Spring in Victoria: Stripes and Leather, VFF Gala, Brunch Star, Ring Shots and Theatre At Last

Well, my friends, I'm still sick but I've soldiered through this weekend. Many tales of adventure await! So, let's get 'er started, shall we? Here's Friday's work outfit.

Not a huge amount of effort, but I was warm and comfy.

• Sweater - vintage 60s, thrifted; purchased here last weekend for $18.95
• Skirt - Episode, thrifted; last seen here in August 2016 with Wonder Woman
• Boots - Lucky Brand, swapped from Cat last week
• Coat (below) - Hilary Radley, thrifted 

I have to name this sweater or I'll never be able to find it on the blog again - henceforth, it is the ski bunny sweater. It was deliciously warm, and I loved the colours. One of our clients commented on the nice spring colours.

The rest of it is a symphony of blacks: black leather skirt (yes, Pam, I know you want it), black ribbed tights, and these new-to-me swapped boots of Cat's. I had planned on a more refined bottom (nylons and kitten heels), but I woke up to this:

Snow! Fer cryin' out loud, can we stop with this freakin' winter weather already? That's Craigdarroch Castle up there, and that's my view when I take the stair picture.

And so, back to the usual outerwear:

Brr! I'm cold. The usual Danier fur toque/scarf and leather gloves.

The stuff:

These boots were wonderful in the wet - by afternoon, the snow had devolved into slush and rain. Gah, spring in Victoria is so erratic!

Black bling:

Basics. Easy stuff.

• Cuff - Guess, thrifted
• Wrap - Kipling, thrifted 
• Earrings - Le Chateau

We had to rush home right after work to get ready for...the Victoria Film Festival Gala Opening event! We have attended this before, here in 2016, and here in 2014.

Link here to the VFF main page (as always, linking 'cause I love). The theme this year was "Spring in Victoria". We started with a film ("Window Horses") at the Odeon Theatre, followed by a Q & A with one of the animators (who I met, hello!), the person who did the music, and Don McKellar, very well-known actor up here (IMDB link for him here).

A gaggle of us went (as we do), and we all dressed up in the theme! Of course we did.

"What the furballs is that Woman wearing?"

I went all-out.

• Jacket - Simon Chang, vintage 80s, thrifted; purchased here last weekend for $9.95
• Skirt - Kenzo, thrifted; purchased here a few weeks ago for $19.99
• Fluffy crinoline - vintage, thrifted; last worn here for an alt-rights march in July 2016
• Shoes - Big Presence Desmond, Fluevog; last seen here at the tail end of January with a confused dress 

"Maybe I should hide. She looks crazy."

I did promise whackitude. This is my entry for "Visible Monday" over at Patti's Not Dead Yet Style. Get your visible self over there! 

I called my outfit, "I'm a Delicate Fucking Flower" after my socks. 

I had many admirers of the socks during the evening. "But did you read them?" I asked, as I waggled my feet (with varying degrees of success balancing after much free wine). Hilarity and peals of laughter ensued! Thanks again to Cat and Ross for these! 

I was so excited when I found this dark green double-peplum blazer - it worked perfectly over this very pouffy skirt, especially after I added the uber-floofy crinoline under it.  

I certainly had no issue establishing my personal space (always important to me), ha ha!

Most of my own pictures turned out blurry, because once I have my contacts in, I can't see the little picture on the back of my camera. L took a few for me.

With my pearly blue purse. I wore a long-sleeved t-shirt underneath the jacket for an additional warm layer.

I also wore a purple plaid raincoat (this one), purple beret and pink scarf and gloves as outerwear, but didn't have time to take a picture of the ensemble. We had to rush out to catch a bus to town - it was still nasty, icky cold and rain.

You can't really see it in any of the pictures, but I had pink glittery eyeshadow on. But you can see my little butterflies in my hair here.

And all of my pins and brooches on my jacket! This is my entry for "Hat Attack!" over at Judith's Style Crone. Not a hat, strictly speaking, but I'm counting them! The little butterflies are on alligator clips - their wings are made of thick paper, and are glued to little springs, so they quiver when I move. So fun!

Although this picture is blurry, L said I had to include it because it's my "real laugh" face.

Grin-face!

L was so dapper!

That's a new baby blue blazer we found last weekend on our shop for him, plus a vintage shirt and tie. The trousers are Versace and were purchased on consignment a few years ago in Vancouver. His shoes are Fluevog, of course.

L got a mention in the local paper's write-up here: "Several guests wore brightly coloured costumes -- including flaming orange pants, pink shirts, floral dresses and polka-dot jackets -- to reflect their sunny dispositions."

I guess we are rather bright!

Sorry for chopping your head off, love - you're too tall!

Here's a look at my jacket with all the pins on it. 

Three fabric flowers, a mink rose pin, my zipper rose, a green flower with feathers, and a bee pin (gift from Megan Mae), and a beetle pin (Le Chateau).

The stuff:

Everything remotely floral that I own, basically. Good shoes for walking in inclement weather.

Bright bling:

One of my earrings fell off during the evening, but I actually recovered it (and the back!). 

• Purse - Sondra Roberts, thrifted
• Butterflies - Victoria & Albert Museum Gift Shop
• Silver cuff - thrifted
• Round bracelet - consignment
• Earrings - vintage fair

Following are a bunch of pictures from the actual event. The blurry/crappy ones are mine, and the rest are from the event photo booth and grabbed from the Gala Facebook page (link here). Many thanks to the photographers and event volunteers. What a fab party! 

Off the bus, and heading for the Odeon: 

Nasty weather. I love the neon marquee of the Odeon.

Inside the Atrium Building. This is an office building with retail and restaurants on the ground floor, and inside this covered part of the building. Fun fact: my brother Dave's company did all that wood-work inside when it was built.

This is a beautiful open space that is open to the public during the day. You can sit in here and have your lunch if you want to.

The far end is three banks of elevators. A view of the inside looking down at the milling crowd.

The Vic High School band entertained us. They were awesome!

Brollies and lights were strung up from the ceiling 6 floors up.

The ground floor was decorated with these giant red paper flower sculptures.

One of the giant wooden sculpture/seats, ready for people to stop and chat.

Our group is easy to spot in a crowd.

There's L, Nick and Ross (both in hats, and awesome floral shirts), then me, cat (in magenta) and Karen (blue hat).

As we were basically the most colourful people there - we actually got a shout-out in the theatre as "the colourful people are here!" - we were in many of the event photos.

Karen and Ross.

Ross and Nick chatting.

Karen, me and Linda.

Even in a blurry crowd shot, I can see Nick and Ross at the bar.

And I see Karen's blue hat.

A dramatic black-and-white shot of Linda, and Nick on the left.

I love that there was a photobooth.

Cat and Ross - recognize the dress, purse and flower? I gave her my old dress (this one) last year, and loaned the furry purse and flower.

Me and Karen always have a hoot together.

Karen's purse is a folded magazine. So cool!

Our full outfit shot. Of course we are hamming it up.

Karen't wearing Fluevogs too and she layered a floofy underskirt under a stretchy floral dress for a Dramatic Look! That's my gal!

So much love!

Mwah to you, darling.

Karen and Nick.

Nick is always very dapper. Such gorgeous friends we have!

Me and L:

The photographer asked me to give him a kiss - I'm not really as sloshed as I appear (okay, maybe I am).

Vero in a fabulous floral moto-jacket, with dear Cat.

Dang, my friends are so freakin' gorgeous!

My favourite shot of the night.

All the legs and fluffy underskirts! Karen, me, Linda and Cat.

Well! After all those shenanigans, I was rather...tired on Saturday morning. Not much thought put into this outfit. Mostly, "I wonder if I can wear this skirt in a regular outfit?"

Answer, "Yes, I can."

• Sweater - Lord & Taylor, thrifted; last seen here in December 2016 with a pink Muppet skirt
• Skirt - Kenzo, thrifted; first worn above, the night before
• Shoes - Miista, thrifted; last seen here last week with a bright chic(ken) sweater
• Jacket (below) - Forever 21, thrifted; first worn here in a hug from Canada 

 A fun casual look. I was nice and warm in this cashmere turtleneck and my thick tights.

And look! I have pockets!

I wore a short black vintage slip underneath this for extra warmth and coverage. A short puffy skirt is just asking for trouble.

 Outerwear:

Oh, sure, this will be warm enough! It's sort of sunny out. No, it rained, and I was freezing. Silly, silly Sheila. New purple Parkhurst wool gloves.

The stuff:

These shoes are awesome. So comfy!

Plain bling:

My new pendant gets its first wear.

• Earrings - 10th anniversary gift from L
• Pendant - POLY, thrifted
• Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes

After brunch and my weekly grocery shop, I had a quick nap and then Mom came over for our re-attempt to go to the theatre. I had to compare my new 20th anniversary ring with Mom's own 25th anniversary ring.

I love this picture.

Same visual weight, same loops, same colour gold.

A close-up:

Mom's ring is now over 25 years old. That is a real ruby in hers. The loops look very similar.

The backs:

As you can see, Mom is a klassy lady like me who sizes her ring with a piece of tape. Stay klassy, Mom. The backs look very similar to me - and the bands are also the same width. Based on all this evidence, I think our rings are made by the same jeweler. What a bizarre coincidence!

We went to see "Gracie" at the Belfry Theatre (link here, and link here for the local review, wow, and the Globe & Mail reviewed it here as well). It was an amazing performance - a one-woman show - that left both Mom and I gasping. Worth catching if you live here!

I didn't feel like getting too dressed up, and it was raining again by the time we walked down.

• Jacket - Desigual by Christian LaCroix, consignment; last worn here in June 2016
• Sweater - Lacoste, thrifted; last seen here in June 2016 with lace two ways
• Skirt - Oui Set, thrifted; last worn here with un-obvious military in October 2016
• Shoes - Sopranos Angelina, Fluevog; last seen here (2nd outfit) with a gone grey dress in January

 I have a vintage camisole on under the sweater for extra warmth. That's been a theme lately.

I love this coat, but I need to sew on at least one button that's fallen off, and tighten up the others. I hate when buttons aren't sewn on securely.

"The Woman is going out again?"

It has pockets, though!

Additional outerwear pieces.

Parkhurst wool gloves and my usual fur toque/scarf.

The stuff:

Cuffs down on the boots for extra flair in the outfit, but I don't store them that way. My boots are still wet there from the rain.

Bright bling:

Because bright is always right!

• Necklace - Banana Republic, consignment
• Earrings - thrifted
• Ring - Wendy Brandes

And you, my friends? How is your weekend? Our guests are about to arrive for the Super Bowl party at our house, the chili is bubbling away and I'm ready for some football! Go, Atlanta Falcons!