Teal and Taupe..and Tasty Vogs!

I'm feeling tired (working late) and frustrated (Blogger wasn't uploading my pictures, arg), so you'll forgive me for just getting right to the outfit. 

Bam-a-lam, there it is. Outfit.

• Velvet jacket - Jacob, thrifted; last worn here with the sleeping bag skirt in November 2017
• Lacy top - Express, thrifted; last seen here in December 2017 layered under a tube dress
• Skirt - Valentino (part of a suit), vintage 80s, thrifted; last worn here in October 2016 with silk paisley
• Shoes - Tasty Vogs Hermine, Fluevog; purchased here on the weekend for $66.00 (after my gift card)
• Coat (below) - Apparence, vintage, thrifted; last seen here a few weeks ago

Of course, I built the outfit around the shoes, but I also wanted to get a wear in of this rather basic taupe skirt. Yes, it's kind of dull, but it's VALENTINO, and the quality is to die for. It's fine wool, fully lined, impeccably made in Italy. 

And it's got pockets!

I'll forgive a lot for a skirt with pockets.

I liked how the teal velvet blazer went with the lighter aqua in the shoes. 

And then it was just a matter of pulling in a cream top to finish it all off (I layered an aqua cami under the cream lace to make it pop).

Outerwear - the return of the Unsafe Polar Bear! 

Brrr, cold and rainy today. Bring on the furry stuff! 

• Fur scarf - Danier, thrifted
• Leather gloves - Danier

I had to dash back inside and grab my umbrella. How annoying. 

The stuff: 

These shoes were wonderful to wear, but once again, John Fluevog, please put rubber caps on the heels - the sharp edges of these heels scraped off the bronze metallic finish! So disappointing. 

Gold bling: 

You can see the little scrapes on the inside of the toes. But I'm fine with it - I can always touch it up with a bit of bronze paint if they start looking crappy.

• Necklace - Givenchy, vintage 80s, vintage fair
• Crystal ring - Uffizi Gallery gift shop, Florence, Italy
• Pearl ring - Pearl Factory, Waikiki, 1985
• Earrings - don't remember

Since I wore my Valentino, I had to wear my Givenchy! Wearing these "old school" names gives me a thrill every time. 

Plaid Mixing and Menswear

I've always liked the menswear look on women. I remember seeing "Annie Hall" when I was in my early teens and loving Diane Keaton's look, and then Meg Ryan's outfits in "When Harry Met Sally" (still one of my favourite movies!) several years later. I often do this look myself, with my own twist.

 Revisiting this blocky, odd jacket - I loved how well it went with the plaid pants.

• Jacket - Julie Haus, thrifted; first worn here in October 2017 with the bark skirt
• Sleeveless sweater (underneath) - Ellen Tracy, swap from Caro; last seen here in November 2017 with painty plaid
• Pants - Pariscope, vintage 90s, thrifted; last seen here in November 2017 with a ringmaster coat
• Shoes - Clarks, consignment; last worn here in November 2017 for brunch and shopping
• Coat (below) - Bourgeoiis, vintage 80s menswear; last seen here a few weeks ago

Learning how clothing works through trial-and-error, I put the jacket with a slim bottom this time.

"You need more feline accessories."

 These pants are so much fun. I had good reactions to this outfit, especially to the jacket.

Vizzini just plonked himself down there while I did photos.

"What? My fans want to see me."

 I knew I'd have a hugely busy day, so I wore comfy clothes - better for running in the office!

Outerwear - we had hail today! Fortunately, I missed that (and the rain that came before and after) and was overly warm for most of my walks to and from work.

 I liked the stripe of the scarf with the plaid.

• Hat - Anne Klein, vintage, thrifted
• Scarf - Masai Co., thrifted
• Gloves - Parkhurst

I keep labeling the hat as Jones New York, but it's not - I don't know why I always mix those up!

The stuff:

 Gah, such comfy shoes - I know they aren't the most attractive ones I own, but they are heavenly to wear.

Geometric bling:

Circles and squares!

• Spinner ring - Twang & Pearl
• Bronze ring - P. Sarpaneva, vintage 70s, vintage expo
• Steel/bronze ring - POLY, thrifted
• Bracelet - POLY, thrifted
• Necklace - POLY, thrifted
• Cuff - thrifted

Secret Trek Suit

I wore my version of a suit today - and I was shocked at the response from the people I work with. Everyone loved this outfit! 

 Why am I shocked? Because I like my slightly crazy outfits more - this veers a little too "normal" for my tastes. I still like it (it's still me), but it's not in my happy zone.

• Blazer - Vivienne Westwood Red Label, thrifted; first worn here while rebelling in November 2017
• Blouse - L'Wren Scott, A Tropical Conversation, FW2011, thrifted; purchased here on the weekend for $7.99
• Skirt - Danier Leather, thrifted in Powell River; last seen here earlier this month in an armoured outfit
• Boots - Conquer Malieka, Fluevog; first seen here in November 2017 with a sleeping bag skirt
• Coat (below) - Danier Leather; last worn here

I do like messing with people's perceptions of me though.

 I was thrilled to wear this gorgeous blazer again. I wore my new L'Wren Scott blouse with it, and styled the neckline like they did on the runway (the 6th pic here, linking 'cause I love). I wish I had that same pink leather suit!

Rear view. Super-classy.

 Happy to wear these funky boots again too! Clomp, clomp, clomp.

Here's the blouse without the jacket, although I wore it as above (jacket buttoned up) all day.

 The pleating is quite malleable, so you can play with how it fans out. The blouse is fully tucked in, but it's quite long. There are 15 buttons down the front - I counted!

I ended up rolling the sleeves up one turn - they are very long. This blouse is marked a size 46, which is about a US/Canadian size 10, so it is a bit big on me. However, I loved wearing it, and it was super-comfy, so it's not going anywhere (including the tailor - I am far too lazy and cheap to tailor a blouse I only paid $8.00 for!).

Outerwear - me with the goofy high-hat due to the clip in my hair.

 It rained all day, and was totally gloomy. I also worked late, so didn't see the sky except through a window all day. Boo.

• Scarf - Masai Company, thrifted - first wear!
• Gloves - Danier Leather
• Hat - Jones New York, vintage, thrifted

The stuff:

 These boots were so fun, and heaven on my feet. Did you spot my "secret" Star Trek pin on my blazer? Lots of my coworkers did!

Space bling:

It's the final frontier! My colleagues love it when I get my nerd on.

• Star Trek magnet brooch - MoPop gift shop, Seattle, 2016
• Earrings - thrifted
• Hematite rings - thrifted

Bigass Weekend Wrap-Up: Denim Yeti, Traffic-Stopping Shattered Plaid, ORANGE LEATHER SHORTS, Racing Stripes

I need a weekend to recover from my weekend! It's been so busy, with very little down-time, but it was all "good" busy, you know? 

 Starting with brunch with L Saturday morning - we'd hung out playing boardgames till the wee hours, but I was up early to dye my hair.

• Top - Jean-Paul Gaultier, vintage 90s, consignment; first worn here in December 2017 with Monster Vest
• Denim dress - Only, thrifted; first seen here in September 2017with yellows
• Shoes - Truths Makena, Fluevog; last worn here earlier this month with teal and a paper bag
• Coat (below) - Kimchi Blue; last seen here in October 2017

I had it trimmed on Friday, with a big more of longer bangs/fringe added. We've decided to stop at this length (my hair doesn't really grow much longer without turning into rat-tails), so there we go! I've grown out my hair! It took about 19 months.

 My goal was a rock & roll shag, a la Joan Jett, or a little softer like Emmylou Harris. The colour will lighten up a bit over the next week.

This is the first wearing of my denim wrap dress over the winter - I love the cut of it and the ability to layer things underneath both the top and bottom.

 My tissue-thin Jean-Paul Gaultier top makes another appearance. I just love it.

I wore my Christian Dior vintage slip under it (remembering that it opens up when I walk).

 I lined up the slip so that the lace-trimmed slit matched where the dress opens.

Outerwear - it rained when we walked to town, but was clear later on when I was out shopping.

 It was warm enough to wear my yeti coat! Hurray!

• Gloves - Parkhurst
• Brolly - Cheeky

Don't L and I make a fine couple? As we were leaving Floyd's, a woman said to us, "You guys are stylin'!" You bet - I love that L puts himself out there as much as I do.

 L's coat is a vintage 70s ones from the Patch - it has real wolf fur on the collar. He carries his fancy-schmancy headphones when he knows I'm going shopping after brunch.

The stuff:

 These are excellent walking shoes.

Silver bling:

 My earring broke when I tried to put it on again later. Aw. I'll be on the lookout for another pair of bigass silver hoops on my thrifting travels.

• Earrings - Lazy Susan's
• Snake ring - c. 1985, BC Museum Gift Shop
• Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes

Both L and I get Fluevog's daily emails, so we knew there was an 15% off sale on. The shoes he'd been keeping an eye (these) on were on sale, and HE wanted to go (not me, I swear, hahahah)...so...one thing led to another, and I still had $85 on my gift card...

 And here are my newest pair of Fluevogs, the Tasty Vogs Hermine (link here, 'cause I love!).

The soles:

 They are good enough to eat, for sure!

They were on sale for $159.99, plus an extra 15% off.

 With my gift card, I ended up paying $66.00 for them, which is one of my cheaper Fluevog investments.

Flush with my purchase, I headed across the street to Flavour Upstairs, just to see what new things they had. I found this lovely red blouse.

 It's very tailored, and gorgeously made.

Look at those pleats and covered buttons down the front!

 It's cut very long, so I'm excited to style it.

Even the cuffs are unusual.

It's made in Italy, and all the seams are gorgeous - no raw or serged edges anywhere. I so appreciate seeing that!

I wasn't 100% sure on it but I knew the name - L'Wren Scott. The second tag says "A Tropical Conversation."  And here it is on the L'Wren Scott website, from Fall/Winter 2011. My blouse in Look #6! Oh, cool, it's with a leather suit - I'll do my best to create a look worthy to this!

 I knew it was worth more than the $7.99 I paid for it! This would have been several hundred dollars originally.

I also found this awesome necklace.

 I think it's from the 70s. There is no stamp anywhere on it, but the quality is really nice.

It has a good clasp.

 And only $12.00. Good stuff!

From my shopping side-trip, I hurried home (more walking!), and got ready to go to the theatre with Mom! It was bright out!

 All the colours! More stuff I am just getting around to wearing in my fall/winter wardrobe.

• Blouse - Antonella, vintage early 80s, thrifted; last seen here (3rd outfit, past the Alice Cooper concert) in October 2016
• Dress - Tangerine Jill, consignment; last worn here in April 2017, almost a year ago for the theatre with Mom!
• Boots - Effortless Sophia, Fluevog; last seen here (4th outfit) in September 2017, the same weekend as the above denim dress
• Cape (below) - Coracle Clothes, vintage 60s, pass-along from Sheila A; first worn here a few days ago

I have a few of these colourful, big-sleeved 80s blouses. I don't wear them that often, but they are great for layering under my sleeveless dresses when you want some Sleeve Drama.

 My mom dubbed this outfit "Shattered Plaid" - love it!

It's a pretty spectacular dress, isn't it? Get away, you can't have it!

 I always get tons of compliments on it. I need to wear it more. Ah, so many awesome clothes, so little time to wear them all! This is why we have to dress up!

Outerwear - of course, I had to wear my cape with it!

 As Mom and I were walking to the Belfry Theatre, a truck stopped in the middle of the road, the driver rolled down the window, and said, "Your look is fantastic!" Wow! I've never stopped traffic before! Mom and I had a chortle over that.

• Beret - consignment
• Leather gloves - Danier Leather
• Purse - Sondra Roberts, thrifted

The stuff:

 This is an easy heel for me to wear - very sturdy. I love the two-tone purples.

Simple bling:

 I had to quickly swap to these earrings when the hoops broke.

• Leather obi - thrifted
• Earrings - vintage 80s, Joyce's
• Rings - as above

Oops, and here's the purse.

 I had to do all the accessory photos today/Sunday - they were all in a huge pile!

After the play (which was about early onset dementia, and while funny, it was also hugely sad and depressing, so I'm not going to link to it - sorry, Belfry - because frankly, I'm going to hope that I never have to go through that (or L either!), and this is enough of an aside, don't you think?), Mom and I went to the Pub for dinner, then walked home, and I rushed to get ready.

Yes! For I had a third outfit change, for my third outing of the day! A bunch of us went to see The Pack A.D. (we've seen them before here). And this what I wore.

• Tank - Frank Turner tour shirt, Portland, 2017; not tracked
• Leather shorts - Danier Leather, vintage 80s, thrifted; last worn here in August 2017 (last outfit) for a weekend gather with friends
• Boots - BCBG Max Azria; last seen here (3rd outfit) in December 2017 with my Kenzo tiger dress
• Coat (below) - Noa Noa; last worn here in November 2016 to see The Pack A.D.!

This is my entry for "Visible Monday" over at Patti's Not Dead Yet Style which is totally appropriate this week, since I'm also wearing an outfit that's apt to cause the young'uns to clutch their iPhones in horror.

Egads! It's a 50-year-old woman showing her bra-straps, wearing a concert t-shirt, in ORANGE LEATHER SHORTS (sorry to yell, but they always get all-caps or they get cranky), and over-the-knee boots.

I neither know nor care what they'd say about my black and white pin-striped frock coat.

"You're going out again, aren't you?"

 It's a rocking piece.

I added my "Steven Tyler" rock and roll scarf for badassery and warmth.

 I stood and grooved to the bands (I only caught two, since I was late walking to town) in this.

Bungled up. It was a wee bit chilly by 8:30pm.

 I walked fast, though!

• Gloves - Parkhurst

The coat is a sample piece from Dots - the black design on the back is embroidered.

 And it has really deep pleats to pouff it out. I love it and have had it for years, even though I don't wear it much.

The stuff: 

 The boots helped keep me warm too!

• Silk velvet scarf - thrifted - first wear!
• Leather cuff - Guess, thrifted
• Studded cuff - c. 1996
• Spider ring - c. 1986, gift from Mom & Dad, Mexico
• Snake ring - as above
• Earrings - 10th anniversary gift from L

We got home quite late, having gone for drinks afterwards. We were soaked from the rain and exhausted by the time we got home, but no rest for the wicked - up and at 'em early again on Sunday!

 I had a shopping expedition planned with my co-worker, Carole-Anne.

• Cashmere sweater - Lord & Taylor, thrifted; last worn here in January with houndstooth
• Skirt - Nygard; last seen here in July 2017 with grey satin ruffles
• Shoes - Half Truth Veda; last worn here (2nd outfit) for shopping in December 2017
• Leather coat (below) - A&S Selections, thrifted; purchased for $20.00 here

This cashmere turtleneck is now in my wear-around-the-house wardrobe - it's got a hole in the neck. Dang moths! Vizzini is not doing his job! Oh well. I hate turtlenecks anyway!

I'm always glad to get another wear out of this skirt - it's an old item in my wardrobe. I love that the embroidery and studding detail is carried around the to back of the skirt.

Outerwear - I'd hung this jacket up in the coat closet and promptly forgot all about it. It was perfect for today. I love the racing stripes down the arms.

 Added my mustard gloves to tie in all the gold and yellow.

• Gloves - Parkhurst

Someone was nosing around, wanting to cuddle. He's been very annoyed that we haven't been home much lately.

"Try not to shoot my butt-hole this time, Woman."

 Noted, I managed to avoid that.

But look at that pissed-off face.

"I call this look Yellow Steel."

 He kept trying to bite my necklace.

The stuff:

 So much walking today - my feet are so tired! I need some couch time!

Gold bling:

 The only thing I like about turtlenecks is that they are good for showing off big necklaces.

• Necklace - thrifted - first wear! 
• Earrings - thrifted
• Ring - as above

I walked to town, got groceries, then had half an hour to kill before meeting Carol-Anne for lunch, so I stopped in the Patch to browse around.

 It's a gorgeous aqua leather skirt - vintage, of course.

I liked the fit, love the colour (won't it look great with my new Fluevogs??).

 And only $26.95.

Such a vintage 80s label!

 Yucatan Bay - never heard of it.

Carol-Anne and I went to Mayfair Mall and shopped for hours, wrapping up at Hudson's Bay Co. I had tried on a gown in the Bay last time I went to the mall with Elaine (here), and couldn't stop thinking about it. I couldn't justify spending the then-sale price of $199.99, though. That's too much to spend on a dress you might only wear 5 times in your life.

"There might be moths under there."

 But LOOK at that dress! You see why I wanted it? Spoiler alert - I bought it this time!

Of course, I'm not properly under-garmented or styled, but rather than a hanger, this is fine, right?

 It's a stretch metallic, with a train at the back (a TRAIN), and good ruching around the middle.

All sale prices were on another 25% off...so I bit.

 It was $93.00. I'm sure I'll wear it a few times - and that cost balances out my $8.00 Ralph Lauren dress! It's karma!

I also lusted after a gorgeous bag in Aldo last time with Elaine. Didn't buy it then. "I'm not a bag person," I protested.

 Yeah, right. I'm a sucker for a gorgeous bag!

Especially when it's on sale for $22.98!

They had these in magenta and blue as well as the golden yellow.

And that is my very busy weekend, and now...there's a couch with my name on it! I hope you all had a fun weekend!