Tuesday, July 23, 2019

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

16 comments:

  1. That's awesome you foudn the collection your skirt is from! It looks so good with the neon too, so very you! :)

    I was feeling happy the other day at work when someone shared photos of our 2011 Christmas party, as I still have and wear the dress! But that's just 8 years (and I'm not sure I had it much longer before then, maybe only 2 or 3 years at most, so I think I'll just say it was 8 years old).

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    1. Isn't that the coolest? Oh, that's awesome about your dress! That's some slow fashion! Well done!

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  2. That definitely does look like your skirt fabric! Good detective work. And I really love the way the colour of the blouse goes with the skirt.

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    1. Just call me Nancy Drew, ha ha! Thank you! I liked the combo a lot.

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  3. Meghan said Love the beautiful skirt. Sorry about the blouse yesterday but it seems you have Aladdin's Treasure cave as a resource. Old folks don't like to see you disappointed so sorry about the going overboard about the repair thing. I still say you are wise beyond your years. Wishing you much success.

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    1. Thank you, Meghan! I'm certainly not lacking for clothes to salve my loss! No worries, my dear - disappointment is momentary, and a blouse is just a thing. Thank you so much for your kind words.

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  4. Gosh, I do love that skirt. The crysanths are so lovely and the colours. The jacket on the slide looks very much like the skirt; I agree. What a useful resource that is. Must check it out...

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    1. Is's such a pretty skirt - I knew the minute I saw it all those years ago that I'd have to have it. Vogue's site is amazing! It's a wonderful resource.

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  5. This outfit really does tick all my boxes, but that skirt is an absolute stunner. How amazing that you were able to spot its fabric in those runway slideshows! It's absolutely amazing too that the flowers are woven and not printed. I love how you knotted that blouse, what a great idea, it really makes the look here! xxx

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    1. I'll take a close-up picture next time I wear it, Ann - it's gorgeous fabric. Thank you! I was quite pleased with myself for thinking of it! Thank you, my dear!

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  6. Oh, wow, I had a number of Vivienne Tam pieces in the late 90's, very early 2000's...She was a very big designer in NY at that time. I LOVE her stuff and still have a dress or two hanging around.

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    1. Yes, she was really big then, Chrissy. How cool that you know her! I have seen one or two pieces by her in second-hand stores over the years, but not a lot. Nice! You'll have to check on your dresses to see what season they are from!

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  7. woww, I love your skirt, the colors and motives are Stunning! and it's a woven fabric, not printed, such a luxury!. And it looks fab with the neon shirt and your glass beads, so lovely combo!
    besos

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    1. It's woven, yes! Lovely rich fabric and such pretty colours. Thank you!

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  8. Oh I am just like you ! I too go through old runway shows trying to figure out the year of my garments. How amazing you were able to finally set a date to it and most fabulous is that cpw is getting to a dollar.

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    1. It's fun to do, although - phew - it can take a long time! I love knowing the history of pieces I find! The poor skirt is starting to wear out a bit, but I still love it.

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