Neon and Chrysanthemums from 2000

Back to brights today! I had to actually adjust the colour on the stair picture so that you don't sear your retinas from this new-to-me neon blouse.

 You're welcome! I consider it a public service, hee hee.

• Blouse - Rock & Republic, thrifted; purchased here for $14.95
• Skirt - Vivienne Tam, consignment; last worn here in June 2018 with black and yellow
• Shoes - Miista; last seen here in April with flower gems and a pirate sash

The blouse is oversized on me (it's marked a size 12) and is hugely long, so I knotted it, rather than trying to tuck it into the very high waist of the skirt.

 It's also super-sheer, so I wore a yellow camisole underneath. I sweated in it (polyester), so it's in the wash now.

The skirt has been in my wardrobe a very long time, since April 2010 (here) - nine years!

The back is a zipper, top to bottom, so you can adjust the slit from the hem to make it easier for walking. The skirt is getting a little bit worn - the weave is starting to pill a bit - but it's so glorious it's not going anywhere.

I checked my Fashion Institute of Technology book to see if Vivienne Tam was covered - she is not - but they do have a picture of one of her suits from 1995:

Her specialty is these amazing woven fabrics - that is NOT a print! I'm not sure that I'd wear a Chairman Mao suit, but it's pretty cool, isn't it?

The chrysanthemums are woven into the pink satin, in shades of purple, yellow, pale pink and lavender.

 I usually wear those colours with it. I paid $30 for it back in 2010 - the cheapest skirt on her site is $115 (on sale). I think I have definitely gotten my money's worth. I don't feel like backtracking and counting, but I'm sure my cost-per-wear is getting down to close to a dollar.

And, how exciting: I think I might have found out how old it is! Since I finally figured out that Vogue online has runway slideshows going back to the late 90s, I've been combing them looking for my "designer" pieces.

Tell me that this doesn't look like this same fabric in this jacket in the background, from her Fall 2000 Ready-to-Wear collection!

The pencil skirt in the front has the same seaming at the waist as my skirt.

Here's the slide of the jacket, showing another garment behind it with more chrysanthemum fabric. Those are all the same colours woven into it. The lighting/resolution is poor (hello, 2000) so it sort of looks red (and may well be), but it's awfully close.

That look in the background is not represented in the slides, but I'm sure that my skirt must be from this collection! How very cool! My skirt is nearly 20 years old.

The stuff:

You've no doubt noticed that I'm leaning much more to flats than heels lately. Heels take so much effort!

Glass bling:

I've had this glass bead necklace for about 11 years. I like the mix of colours in it. I changed the "knot" to a slip-knot to make it less bulky.

• Necklace - Oscar & Libby's
• Earrings - can't remember, c. 1997?
• Amethyst/gold ring - Frances Jewelers, c. 1965, Dad's
• Crystal ring - Uffizi Gallery gift shop, Florence, Italy