Two-Fer: Grocery Brights and a Wee Shop; Swooshy Palm Trees; Coffee Flashback

And I'm back, just in time for the weekend. All these days/weeks/months are kind of blurring together...

This is what I wore to get groceries on Thursday.

I also swung by the Velvet Crease (local consignment store) to see if it was open...and it was! Happy happy!

• Cardigan - thrifted, no label; not tracked
• Top - Club Monaco, thrifted; purchased here way back in November 2019 for $12.95
• Skirt - LA Nights, thrifted; last worn here in April for a house outfit
• Shoes - Aldo, thrifted; last seen here in June with zig-zags

I'm finally getting around to wearing this new-to-me top that I thrifted way back in November of last year.

I love the two-tone aqua/teal and cobalt blue. Hmmm...I wonder what shoes I could wear with this top?? Hee hee!

That's real lace over a light polyester under-layer. It's a lovely Club Monaco piece - such a score for only $12.95!

I never took the cardigan off the whole time I was out, except for when I was trying on clothes.

I was very bright, and had many comments on all aspects of my outfit. I'm definitely an aberration on the streets these days. You can't miss me!

The stuff:

Comfy walking shoes. They have a zip up the rear so that I don't have to deal with all those buckles.

Matchy bling:

The guy in the grocery deli really liked my necklace, and we had a short chat about it.

• Necklace - Robert Larin, vintage 60s/70s, gift from L
• Eelskin cuff - c. 1985, used to be mine, re-found and thrifted!
• Earrings - Stella & Dot, consignment, Vancouver
• Lapis lazuli ring/Fulvia Ring - Wendy Brandes

I was really glad that the Velvet Crease made it through the pandemic. They're limiting customers to 4 at a time, must wear a mask (although I was the only person who obeyed this!), hand sanitize before touching anything. I did find a few things - I tried on a ton. My general ratio is 1 in 5; if I try on 15 things (for example), I'll find 3. Some days it's better; some days worse.

These are house-pants - I needed something cool and loose to wear at home as the weather gets warmer.

L took one look at them, and said, "I predict I'll be seeing a lot of these." Yes, sorry, love, get used to them. They will not be worn in public.

They are an olive green viscose/spandex mix, extremely soft and swooshy/drapey. The brand is Bali Kiss, which is a local store specializing in fair trade items, purchased directly from small, family-run businesses in Thailand, Indonesia and Nepal. These were made in Thailand.

It does feel right! I paid $14.00 for these and they'll get to pennies per wear before I'm done with them. Viscose wears like iron.

I went "OOOOH" when I saw this floofy skirt.

"Just ignore me, I'm just sitting here, all alone."

Vizzini hates when my clothes get more attention than he does.

The pattern is palm trees, and it's a true wrap skirt, hemmed with a giant flounce. It's also a "mullet-y" hemline - longer in the back.

It's fully-lined in brown and is 100% polyester (and therefore fully-washable).

It's by Scotch & Soda by Maison Scotch, from the "Fading Roads" collection, and it was new with tags! I see from the tag that it retailed for $198.00.

I don't see any result online for this wrap-style skirt (plenty of pics of a matching romper, though), so perhaps it wasn't very popular. It was marked at $60 plus 20% off, so $48.00.

I also found this lovely blue crocheted cardigan. It fit me perfectly.

And it's a useful piece for layering, especially over dresses. Am I a crochet cardi type of person? We shall see. I wore a few crochet pieces the last time they were a Thing, c. 1994.

It's by Precis Petite, which is sold at the Bay department store (has been for well over a decade).

It was also $14.00.

I'm all geared up for my outing in my matching mask (I have about a dozen cloth ones, plus a supply of disposable ones).

"Wear a mask!"

Seriously, it's not that big of a deal. I will always wear a mask if I can't maintain 6-feet/2 meters distance. It's like putting on sunblock: a necessary measure! And like sunblock, I always have it/one in my purse.

Today/Friday, I had to wear my new-to-me skirt right away!

I had planned a more summery version of this outfit, but due to the incessant rain today, I went with a more autumnal look.

• Cashmere tee - Lord & Taylor, thrifted; last seen here in May with sunflower brollies
• Skirt - Scotch & Soda, consignment; purchased above for $48.00
• Booties - Coffee Kope Tiam, Fluevog; last seen here in April with my doily dress
• Leather jacket - Burberry, consignment, Vancouver; last worn here (3rd outfit) in December 2019 for some Christmas shopping

The colours in this skirt are definitely more in the fall range than summer - I may put this into the "stash" for the end of September.

No need to decide now, however.

I went with this coral-y coloured cashmere tee (I have a cami under it due to sheerness) to pick up the bits of orange in the skirt's pattern.

There is also a soft pinky-peach colour in it, and small bits of a yellow or chartreuse green (you can see it in the shot above). I'll probably be fairly boring with it, and wear matchy browns and creams, but I do have a couple of chartreuse tops I could try...

I loved wearing this skirt all day - it is so SWOOSHY. I think I might wear it with a belt or more fitted top next time - it felt like I needed something over the tie waist or a more formal/fitted top.

I wore a pair of cotton pantaloons under the skirt (I have bare legs here) in case it decided to open up because Wrap Skirt, but it performed admirably and didn't gape open on my walk to and from work.

As mentioned, it rained all day, so I needed outerwear.

I'm a huge fan of this bronze leather jacket. Of course I wear leather in the rain - it's totally fine.

Right? Isn't it awesome? Burberry! I stopped in at the Fluevog store to pick up L's new pair (exciting!) and Fluevogologist Wayne admired it. Of course, I also hauled my boots out of my tote bag to show him. These are over 9 years old, and he hadn't seen them before.

The stuff:

I have had these Fluevog booties even longer than the aqua Prepare Guides I wore on Monday. We'll have a Flashback of them shortly. How many wears do you think I'm at?

Warm-toned bling:

How lovely Karen's copper/brass cuff looked with my outfit. It's like a hug on my wrist.

• Amber/sandalwood choker - vintage 60s, Mom's
• Brass/copper cuff - Karen's
• Wood ring - Dots
• Klimt wood ring - consignment
• Earrings - Aldo

Okay, Flashback time!

These booties are called the Kope Tiam and are from the long-retired Coffee family of Fluevogs, named due to the coffee spout shape of the heel (they also did a Teapot line - I had a pair). I bought them on our annual anniversary trip to Vancouver in 2011, but not at Fluevog. I found them on clearance at Gravity Pope, which is a wonderful shoe store - they were in the "last pairs" and these were tucked away under a shelf. They were $99.00. Score!

I first wore them a couple of weeks later, also in March 2011.

I'd only been at my current job for 2 weeks, and I was trying to be classy (they weren't quite ready for someone as colourful as me!).

I didn't have nearly as many shoes back in 2011 as I do now (probably about 40 pairs, vs. the close-to-100 I have currently), so they got worn more in the first few years of my owning them.

I was into vests for a long time - it feels like they're due for a comeback. This September 2011 outfit has a denim vest layered over a long-sleeved tee, with a pencil skirt. Those leopard footless tights are still in my collection.

I like the look of this outfit from October 2011, but the only thing left are the boots and the necklace.

These booties felt very weird to me back in 2011 - booties were not a Thing then! - and I wasn't really sure what to do with them.

I wore them with my Gap leather pants multiple times, first here in December 2011.

Recognize the choker? I wore it today! 

Aside from the booties, the leather obi belt is the only thing I have left from this outfit from October 2012. 

These boots were part of my October wardrobe capsule (enjoy the summary here), from my year-long 30 For 30 For 12 challenge.

I wore them a total of four times in October 2012.

Those tights just gave up a year ago. Yvonne has this velvet jacket now and I wore that blouse a LOT back then.

The capsule explains the repetition of elements, like this jacket which had a very equestrian vibe.

That skirt is another one of my long-gone Smoking Lily items.

My last October 2012 outfit, featured a very odd mustard blouse layered under a blue sweater.

That is a lovely vintage plaid pencil skirt, though.

February 2013 - there's that blond hair again!

I had that brown lace skirt for ages. I am still on the lookout for the perfect pink sweater.

I adored this cowgirl dress, seen here in August 2013. It was by Bodybag by Jude, a Canadian company. I just got tired of it - it didn't layer well or lend itself to any styling except Cowgirl.

Eee, the little ruffles! I spy my Pringle of Scotland belt - still have that.

I also still have this leather vest, worn here in November 2013. I've gone mad for layers, wearing it over a jacket, with a belt over the whole shebang. That's...a lot.

My "barnyard" Gap silk skirt was a favourite for a long time. I recently saw a version with highway signs (same style), but it was too big. I was tempted!

This heavy, sweaty wrap top - seen here in January 2014 - was left behind in Italy when we went in that Fall.

I still have that massive black leather skirt, though.

It was a whole year until I wore the booties again, in January 2015. I'm not sure why. Sometimes I just go "off" my pieces.

That's a weird outfit (the top is green, by the way). I'm not so sure about the Balmain scarf threaded through my belt - but you know I'm always game to try something new, even if it ends up a little odd looking.

Second wearing with my leather pants, in March 2015.

I've always been fond of the equestrian look!

This May 2015 outfit is just trying too hard.

I gave that jacket to Wendy Brandes. Only the booties and the necklace remain.

On the other hand, I vividly remember wearing this outfit in February 2016, to go to the office supply store on the weekend. Did I keep my Yeti coat or give it to Yvonne? I can't remember. And there are my leather jeans again, and my Pringle of Scotland belt. I still have that sweater too.

I recall clomping up and down the aisles. I'm sure I alarmed a few people - one doesn't see folks dressed like this very often in Staples.

You might remember this outfit from the Fendi belt Flashback (here).

For when you don't have matching shoes (yet). This was in July 2016.

A very autumnal outfit, with this vintage suede skirt that Elaine gave me, back in November 2017.

I miss that Ralph Lauren blouse - I ripped the cuffs off by accident (pulling them down while wearing a cardigan).

This graphic dress was only worn once - it never laid straight and had a really wide neckline.

This was in March 2017.

These leopard separates were only worn once together, and it's here in October 2017.

They had no stretch. Gone!

I still have this whole outfit from November 2017.

That is the coolest shirt, and I adore those vintage pants.

This is around the time when I started building up a trouser wardrobe - this outfit is from February 2018.

 Booties are great with pants. Who knew?

I wore them with my leather pants again for my birthday in October 2018.

 That was not the perfect pink sweater - still hunting! You might recognize the "alien" necklace.

There are my leopard footless tights again, worn in November 2018.

Didn't keep that cheap green dress, and that yellow leather coat is in the giveaway pile.

I like this drape-y layered outfit from December 2018.

I still have everything except the velvet vest thing - I think Yvonne has it.

I love this outfit from January 2019.

I've had that sequinned dress for over 10 years, and it gets worn once a year.

The fifth wearing with my leather pants, in March 2019.

 I love that entire look. Spiffy!

There's my "lettuce" dress again, in May 2019.

 I thought the tights matched until I put them on. Ah well.

And third time, boots + leopard tights = a winning combination, in October 2019.

Woo, I need sunglasses, that's bright! Love that yellow!

As a very comfy pair of booties, I wore them on Christmas Day in December 2019.

I love this vintage 90s dress, and that's a vintage 80s belt (Dior! Klassy!).

Dress + booties is also a formula I have used a lot. I love this look.

This is from later December 2019, one of my last outfits of the year.

And finally, here's the last time I wore it, with my corduroy Doily dress, in April 2020.

So, from a pair of booties that I was initially unsure about (Boring colour! Neutrals are icky!), these are now a tried-and-true staple in my wardrobe. I even rescued them from a giant veggie dip spill with cornstarch last year!

Did you guess 32 times worn? $99.00 might seem like a lot for a pair of booties, but I'm now down to $3.10 per wear! They are still in excellent shape (a bit of scuffing on the toes, and on the heels), and the leather has just gotten softer over the years, but I have lots more wear left in them.

And with that, I will leave you to enjoy your weekend, my friends. A very Happy 4th of July to my US friends!

"Cuddles for all."

Stay safe, stay calm, and be kind.