Velvet, Leopard and Teal (and Dragons)

Ah, with only Friday left, it feels like the weekend is here at last. I'm ready for it! 

Classin' up the joint in my very ladylike outfit today.

• Velvet blazer - Talbots, thrifted; purchased here for $4.25
• Tee - Banana Republic, consignment; first worn here in September with rust and plaid
• Skirt - Lord & Taylor; last seen here with the matching top here in October 2017
• Shoes - Channi B; last worn here in a matchy copper and teal outfit in March
• Sleeveless coat (below) - Only, thrifted; last seen here a week ago

Before we get into the outfit chitchat, a big "Thank you!" to dear Patti of Not Dead Yet Style for featuring me in her "Vintage Inspiration" post here.


I built this outfit around this new-to-me thrifted silk-blend velvet blazer. I like my clothes to have interesting textures, and when I heard that the cool kids are wearing velvet blazers and suiting is trending, well, you know I'm going to hop on that bandwagon. Thrifting it for only $4.25 also means that I can play with the trend and not spend a lot of money.

 I've had oodles of velvet blazers over the years, but this has to be one of the nicest. It's so soft.

I seem to have accumulated half a dozen brown skirts, but it's been a while since I had a brown blazer. I buttoned it up to show you how it looks (good fit), but I wore it unbuttoned all day, as above.

 I used to have the matching cropped, boxy top to this leopard skirt (and I wore them together), but I let the top go (it was itchy and I didn't love the fit), and kept the skirt.

It's a fuzzy texture, like mohair - it is a wool blend. It's soothing to pat soft textures when the day's stresses start to poke at me, kind of like patting Vizzini only with less biting.

 A pencil skirt that makes your bum look good is always a keeper.

Here's just the tee and skirt. I like teal and brown together, plus it matches my glasses - matchy!

 I always make sure I'm presentable in a jacket-less format, in case of sudden heat fluctuations.

Outerwear - this sleeveless coat is wonderful for layering over blazers, especially velvet ones. Have you ever tried to get a coat on over a velvet jacket? It's a struggle: the velvet clings to everything.

 Cashmere scarf and gloves - not needed after work, even though it was spitting rain.

• Scarf - gift from Mom
• Leather gloves - Danier Leather

The stuff:

 These are one of my "all day" pairs of shoes - there's extra (squishy) platform under the toes, so that's only a 1.5" heel. I'm practically in running shoes!

Dragon bling:

There we are - this dragon necklace and earrings are the oldest things I'm wearing, probably from the 1930s? Edit: Likely from the 1950s, purchased as a souvenir from Siam/Thailand. Thanks to Vix for the info!

• Necklace/bracelet - vintage 1950s. gift from L
• Feather ring - Fossil, thrifted
• Spinner ring - Twang & Pearl
• Mismatched gold hoop earrings - both gifts from L

My friends, I will be back on Sunday with my wrap-up. Thank you - as always - for visiting my little corner of the blogosphere. Have a wonderful weekend!