Due to yesterday/Monday being a stat holiday, and finicky things with how I submit my timesheet, I had to go into the office today to make up a portion of my weekly hours.
- Dress - Desigual Gracey, vintage expo; last worn here (2nd outfit) in May 2019 to the Ulti field
- Shoes - Camper; last seen here in April with green and orange
- Coat (below) - Tangerine Jill, thrifted; last worn here earlier this month
I have been disappointed in Desigual's new output in the last 10 years or so, as their clothing quality seems like it's deteriorated: cheaper fabrics, not putting print on the back (I loathe dresses/skirts/tops with plain black backs!) and overall less well-made. I have several older pieces of theirs that are superbly made, so when I spot one, I tend to buy it.
There were only 3 people in my office for the three hours I was there, so thank goodness I didn't have to go through the usual question: Is this a top and skirt? No, they're really all connected.
Pockets! This is the first time I've rolled the sleeves up and buttoned the tab - that took me back to the mid-80s, as I had a teal shirt that did that.
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| "Where did the Man go?" |
Vizzini tried to escape into the hall again this morning. Little devil-cat!
Flashback!
Before we get to today's outerwear, here are all the ways I've worn this dress before (again, I haven't linked to the previous posts; if that's your jam, then use the the "last seen/worn here" links above).
October 2016: Since the dress has a lot of colours, it goes with pretty much any pair of shoes and belt. I'm pleased that I have done so many variations!
January 2017: The dress originally came with a matching mixed pattern sash belt - it has two same-fabric belt-loops - but it was missing when I bought it. I find the belt loops are set too high for me, so I like a belt to lower the waist to a more comfy point.
May 2017: I went all matchy with my turquoise accessories here, including these shoes.
August 2017: Red is also a dominant colour in the pattern. Red accessories and green/black shoes, even though there is very little green in the pattern.
January 2018: I kept the dress out for winter, and layered a vintage slip (the orange bits at the bottom) under it, and wore my baby blue studded jean jacket over it for warmth.
March 2018: Matching oranges - there's today's belt.
July 2018: This outfit was for Pride Week, so I piled on colourful accessories, none of them matching. I'm a rainbow!
May 2019: And the last time I wore it, last year.
Today's outfit is the 9th wearing, so my cost-per-wear is down to just over $3.00 a wear. Not bad!
End Flashback
And here's today's outerwear. This linen/cotton coat is so nice and bright.
The stuff:
Orange bling:
- Belt - vintage 80s, thrifted
- Cuff/ring - vintage 60s, Italy, vintage mall
- Earrings - vintage expo
The earrings are clip-ons, and are wood. They are very light and comfortable to wear.
Last night, I couldn't find Vizzini. Finally, I spotted him, melting on the deck.
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| "This is my new favourite spot." |
He likes that the chair gets part shade, part sun. Temperature control!
When he wants full sun, he sits on his big post. I caught him just as he woke up.
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| "First, a good upper body workout." |
He usually jumps to the ground from here.
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| "I can exist on two levels at once." |
I'll have to see if I can cajole him into a cuddle while I read this afternoon. Here, kitty, kitty!
It's such a fun dress and you wear it so well! It's a shame the quality of the brand isn't what it used to be but it's nice that you are able to find older pieces! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Mica! Yeah, a lot of the stuff I see by them is very cheaply made, both in construction and fabric. I'm glad there are always second-hand things out there!
DeleteIt's like you're wearing stained glass - love it!
ReplyDeleteI think it must be the time of year or something because my cat has become a flight risk also. We've ordered a cat harness for him so that he can safely come outside with us. In the meantime we have to lock the screen doors because he knows how to open them. Little devils indeed.
I love that: stained glass. Thanks, Nana! Vizzini has zero interest in going outdoors, but he really wants to go into the hallway of our condo. He's only figured out how to open closets - thank goodness he's never been able to open cupboards or anything else.
DeleteWhat a fabulous dress! It can do no wrong. You can just pull it on and run, if only all our clothes were so well behaved. Your glasses are great with it.
ReplyDeleteI love that pic of Vizzini in the sun. I have a matching coloured dog with Vizzini and she snores in sun patches all day.
Thank you so much, Juliana! It's a true jammy dress in that aspect. Just put it on and you're good to go!
DeleteAw, our furry fam is such a source of happiness, isn't it? I'm smiling just thinking of your dog.
That's a fabulous dress, I loved the earlier Desigual pieces, one of my friends had a particularly wonderful caot with an eye on the back back in the noughties. Most of it is made in India and a lot of the roadside stalls in the tourist areas sell it, some good but mostly mediocre.
ReplyDeleteLove all the ways you've worn it over the years and watching your style evolve. I adore those shoes!
Look at Vizzini in action! It's been gloriously hot here and the lads are loving it. xxx
Thanks, Vix! I have a dress with the eye on the back of it, bought in London in 2010 - it was only a few years later that they started with all these cheap t-shirt fabrics.
DeleteI'm envious of your heatwave! It's all over the place here.
I agree with you on the quality decline of Desigual. I stopped buying it too. No second-hand shops here really, that are worth going to. Although I am a matchy/matchy person I prefer your outfits with a different colour belt from the shoes. Funny that is.
ReplyDeleteGreetje
It's a shame when a company that's known for the detail and quality of their goods starts to cut corners.
DeleteThat is funny!
No matter how many times I've seen that Desigual dress, it still fools me into thinking these are separates! Sorry about that :-) But I do think it's totally fabulous, even though I'm not a big Desigual fan. Partly to do, I think, with their Antwerp shop, which I absolutely hated going in to. Long gone now, by the way. Back to the dress, which looks brilliant with the orange belt and the sleeves rolled up. One of the best ways you have worn it. Lovely to see your cheerful bright pink coat again too. Cats eh? Phoebe just cannot abide closed doors. We're so lucky she is a bit of a scaredy-cat, though, and would never venture beyond our front door! xxx
ReplyDeleteHa ha, no worries, Ann! They do look like separates! Oh dear, was it a bad shop? I have only been in one shop of theirs, in London in 2010 - the other pieces have been from boutiques who carry a partial line, or second-hand.
DeleteVizzini is also a scaredy-cat, but thank goodness he doesn't bang on closed doors (our old cat Inigo used to do that - it drove us nuts).
Thanks so much!
I love the dress with the slip under neath. But also without it, it's a lovely and interesting dress!
ReplyDeleteI like it that way for the extra length - I needed the slip to keep the lining from riding up. Thanks, Nancy!
DeleteCute dress. Isn't it weird to go into offices and not see crowds of people?
ReplyDeleteThanks! It's been so long being in my empty office that it feels weirder now when people come in.
DeleteSuch a versatile dress and it looks lovely all the ways you've styled it.
ReplyDeleteWhen's Vizzini going to do his lower body workout?
xxxx
Thanks so much, Vronni! Ha, he is a good jumper and he runs around quite a lot!
DeleteI'm loving your dress in every color combo and enjoying the multiple accessorizing possibilities!, so versatile and cool!. And I totally agree that Desigual clothes quality has plummeted (and their prices have remained the same). Many other brands have been losing quality too. Which is another reason to keep loving vintage!
ReplyDeletebesos
Thank you so much, Monica! It's been a really versatile dress so far. It's a shame when a good company starts going cheap, isn't it? Thank goodness there's so much second-hand and vintage out there!
DeleteFirst of all, I love this dress. It's surprisingly versatile, isn't it? The contrasting prints make it so cool. Another thing I find interesting is how it looks different in all of these pics, sometimes it is due to different amount of light that make certain tonalities stand out more and sometimes due to the way you styled it. Awesome throw-back looks. It's also fun to see your many hairdos.
ReplyDeleteIt's really versatile! I have been pleasantly surprised by how much it has gone with. I'm happy you enjoyed the flashbacks - I'll be doing more of them (as the item warrants).
DeleteThat's a fantastic dress! Print-heavy dresses can seem difficult at first but like the person above noted, they're so versatile. I love figuring out all the different ways to style something like that.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Ashley! Yes, they really are very versatile, and can be a great spring-board for mixing and matching different colours.
DeleteI'm not a big fan of Desigual designs, and the only two pieces I've owned by them I've ended up giving away. That said, I really like this dress. There used to be (and may still be) a Desigual store in LaGuardia Airport and the quality of the clothing was not good, but the prices were very high.
ReplyDeleteI like some of their things - the coats and the "patchwork" dress I have by them are amazing - but so much of it is crap. Sad.
DeleteI love to see that you've gotten some good wear out of this beauty, and I agree Desigual is not maintaining the quality they use to have.
ReplyDeleteI see Vizzini has taken over his throne :)
Thanks, Lorena! It's been a good purchase overall. Sad to see them decline - their stuff used to be amazing.
DeleteOh, yes, he owns all the comfy chairs!
How to tell that one is from BC? When I read "vintage expo", even though I know what they are, and have both been to and sold at plenty of them over the years, my mind still instantly zipped back in time to Expo 86. 😂
ReplyDeleteAutumn Zenith 🎃 Witchcrafted Life
Ha, yes! I remember that - it was the year after I graduated from high school. I didn't go, though.
DeletePlain backs always seem so shoddy - there's rarely any reason for them beside cheapness (on the manufacturer's part). I won't buy them either.
ReplyDeleteThat dress is lovely.
I so agree, Mim. Like, did you not think we'd be seen from all sides?? It's just a cost-cutting and indicates shoddy workmanship to me.
DeleteThank you!