I May Have Gone Shopping...Plus, Some Outfits and Cat Pictures

Hello, my friends! It's been a lovely weekend with no obligations, and so I did what I often do on those weekends: a wee bit of shopping. 

But before we get to the fun things I found, here's Friday's outfit. April weather - and heading into May - tends to be very changeable and erratic. One day could be like summer, the next, break out your sweaters. 

 Friday was a warm day, so out came the billowy silks.

This is my entry for "Visible Monday" over at Patti's Not Dead Yet Style. Despite my drift towards neutrals lately, I'll always love lots of colour!

• Burnout velvet silk duster - Emporio Armani, thrifted; last seen here (5th outfit) in August 2017 over a whale of a top
• Sleeveless top - Jacob, thrifted; last worn here (5th outfit) in February for the first day at the new office
• Silk pants - Pinkerton, consignment; purchased here for $22.98
• Shoes - Wonders; last seen here in August 2017 with a silk kimono dress

I felt awesome in this outfit all day - the pants were ultra-swooshy and the long duster billowed majestically behind me like Darth Vader's cape.

 Yes, I totally hummed the "Imperial Death March" theme all day.

First wearing of these new-to-me pants, purchased way back in November 2017 and saved until appropriate weather. They were the perfect length - no risk of Danger Pants in these!

 The duster is such a treasure. I blew out the colour a bit so that you can see that a) it's navy blue and b) that it has black velvet squares. It's a spectacular piece.

I went out for lunch with a colleague, and strode down the street like the Queen of Flowy Clothing.

 I have a vague inkling that long, flowy clothes are trendy? Anyone? Not that I care, but I'm embracing this look right now. You've been warned!

The stuff:

 Such awesome shoes - I was so happy to see these back in my closet. Despite the solid wood last, these are super-comfy. I walked to and from lunch, to the bus, to my hair appointment (my hair is starting to look very mane-like), to the bus again and then home - no issues at all.

Simple bling:

 I kind of had a lot going on anyways, so didn't need a huge amount of bling.

• Earrings - local
• Lapis lazuli/silver ring and Fulvia Ring - Wendy Brandes

L and I went for dinner with our hairdresser, Sofia, and her husband Shane (we both had appointments with Sofia), then bused home and hung out with Mr. Vizzini and played boardgames.

"Care to join me in a lounge on the cuddle-benches?"

 He was happy to see us.

"Tummy rubs for all!"

 We didn't have enough players for Ultimate Frisbee this Saturday, so L and I went for breakfast at Floyd's bright and early. Although I said "bright", there was nothing bright about the day. How about big buckets of rain? Sure!

 Just because I'm out in the rain, doesn't mean I have to look like a fisherman.

• Leather jacket - Burberry, consignment; last worn here (2nd outfit) in early April for a baby shower
• Sleeveless sweater - Eileen Fisher, thrifted; last seen here in April with green and orange jungle
• Skirt - Tribal, consignment; last worn here in July 2017 with cranes and disco Dutch shoes
• Shoes - Matisse; last seen here (2nd outfit) in February with my dragonscale skirt

As I'd planned to shop after eating, I wore easy pieces with maximum impact. Shopping is an endurance sport, and you have to be prepared.

 I got a lot of love for this awesome leather jacket, and yes, I wore it in the pouring rain (the water beaded off the soft patent finish).

It was also nice and warm on a slightly chilly day of walking all over downtown.

The shoes got a lot of comments too - and yeah, I also wore them in the rain. They're leather, they're fine.

Fully geared up for the weather. The hat is my only real concession to the rain. My hair looked hilarious when I took it off - hat head! - but I didn't have to deal with an umbrella in all the stores.

 The scarf and gloves were small enough to fit in my purse when I was indoors.

• Scarf - faux Louis (Lewis) Vuitton, thrifted
• Leather studded gloves - Danier Leather
• Hat - Dex, Saanich Fair, many years ago

The stuff:

 These shoes stood up to nearly 5 hours of being on my feet - way to go, shoes! No blisters, no rubbing (but my feet were tired).

Simple bling:

 I wear minimal jewelry when I shop so that my stuff doesn't snag on the clothes.

• Earrings - thrifted

I started at the WIN Warehouse store, where I scooped a couple of things that were on the extra 50% off sale.

First up, this white linen swing coat. I think this is going to be wonderful in the hot weather.

 Very wrinkled there, but I have a steamer, so take that!

It's by Club Monaco, and I didn't find any spots on it. I'll hit 'em with Folex when I spill things on this (which is inevitable).

 It was only $13.50. I remember this swing-coat style being very big when I started blogging back in 2008, so let's call it from then, shall we? A comparable linen-blend blazer at Club Monaco now sells for $288.00. Mine is 100% linen, with cotton lining.

It's beautifully made too. Bear with me while I drool over the nice details, like the covered button placket down the front.

 Wonderful finishing.

The front pockets are two-way accessible.

 In through the top under the flap, or through the slit in the side. Awesome! While swing coats are not usually something I wear, I like the cut of this one, and it looked good on.

Did I mention I'm having a long, flowy moment? Here's a burgundy velvet long, flowy blazer.

 I think blazers are a thing now too, I've heard.  When have they ever not been a trend?

I'm going to sneak one wear in of this Vero Moda piece into my spring wardrobe and then pack it away for autumn.

 Upon investigating the tags down the side of this, I found "production year 2017" on it. And it was half price, so $10.00. Sweet! It's actually still up on their website, original price 55 Euros, or about $85.00 CAD.

From WIN, I walked down to Flavour Upstairs. It was hoppin' busy - tourist season has started! - and I only found one thing, but it's a doozy.

 It's a sweater underneath all that embellishment, a pale pink wool one.

The black leafy bits are hand-embroidered.

 The shiny bits are all hand-beaded.

Look at the detail.

 Wow.

The sweater is HEAVY, at least 4 pounds. I tried to balance the sweater and Vizzini to judge it, but he didn't enjoy that. He does weigh more than the sweater, though.

 Yes, it was $19.99. It's from their 2013 collection and sold for $1,458.50 Canadian. Here's proof (link to their site). Holy smokes. That's a really good score!

The back is just as lavishly decorated.

 Wow. I'm just boggled by it. I don't think it's ever been worn.

It's J. Crew Collection, and it came with this stuff in a bag with it.

 I've kept every little bag of buttons and beads from every top that I've bought over the years. Have I ever replaced any of them? No.

The large card gives more detail on the beading and detail on the sweater.

 Can you believe it took more than 3 days to bead it? I did get a chuckle out of the "have-forever favorite" comment - hee hee.

From Flavour, I still had a couple of hours before I had to get home for dinner, so I wandered down Government Street to Duchess & Duke, a consignment/vintage shop that I don't visit very often. "Just a few minutes, a quick peek, not going through every item," I told myself.

Well, I didn't go through every item, but a few things leapt out at me, and I had to take them! Look at this fuzzy sweater! You would buy it too!

 Okay, maybe not, but it's a top that feels like it is made of the softest, best quality teddy bears in the world.

It's fully lined in a polyester satin (the whole thing is washable), and it's by...

 H&M! Shocker! By the way, note how my fingers are digging into the plush fabric. So soft!

It was only $15.00 - I had to have it, right?

 I'm actually really excited to belt it and play with it that way.

My eye is always caught by the unusual, so I had to pull this blazer out.

 I am attracted to the odd as well.

It's a new blazer that's been remade out of two other blazers (one grey pinstripe, one fine plaid) and a wool sweater.

 Yes, okay, I will buy this.

The brand is Handcut by Preloved, a Canadian company dedicated to making new garments out of vintage, reclaimed and fabric overruns. I love it! Here's their story (link).

 I paid $25.00 - it was probably over $100 new.

So, did I tell you how I'm totally into long, flowy things? Here's another one - this time, it's a cardigan!

 I fell HARD for this beauty. That colour! I think it could actually be worn as a dress, if you buttoned it up, as well as open in full Darth Vader mode.

It's by Ports International, it's made in Hong Kong, and it's 100% pure wool. I checked it carefully for moth holes, because I think this has some age on it.

 Ports started manufacturing in China in 2007, so this piece is before then. I suspect it's from the last era when really long coats, dusters and cardigans were super-trendy, which is in the late 90s. I'm certain it would have been more than the $28.00 I paid.

Of course, by the time I finished at Duchess & Duke, I was only a few blocks from Verve, a high-end consignment store (danger! I can't go to consignment stores too often, or I spend too much money).

 I was very restrained and stuck to the sale rack, although I did try a few things on that appealed to me. I often seem to find a balance of price and "must have", which is lucky for my budget. So, yes, I got this lovely pink high-low hem velvet tee.

I don't know this brand: Maccs the Label, but they are from Vancouver (linking here, 'cause I love - as all my links always are!).

 This was new with tags on - it sold for $62.00.

Designed in Vancouver, nice.

 I paid $22.00.

This piece of craziness also came home with me. In addition to long and flowy, I'm also having a weird, asymmetrical, lopsided craving. I'm not sure what that's all about, but I'm just going to see where it takes me.

 This is a cotton striped shirt with unfinished edges and odd things going on, like those upper arm windows. My ink will enjoy being able to look at the world, thank you.

The bottom is totally uneven, see?

 That side is short. The other side is long.

Another new-with-tags piece. It's 100% made in Italy, which is always classy.

 Looks like it's sold at Anthropologie. It was on sale for only $14.00. And that "all" I bought... on Saturday. Heh.

Because after a wonderful evening of hanging out with L and Vizzini, playing more boardgames, I got up, walked to town to get groceries, and then walked over to My Sister's Closet to fully investigate their 50% off sale. I was there with Dar and Ally a couple of weeks ago, but that was just a taste!

 It wasn't as warm out as I'd hoped, but at least it wasn't raining. It was windy, though, as you can tell by the tentacle styling of my hair.

• Cardigan - Reitmans, thrifted; last seen here in June 2017 over a vintage strapless dress
• Cami - Esprit, not tracked, at least 10 years old
• Skirt - LA Hearts, thrifted; first worn here in March with dark wine velvet
• Shoes - Fly London, consignment; purchased here for $69.98

Again, easy clothes for shopping, easy shoes for walking.

 The sun peeked out a few times, but it was mainly overcast.

My skirt swirled about in a most pleasant way.

 I felt very springy in this whole outfit.

The stuff:

 I did a lot of walking for the inaugural wear of these shoes - they were excellent, although it took me while to get the Velcro ankle strap just right.

Simple bling:

 Just a cuff, just some studs.

• Leather/steel cuff - Rimanchik
• Studs - don't remember

I picked a sprig of white lilac on the way home.

 It's so pretty - I love the smell of lilacs.

Okay, I did well, and everything I bought was half price (except for one), so I don't feel like I went overboard. I did have to do a cull in my closet when I got home - I'm reminded when I buy these new things that I don't pay much, so I can't feel bad or guilty when I need to let them go. I have to get rid of clothes that don't resonate with me in order to have new clothes come in. Things that I loved a season (or two, or three) ago...I don't love now. Gotta make room!

Anyway. I found these fabulous leather studded sneakers.

 So adorable, right?

They will be a nice addition to my weekend wardrobe.

 The studs add just the right amount of badass.

They're by BCBGeneration.

They were $13.50. Awesome.

Vizzini was hanging around while I took pictures of everything this afternoon.

"Those laces look tasty."

 I had to shoo him away a few times.

 I actually tried this skirt on when I was with Ally and Dar, but put it back. This time it was on sale!

 I love the weird pattern (yes, let's add polka dots). Other than that, it's a classic pencil skirt.

It's by Baraschi, which is sold at Anthropologie. I'm beginning to be glad that there is no Anthro in Victoria...

 It originally sold for $132, which makes my $10.00 look very good.

Vizzini had his "unhappy ears" on.

"You should stop this and come and cuddle with me."

 I agree, this is a very long post. Let's get on with it!

The only full-price item I bought were these bright red silk pants.

 They are 100% silk, and are cropped.

They're by J. Crew, and were $29.98, a bit of a savings from the $268.00 they originally sold for.

 They are from Summer 2012. They're so 6 years ago!

I'm always on the lookout for cute nice(r) camis to layer under outfits.

 Shiny silver velvet? Okay!

It's by American Eagle Outfitters, a brand I have never, ever bought before.

 Ugh, just seeing it's made in Vietnam hurts. I'm glad I gave my $6.50 to a local business instead.

H&M continues to surprise me with another great-fitting interesting top.

"As soon as you look away, that ribbon is mine."

 I put it away quickly, out of the reach of slobbery kitties.

It's cotton with a touch of spandex, and fits me perfectly.

 I'll probably remove the ribbon - I have my own belts, thank you.

And last, but not least, I found a new wool sweater to replace one that's getting worn out.

 I like the short length, the ink-covering sleeves, and the high neckline (good for necklaces).

It's by Judith & Charles and was $10.50.

 I spent about half an hour making outfits out of all of my new purchases - I need to wear it all right away! - and created 11 looks that I'll be rolling out over the next 2+ weeks.

Vizzini gave up pestering me after I finally fed him.

"It's about time."

I hope you all had a great weekend - wish you a good week ahead!