Blogger Meet-Up: Ally in Town!

Hello, my friends! I'm back following a wonderfully fun weekend. Look who I got to hang out with for three days! 

 It's Ally of Shybiker! Ah! [Kermit hands] This is my entry for "Visible Monday" over at Patti's Not Dead Yet Style.

Ally and I have met before, at the 2015 International Vancouver 40+ Blogger Meet-Up, which I wrote about here, and clicked really well then. We have known each other through blogging for almost our entire blog careers, nearly 10 years.

Ally came out to Victoria, BC, Canada, to see me and another blog-friend of hers, Dar. It's a bit of an effort to get here: not only is Victoria on the opposite coast to New York, where Ally's from, but it's on a freakin' island. I was understandably excited to be hosting Ally here, and of course, one of my big concerns was, "What will I wear??"

 I took Friday off work (Ally arrived on Thursday night), and semi-planned the full weekend for us to maximize our time together. My outfits were all driven by the weather, which promised to be...RAIN.

• Leather vest - CABi, consignment; last seen here in September 2015 (yes, you read that right!) over lace
• Sweater - Jean-Paul Gaultier, consignment; last worn here (5th outfit) in March with long leather for Winesday
• Jeans - Levi Strauss Commuter, thrifted; last seen here (2nd outfit) in February for my office move
• Boots - Matisse, consignment; last worn here in February with a red dress and 6 pockets
• Leather trenchcoat (below) - vintage 70s, thrifted; last seen here a couple of weeks ago

I didn't want to look too "fashion-y" or be intimidating (although Dar's been reading my blog for a little while). I can be...overwhelming...in person.

 I'm shocked that I haven't worn this leather vest in 3 years! Wow, where does the time go?

As noted, it rained off and on all day, so layers were needed. My sweater is fine, but warm.

 Jeans and easy walking boots for the win!

My best rain coat is my leather trench.

I hate carrying an umbrella, so my hat was definitely needed!

• Hat - Edward Mann, vintage, thrifted
• Scarf - Smoking Lily, 1997, gift from Janet
• Wool gloves - Parkhurst

The stuff:

 I kept this pair of boots out for spring/summer just for days like this.

Simple bling:

 Rarely-worn earrings, but I like the mix of wood, silver and crystal.

• Earrings - Plum
• Amber ring - c. 1996
• Crystal ring - Uffizi Gallery gift shop, Florence, Italy

I got up early and walked to Ally's hotel. It was my first time over the new Johnson Street Bridge.

 Check out the warning sign - you don't see too many like that!

I liked the nice wide walkways. This shelter below is for waiting in when the bridge is up.

 Very thoughtful to have a couple of benches.

Always know where you're going.

 First steps on the bridge.

On the other side, there is still a little remnant of the original train tracks.

 I have walked across that a few times in my day.

Ally and I went for lunch at John's Place, an old Victoria restaurant, then we walked all over town, including up to Beacon Hill Park, where we were captivated (along with a few other tourists) by some peacocks.

 Ally getting a shot of this lovely fellow.

The females (peahens) are a muddy white colour.

 Such a gorgeous display.

We were surprised to see one way up in that tree.

 See him?

Here:

 Peacocks can't fly too far, but apparently they can get up a few branches in trees!

From Beacon Hill, we walked down to Dallas Road. That's Port Angeles, Washington, in the distance.

 We clambered over driftwood and rocks, so that we could stick our hands in the Pacific Ocean.

We were here!

 That's clear proof.

We walked back to town from there, and met up with Dar for lunch at the Tapas Bar (our original choice, Pagliacci's, was closed for renovations). After a lovely lunch and spirited conversation, Dar drove us over to My Sister's Closet for a peek around. I may have bought something...

 It's a thick black knit, covered with "tags" of acid orange and hot pink silk, trimmed in black thread.

It's a wonderful Tangerine Jill piece.

 I can't help but shimmy in it! It was $44.95. Dar and Ally didn't get anything, but I think you should go back and get that gorgeous Danier leather coat, Dar!

From there, we drove over to House of Savoy. Ally found a purple striped shirt and a chartreusey-yellow patterned Ted Baker tie. I dug around on the sale racks and in the half price shoe bins.

 My heart leaped at these

 These were $82.50 on half price, but they are in pristine condition.

The label hasn't even been removed from the sole. I bet they've been worn maybe once.

 I can't find the exact model online, but they are from the "Vog Together" family and of course, they are by Fluevog.

I also found this really interesting blue blazer.

 The odd lapels appealed to me, as did the rounded hem and angled pockets.

KL by Karl Lagerfeld.

 It has some age on it - I'd guess it's from the 90s based on the label, here (my label resource is the Vintage Fashion Guild, a wonderful site for digging up info on thrifted designer items, here).

KL on the buttons too.

 The label has aged - this is wool, cashmere and polyamide.

 Made in West Germany.

 It was marked down to $45.00. I'm excited to wear it.

From our shopping adventures, we all went back to my house, where Dar and Ally got to see the infamous stairs of my stair pose (a trip highlight, for Ally, ha!), my closet and Vizzini.

Ally, L and I went for dinner at our local pub, the Fernwood Inn, and then the three of us hung out at our place, drank scotch and listened to music until I started nodding off and called Ally a cab to go back to her hotel.

Another early morning on Saturday! It was somewhat brighter and less rainy so I risked a lighter outfit.

 This outfit features two new-to-me items: the blouse and the cardigan.

• Cardigan - Kenzo, consignment; purchased here for $26.98
• Blouse - Sanctuary, thrifted; purchased here for $5.95
• Pants - Tara Jarmon, consignment; last seen here in July 2017 with a Hawaiian shirt
• Shoes - Truths Makena, Fluevog; last worn here (4th outfit) in March for brunch
• Sleeveless coat (below) - Only, thrifted; last seen here in March

I wore Ally out on Friday - too much walking! It quickly went from 5 miles to about a hundred miles in her descriptions, lol. Yes, I walk a lot! Anyway, Saturday was the "tourist day" where we did all the best touristy things. Victoria is a tourist town (it's the main industry here), but it helps to know which things the locals recommend. We walked by the Legislature building (aka the Parliament Buildings), where I took a group shot for some tourists on the steps, then onto the Royal BC Museum. I've been going there since I was a kid - my first job was volunteering in the gift shop before it was "Royal".

 Layers and comfy shoes. This long cardigan was wonderful for warmth and coverage during the day.

Longer in front.

 I could also flip the sleeve cuffs down for extra length.

All zipped up.

 From the Museum, we strolled through the Empress Hotel, then wandered over to Johnson Street to poke in a few stores. Finally, we met up with a big group of my and L's friends (the Winesday/MANsday crew) at the Garrick's Head Pub, and people-watched, chatted and generally mingled. My friends were charmed by Ally and she with them. It was a lovely afternoon.

The new-to-me top solo.

 It was too cold to take the cardi off at any point. Stupid weather!

I do like how the underneath part shows through the top layer and creates another level of pattern.

 These polka dot pants are a favourite pair of mine.

For outerwear, I layered my sleeveless coat over the whole shebang.

 And added my studded gloves. Cuffs down on the cardi there.

• Leather gloves - Danier Leather

The stuff:

 These shoes were awesome for a day walking - this is the first time (I think) that I've worn them barefoot.

• Shield ring - Nine West
• Death Star ring - Soul Flower
• Earrings - thrifted

I'm glad that so much was in bloom while Ally was here, despite the rainy and grey weather.

 Plum trees at the Delta Hotel.

And orange and pink and yellow tulips at the Empress.

 They match the Tangerine Jill dress I bought!

Ally and I both took Saturday night off (even good friends can use time off from each other), but met up again on Sunday for brunch with L - of course, we had to go to Floyd's Diner! It's tradition!

 I decided to give Ally a "Day in the Life of Sheila" - and Floyd's is as classic as it gets for me and L.

• Shirt - Dept, consignment; last seen here in January for a mall shop with Elaine
• Skirt - Mackage, thrifted; last worn here (2nd outfit) in October 2017 for a Saturday brunch
• Boots - 1883 Lucchesse, consignment; last seen here (4th outfit)last weekend for shopping
• Leather coat (below) - Danier Leather; last worn here on Thursday

Easy walking stuff again, plus I planned to take us to a couple of thrift stores, so easy off/on things for trying on clothes.

"You can't leave. We haven't had sufficient cuddle time."

 Vizzini was quite cranky about me being gone most of the weekend.

 From brunch, Ally and I did my weekly grocery shop - I'm such a classy host, ha! I don't know, is it interesting to see a Canadian grocery store when you live in the US? I get my groceries delivered, so it was over quickly at least.

Outerwear - the rain held off for the day, fortunately. We browsed in the Patch and the WIN Store, then went for tea and macarons at Fol Epi Bakery, and chatted the afternoon away.

 Rainy gear again.

• Gloves - Parkhurst

The stuff:

 Comfiest boots ever.

Turquoise bling:

 Happy to have these pieces back in rotation.

• Earrings - vintage furniture store
• Ring - local

Ally found a couple of things at WIN and I lucked out on these fun suede and rubber runners.

 The white soles are quite thick.

I love the fun look of them.

 These are by Camper, and are called the Vintar (not available anymore).

They are hugely comfortable.

 There is some discolouration on the soles and a bit on the sides of the white platforms, but not much.

 These were only $34.95 - their runners are around 150 Euros, which is about $225 Canadian. Pretty good!

You might have noticed that I actually didn't take a lot of pictures, and if you've visited Ally's posts about her trip (here and here, so far), neither did she. Both of us really wanted to enjoy our time together and not get wrapped up in recording the entire thing.

 L took our picture while we were waiting in line at Floyd's - I'll treasure this, the memories and our time together, Ally. Thank you for everything, especially for YOU, for coming all the way out here to see me!

Vizzini also sends hugs.

"My love is like this cloth bag that smells like the Woman, that I rake when I want attention."

 He sniffed Ally's hair and let her pet him.

"There may have been some interaction."

 He was his typical self, in other words.

"I rake this bag, I -- wait, must lick my toes."

Here's to weekends with friends, new and old!