Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Green Lips, Tulle and Armani Flashback

Today's outfit is built around the silk blouse that I picked up yesterday - no time like the present for wearing something new!
I have a fair bit of green in my wardrobe, but I decided to go with it as an accent instead of full-on matchy.


  • Blazer - Emporio Armani, vintage 90s, thrifted; last worn here in February with pastels
  • Blouse - Zara, consignment; purchased here yesterday for $10.00
  • Skirt - Trina Turk, consignment; last worn here (2nd outfit) in February to see the Beaches in concert
  • Shoes - Half Truths Tanya, Fluevog; last seen here in a Christmassy outfit in December 2019


I knew I wanted to wear this ruffled-front silk blouse with a blazer.
There's something about blazers with ruffled fronts that I adore.
I also like the contrast of a men's-style blazer with a tulle skirt.
Jacket open.
 The blouse without the blazer.
I know they are flowers, but the pattern makes me think of big green lips! I bet you thought I was going to be wearing green lipstick, didn't you? It's not like I haven't done it before (proof).

I mostly wore the blazer done up all day. 
Another quiet day in the office. I chatted with my boss and I'll be staying with my reduced hours and 3 days a week likely for the whole summer. My company is not in any hurry to send 250 people back into the office - a good thing! I'm kind of enjoying this more relaxed version of my life - now, if we could add parties, vintage fairs and concerts back in, I'd be 100% happy.

It was cloudy and gloomy this morning, so I wore a hat just in case of rain.
 And a scarf because it looked cool.


  • Hat - consignment
  • Scarf - thrifted


The stuff:
I nearly did today's Flashback on these shoes, but L needs to blog too and we only have one computer - how primitive we are! I'll do these another time, I promise - I have worn them a lot in the 6+ years I've had them.

Green bling:
And one bit of blue.


  • Earrings - vintage fair
  • Silver/aventurine ring - consignment
  • Glass bangle - thrifted
  • Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes



Flashback Time! 

I bought this Italian-made viscose-blend blazer in September 2017 for $38.95 (here). I always appreciate older designer brands - anything before the 00s, mostly - because they are so much more well made. Lovely woven texture, perfect seams...but still, $38.95. That seemed high.

I was excited to wear it - here's my outfit from October 2017.
I felt like a million bucks in this outfit at the time - I didn't keep those trousers, and I moved the shoes along to Cat, but I still think this is fabulous.

Same shirt, different pants, in December 2012.
I still have those culottes! This is before cropped wide-legged pants were "a thing" like they are now - I'm so cutting edge, darling.

A shockingly casual look in January 2018.
I remember startled coworkers: "You're wearing JEANS!" Heh. I love messing with people.

The jacket is an unusual colour and goes well with these shoes - I should wear them together again.
This was in June 2018.

In April 2019 - a long stretch of not wearing it means it was probably packed away for winter.
"I'm not impressed."

My one and only wearing of these trousers.

In September 2019.
 I still have everything in that outfit.

Autumn pastels in November 2019.
I love that skirt, and those velvet boots.

This must have been a very recent lavender colour refresh in December 2019 - my colour fades out really quickly.
 Only the skirt and blazer remain - the top was velvet and unbuttoned itself, and the shoes were a smidge too big.

And here's the last time I wore it in February.
My pre-COVID hair! I'm scheduled for a cut next week, and I'll be re-staining it pink.

When I bought this blazer, I thought the price was too high, but I loved it and sucked it up and supported the WIN thrift store. Now that I've worn it 10 times, $3.90 cents doesn't seem so bad!

30 comments:

  1. Now you mention green lips that's all I can see! That blouse looks brilliant with the skirt and value-for-money blazer, the shoes are perfect and I'm wild about the green bangle and how good you look in that hat.
    It sounds like your summer is going to be a wonderfully relaxed one. My friend was fully expecting to go back to her visual merchandising job on Monday when are shops are allowed to reopen but got a call from the MD telling her that she was furloughed for another two months, her husband said she could have won an Oscar for pretending to sound disappointed on the phone.
    Stay safe! xxx

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    1. Ha ha! Sorry, Vix! Thank you so much!

      Yes, I'm looking forward to having more "me" time. I miss the money, but I'm also finding this slower period rather nice.

      Thanks, my dear! You too!

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  2. I definitely need to get the nape of my neck trimmed but I'll probably just have my mom do it. I'm holding out for a haircut for right now. Could just shave my head again....

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    1. I've considered that (shaving my head), especially since one of my best friends is going through cancer treatments. I've had the sides shaved before.

      Delete
  3. Ooh, I love the blouse! And, honestly, I'm glad we're slow in returning to normal life. Offices and retail stores here in New York are now re-opened but workers and shoppers aren't flocking to them the way I anticipated. Everyone is still aware of the health threat and acting responsibly. At least here; in other parts of the country, many are in ignorant denial which is causing infections to rise and rise.

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    1. Thank you, Ally! I do appreciate that my company is being so cautious, but I miss my coworkers so much! I'm fine with reduced hours, and it'll be interesting to have all that extra time on my hands.

      Ugh, I know, I still see so many people not distancing or wearing masks in crowded situations. The pandemic is still on, people!

      Delete
  4. A ruffle front blouse worn with a blazer is always a winner! And yes, those "flowers" do look like lips! The whole outfit, with that billowing skirt and those amazing green shoes, is just perfect. And dare I say hurray for being on reduced hours for the rest of the Summer? I'll keep working only 2 days for a while longer too. The government's arrangement to do so was originally until 30 June, but it has been extended until 30 August. Can't say I mind very much, nor does Jos. It's a rehearsal of how it could be if I were retired too. Oh, and we are primitives too and only have one computer. Well, we still have our old one if needs must, but you need patience to use it. xxx

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    1. I agree, Ann! Ha, don't they look like lips? Once you see it, you can't "un-see" it! Thank you so much!

      I know, hurray! It is a good lead-up to retirement. It'll be till at least end of August for me as well.

      Ha, glad I am not the only "primitive" out there. :)

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  5. That is a lovely top and it works so well with your blazer! I think the blazer was a great investment too! With my 30 wears series I'm trying harder to calculate cost per wear as I think it's interesting to see. I haven't always noted down or kept the receipts for things though, but I do what I can!

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    1. Thanks, Mica! I'm not entirely surprised at how useful this blazer has been - I had a cream one prior to it that I wore to death. I have been inspired by your "30 Wears" series to start going back and seeing how well I'm doing with some of my older pieces. I'll be doing less shopping this year, so digging into my closet is a good way to get more wears out of some of my favourites. I'm glad I started recording prices about 8 years ago - it's really helped me do the calculation!

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  6. The new blouse is perfect with the blazer. $3.90 a wear is amazing - positively frugal!

    How nice that you will have more time for yourself this summer! BC is looking good with their handling of the virus so I'm sure you will be able to enjoy a small party or gathering soon!

    How lucky you are to be able to get your hair done! Salons are still on the no-no list here. During lockdown I have been trimming my own hair and letting the silver come in and I think my stylist will have her work cut out sometime down the road, lol.

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    1. Thanks, Nana! It's not quite there yet, but I have lots of wear still in this blazer, so I hope I can get the cost-per-wear down a bit more.

      I know, I'm pretty happy about it. BC is doing really well, but of course, we are still being very cautious and bracing for the second wave (likely in the fall, with the advent of flu season). For the summer, we'll keep having outside gatherings.

      Oh no! Ha, your hairdresser will understand, I'm sure! I've seen some of the salons, and the poor hairdressers are all geared up behind giant face shields, with clients holding masks over their faces during cuts.

      Delete
  7. Gorgeous blouse! I also love a ruffles blouse with a jacket of blazer! It s a bit Prince, you know that style I mean. Loved it. The style, I mean haha. Do I see a bookend there? Haha, ever since the lovely Ann mentioned that, I have to think about you when I wear that. Because I do wear that a lot!

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    1. Thank you, Nancy! Yes, it's very Prince - good call! It hearkens back to the 70s ruffled prom shirts for me, to me as well.

      Ha ha! Yes, it's totally bookends! I love that term - and once you "discover" this trick, you really start to notice it in others' outfits. I'm doing it again today!

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  8. Agreed! A borrowed-from-the-boys blazer and a swishy, glam tulle skirt are a dazzling and entirely inspired combination. I only have one tulle skirt at the moment and it's quite formal/dressy, but you've got me thinking I might just have to try rocking with a blazer all the same. :)

    Autumn Zenith 🧡 Witchcrafted Life

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    1. I love a mix of masculine and feminine in my dress, Autumn - go for it with your tulle skirt!

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  9. That is a very versatile jacket. And the blouse looks great with it. Although I really love it as well with just the skirt. It is nice having so many accessories and clothes to combine, isn't it?
    Greetje

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    1. Thanks, Greetje! I know, I'm lucky to have so many clothes to play with!

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  10. Those shoes are magnificent. I do like pointy shoes and I love how these have just a touch of green. The green on the shoes matches with that beautiful green shirt perfectly. Such a great look from head to toe. You look lovely!
    The jacket is very elegant. Love all the ways you styled it.

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    1. Thanks so much, Ivana! I love these shoes - I still wish I'd bought these in purple! Thanks, it's a great jacket.

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  11. Oh there's something about a frilly blouse that I adore too, Shiela. I like how you accented your outfit in green and I'm thrilled that I have the same green glass bangle as you (twins)! When I bought mine, the seller said it was jade which I didn't really know much about so I believed her! Oh well, it's a gorgeous bamgle anyway. X

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    1. Me too, Jess! Thank you - you know I like my matchy stuff! That's so funny that we have the same bangle - I wondered if mine was jade, but I can see a few bubbles in it, so no.

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  12. Blazers with ruffled fronts are fabulously cool!, and you rock them!
    I love the Green accents (and your cute shoes!) and love the tulle skirt looking so fluid and feminine with the structured blazer, they work together nicely!
    I'm amazed to see how versatile is this blazer!, lots of possibilites to mix and match!
    besos

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    1. I so agree - I love this vintage-y look. Thank you so much, Monica!

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  13. The new blouse looks fab and yes, it does look like lips!

    A three day week sounds perfect, in fact it's what I hope to do when I get to retirement age as it gives an almost perfect balance of money and time at home. The rest will come soon x

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    1. Once you see the lips, you can't unsee them! I love my 3-day weeks, although I do miss the paycheques! I'd already planned to go to 4 days a week in a couple of years, so this may hasten things.

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  14. That is a pretty blouse, which shall now be forever known as the "green lips" blouse. I went into my office for part of the day on Friday, but we won't on a regular rotating work schedule until likely late July. I can see that I'll likely be working from home for the rest of the summer. They are giving us an extra-long Canada Day holiday this year which is nice, but I'll likely spend it reading and watching more films.

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    1. Yes, it shall! Our office will be somewhat similar to that, but I don't think we'll have anyone until at least August or September, even. That would be nice to have an extra-long Canada Day! I would do the same.

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  15. I see you wore the Zara top right a away!
    That blazer has gotten some good wears.
    Whenever I walk into my closet, it feels so very useless at the moment.Last night I chose to clean and organize my belts and I could only wonder when I would wear them again and which would fit!

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    1. You know I like to do that! I was pleased at how many times I've worn the blazer.

      Aw, I'm sorry, hon. I hope you'll get some normalcy back soon.

      Delete

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