Weekend Wrap-Up: Grey Lace Two Ways, Ulti Pattern and Shopping, Cat Naps, Aussies Visit and RIP Lois Duncan

What a lovely weekend! I'd like another, starting tomorrow. Who do I talk to, to make this happen?

This is Friday's work outfit - yeah, I'm really not on board for casual Fridays.

• Dress - Banana Republic, thrifted; last worn here in May 2015 on the first day I showed off my new purple hair
• Shoes - Grotesque; last seen here in September 2015 with more grey and yellow

I moved around filing cabinets all day on Friday, helping people move desks. In heels! In a non-stretchy dress! Boo-yah!

I'm shocked that I haven't worn this dress in so long, but it's a spring/summer only item in my wardrobe, and to be fair, it was a very hot summer last year - so many of my "spring weight" items didn't see much action once the weather got hot.

I wore my bright red wool hat for sun protection.

"I must investigate this hat."

It did not protect me from Vizzini.

The stuff:

Love these shoes! I think they'd look great with some of my new-ish trousers, now that I actually have trousers in my wardrobe.

Yellow bling:

Some vintage, all second-hand.

• Belt - vintage 80s, thrifted
• Cuff - thrifted
• Earrings - Bakelite, vintage 60s, vintage fair

After work, I had some time before heading back to town to meet up with L, Janet and Ray for dinner, so I decided to change. Of course I did!

And why not wear the same dress?

• Dress - as above
• Shoes - Big Presence Desmond, Fluevog; last seen here in April with a plethora of pastels
• Jacket (below) - Desigual by Christian Lacroix, consignment; last worn here in November 2015 with red boots

Peace out, baby, it's the weekend!

I could have done any number of different colours with this, including black, blue, red, green, yellow (as above), but settled on orange.

It was chilly out by the time I had to get back to town, so I put on one of my seldom-worn coats, this fabulous Christian Lacroix for Desigual design.

Double pockets!

Once I saw the orange accents, there was no doubt.

Allow me to flash you.

Bwah!

The stuff:

I tend to collect "sets" of not only jewelry but shoes and belts.

Orange bling:

Again, a mix of new and old.

• Belt - vintage 80s, thrifted
• Cuff - Bauxo
• Ring - Nine West
• Earrings - vintage 70s?, vintage expo

On Saturday, we had a very competitive game of Ultimate.

This outfit was a little chilly for the overcast day, but I was fine. Yes, I do change into workout gear at the field for the game! I even stash fresh underwear and bra for changing afterwards.

• Cardigan - Gap, thrifted; last seen here in April with Spanish ladies
• Dress - Mica, vintage 90s, thrifted; purchased here for $22.95
• Shoes - Van Eli, thrifted; purchased here in April for $16.95

Don't worry, I change my underthings in the bathroom at the restaurant afterward, not in public!

 This was a super-comfy dress to wear - it's all fully-lined and the bias cut has a lot of give in it.

It has cranes or storks on it! I didn't wear it at all without the cardigan.

 The stuff:

My first wearing of these shoes, and they were pretty good. I had to be cautious walking on the heel, as it was a bit slippy.

Turquoise bling:

Um, a bit fuzzy, sorry. I was tired by the time I got home.

• Ring/earrings - local

I went for a little thrift store shop after lunch (of course I did!).

Oops, sorry, that's a little fuzzy too (I swear, it looked fine on the camera screen!). This is a little blue cropped modern blazer by Suzy Shier, which is a Canadian mall store. This was $6.00 at the St. Vincent de Paul.

From the St VdeP, I went over the to WIN Warehouse store. It's probably my favourite thrift store in town. I spent a good two hours there and looked at everything. So relaxing.

This is a silk ascot (as the label helpfully says). It was $4.95 and was probably a detachable piece from an 80s blouse.

This is a long, off-kilter wrinkly black cotton tunic. I'm not 100% sure of this style (it feels very middle-aged lady - my apologies to the other middle-aged ladies out there!), but my style is constantly evolving, so why the heck not?

It's by Two Women and a Trunk and was only $6.00.

Worth a shot - that's cheaper than a large coffee at S'bucks.

Speaking of 80s blouses, I kind of hit a bonanza! Check out this fabulous aqua blouse.

I am nuts about the big pouffy sleeves, tight cuffs and the drape detail down the front. I found the threads inside the shoulders where someone removed the shoulder pads.

It's by Nora Noh, a Korean fashion line, and was sold at Gibson's ladies' wear in Victoria, BC. And as you can see, it was $8.95. I've never heard of Norah Noh, but according to their website (link here, linking 'cause I love) they sold to chi-chi stores in North America starting in 1979. Gibson's was a very high-end store that existed in Victoria until maybe the late 80s before it closed its doors. 

The blouse is 100% silk, and I can see by the sizing that it's post-The Great Size Shift of 1987(ish), so that's probably accurate for dating the blouse. 

I actually love that the back of that Gibson's label is all thread-y like that. I'm going to be wearing history!

I also found this perfect ivory blouse. I spotted the tie first, lying on the floor.

Again, big wide sleeves and little tight cuffs. Love it!

It's by Elite, it was made in Canada, and was $7.15.

This blouse is a size 14, so pre-The Great Size Shift of 1987(ish), and since it does not have shoulder pads, I'd date it to the early 80s.

I fell hard for this amazing dress.

It looks great worn as is, but I can also shove the sleeves up and belt it for a more mod look. And it has pockets!

Look at these fabulous bat-wing sleeves!

The fabric has an embossed paisley shape, as well as that funky navy/blue/grey/cream pattern.

I didn't even realize until I photographed it that it's also a Norah Noh! Must have been the same donor to the store.

100% silk as well, and it's a size 10. I bet its original owner bought it at Gibson's at the same time! I'll wager it was more than the $16.95 I paid.

Although not in the vintage section, this blouse is older than it looks.

It's 100% silk (I had amazing luck with silk on this expedition!), and wow, look at that pattern!

I am always happy when they waste the fabric to link it up evenly on the front and back.

Sadly, you only see this on very high-end designer clothing these days.

INC or International Concepts is a Macy's brand (it's sold at Hudson's Bay aka "The Bay" here in Canada, which now owns Macy's).

Doing my detective work, and based on the size 12 on the label (noting that this fits me like a modern size 8), I think this has to be an early 80s piece. Not bad for $16.95.

When I got home, Vizzini was having some "bench time."

"Come over here and give me some lovin', woman."

He was in a stretchy mood.

"I call this "Upside Down Cat."

He looks very small, until he stretches out.

"I'm as big as a panther, what are you talking about?"

L and I played board games on Saturday night. Vizzini kept us company.

"Can't talk. Busy sneetching."

 He came in for some cuddling from L while we were playing.

"That card is bad news. Your character is going to die now." 

He was right, we lost both games.

This morning, I was up bright and early. The agenda: get groceries, visit from Mom, and my uncle and aunt from Melbourne, Australia, then lunch out.

It was very bright out

• Cardigan - Kenar, thrifted; last seen here (4th outfit) in May 2015, over a sparkly vintage dress
• Top - Mossimo, thrifted; last worn here (4th outfit) in May with turquoise and fuscia
• Skirt - Bedo, thrifted; last seen here also in May 2015 with a denim blazer
• Shoes - Half-Truth Veda, Fluevog; last worn here (2nd outfit) earlier this month

Since I haven't seen my uncle in maybe 10 years, I didn't want to look too crazy - I wasn't sure if my mom would warn him about my purple hair. Must try to look normal. 

I expect a lot of you will like this outfit - it's a very classic look and style that I've done quite a bit over the last several years. However, as you might note if you go back in the links, this cardigan has only been worn twice in two years (!), so gonzo it is. The buttons also popped open every time I moved and I won't stand for that kind of behaviour from my clothes, hee hee.

Much as I can also admire this overall look, this is not entirely me anymore.

The belted cardigan thing...yeah, not so much. I kept the skirt, although pockets would make me like it more!

The stuff:

My mom showed up an hour and a half early, so good thing we were ready! I changed the reservation and we headed to town for a nice brunch. These shoes are perfect for walking to and from town.

Funky silver bling:

I like simple lines sometimes. 

• Belt - Nygard
• Cuff - Bauxo
• Cuff - thrifted
• Earrings - Joyce's

Hello, Mom, Joan and Brian (aka Charles or Chuck, but I have known him my whole life as Brian, so Brian he is to me).

After brunch, everyone chatted outside while I quickly grocery-shopped (thank you, delivery!), and then we ambled home in the sun, and came back to our place and hung out (Vizzini visited) for a few hours more.

I started pulling out some of the old stuff I have from my mom's side of the family; I have a whole bunch of my grandad's (that would be Mom and Brian's dad) scrapbooks that date from about 1932-33 (when he was about 13 years old!) to about 1959. Grandad was an avid collector of licence plates, and I have 2 giant binders of pictures of car licence plates, and one that he illustrated himself detailing the decals on plates. Kind of a weird hobby, but I was the only grandkid who was interested (being rather weird myself), so I asked for them when he died 19 years ago. My uncle had never seen these scrapbooks, so it was really cool to look through them with him - he was quite awed that I still have them after all this time. He didn't even know they existed! I need to photograph some of the illustrations so that I don't lose them.

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Now, this is kind of weird, speaking of weird, but I read (here, and she commented on a post here!) that one of my very favourite young adult authors from my own young-adulthood, Lois Duncan, died this past week.

I still have a bunch of her books! I used to love them! I have only moved a few times since I was an adult, so I've never had to really cull my books (I discovered that I own one of my great-grandmother's books from 1895 today!).

I remember that I did a book review of "Killing Mr. Griffin" for my grade 9 English class.

It's about a group of kids who accidentally kill their English teacher. Jeez, Sheila, what were you thinking?

Lois Duncan's books caused a lot of controversy when they were published in the 70s. "Daughters of Eve" is about a group of girls who are encouraged to fight by against the men in their lives who are oppressing.

Radical feminism for a 14-year-old! Rereading the review of it above (linked 'cause I love, as always).

I don't remember "The Twisted Window" at all, but I do remember "Stranger with My Face".

That one has to do with a twin who uses astral projection to visit her sister, who is locked up in a psychiatric ward (I could be wrong on this synopsis, as I haven't read these in 30+ years).

I don't remember "A Gift of Magic" at all either.

But I bet it involves magic!

Oh man, a blast from the past.

My Garfield book plates!

Oh, and there's my unicorn book plates.

I had Beatrix Potter bookplates first, then Garfield, then the unicorn ones. I kind grew out of them after that.

I think I will re-read these books and see if they are still any good. Anyone out there heard of Lois Duncan?

Linking up with:

• Anne's "52 pick-me-up" over at SpyGirl (I didn't wear any wine, but I did drink some!)