Bigass Weekend Wrap-Up: Pirate Ruffles and Dries Flashback; Solstice Picnic and Darth Flashback

Hello, my friends! I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend. Ours has been a mixed bag of happiness and sadness, and I will be taking a few days off blogging after this post.

Friday's work outfit features this new blouse.

Ruffles!

• Blouse - InWear; purchased here for $13.99
• Skirt - Dries Van Noten, thrifted; last worn here in July 2019 with a pixelated blouse
• Shoes - Sol Sana; last worn here (2nd outfit) in April for Easter

I totally could have worn my Earhart shoes (Flashback here) with this blouse! I was tempted - they match perfectly.

I liked wearing this blouse very much - it's a great fit in the chest. I have many issues with buttonholes gaping or popping open, usually solved with safety pins (klassy), but this top fit just right. I did wear a black cami under it, as the fabric is "stripes" of satin and sheer with the print on top.

Do you see how the ruffles go from midway on my upper arm down to the waist? I like that detail.

This skirt is one of my prized possessions. Dries Van Noten! We'll have a look at it in the Flashback below.

I've called it my Pirate Skirt since I bought it. Yar, it be gathered, sashed and bubble-hemmed, ye scurvy dogs.

*ahem* Sorry, I get carried away. Pirate Lady is one of my new looks apparently, ha ha.

The stuff:

I adore these shoes, and have been very impressed with how comfortable and stylish they are. I do love an ankle strap.

Matchy bling:

I like mixing black and whites, but of course, matchy is also fun.

• Bracelet/earring set - Italian, vintage 60s, vintage mall
• Bracelet - vintage fair
• Earrings - Plum
• Silver/onyx ring - Toccara, vintage fair

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Flashback!

I've noticed that most of my Flashbacks have been for shoes - and I could have done one on today's shoes too, as I've worn them a dozen times - but this skirt is one of the treasures of my closet, so I wanted to feature it. 

It's by Dries Van Noten, who many of you might not have heard of. He's a Belgian designer (link here, 'cause I love) who still owns, designs, and operates his own brand - a novelty in these days of multinational corporations and rotating line-ups of designers! - and does zero marketing. He's the subject of the documentary Dries (link here), which I absolutely recommend, having seen it in the theatre.

I've found several pieces by him over the years, all second-hand - they can be challenging to wear, as he does odd/interesting construction. This black skirt was found in the midst of a zillion black skirts in the local Women in Need (WIN) store back in September 2017 (here), for $29.95, on the same shopping trip when I found my Armani blazer (Flashback here). 

This is its inaugural wearing, in September 2019. I'm showing off the unusual draping. It has uneven deep folds along the side seams, a fold-over waistband (side zipper), a slightly bubbled hem, and two sashes that wrap around. The fabric is a cotton/silk blend.

I actually wore it to see the documentary Dries in November 2017 with Elaine - we went to a vintage fair beforehand.

Why would anyone own a plain black pencil skirt when you could have a Pirate Skirt?

With my teddy sweater in April 2018.

I have many black skirts, so I don't wear it as much as I should. But then who's to say I "should" wear it more? I have lots of clothes - I have to spread the love around!

I wore it for my First Day outfit as we welcomed everyone into our shiny new office in February 2018.

I gave Cat that Kenzo jacket - you probably recognize the shoes.

It's a very cool piece, but I don't find myself reaching for a black skirt very often, hence my "hanger trick" to encourage a minimum of once-per-season wear.

A funky black Pirate Skirt is useful for showcasing other items, as I did here in November 2018.

I echoed the drape of the skirt with more drape-y clothes, here with my Hemut Lang top (ripped on a door, RIP) and a loose cardi that I now wear around the house.

I often with neutrals when I wear black.

This is the last time I wore it, in July 2019. I packed it away last fall/winter as I needed more hangers for my winter clothes.

That silk top is still unworn this season, so expect to see it at some point this summer.

Including today's outfit, I've worn it 7 times, which is not a ton for a piece that I've had for 3 years, but it does put my cost-per wear at just over $4.00, which I'm totally happy with.

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After a quiet evening on Friday, L and I were up early on Saturday - me, to colour my hair. I'm pink again - this will fade out to an icy pink in about a week. For right now, though, Hair As Armour!

We headed down to Pluto's for brunch, followed by a gathering of friends for Solstice in the afternoon.

• Silk and velvet duster - Emporio Armani, thrifted; last worn here in August 2019 with striped and plaid
• Top - Clover Canyon, thrifted; last seen here in August 2019 with double optics
• Trousers - Banana Republic, thrifted; last worn here in April with plaid and primary colours
• Shoes - Miista; last seen here (2nd outfit) in May for my first pandemic shopping trip

The weather was a mix of hot sun, warm breezes and spitty rain, plus we knew we'd be walking a bit, and sitting on the ground, so I dressed for every situation.

I adore this navy blue sheer silk with burn-out velvet squares duster. We'll have a little Flashback on it below shortly.

I realized after looking at the first couple of pictures, that the top - which is a manipulated picture of accordions! - looks better with a front-tuck. There, fixed.

I refer to myself as "Darth Sheila" when I wear this duster, as it dramatically swooshes and billows when I walk.

 You can practically hear "The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)" (link here), can't you?

The stuff:

Comfy shoes that are also shiny! These are known as my "trout" shoes due to the purple/green iridescent colour - I'll do a Flashback on them at some point, as they've been worn a LOT.

• Earrings - Stella & Dot, consignment, Vancouver
• Silver/amethyst ring - vintage mall
• Silver/aventurine ring - consignment

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Flashback! 

I found this duster in the now-closed St. Vincent de Paul thrift store here in January 2017. It was hanging in the dress section, and it stood out to me immediately. I gasped when I saw....

Yup, I paid seven dollars for it. For Armani, silk! You couldn't even buy the fabric for that much.

It's quite tricky to style. This is the first wearing, in January 2017.

I wore this to work, and I recall my coworkers being VERY impressed with it, as I billowed and wafted all over the office. I mixed purple, navy blue and black - nothing quite matches, but it all goes.

I wore it in April 2017 as a cover-up over a simple outfit.

As it's silk, it offers excellent sun protection - it also has a high collar, so it covers the back of my neck too.

Another time as a cover-up - same sweater, and those shoes look familiar! - in September 2017.

I still need to wear that skirt this season. I miss my whale sweater, but it got very worn out.

For a weekend hang-out with the gang, in April 2018. I don't keep the duster out all year-round as it doesn't layer under coats without riding up; it needs warmer weather where it can be the sole topper.

You'll recognize those silk trousers and the pink shiny shoes!

Here I am swooshing it in July 2018. I matched it with navy checked trousers.

A plain white shirt and my "I Know" Star Wars shoes. I called this a checkered suit at the time.

And here's the last time I wore it, in August 2018.

I went full-on navy and white matchy, with a striped top and checkered skirt. I need to wear those white shoes again soon.

I've now worn the duster 7 times, which brings my cost-per-wear to exactly $1.00. Fantastic!

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Going back to our Saturday afternoon, here is the entrance to Pluto's. It used to be an old gas station - this is the overhang where cars would pull up.

The blue "sky" and stars made me happy.

L and I strolled over to St. Ann's Academy (link here), a National Historic Site, to meet our friends to both celebrate the Summer Solstice and to send our best vibes to our dear Karen.

It was too warm for L to wear "his" new suede coat, but he still looks dashing in his pewter coat, floral shirt, Lera Lynn concert tee, and Fluevog boots.

There's Cat/Ross and Caro! In the background is Mount St. Mary's. There is also a hotel beside it, where Nick and Karen are staying, so we could be near to them.

Caro brought her tent in case of rain.

This is St. Ann's.

We sat on the field just off the main tree-lined walkway, among the apple trees from the old orchard.

We were only a couple of blocks from Yvonne and Randall's - we used their bathroom.

Caro is posing next to this lovely Art Deco-era apartment - my old friend Janet used to live there.

Nearly all of our crew showed up. While we grieved and talked, we also laughed and took comfort in each other's presence.

From L's feet beside me, clockwise: Yvonne, Chris, Caro, Vero, Randall (in the middle) and Justin.

Then Sarah, Rosanna and Greg, and Linda and Joanne.

There's my toes.

Nick came out and joined us for a bit.

Behind us was a class of graduating high school students, who cavorted on the field as they reveled in finishing school.

Sadly, things have been moving fast since our visit with Karen only last Tuesday.

She's chosen to go out on her own terms, via MAiD (link here).

Her brother Rob and Nick.

Monday will be her last day with us, our brave, dear girl.

Life continues...

Sun shining through the apple tree.

Tiny new apples swelling on the branch.

A seagull balancing on top of a flagpole.

The ginkgo tree in full leaf.

And a grumpy kitty glaring at me.

"I'd be furious, but you look like you need a hug."

Ever in our hearts, dear Karen. 

At the VFF Gala in Feb 2020, with Cat. 

My friends, the next few days are going to be very difficult for us. I'll be taking a small break while we heal. I will leave you with a poem (link) that has given all of us some comfort.



[i carry your heart with me(i carry it in]

BY E. E. CUMMINGS


i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
                                                          i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)