Teal and Plaid, Plus Retro Surprises from an OG Blogger

Oh, what a busy, busy day! Our office was teeming with visitors, clients and guests, and that means I was slammed. 

 So glad I planned an easy outfit. This stretch silk top got a lot of love - I mean, look at that glorious colour!

• Blouse - White House Black Market, consignment; last seen here (5th outfit) in September 2018 for theatre with Mom
• Trousers - Cartonnier, thrifted; last worn here in September 2018 with teal and rust
• Shoes - Chie Mihara; last seen here (2nd outfit) in my Ulti outfit in April
• Coat (below) - Lord & Taylor, thrifted; last worn here on Friday

There was a big fire downtown yesterday; a junky old hotel/nightclub burned down. The air's been very smoky, so our building shut off the HVAC all day yesterday and early this morning...and today was 25 degrees out!

 They finally kicked it on later in the day, but it was really hot in the morning. Into the wash goes my silk blouse!

This was a comfy outfit.

 I like the navy blue of the trousers with the threads of rust/gold and teal in them.

Not sure I will keep them much longer, though - I kind of feel like they've had their time with me.

I wore them 3 times and paid $15.00 for them, so I'm okay with that. And hey, that means another hanger for something else!

Outerwear - I didn't really need the coat, but I also didn't feel like wearing sunblock.

Blurry L, getting ready to go

The stuff:

 I just love these shoes. Get used to them - I'm going to wear them a lot this summer!

Gold bling:

 I love having some really unique pieces and a plain colour to show them off.

• Necklace - Trifari, vintage 60s, thrifted
• Bracelet - Butler Fifth Avenue Collection, vintage, consignment
• Gold hoops - 5th anniversary gift from L
• Ring - c. 1996

A Retro Surprise! 
All links below are 'cause I love - I got some items free from a friend, with nothing expected in return.

OG blogger Wendy Brandes and I have been friends for ages (close to 10 years) through our blogs - link to hers here. Do you read her? I recommend it. She knows business, US politics, and oodles about fashion and its history, particularly American designers. Plus her own jewelry is drool-worthy - I own a bunch of her rings.

I was enjoying her video (link here - I love Wendy's videos!) about Stephen Burrows (link here to his "about" page), and suggested a few ways she could wear the gold lame (lah-MAY, darlings) toga-style dress that she acquired...and she offered to send it to me as a gift!

WHAT!! It arrived today! So exciting! Look at that! That, my friends, is such a disco dress - can't you see it at Studio 54?

There's the tag. While the label matches up with the Vintage Fashion Guild's 1970s designation (here), that size 6 throws me off.

 Why? Because this dress fits me. If this is from the 70s, then it would be a size 10. A vintage size 6 is more like a modern size 2. I suspect this is from the 80s or 90s...although...the Met in NYC has a jumpsuit by him (size 8) and it's the same fabric, and it's from 1974 - link here. Tricky!

Wendy had expressed confusion about the odd tacking here on the side of the garment.

There's a big gap above it that confused both of us...is it a pocket? A belt pass-through?

...and then I turned the dress inside out!

And removed the safety pin that someone had put there! 

Okay, be kind - I'm totally not wearing the right undergarments, but I wanted to show you the dress on. Whoa, baby!

"I smell cat. New York cat!"

 That black thing is my underwear (sorry, Mom, I'll never be classy). That's one high slit! I see why someone pinned it!

So what if we layered a black leather skirt under it?

 See? That's totally doable. This would look fab with my black leather pants!

Wendy also included a jumpsuit. There's no doubt in my mind that this is from the 70s! Wendy included a note that this was from Shrimpton Couture (link here - 'tis a dangerous site, very tempting!)

 Very 70s colours. I think we have some puce, orange, purple and pink in there, along with white and lavender.

 Very "oriental"-inspired.

Someone cut the belt-loops off. Look at that double-knit polyester! Yeah, baby!

It probably had a belt in the same fabric. I cut those loops off too - no one tells me where my waist is! - so no judgment on whoever owned it before.

I found a remnant of the original label that had been cut off.

 It clearly says "Second Round" right? Ah, Suzanne Carrillo has a dress by this brand in her shop (here). How cool!

Here it is on:

"Bring back the cat dress."

 This is with the zipper in the back (the label here is then on the front).

This is with the zipper in the front (label in the back) - this fits better - and Mom's 70s vintage belt on.

"Tell that other cat lady I approve."

I may have to wear this soon!

Wendy, from one OG blogger to another, you rock. Thank you so much for these wonderful items. I will treasure them and wear them! Ah, how awesome is our little blogging world?