Bigass Weekend Wrap-Up: VFF Plaid Gala, Thrift Coaching

Although I'm willing myself to be well, I am still sick - but I'm faking it till I make it! I sucked it up, and got ready to make a splash at the Victoria Film Festival's opening night Gala. 

We and our group of friend have attended the opening Gala for a few years now, starting with the 2014 Gala's swingin' 60s here, the 2016 Dream theme one here and last year's floral-themed Gala (here). We missed the 2015 one due to a family issue, I think. 

The opening movie was The Waterboys (wiki link here) a lovely film directed by Robert Jan Westdijk, making its Canadian debut. As the movie is set in Scotland, the theme this year was "Swinging Kilts." You know I had to get my plaid on! 

*all links 'cause I love - as always!

 I left my outfit to the last minute, spending an hour on Thursday night putting it together for a "test-drive". A test-drive is when I try everything on and make sure it all looks like I imagine in my head. It saves a lot of time!

• Dress - Naughty; last worn here in December 2017 for Christmas shopping
• Stomacher- Heart's Content; last worn here for Hallowe'en 2014 (I'm Lydia from Beetlejuice)
• Vintage slip - Suzette Lingerie, vintage, thrifted; last labeled/identified (but not worn) here in January 2014
• Shoes - Queen of Prussia Louise, Fluevog; last worn here that same December 2017 weekend as above, for theatre with Mom
• Suede jacket (below) - Danier Leather, vintage 80s, consignment; purchased and first worn here way back in January 2012

I'm linking up to Patti's "Visible Monday" over at Not Dead Yet Style! This 50 year-old woman is VISIBLE.

 All of our group of eleven friends shopped our closets for our "costumes" - I love that we are all so creative and have big enough closets to do that!

This flannel dress is one of my all-time favourites. This dress is going nowhere!

 I raided one of my tickle trunks (explanation here) for a bunch of stuff that is in the process of becoming homegrown vintage: my own private archive of things that I don't wear every day but want to keep.

I pinned up the side slit of the dress even higher, and hooked the ruffled vintage red slip's hem up with a giant safety pin.

 The velvet stomacher was purchased for the Steampunk Convention (link here, pic of my full outfit here - the blouse and skirt are still in the same tickle trunk), and I mostly wear it for Hallowe'en costumes.

It zips up at the back, and then you can adjust the laces in front - it's easy to get off and on. I also love the sleek line of my midsection in it, although my black gloves hide my profile a bit.

 We also planned L's outfit on Thursday night. Both of us rushed home to get ready - I even had time for a 15-minute cat-nap with a cat on my chest.

Outerwear - I knew this beautiful Danier suede jacket would be perfect over the dress and also function as good outerwear. A special detail is the black cording trim and the frog closures down the front.

 The stomacher, jacket and the long velvet opera gloves are not everyday items, but they make the outfit.

The jacket looks best done up, and the big shoulder pads - hello 80s! - are not quite my current aesthetic.

 But it's unusual and is amazing quality (made in Canada), so back into the tickle trunk it goes.

L and I - what a fine couple we are!

 L's suit was purchased in Florence, Italy, his pinstriped vest and shirt are both Le Chateau, and his shoes are Fluevog (just bought last weekend). I thrifted the tie for him a few years ago for $1-2 - it's got skulls on it!

The stuff:

 L and I bused to town for a slice of pizza for dinner, but I walked from the Brickyard to the Conference Centre, where the movie was shown. From there we walked to the Bay Centre mall, where I cavorted for 3+ hours, followed by a walk to Smith's Pub afterwards, then a hobble to the taxi stand and home sometime in the wee hours. These shoes were awesome - they are my highest heels that I can actually wear comfortably for 3-4 hours. Since I wore them for around 6 hours, my feet were pretty sore on Saturday.

Glamourous bling:

 My wonderful little fascinator and acrylic ball earrings both bring very fond memories of the 2015 Blogger Meet-Up, where I purchased them during our outing to Granville Island. Check out Ally's post here - we first met in person there, and she's coming all the way to Victoria to visit me!

• Fascinator - Funk Shui, Vancouver
• Earrings - Tania Gleave, Vancouver
• Gloves - 1999, Fairweather

I was so happy to re-discover these gloves - I have satin ones that are as long, but I love that a) these are soft velvet and b) they go all the way up to my armpits! They kept me quite warm all evening, and also kept me from being tempted by the food! I bought these when I worked at Fairweather women's clothing store in 1999-2000 for around $20.00.

It was a really blustery evening - sadly, I discovered that one of the red feathers from my chapeau had flown:

Right outside in the hallway. Aw! It almost made it home.

Here are a few pictures that I took during the Gala - all blurriness is entirely on me, from having a grand time! There should be a photobooth gallery up in the next day or so, and I'll post some pics from there when they appear.

Ross, Cat and L, lookin' fine!

 Ross is wearing a plaid hat, a Nazereth tour shirt (a Scottish metal band), and plaid pants, along with a Scotland football/soccer match scarf (thrifted!).

Cat is wearing a thrifted plaid wool skirt that she pinned up on the side - her AMAZING 18-hole lace-up vintage Fluevogs are rocking my world.

And of course, L looks like the rock star that he is!

Me and Cat.

 Our crew is always the best-dressed group, and we had many of the photographers taking pictures of us all night. Mom, watch for us in the Victoria News! The paparazzi were in full force!

Meeting up in the theatre with Randall and Yvonne - Karen in the back in her tam and steampunk-Scots look.

 Elaine is wearing a fascinator of mine that I passed along a few years ago. Great military-looking denim jacket.

I love my fab friends so much.

 Yvonne (on the left) is wearing a velvet corset-y top and plaid miniskirt (both of those are swaps from me).

We started the festivities with a bagpiper!

 Of course, he played "Scotland the Brave"! Bagpipes are loud.

We were also treated to Highland dancers.

 The crowd roared! Kilts swirled!

The movie was excellent - very fun and sweet, and well-acted. A great opening night choice!

I had my picture taken (thanks, Elaine!) with one of the stars of the evening, Nessie.

 What a fun accent to an otherwise boring 90s mall!

The Festival organizers did a great job of decorating.

 Those were some goofy-looking sheep.

Randall, Cat, Yvonne and Karen.

 Randall is classic in his sleek black suit and red tie.

My babes.

 Cat, Yvonne and Karen! You are so beautiful!

Oh, don't forget that crazy chick on the end.

 Hugs to you, my lovelies.

Vero and L:

 Damn, I have some gorgeous friends.

Elaine and Cat:

 Love that skull scarf.

I wish I had a better pic of Linda - she made her dress, hat and matching clutch!

 Her Fluevogs are gorgeous.

Yvonne with the director of The Waterboys, Robert Jan Westdijk.

 We tried to entice Robert to come to Smith's with us, but alas, he had Festival duties.

We were up bright and early on Saturday, to walk to town for breakfast at Floyd's.

 This coat is a piece of art. I'll never give it up. I have a peacock on my chest!

• Dress (below) - Joe Fresh, thrifted; last worn here (3rd outfit) in October 2017 for a casual weekend
• Coat - Desigual; last seen here in November 2016 over this same dress
• Boots - 1883 Lucchesse, consignment; last worn here in December 2017 with the above flannel dress

I only had the coat off when I was at the diner, but this is what I looked like under there.

 I had plans to meet up with my colleague Shawn for a thrifting shop at two of my favourite downtown thrift stores, the WIN store on Pandora and Flavour Upstairs. Check out my page on Victoria second-hand stores here.

Shawn's thrifted before but didn't know what Victoria had to offer, so we hit the stores, looking for some good quality pieces she could mix into her existing wardrobe. Our styles are both eclectic, which made it easy to shop for her. 

 I didn't try on anything myself (I'd scouted/shopped at both of these stores recently), but I was dressed for it! I did try a few pairs of shoes on.

I had many compliments on the coat all day, from, "You look charming, miss," to "Your colours are just smashing." So nice!

 I was doped up on cold medication, and this felt like snuggly Art Amour.

I love the back of this coat too.

 The top panel is fuzzy boucle.

With the accoutrements.

 I could stuff all these pieces in my purse while I shopped so that I didn't overheat.

• Beret - consignment
• Gloves - Parkhurst
• Fur scarf - Danier, thrifted

The stuff:

 My feet were very happy in my cowboy boots. I didn't break these in, as they are pre-owned, but it sure feels like I did. I can wear these barefoot, they are so comfy.

• Earrings - Tania Gleave, Vancouver

I wore the earrings because they were still sitting out from the night before.

Shawn and I did a marathon 4-hour shop! Shawn found some gorgeous vintage wool pencil skirts, a funky pair of harem pants, a fringed burnout velvet kimono, an Antwerp Essentials dress and two Elizabeth & James pieces, plus more that I've forgotten, for well under her budget. A very successful shop!

I spotted a couple of accessories at Flavour Upstairs.

 I am in total love with this belt. "Mine," I said and grabbed it.

It's heavy, because it's backed entirely in metal mesh.

 The front is woven jute, with heavy brass decorations sewn on.

There's a stamp - yay!

 Sand Castle USA. I couldn't find anything online about them, but from the images found, this company specialized in these metal mesh and leather belts. This is a heavy, beautiful piece, and just oozes quality. It was $14.95.

I like the simple, yet detailed design of these filigree ball earrings.

 They were $8.00.

I don't find very many rings when I shop - I have really skinny fingers, but this one fit my middle finger just right.

This was one of a set of three rings, originally retailing for $95.00. I paid $4.00 - take that, Coach! I couldn't care less about Coach as a brand, but it reminded me that my shopping experiences in the past few years have been very satisfying to me - I often feel like a coach to the fashionably inclined people in my life. I also coach my WW members, which is a hugely fulfilling thing. The circular shape reminds me that "you get what you give" in this life. This ring fits me so well, that it's joining my other everyday rings on my right hand.

This little fellow reminds me to slow down and chill.

"You should nap with me."

Sleep while you can, bud. Right now, our house is about to be inundated with Super Bowl party attendees.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!