Bigass Weekend Wrap-Up: Paint-y and Pigtails; Ulti in a Dress; Abkhazi Tea Floral and Dots

Hello, my friends! I'm back after an absolutely lovely weekend. Let's dive in - I have a lot to share!

Here's Friday's funky outfit. I don't do Casual Fridays...

 I built the outfit around this funky silk paint-y patterned blouse, but it was my pigtails that got the most attention!

This is my entry for "Visible Monday" over at Patti's Not Dead Yet Style. Get your pigtails over there!

• Blouse - Catherine Malandrino, thrifted; purchased here for $16.95
• Trousers - Lady Dutch, thrifted; first worn here in March with all of the olives
• Sandals - Dr. Scholl's, consignment; last seen here in July 2018 with McQueen trousers
• Sleeveless coat (below) - Only, thrifted; last worn here in March

I discovered over the day as I wore this new-to-me blouse that it's actually lined in the same fabric, but it is two identical pieces that are sandwiched, so that the sheer fabric's pattern doesn't fight with itself.

 Note how sheer the sleeves are. What an amazing detail!

The back is lined as well.

 I liked wearing these fun khaki harem pants again - they are not quite green and have a lot of warm grey in them, so they went well with the blouse, which has a lot of grey in the background colour(s).

The blouse has a side-zip and looks odd when tucked in because of that, so I had to pair it with a bottom that would allow it to be worn untucked.

 Drapey pants with pockets? Yes! I slouched around like this most of the day.

Outerwear - it's at this point that Vizzini decided to plunk himself down.

"What? I'm just sitting here."

I love the option of a thick coat without sleeves. Friday was really windy.

"Shouldn't you be cuddling me about now?"

Much cuddling was had. I never mind cuddle-time.

The stuff:

 I'm happy to have another season of these lovely sandals. They are really well-balanced, easy to walk in. The last (the main shape of the foot in a shoe) is actually wooden.

Pink bling:

 I had to do the tassel earrings to go with the pink trim on the blouse.

• Earrings - consignment, Vancouver
• Amethyst/gold ring - Frances Jewelers, c. 1965, Dad's

Tassels led to pigtails. I loved wearing them all day - why not?

"Your earrings look tasty."

Note the little white toes up on my shoulder there - he went straight after my earrings, little devil!

That night, while L and I were playing board games, Vizzini came to sit with me. He crawled under my old moth-eaten cashmere scarf that I'd been using for temperature control.

"I smell chips in that bowl."

He is usually on high alert for spills of chips. The empty bowl is under the pillow because he wants to lick it.

Look at that cuteness!

"Let me sleep, Woman!"

 He stayed there while we hung out. Aw!

Saturday was our first day of Ultimate Frisbee (aka Ulti) for the season - we've been playing for 20 years, starting in 1999! If you don't know what I'm talking about check here (Wikipedia) and see how I look when I play, and pics of some of us playing, here (from 2017).

 I wear a "real" outfit to the field, and change into my playing gear and cleats there. When the game is over, I change back into this. Voila!

• Dress - Nanette Lepore, thrifted; first worn here in March with reds
• Shoes - Chie Mihara; last seen here earlier this month with pink pants
• Coat (below) - Danier Leather, consignment; last worn here in March

Why do the change of clothes? Well, we go for brunch afterwards, plus I often go shopping after that.

 Since Floyd's has closed downtown, we went to the Fernwood Inn, which is only a block from the field.

While we were sitting in the pub, we had a crazy hailstorm! It had been super-windy during our game which made for a very tricky time of it - weather was definitely a factor!

 My team lost, despite a diving catch from me, when I thudded to the ground. I don't usually fall when I play (this 51-year-old would rather run slower and miss a pass), and it knocked the wind out of me. I'm going to have a few bruises in the next couple of days. I'm fine, though. Nothing broken.

And I ran into reader Kathy when I was out shopping after! So glad I looked decent! Nice to see you, Kathy!!

I wear contact lenses so that I can don sunglasses while I'm playing. I got these sunnies a few years ago at the Patch.

Outerwear - I was so glad to have my coat on, as the hail tapered to rain.

I liked the bright orange with the browns of the dress's floral pattern and the brown accoutrements.

Done up and even wearing one of my groovy leather bags.

 This bag is a pain to get in and out of, as you have to tie/untie it each time. It does hold a lot, though.

The stuff:

 Comfy shoes after running around for an hour and a half, and for walking/shopping after.

Brown bling:

 Simple pieces.

• Belt - Fendi, thrifted
• Silver/wood earrings - thrifted, Powell River
• Wood Klimt ring - consignment

I strolled to Luna, a local shop that carries a small bit of consignment clothing and really fun jewelry that's locally-made.

I bought these giant snake earrings for $32.00 - they're by Red Sky (link here, 'cause I love). "You're doing a snake thing lately," remarked L. Observant guy.

From there, I walked to the WIN (Women In Need) Boutique, where I found a couple of things.

 Acid-wash denim vest with studs? Yes, I am on that flashback train!

This is by ChiQle Denim Architect, which the interwebz tells me is a Poshmark brand - hello, my UK friends!

 It was $18.95, which is close to what it would have been new. Eh, whatever. I like it.

I always check the "plus" size section because vintage things are often slotted in there. I'm not sure if this is vintage; I suspect it's not, and is just sized oddly.

 It's one of those coats. I described it to my friend Cat as "one of those artsy deconstructed coats that ladies of a certain age wear."

It's by Joseph Ribkoff, and is a mix of cotton, polyester and metal. I love the black, white, bronze metallic, and the mottled texture, all woven, not printed.

 It has one button, at the neckline here. I like how the neck is shaped.

It's made in Canada - bonus! - and is marked a size 16.

 Oh, wait. I mean, "16!!" It fits more like a size 10. I found a spare button down the side, hiding behind the pocket, so this is new and I discovered that it is a modern piece. It originally retailed for over $300! Not bad for $22.95.

After all that activity on Saturday, L and I took it easy that night, and had a good sleep in today. I took my time getting ready for our annual April/May Birthday Tea with my lovely Winesday Women.

 Dressed for tea, yes I am!

• Jacket - Kenzo Jungle, thrifted; last seen here in August 2018 with more patterns
• Sweater (underneath) - Gap, thrifted; last worn here in August 2018 with polka dots and pajamas
• Silk skirt - Pierre Cardin, vintage 60s, consignment, Vancouver; last seen here with black and white and these same shoes in September
• Shoes - Zoomies Ishshoes, Fluevog; last worn here at the same time as this skirt, here in September

Some of you may recognize this outfit - I wore all of the same pieces together here in July 2017 when I first bought this jacket.

 I love how this pretty floral jacket goes with the polka dots. The jacket is early Kenzo, probably sometime in the 90s - it has a prominent shoulder pad.

It also has a very narrow waist. I can only button the bottom two buttons when I'm standing up! Hmmm, I used to be able to button them all. Better cut back on the chips...

 The skirt is a fragile work of art. So much hand-sewing! I went into ecstasies about it here (scroll down a few pictures), when I bought it in 2015, if you are interested in some detail pictures. It's made in France, and the quality amazing.

Jacket open for sitting and eating!

 We had our afternoon tea at the Teahouse at Abkhazi Gardens, a little hidden-away gem in Fairfield (a neighbourhood near downtown Victoria).

From there, we walked to Fairfield Plaza, had a shop in My Sister's Closet consignment store, and then met up with our men at the Fairfield Pub for a drink.

 That's the perfect day, in my book! I had a lot of great responses to my outfit, including a lady in My Sister's Closet who really, really grooved on it - hello!

The stuff:

 I'm wearing a lot of vintage in this outfit, so I grounded it with these amazing modern shoes. I walked home in these too - they were amazing!

Extra stuff:

 The hat is one of my two custom ones from Tierre Joline - there was no doubt for me that I'd wear a hat to tea!

• Hat - Tierre Joline; last worn here (3rd outfit) in October 2017 for the Vintage Expo
• Purse - BCBG Paris, thrifted

The purse is cut-out leather sewn onto baby blue fabric backing - it is an older piece, with some age on it.

Blue bling:

 All the glittery blue things!

• Necklace/earrings - Sherman, vintage 60s, thrifted
• Brooch - vintage 60s, thrifted
• Silver/sodalite ring - Scotland, 1996
• Fulvia Ring - Wendy Brandes
• Bracelet - Coro, vintage 70s, Mom's

I bought these cute little kitty earrings at the Teahouse Gift Shop (I can't resist a gift shop).

 They were $18.00. I coloured in the nose and chin to make them look more like Vizzini, but will show you that when I wear them - this (above) is how I bought them.

They are by Winnie Tam.

Sorry, Winnie - I needed them to look like MY cat.

I bought a skirt at My Sister's Closet - this lovely pleated maxi.

The colours are navy blue, pink and neon green. 

It reminds me of blossoms. 

It is by BCBC Max Azria. XXS, right - it did not feel small at all. 

 If it fits me, then the sizing is wrong! This was $26.95 and originally retailed for $268.00. Score!

Now, kindly indulge me as I did take a few pictures of us at the Abkhazi Gardens (about them here), and at tea (link to the Teahouse here), both links 'cause I love!

 A link to last year's Tea Shenanigans here. Aw, we all look so amazing! From left: Karen, Yvonne, Caro, Vero, me and Cat.

We all had the Afternoon Tea, which was lovely and delicious!

Our birthday beauties: Karen, Yvonne and Carolyn.

 We let them have the view, which is why...

Our shot is harder to see! It was a gorgeous sunny day.

 Veronique, me and Catherine. Love you guys!

This is the view we were treated to, looking over Fairfield. That's the Pacific Ocean way in the distance, and the far mountains are Washington State's Olympic range.

 Too chilly to be out on the patio today.

But isn't it lovely?

 Every table was full when we first got there at 12:30 pm.

Looking down to the lily pond below.

 The garden follows the natural lay of the land, and has been gently encouraged to grow over the past 50+ years.

It's part of a Gary Oak meadow, and they dot the garden.

Walking down the rough-hewn slate steps to the lower garden.

You get a sense of the immensity of these oaks. 

 That's Yvonne and Karen on the left, taking pictures of the azaleas and rhododendrons.

The little potter's cottage.

 I love the pink and green combination, and the way the light fell from the lattice.

Looking back at the Teahouse.

 What a gorgeous place!

I can't believe I have never been here before!

 It's a veritable oases in the middle of this bustling neighbourhood.

I caught a bee in the middle of this flower.

 Oh, the colours were so gorgeous.

Towering rhododendrons!

 See that little bench in the back?

Here I am!

 We crammed onto this bench and had some strangers take our picture, but the ones from my camera are not the most flattering, so they live on in my archives, and not here on the blog.

And now, I must go give someone the attention he's been yowling for.

"Yes, what about ME?"

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead! Thank you so much for coming by!