Grey Dress, Red Boots, Santa Belt Flashback

It's a low mojo week. Lo-Mo, anyone?

Today, let's just wallow in it. Grey it is!

• Dress - Ports International, vintage 80s, thrifted; purchased here for $19.99
• Boots - Miz Mooz; last seen here in January with purple plaid
• Raincoat (below) - Parkhurst, thrifted

I thought when I bought this dress that it was from the 80s, assuming that Ports International had gone out of business (like so many mall stores and boutiques). However, they still have a website, they still make dresses (which sell for around $500-750 US). 

After a peruse, though, I'm going to stick with my original assessment and put this at early 1980s, possibly around 1982-83. Some of that is based on the style, the fact that it's made in Hong Kong, is 100% wool and that the label looks like it has some age. 

I remember long shapeless "sack" dresses like this (nodding back to the 60s sack dress), and they were made for these low-slung hip-belts which caught on around 1986. This dress doesn't have shoulder pads or evidence that it had room for them, so definitely pre-late-80s shoulder pad-era.

It was lovely to wear and not itchy from being wool (I am wearing a full vintage nylon slip under it, navy blue, if you care). Also, pockets!

I went to see "Arrival" after work with Elaine (loved it), in one of the revamped downtown movie theatres that's installed big reclining seats (and you can even book your seats! love it!). I was glad to have this nice wool on in the slightly chilly theatre. Must remember to bring a blanket next time.

Outerwear:

I was giving this raincoat another chance, since the last time I wore it, it did not keep me dry! I was only subjected to light sprinkles of rain today (we call that a heavy mist, here on the Wet Coast, har har), and it held up great, so coat, you've earned another day/week/month in my closet. There's no room for slackers!

My new wool purple beret (consignment) and my purple gloves (Danier Leather), together with the purple/blue of the coat and of course my purple hair, garnered me another "So lavender-y!" comment from the clerk at 7-Eleven where I pick up my daily papers.

The stuff:

Red boots. I have a thing for them. These are getting a little beaten up, and the heel cap tried to pop off today (good thing I have glue in my desk at work).

Black and gold bling:

Simple shapes, textures I like to touch.

• Leather/chain cuff - local
• Bangle - Trifari, vintage 60s, thrifted
• Earrings - 5th anniversary gift from L

Oops, I nearly forgot the Santa belt!

It's leather and I love the triple buckle things. I wonder what brand it is??

Could it be...Anne Klein? I thrifted this in about 2001-2002, probably for about $9.95 or less at Value Village.

It's been hiding in our "tickle trunk" aka "the dress-up box" for over a decade. L and I were digging around in there, looking for Hallowe'en inspiration recently, and I thought, "This needs to be in my wardrobe!"

We were invited to a "go to your prom"-themed party sometime in that 2001-2002 range, and this is what I wore:

This is a picture of an actual photograph!

I've always been partial to an 80s look. I thrifted the pink satin shirt at the same time as the belt (I wish I still had that too!) for this party.

I'm wearing:

• L's fedora, 
• some long ropes of pearls that I've had since the 80s, 
• my mom's white lace gloves (I still have them), 
• some black skirt, 
• patterned tights (which were a new thing back then), and
• my Bronx boots (last seen here, ha! for Nick's 50s birthday in August 2010).

Flashback! The belt was stuffed into the costume box over a decade ago because it was too small to actually wear (and I got bigger), but now it's loose on me done up to the tightest notches. And it's back in my closet.