Fringe and Plaid - Aqua Cowgirl

A better day! Let's celebrate! Fringe for all!

Those of you who've been reading my blog for a few years or more may recall that I had a long love affair with all things "cowgirl". This skirt is one of the pieces I've kept.

• Shirt - Ralph Lauren, consignment; first worn here in January with red and bows
• Skirt - Pioneer Wear, vintage 80s, vintage fair; last seen here (2nd outfit) exactly a year ago in Feb 2016, with a tropical bomber
• Boots - Prepare Guide, Fluevog; last worn here (3rd outfit) for an all-grey weekend outfit in November 2016
• Coat (below) - Danier Leather 

Okay, I also have red cowboy boots and some shirts that are rather cowgirl-ish. Are black and white plaid with ruffles considered cowgirl?

I had fun wearing this, though. The skirt is noisy when I walk, with the fringe slapping against the boots.

Vizzini has chomped on this skirt - it has to be stored way up high in my closet where he can't reach it.

Outerwear:

I remembered a hat today...but it didn't rain or snow! Hat is Jones New York (thrifted), gloves are Danier Leather, and that's my usual fur thrifted boa.

The stuff:

I love these boots - they are so wonderful and weird (kinda like me). The moths have been after them - I had to clean a bunch of moth gunk off them. Mr. Vizzini hasn't been doing his job on Moth Patrol!

Badass bling:

Did you notice the zipper rose? I wore it at the top of the shirt buttons.

• Belt - gift from Ruth
• Zipper pin - Victoria & Albert Museum gift shop
• Earrings - vintage 80s, Joyce's
• Fulvia Ring - Wendy Brandes

Monday Madness - Pattern and Blue Nails

Today was...a day. I can't even get into it. But it's over, and I'm home. 

Dazzle them with pattern! Look at the crazy colours, not the tired lady!

• Dress - A Dress Town Original, vintage 70s, thrifted; last seen here in January with everything the same
• Boots - Clarks; last worn here, also in January with another patterned dress
• Coat (below) - Danier Leather, thrifted

I can tell when I'm tired because I just do an outfit that I've done before. The last time I wore this dress, everything was the same except for the tights, right down to the earrings.

Yup, it's a dress.

Good enough!

Outerwear:

Somehow I've managed to crop my hand off, so yeah, there's that. I'm wearing a little furry Danier scarf (thrifted) and mustard yellow Parkhurst fingerless gloves. I could have used a hat, as we had a freak snowstorm in the middle of the day! It's all gone now, but man, that was so bizarre.

The stuff:

Good boots.

Big ol' bling:

Big belt, big necklace.

• Belt - Fendi, thrifted
• Necklace - Nygard, consignment
• Earrings - local
• Ring - c. 1998

Vizzini and I had some cuddles on the benches this morning.

"Seriously, stay home. You'll wish you had."

Yeah, I definitely wish I'd stayed home today. Sorry for being cryptic, and be assured everything is fine at work, and I'm okay, but I just don't share everything on the blog. Suffice it to say, it was one of those days. The snow didn't help.

I did my nails last night while we watched the Oscars (wasn't that crazy at the end??). I didn't feature my nails last week because they were a colour I'd done before (green); however, I did start doing a quick-dry base coat, which made my polish last at least a day or two longer without looking crappy.

My base coat (like many of my polishes) is ancient - it's Revlon's "Top Speed". The blue polish is called "Brisk Blue" by Sally Hanson Insta-Dri.

I really liked the plain blue, but it started chipping right away. I am pretty "hands on" with everything I do, so that's to be expected, but I'd prefer it if my nails lasted longer than a day! This sparkling top coat really helps it last, so I did a quick touch-up of the blue and then one coat of sparkle.

I admit it, I love the sparkle!

Weekend Wrap-Up: Neutral Friday, Floral Saturday Brunch

Ah, a nice quiet weekend, just what the doctor ordered. I am still feeling the tail end of that flu, and have been sleeping a lot, trying to recover my energy. 

Friday's outfit - had to put something together for these new-to-me shoes!

As the shoes have bits of grey and brown in them, I chose to pull all neutrals - how unlike me!

This is my entry for Patti's "Visible Monday" over at Not Dead Yet Style - get your a** over there!

• Jacket - CABi, consignment; first worn here over a red dress in January
• Shirt - Tommy Hilfiger, thrifted; last seen here in January under my chicken sweater 
• Skirt - Danier Leather, thrifted; last worn here again in January for a cowgirl brunch
• Shoes - Michael Kors, thrifted; purchased here last weekend for $34.99
• Coat (below) - Borgeoiis, vintage 80s, thrifted 

I had a lot of compliments on this outfit (how I know I've hit the "normal" sweet spot), mostly the awesome jacket. It's a thick cotton (unlined), and the beading and cording detail on it is really special.

And pockets!

A+ for designers who put in pockets!

And for carrying designs around to the back (*ahem* take notice, Desigual!).

A continuation of the neck detail, and a nice little bit in the small of the back.

Outerwear:

We woke up to sprinkles of snow (dagnabbit! not again!), but it had melted by 10am. It was still a little chilly out, so my nice warm fur boa (thrifted) and long wool vintage gloves (also thrifted) kept me warm, along with this lovely cashmere/wool vintage menswear coat.

The stuff:

Awesome shoes! They were insanely comfy on their inaugural wear.

Ball bling:

I love how heavy this hematite bead necklace is, and how it warms up with my body heat.

• Necklace - gift from Mom, c. 1997, from Alaska
• Earrings - Aldo

L and I met up with Elaine for drinks and dinner, then went to see "Kedi", a documentary about the stray cats of Istanbul. It was a sweet movie - I loved how random people cared for these animals. Makes you realize how alike people are all over the world. Link to info on this movie here (see it if you love cats!), 'cause I love. In case you are worried, no cats die during the movie (a deal-breaker for me).

On Saturday, L and I both slept in after an evening of board games. It was so sunny that my regular stair pose didn't work. Alternate pose needed!

Good enough. My colours were all much brighter than this.

Here's the first picture, the original stair pose.

My neon yellow chicken sweater makes another appearance.

• Sweater - Vero Moda, thrifted; first worn here in January with leather and Oxfords
• Skirt - Jack by BB Dakota, thrifted; first worn here in January with these same shoes
• Shoes - Miista; last seen here in the same outfit as this skirt
• Coat (below) - Danier Leather 

Oops, left my closet light on.

L and I walked to town for brunch. I got groceries (delivered later) while he waited in line and then we strolled home...and remembered partway that we'd forgotten to get wine, so overshot our house and kept going to the liquor store in the other direction. Must have wine!

I liked the nice bright springy vibe of this outfit. It got darker as the afternoon went on.

Outerwear:

One of my favourite jackets ever. I have my purple leather Danier gloves on as well.

What happens when you push the picture button but forgot to set the timer?

L and I crabbing at each other (I've only had one coffee, gimme a break!). He's showing his hockey colours - go, Bruins! That's a Boston Bruins leather jacket as well. 

The stuff: 

Lovely comfy shoes. I'm so glad I bought these.

Colourful bling:

Dangly earrings. 

• Earrings - thrifted

Our friends Shayne and Sofia came over and played "Magic: The Gathering" (a collectible card game that L and I have played since about 1995 - we have tons of cards) all evening. Much merriment was had, and I sent Sofia home with two giant bags of clothes from the giveaway pile. 

Mr. Vizzini has been watching the trees as the little birds come back for spring: 

"Are you lookin' at me?"

He's very vocal - meows at us constantly. 

"Give me my kitty treats, Woman!"

And now, I've got some chicken jalapeno corn chowder bubbling away on the stove, Elaine will be over soon for the Oscars' red carpet coverage, and I'm outta here! Hope you all had a fab weekend!

Feeling Like a Million - Green and Grape

I fully admit it, I felt like a million bucks today in this outfit. 

Everyone who saw me raved about it. Winner!

• Jacket - Simon Chang, vintage 80s, thrifted; first worn here (2nd outfit) as a delicate f**king flower for the VFF Gala earlier this month
• Skirt - Eddie Bauer, thrifted; purchased here for $5.00
• Shoes - Fly London; last seen here in December 2016 with gold sparkly accents
• Coat (below) - Danier Leather, thrifted 

This jacket is a deep forest green - and the double peplum did wonderful things for my waist, especially accented with the skinny pencil skirt.

Look at those ruffles!

The pencil skirt was great to wear - lots of stretch, even though it's 70% wool. I had great delight in telling people that both the jacket and skirt together cost me only $15.00.

Outerwear:

Speaking of $15.00, there's that black leather jacket again. Added my purple wool beret (consignment), my purple leather Danier gloves and my fur boa (thrifted).

The stuff:

Great bouncy shoes! My feet are tired now - Thursdays are an 11 hour work day for me - but these are workhorses in my wardrobe, going into their 6th year with me (first worn here, back in December 2011).

Sparkly purple bling:

The observant noticed how perfectly my purple accents worked with the purple in the plaid skirt, and my purple hair (of course). People, these things don't happen by accident!

• Brooch - about 12+ years old, the Bay, I think?
• Bracelet/earrings - Myka, gifts from L

I've got plans after work tomorrow, so I'll be back later (possibly Monday, due to the Oscars on Sunday) with a wrap-up of all my fun adventures. Have a lovely weekend, everyone!

Abstract With Turquoise and Red

I'm tired. Is it Friday yet? This week is dragging.

Another new top to make an outfit with. Turquoise is one of my favourite colours, and this top has all of the other good colours in it too.

• Top - Rumors, thrifted; purchased here for $14.95 with a 50% discount (so $7.50)
• Skirt - Leifsdottir; last worn here in January with mojo velvet
• Boots - Adrian Agnes, Fluevog; last seen here in January with the LGoD skirt
• Coat (below) - Samuel Dong, thrifted 

First wearing of this top, and SLEEVES! I am having a love affair with big puffy sleeves. Anne Shirley would be proud. It's quite short in the body, however, so I had to keep tucking it back into the top of the skirt (which sits low on my hips). I really love the splashy, painty pattern of the blouse - I think it's supposed to be flowers.

I have both a camisole layered under the top and a red vintage half-slip layered under the skirt (you can see a bit of it in the stair picture) for extra warmth. I woke up cold - brrr! They are predicting a bit of snow over the next couple of days. NO!

I've decided - after owning it for nearly a year - that I like this skirt. Sometimes clothes take time to grow on you.

Outerwear:

No waffling on this coat - love! Red wool Parkhurst gloves and my fur thrifted boa to keep me warm. I'm being vain about my hair and not wearing a hat, although I need to get over that because my purpleness will turn pink in the sun.

The stuff:

I actually walked to and from work today in these boots. They are a pain to get on and off (you have to undo the chains to unzip them all the way), and they are heavy and bulky to carry. They're comfy enough to walk in, but boy, was I happy to get them off when I got home. They are tight in the shaft, along my legs.

Ring bling:

A couple of my spinner rings. I'm done with the top one - into the giveaway pile of jewelry it goes!

• Top ring - consignment
• Bottom ring - Twang & Pearl
• Earrings - second hand furniture store

Off for some dinner and couch time.

Moss Green, Shades of Wine and Velvet

Gads, what a busy day! I am so glad to be home to be having someone else clean my home. A quick blog post and then drag my sicky husband to Subway for dinner. We are classy that way.

I had many raves over this outfit today. People liked the flowiness and floweriness of the top, as well as all the different shades of wine, red, purple and pink.

• Blouse - no label, thrifted; purchased and first worn here (4th outfit) in January
• Skirt - Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, vintage 80s, thrifted; purchased here for $34.95
• Shoes - Sencha Teapot, Fluevog; last worn here in September for the vintage expo
• Grape Ape coat (below) - Forever 21, thrifted

I wore this blouse tucked in this time, and liked it much better without all that floofy business below the drawstring waist. Fussy stuff. I can't read the content tags (they are in Chinese) but it's 100% something. I thought it was polyester, but after wearing it all day, and noting how it wrinkled where it was tucked into my tights (the trick to keeping blouses from bunching around the middle), I do believe it is silk. Anyway, still very happy with it, and for $12.99, even happier.

The skirt was the star, though. Yves Saint Laurent! I wish you could reach through the screen (well, no, that's creepy, let's not wish for that), but it is the softest velvet ever.

It was quite wrinkled when I bought it, like someone had stuffed it in a bag for 30 years (certainly possible), and gave it a good steaming last night which restored it to full glory. It did wrinkle like mad again across my lap and my butt during the day, but at least now I know I can get 'em out.

Outerwear:

Bwah! Behold the Grape Ape coat! My burgundy wool Parkhurst fingerless gloves for the win.

The stuff:

I love the rich pinky red of these shoes. I've been browsing the new arrivals online at Fluevog in preparation for our annual pilgrimage (coming soon!). Whatever shall I do? Which ones to buy?

Pink bling:

So much sparkle, my heart can hardly stand it! So rare to find a set of Sherman crystal earrings and necklace. I still cackle that I only paid $22.00 for the set.

• Earrings and necklace - Sherman, vintage 60s, vintage fair
• Fulvia Ring - Wendy Brandes

Thank you all for your good vibes and wishes for me to get better. Today was my first drug-free day and it was not too bad...amazing what kind of substances one's body produces!