azria.

I also did a little spin through the Hudson's Bay department store (I needed more MAC make-up, that's my excuse).

This cute little boxy woven leopard top had to come home with me.

It was reduced down to $26.70 from $89.00. It's by Lord & Taylor.

A nice stroll home, and then a walk down this weekend's memories. All in all, a good weekend; losing the big game was a disappointment, but my session of "retail therapy" helped.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!