Monday, July 22, 2019

Neutrals, and the Last Lang

No need to adjust your monitor! Yes, it's still me - I do wear neutrals from time to time. 
Being a Monday, I decided to go loose and flowy and wear my new-to-me greeny-browny-taupe-y skirt.


  • Top - Helmut Lang, vintage fair; last worn here in February with more draping
  • Skirt - Holt Renfrew Collection, vintage 90s, thrifted; purchased here for $22.99
  • Shoes - Seychelles, thrifted; last seen here early this month with purple velvet


 The colours in the stair picture are the most accurate - the top and bottom look nearly the same colour here.
 I love the drape and swoosh of this beautiful silk skirt.

I swooshed about in the office.
It was quite lovely to wear and was the perfect length for NOT rolling into my office chair's wheels.

Drape and tucks and folds in a garment appeal to me. Isn't this a cool blouse?
It makes me feel like a Greek goddess.

For cover-up, I draped this silk pashmina around myself.
 The colours were perfect!


  • Pashmina - gift from Mom


The stuff:
 I had considered a higher heel, but I'm glad I went with these flats. So comfy!

Green bling:
I had to inject some colour somehow! I liked how all the greens worked with the neutral colours.

From top:

  • Bracelet - vintage 60s, Mom's
  • Bangle - thrifted
  • Green stretchy bracelet - thrifted - first wear
  • Long necklace with green glass beads - vintage 60s, Mom's
  • Pendant necklace - Tiam Family, thrifted
  • Earrings - Stella & Dot, consignment, Vancouver
  • Aventurine/silver ring - consignment
  • Jade/brass ring - vintage 70s, Mom's


One of the doors in the office snagged my billowing top as I zoomed in and out, sadly ripping my beautiful top!
It actually snagged a couple of times - I was only aware of the big rip until I started looking more closely.

I found another rip in the silk near the edge seam, and a bunch of small rips. These are totally not fixable.
Danged door! This is unfortunately the last time for this Helmut Lang top. Aw...Let's all take a moment to mourn. I bought it in 2017 at a vintage fair for $30 and wore it four times, which is not nearly enough!

I am a fan of Helmut Lang's clothing and have had a few pieces come in and out of my wardrobe over the years. He's featured in my book of the Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology:
My blouse is likely from the 90s, as are/were all of my other Helmut Lang pieces - all of them were made in the USA.




I went to find Vizzini to cheer me up.
"What do you want, Woman? I'm busy napping!"

I need some purr-therapy, buddy! I just lost a blouse that I really liked.
"You could turn it into a bed for me - it would be nice and soft."

Actually, that could work, although Vizzini tends to eat things that are frayed. Better not!

26 comments:

  1. Oh, no! Is there any chance some visible mending could be acceptable to you? Such a gorgeous outfit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, I thought of that, and it would be very visible on this sheer, delicate silk.

      Delete
  2. How distressing--your beautiful blouse! However, before you totally give up on it, I encourage you to seek the help of a seamstress or tailor. Because of all the draping in the top, the rips might be more fixable than you think now. Just a thought---the top is definitely worth trying to save!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will not be doing that - I buy my clothes second-hand, and I rarely (RARELY) will go to the expense of alterations. The silk is shredded and not fixable - it's very thin. Thank you for the encouragement, though!

      Delete
  3. Meghan said why not use a Japanese vibe and get gold embroidery thread and do a very close top to bottom stitch aka embroidery stitch and put veins of gold to close the rip. Close the opening as a surgeon would. Magnolia P does this all the time and the gold veins would enhance the piece. Just a thought. I would. The goddess look becomes you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for the idea, Meghan! That is really not my style at all. I will pass the top along and see if someone else wants a go at it.

      Delete
  4. Meghan said With the repair your beautiful garment is more beautiful and you may now say the repair is part of "the history of the piece". If you found this garment in an Egyptian pyramid you would be so excited to discover it and never dream of discarding it. Preserve beauty and live well and prosper. Love your work to save our world.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. While I love the idea of finding this in an Egyptian pyramid, Meghan, silk is very fragile and this piece is already over 20 years old. I do not like visible repairs, so won't be attempting this. Thank you!

      Delete
  5. Oh no - the darned door! Can't you try some boro (visible) mending and use a silk scarf or something equally fabulous, making the repair a feature?
    Such a klassy look especially with the green jewels and luxurious pashmina.
    How snug does your boy look? Very! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. While I COULD do that, Vix, I'm really not going to. That is not my thing, and I don't like the idea of a bigass patch on it. Thank you!

      He loves his little house, hee hee.

      Delete
  6. Oh, what a shame about the blouse. It was so drapey and went with the swooshy skirt so well. At least you got four wears out of it. Loved the outfit and the fantastic bling. Love that Pashmina; your mum has such great taste.
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I'm glad I got to give it a good home for a little while. I've ruined/ripped/stained so many garments at my job - it's a physical one, and clothes get damaged, unfortunately.

      Thanks, Vronni!

      Delete
  7. And here I was thinking my phone was on the blink (I was reading your post on the bus), but no, it's Sheila wearing neutrals. All that drapery does make you look like a Greek godess indeed. And how about that gorgeous silk pashmina? I'm swooning! I'm loving all your green and - dare I say it, I know I'm slightly colourblind - turquoise bling. But oh no, so sorry to hear your blouse got ripped ... xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha! No, do not adjust the colour, Ann! I'd totally forgotten about the pashmina (shame on me!). Some of the green does venture into the aqua range - your eyes do not fully deceive you. Eh, it's okay - it's just a thing (although a thing that I liked!).

      Delete
  8. Okay, so are you so accurate that you hold count for everytime you wear a item? They must be very happy with you at the office but.... The thought accured to me, how is it that you work at a office? I mean, one can picture you having a creative free career in whatever creative envirement.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I use the "last seen here" links to count back and see how many times I've worn something, Nancy - I am happy that I thought to do this very early on in my blogging career.

      They love me here - I keep it all running smoothly. I work in an office so that I work regular business hours (I used to work in retail). I have a fairly low-stress job, I get to wear whatever I want, I can walk to and from work, and I get paid well. Creative jobs don't always have those things. I get my creative urges out through my clothes and through helping other people feel better in what they wear. I like my life.

      Delete
  9. As an art teacher, I rarely bought/wore anything for school over $25 whether fast fashion or vintage. I must admit, I rarely wore special vintage pieces to school unless I knew I would not be dealing with paint, clay, glue, Sharpies, or Kindergarteners. Usually In Service days only. But I could not wear T-shirts and jeans either. I felt it was important for my students to see me in "professional" clothing. Carol in VT

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can certainly see that in a job where you might get something ruined daily, that you would not want to wear anything too "special", Carol. Some days it feels like I work with a bunch of kindergartners, that's for sure! However, as the front desk/office manager, I'm expected to be dressed nicely, and I don't like saving my good stuff - I mean, where else am I going to wear it? The result is that every so often, something gets wrecked. It happens.

      Delete
  10. Oh no, your poor top! I hope you're able to find something you love as much to replace it. But better to have enjoyed wearing it than let it linger unseen at the back of the wardrobe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are plenty of tops in the world - and I'll always have the pictures! Things get ruined, it happens. At least it got some love! Thanks, Mim!

      Delete
  11. sorry that the blouse can't be fixed, as its shape is delightfully cool and flowy!
    At least you could wear and enjoy it for a few times!
    besos

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know...but I'll find other blouses, and I'll always have the pictures!

      Delete
  12. Aww, not the top! How annoying of that door to cause rips in your top.
    I wonder if you could chop it up and make something else from it? X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know! Very annoying! Offices are not built for nice clothes, sadly. Nah, I am not that crafty.

      Delete
  13. Oh I am sorry for the Helmut Lang piece, his designs are quite recognizable as he has this certain esthetic.
    I have purchased 3 items from his brand and have never been able to wear them as they were too small.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I also find them very small-fitting - the feather dress didn't last long with me for that very reason. Very "body con".

      I'm sorry too, but ah well, it happens. Thanks, Lorena!

      Delete

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