Bigass Weekend Wrap-Up: Thursday Wrap, Copper Friday, Remembering Dad, Floral Dinner, Purple Chicken, Whales and Flowers, and Green Shopping

And I'm back! Sorry about that - I forgot that I had Book Club on Thursday night, and then the rest of the weekend was filled with family things. Get ready for a big post! 

Thursday's outfit. 

 I'm still building outfits with not-yet-worn new-to-me items! This wrap dress was layered over a summer-weight wool skirt.

• Dress - Only, thrifted; purchased here for $22.99
• Skirt - Mister Leonard, vintage 80s, thrifted; last worn here in May with dark roses
• Shoes - Grotesque; last seen here in June with purple tigers
• Jacket (below) - Jacob, thrifted; last worn here (3rd oufit) in July for bra shopping

I wore a camisole/tank underneath this for coverage as well.

 I really like how the cropped top of the dress makes my waist look extra small. The yellow skirt acted as a slip and kept the dress from gaping open.

 I unstitched the pockets! Yes!

 I don't wear a ton of yellow in fall/winter, so getting in all that I can.

Outerwear - it was slightly chilly in the morning, plus I had my WW meeting after work, followed by Book Club.

 All the yellows!

The stuff:

 I don't wear these shoes in cooler months, as they don't look right with tights. They will be packed away for a season, and I'll be happy to see them again in 6 months.

Silver bling:

I got home quite late and rather sloshed, so sorry about the blurry picture. Heh. Book Club is the best - we discussed a book about Anne Boleyn.

• Steel cuff - thrifted
• Steel hinge cuff - thrifted
• Shield ring - Nine West
• Crystal ring - Uffizi Gallery gift shop
• Earrings - gift from Megan Mae

My sweet coworker Simar gave me a gorgeous begonia plant for my birthday on Friday (my actual b-day is only a couple weeks away, eeee!).

However, I don't get any sunlight at my desk, and I kill plants, so colleague and green thumb Elaine is keeping it alive for me. I get visitation rights.

On Friday, I was just a teensy bit hungover for work. Screw it, it's Friday!

"I see a busy weekend in my future."

This is my entry for "Visible Monday" over at Patti's Not Dead Yet Style. Get over there!

• Leather top - Asos, thrifted; last worn here (5th outfit) in March with culottes and sparkly shoes
• Skirt - Melanie Lyne, thrifted; last seen here in May with a hole-y top
• Shoes - Clarks, consignment; last worn here in June for Day 1 of my staycation

 Clothing as armour! Look at the shiny copper top! Ignore the bleary-faced lady!

 The top - yes, it's real leather! - got a lot of attention from my coworkers. No one noticed ME. Aren't I clever...

It's very bold!

 I felt very powerful in this, and stalked around authoritatively, my wispy hair bobbing along.

The stuff:

 I love these shoes! So comfy!

Blurry bling:

 A very busy and long day, means "one and done" for the pictures, ha ha.

• Crystal ring - Uffizi Gallery gift shop
• Fulvia Ring - Wendy Brandes
• Earrings - Plum

Friday marked the 20th anniversary of my dad's death in 1997, from a massive heart attack. This is Dad, me and my brother Dave, when we first got our dog, Schultz, sitting on the front steps of our house.

That's probably around 1972-3. I'm about 5 and Dave is around 2-3. Dad would be close to 30 in that picture. I have his long slender fingers.

My brother and I are planning on doing complementary tattoos to commemorate Dad's passing. My mom dug up these photos, which I then took pictures of.

 Dad's on top of the Parliament Buildings (link here - see that dome?), replacing lights on the dome at the very top. Note his "knee-pads" which look like strips of cloth wrapped over his jeans, and his red running shoes.

I'm happy to see that he's wearing a safety harness of some sort, but that still doesn't look very safe!

 These pictures are probably from the late 70s, I would guess. I can't believe my dad's been gone for so long. Twenty years! Where does the time go?

I arrived home to greet our weekend visitors, L's mom Louise and his brother Virgil. I had a nap, then changed into a nice dress for dinner.

 One more wear of this one before it's packed away.

• Dress - H&M, thrifted; last worn here in June with wedge heels
• Boots - Matisse, consignment; last seen here (4th outfit) in March with leopard pants and an orange sweater
• Coat (below) - Only, thrifted; purchased here for $29.99

I have a full-length vintage slip on under it, due to the back slit and the high side-slits.

"Who are these people in my living room, Woman?"

 We walked down to the local Greek restaurant, and my in-laws were much entertained, and well-fed.

Ithaka (link here 'cause I love) has Greek music (including the owner playing for us), dancing, and is a loud and rowdy restaurant - it's a great place! The food is excellent.

I took the opportunity to wear my new-to-me sleeveless coat.

 Not a great angle, but it felt wonderful on and was just right for the walk down and back.

I discovered a button up near one shoulder, which created a nice snuggly collar.

 I unstitched the pockets on this too! Yay for pockets!

The stuff:

 I kept these boots out for wearing on chillier spring/summer days, but this is the first time I've worn them this season - just made it under the wire!

Simple bling:

 I love getting a wear out of my Fendi belt.

• Belt - Fendi, thrifted
• Amber ring - late 90s
• Green crystal ring - consignment
• Earrings - thrifted

On Saturday morning, I was up early to meet the in-laws again for breakfast at Floyd's.

 Another pair of boots I haven't worn in a while.

• Top - Hommage, consignment (Vancouver); last seen here with baby blue in June while on staycation
• Skirt - Club Monaco, thrifted; last worn here in July with a pink blazer
• Boots - Effortless Sophia, Fluevog; last seen here with black pleather in May

 This was an easy outfit for the walk to town (clear and slightly crisp weather) and back. Louise was much amused by the fluffiness of my chicken top.

 I love the two-tone purple of these boots.

The stuff:

 Such awesome boots! They'll be staying out for fall, I think.

Silver bling:

I seem to wear these three steel pieces as a set a lot!

• Cuff - thrifted
• Hinged cuff - thrifted
• Earrings - gift from Megan Mae
• Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes

Louise and Virgil headed off after lunch, back home, and L and I had some quiet time before getting ready to go out and meet up with my mom, brother and his fiancee Shelley for a late afternoon drink in memory of Dad.

 I'm getting in as many of my favourite pieces as I can!

• Sweater C Wonder, thrifted; last seen here in August for a date with the periodontist
• Skirt - Maeve, thrifted; last worn here in July with shiny things
• Shoes - Miista; last seen here in August with the jelly-deer sweater
• Duster - Emporio Armani, thrifted; last worn here over the same sweater in April

 Sure, why not wear both of these together? I love the orange/navy sweater, and the skirt just deserves to be worn one more time before I pack it away. All keepers!

 Still doing bare legs, but not sure for how much longer!

With my duster, worn as a coat.

 A dramatic cover-up was excellent for swooshing about!

The stuff:

 These shoes get better every time I wear them.

• Dragon bangle and earrings - Lazy Susan's
• Shiny bangle - local

L and I did a lot of walking on Saturday, starting with our walk to/from town for breakfast. We met up with Mom, Dave and Shelley at Spinnaker's, a local brew-pub on the other side of the Inner Harbour.

 That's about a 40 minute walk each way - great exercise on a lovely day! Every time we go over the blue bridge (aka the Johnson Street bridge), I wonder if it will be the last time - they are building a new one.

Dave and Shelley.

 Aw, such a nice couple.

We had an early dinner and a few drinks, then L and I walked home.

 There was a cruise ship in town - it towers over some of the buildings!

L, how do you feel about this day?

"It's rockin'."

 He's a cool dude.

Today, I headed to town to get groceries. It's going to be another busy week.

 I'll probably keep the sweater and the shoes out for fall/winter, but the skirt will be packed away.

• Sweater - Tatyana, thrifted; last seen here on a hot day with the picador skirt in July
• Skirt - Bedo, thrifted; last worn here (2nd outfit, waaaay down), in April, after I last swapped out my closet
• Shoes - Half Truth Tanya, Fluevog; last seen here in August with a super-patterned dress

 I was considering letting this skirt go, but having worn it for an afternoon, I'm in love with it anew. I wish it had pockets, but I'm still good with it.

 Not a super creative outfit, but sometimes a simple combination can be just right.

The stuff:

 These are the same "family" as my black kitten heels, and they are just as comfortable. I walked to town, shopped and then walked home in them.

• Earrings - local

I went to the WIN store downtown and had a nice poke around. I found some treasures!

 A vintage Corey Hart pin for only $1.00?? Yes, mine! I saw Corey Hart in concert at the Memorial Arena in 1985. You might know this song by him: "Sunglasses at Night." He was huge in Canada at the time!

Oh, yeah, and I found a hematite ring for $4.95.

 I like the facets on it.

I fell hard for this lovely scarf. Painted roses!

 It's extremely soft, and according to the label, it's 100%...something (I can't read Chinese). However, I looked up the brand and I'm happy to confirm that it's 100% silk! The back of is a camel-coloured fuzzy weave, and the front/roses are a silky satin finish.

The brand is Story of Shanghai, and it was $14.95. I can't wait to wear this with the Unsafe Polar Bear coat!

I spotted this chocolate brown scarf by feel - it's real fur!

 It's by Danier and was only $6.95! Wow! I have to keep it well away from Vizzini - he likes to lick my fur scarves.

I'm always on the lookout for nice-quality, washable tops for layering. This one goes really well with my hair.

It's 100% polyester, so into the wash it goes.

It's Chic by Jacob, and was only $5.95.

Me and my white/cream tops. I can't resist a cool one!  

 This top looks best tucked in - it's rather voluminous othewise!

I love the smocked high neck and matching sleeve cuffs.

 New with tags, by H&M and only $6.95. Regular price was $34.99. Not bad!

I don't mind paying a bit more for good quality, though, like this gorgeous silver-grey blazer.

 It fits me perfectly, and has that nice androgynous "boyfriend" look to it.

Look at the lovely texture, too.

 It's by Emporio Armani, and was $38.95. The tag says "as is (snags)" but I trimmed off the few little ones I could find and it's like new. The pockets haven't even been opened!

It's made in Italy; Antinea SRL is one of Armani's manufacturers. The fabric is a viscose/polyamid/spandex blend.

 Based on the style (a bit of a shoulder pad, but not much) and the fabric (we went in for this shiny stuff ), I'd say this jacket is from the late 90s - it's not 2005 as I wondered (seeing that on the tag). I just went through a slideshow of the 2005 collection and it's not in there.

I was giddy when this amazing black skirt fit me perfectly. The waistband folds over, and the skirt has tucks that cause it to drape across the hips in a very cool way.

 The hem is slightly bubbled in the front and there's a long tie that does up over one hip.

Yes! I seem to be lucking out on finding Dries Van Noten! It's another piece, and this one was only $29.95.

 Sorry it's blurry, but the half-torn out label says 59% cotton, 41% silk, and "Made in Belgium" - this is older Dries than my circus skirt, probably again from the 90s/pre-internet.

L nearly choked when I unpacked this monster! He calls these my "homeless lady sweaters."

"Looks cuddly to me."

 This is my new winter "wear around the house" cover-up. It's a gorgeously-soft snap-front sweater by Caroline Biss from her fall 2016 collection, so not very old.

 A sweater like this sells for 165 Euros, which is about $242 CAD - score! I paid less than 10% of the original price. This one is a wool and alpaca blend. Quality!

I like the care label.

 A label that uses "whilst" is a winner.

And now, off to make chili for dinner and watch some football - I need some couch time after this busy weekend.

"I'm keeping your seat warm, Woman."

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend!