All the Buttons, a Major Flashback

I felt pretty good in today's outfit, but when I looked at the pictures I thought, "Holy smokes, I look damn great for 50-going-on-51."

 Full of myself? Probably. Is that a bad thing?

• Dress - Desigual, 2010, London; last worn here for New Year's Eve 2017 (one of my favourite posts - full of anniversary links!)
• Shoes - Lucky Brand, consignment, Powell River; first worn here in July with pink and leopard
• Jacket (below) - Club Monaco, thrifted; last seen yesterday here

This is about as simple as outfits get for me: just a dress and a pair of shoes. This particular dress is me actively searching for the not-yet-worn items in my closet - there are fewer and fewer backwards hangers every week!

 I had a ton of compliments on this dress - it's really an incredible piece in person, with gorgeous, varied fabrics (it has purple lining!) and fabulous attention to details. It was purchased and first worn here in May 2010. I have gradually been transforming it into my own work of art. I've had it for 8 years and I've worn it a bunch.

Enjoy a major retrospective!

• December 31, 2007, for New Year's Eve, as above, here
• June 2017, here with an added underskirt
• March 2017, here with boots, tights and a blouse under it
• September 2016, here with that same blouse and red shoes
• December 2015, here with an orange blouse underneath
• July 2015, here for the International Vancouver 40+ Blogger Meet-Up
• May 2015, here with the same underskirt
• September 2015, here making my "I've got my eye on you" joke, har har (and my orange shoes before they were worn out!)
• June 2014, here with a white shirt and cowboy boots
• July 2013, here with yellow shoes 
• January 2013, here for Megan Mae's birthday being silly with a lampshade
• 3 x March 2012, here for our anniversary trip to Vancouver, worn twice in one weekend, and here (I can't read that post without tearing up - it's when we found out Inigo, our dear kitty, was sick)
• September 2011, here with a long black cardi
• June 2011, here with some spectacular red shoes
• February 2011, here with layers, including a scarf
• And I noted there that I'd worn it four times previously, but my linking wasn't that consistent, and I can't be bothered to search.
• Plus the first time here in May 2010.

Wow, I've worn it 22 times! I'm at $11.78 per wear, and totally worth it.

I've got my eye on you.

 Yes, I say that to someone every time I wear it.

Spoiler alert! It's hot out.

 I need a bigass linen poncho to just cover me. This coat will do.

The stuff:

 Surprisingly comfy shoes - that's real cork, and the rest is leather.

Mostly silver bling:

 I got the silver cuff on the same day in London as I bought the dress. It was time they were reunited.

• Cuff - St. Paul's Cathedral gift shop
• Snakeskin bracelet - thrifted, vintage 1986 (probably mine, refound) - first wearing
• Earrings - thrifted
• Turquoise/silver ring - local
• Shield ring - Nine West

I took some close-up pictures of the dress. I am all about details, and this dress goes to 11. Also, I wore all the buttons today. All of them!

 This is the front panel of the dress, with some of my own pin collection on the left side, and the dress' actual buttons on the right. Look at that gorgeous fabric.

From the top! My top button says "Stay Strange" and that orange thing is a silhouette of Vancouver Island - my city, Victoria, is on the bottom tip of it.

 The bottom button is one of many Fluevog buttons I have. They give them to you free! There is an alternate one that says, "Know You're Weird." The linguist in me loves that.

10 points if you know what the symbol in the "O" is. One of our friends made these for his birthday.

 My Pride button, and Fluevog's "Holiday Button." The Desigual buttons are amazing, aren't they?

"Embrace Peculiarity" and "I'm the Bossy One." None of the Desigual buttons are duplicates.

 I can stare at all the fabrics all day.

"I [heart] Vintage" and more Fluevog, with "LOVE" spelled out vertically.

All the fabric pieces are so beautiful.

The bottom side panel. I like all the embroidery.

 I knew when I first laid eyes on this that I would have to have it - it cost $259 Canadian in 2010. That was very expensive to me (and still is), but now I would not hesitate, whereas then, L had to talk me into it (it didn't take long!).

Everyone sees the eye, but I always have to point out the zebras.

 That band has black beads in the centre of each silver embroidered oval. Amazing.

Shiny squares.

 And orange and pink flowers!

And a parrot? Rooster?

 And another random aqua fabric with swirls. Yes, yes, yes!

My friends, enjoy your weekend - I will be back on Sunday with tales of adventure.

"And cat pictures. My fans need them."

Yes, possibly cat pictures.