Friday, September 11, 2020

Funky Friday: Leopard, Snakeskin and Space Jacket Flashback

Woo, didn't that week go nice and fast? Love it! You know what else I love? Clothes!
I'm sure this comes as a shock to absolutely no one. Let's get funky - it's Friday! 

  • Jacket - Smoking Lily; last worn here (2nd outfit) in April 2019 over familiar flamingos
  • Sweater - Twik, thrifted; last seen here in August with scribbles and red
  • Culottes - Soaked in Luxury; last worn here in April for a careful visit to Mom's
  • Shoes - Big Presence Desmond, Fluevog, consignment; purchased here for $142.99

Check it out - we have smoke haze from Washington State to the south. 
Nice for a picture of the Castle, looking all romantic and sexy, but not so nice for breathing. There are all kinds of warnings about the air quality (rated 10+, and that's not a "good" 10). Yuck!

I wear a mask whenever I'm outside (except for stretches on my walks when no people are around), so that helped a lot walking to and from work today. Thank goodness the temps have dropped to the 18-20 range.

I risked wearing a jacket, one that I've had for several years. This is its first wearing in 2020. 
I did a plain black sweater, and a repeat of my lovely leopard culottes. 

The jacket is shiny! 
We will have a Flashback on it in a bit. 

Pockets! 
I got the accessories right today - a good necklace length and a metal belt (I hear chain belts are hip with the cool kids this fall). 

I am going through a rough time of hot flashes, so off goes the jacket, then I get chilled, put the jacket back on, hot flash! Sweat, wipe, repeat. 
I'm hoping cooler weather will help. Mom also told me to stand on cool tiles - it really helps! 

Zipped up and showing the jacket pockets. 
Masked up.
Mom's been sewing masks out of her leftover quilting material, after I dropped some hints. "You're as subtle as a lead balloon," I'm sure she is saying, hee hee. Hi, Mom! 

The stuff: 
I couldn't resist wearing my new snakeskin Desmonds today - as you can see, I have put some dress inserts into them. They are a size 10 and I'm usually a 9.5, so they are a bit loose in the heel. Putting inserts in the main part of the shoe actually tightens them up all over, by about a 1/4 of a size. Now they're perfect! 

Silver bling: 
As I was searching through my blog for "last worn"s, etc., I glanced at a picture of this belt from way back where I'd noted that I paid $5.00 for it at a vintage fair. Cool, I had totally forgotten. The belt is aluminum, maybe? It weighs almost nothing.

  • Belt - vintage fair
  • Silver earrings/pendant - M&M, consignment, Vancouver
  • Star Trek communicator badge - MoPop gift shop, Seattle
  • Silver/crystal ring - Soul Flower
  • Silver/onyx ring - Tocarra, vintage fair



Flashback: Smoking Lily Space Jacket

I bought this jacket on a clearance sale at local ethical and sustainable clothing company Smoking Lily's store, the Milkman's Daughter (link here 'cause I love!). Longtime readers will remember my intense love affair with their clothes for a few years around 2010-2103. I still love their stuff, and their company, but I don't shop there very often anymore, as I find the clothes too unstructured. I do thrift a piece here and there, though. 

The fabric is a thick cream stretch cotton, brushed with silver. The cuffs have snaps on them to do up snug at the wrists, or can be worn flipped back with the contrast cotton lining (cream/black/turquoise) showing. 

I paid $91.00 for this jacket (there were only 4 of them made!), and first wore it here, for two outfits in my January 2013 capsule during my 30 For 30 For 12 Challenge. This is with the lapels wide open, and the cuffs flipped back. 
I love this outfit - I still have the t-shirt (which I sleep in, and is also Smoking Lily), the shoes and the knee-high tights, which I've only worn a handful of times. 

Again in January 2013 - this is one of the few times I've actually done it up to the neck and fastened the snap. Very Star Trek! I need today's communicator badge on there!
I don't remember if I still have this obi (I think not, as I have a black leather one), but it's also Smoking Lily (all my fabric obis are), and the backside of it is the same fabric as the jacket cuffs. 

My camera took poor pictures inside, so you get all stair pictures earlier on. Also, I am glad that our neighbour who stored his bikes out on the landing has moved on. Get out of my stair picture! 
Snapped up to the neck again. I still have the wooden earrings and ring, but nothing else. This was in August 2013. 

This is a lot of look, here in December 2013.
So much going on! I still have the zipper rose, that silk obi (Smoking Lily, of course), and those earrings. I didn't keep those shoe very long...I thought I loved them, but I hated the look of them on my feet. 

A simple outfit for shopping in April 2014. 
I'd forgotten all about my $2.00 shoes! I wore those to death. 

A casual outfit in June 2014. 
I often just wore the jacket as a topper over my "real" outfit. 

As I did here in May 2015. 
That is the very first outfit I wore with purple hair! Aw, this is the night that our friend Chris proposed to Alison during a party at their place.

Here's a back view, from September 2015. 
I miss those shoes (they were Coach and a fabulous gold leather), but they were very high! 

A shopping outfit in September 2016. 
I still have those tights! And those are the boots I haul on to pick up our food delivery orders and take out the recycling. 

Aw, here's me and L in April 2017. 
We're headed to town to meet up with friends. L, you are too tall for my posing area. 

Worn as outerwear in May 2017. 
Love those baby blue shoes! 

Again as outerwear in May 2018, with my Dries Van Noten striped skirt (which we will see again shortly).
Those shoes were too high, and have moved along. The skirt is still in my closet, but is likely not going to be seen this year...it's a wee bit snug and has no stretch. Good motivation to eat less chocolate. 

I went to the last big Victoria Vintage Expo in this outfit (the theme was "Fly Me To the Moon"). I was very shiny! 
I still have everything there, and I'm looking forward to getting my glitter shoes back for the holiday season, so I can drop glitter all over my office again. 

Told you we'd see that Dries skirt again, here again in September 2018.
That cashmere top got attacked by moths this year (sad), and I let go of the cork/leather sandals last year (too high). 

And here is our last outfit with this jacket, in April 2019. 
Worn as spiffy outerwear with my Unusual Pants. 

Mathy stuff: I was somewhat dreading the cost-per-wear on this jacket, as I knew I'd paid a fair bit, and I don't really wear it much...but it's far too cool/amazing/shiny/awesome to let go. However, including today's outfit, I have worn it 16 times, which is decent! That brings it to $5.69 per wear, which is very good! I do need to make an effort to wear it a bit more, but hey, I have a lot of clothes - not everything is in high rotation all the time. 

I'm going to leave you with one last shot of the haze, and a little bit of sunshine, courtesy of my friend, Jenn. 

Smoky!
This is from my office building, looking east. Normally, you can see all of Oak Bay, and even the coastal mountains on the mainland on a clear day. 

And this was a present from Jenn, who dropped by to see me, "Just because."
This is a purse! It references one of my favourite movies, "A Clockwork Orange" by Stanley Kubrick. Not a movie for everyone, I warn you, but I'm a Kubrick fan, and I also love the book. 

It's a play off the Korova Milk Bar scene in the movie. 
The very small print on the bottom says, "Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on how much Ultra Violence you experience."

And there are the ladies from the Korova Milk Bar, dispensing drinks, and our main droog, Alex. 
Hmm, this would make a good Hallowe'en costume! 

Have a fabulous weekend, my friends! I'll be back on Sunday with tales of adventure. Thank you so much for stopping by! 

32 comments:

  1. What a unique bag! I really like that jacket too, that is a good cost per wear and I agree it was worthwhile splurging on - so wearable but also so unique! :)

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    1. It's fun, isn't it? I still enjoy the jacket, even though I don't wear it too often.

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  2. Morning Sheila, I appreciated your reply yesterday. I confessed to Vix my ebay habit started when I lost Dad. I get what you were saying about how you felt when buying an item that then ends up a mistake. Hey if you make mistakes then I am not surprised I do lol You sure did get today's accessories right and have got some ideas from todays flashback Thanks Shazxx

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    1. Hey, Shaz! The thing is not to beat yourself up over the mistakes. Let them go, send them to a new home, donate them, just get them gone and let go of that guilt.

      Thanks so much! :)

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  3. Love Friday's outfit, all of it. I think the missing comments is a blogspot thing, it is happening on Vix's blog too.

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    1. It probably is to do with the new blogger platform, Lise. I'm so sorry that you've been having issues, but glad to know it's not me. :)

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  4. PS : It's Lise. Seems okay for now :)

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  5. That Clockwork Orange themed bag is a wardrobe work of art if ever there was. If, as they say in the film, “goodness is something chosen", then this bag is a truly good (great!) choice, IMO.

    Autumn Zenith 🎃 Witchcrafted Life

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    1. Isn't it fun? I really appreciate the thoughtfulness of the gift. :)

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  6. When I start shopping-thrift shopping that is, you have given me lots of ideas to look for. I'm added patterned pants to that list. I'd like people ot refer to me as havng a bit of spirit if not outright funkiness to my style.

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    1. I am happy to be an inspiration, thanks, SAM! patterned pants are totally fun.

      Nice, that's a good goal to strive for.

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  7. You got everything right, from the shoes to the leopard trousers, mask, belt and fab jacket.
    I loved it zipped up to the top, you're right, it is very Star Trek.
    That bag is fantastic - I loved A Clockwork Orange, too.
    Have a fabulous weekend, Sheila! xxx

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    1. Thanks so much, Vix! I do like a space theme in my clothes! A Clockwork Orange is such a great movie - very prescient.

      Happy weekend to you, my dear!

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  8. A very cool pair of trousers and shoes!! Well sttled Sheila. The accessories are perfect.
    Greetje

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  9. Ah, a combined comfy and cool outfit, and the shoes punctuate it with class. Can you tell the outfit appeals to me!
    I remember A Clockwork Orange...during college the movie was shown outdoors on a giant screen. I had to shut my eyes b/c it overwhelmed my senses and to this day it takes me a few moments to push the movie out of my mind when I hear Beethoven.

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    1. Thanks, Laurie, ha ha, I can tell! Oh my! On the big screen, it would have been overwhelming in parts. Yes, whenever I hear Beethoven, I think of the movie!

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  10. That smoke haze sounds horrible! Your leopard culottes are fabulous, and look particularly striking combined with the black jumper, shiny jacket and funky accessories. That belt is stunning! I've been using your trick with the shoe inserts for year, it's quite amazing how much of a difference they can make. I actually gasped when I saw your present from Jenn! How amazing is that bag. Being a Clockwork Orange fan myself - I did my final dissertation at college on the book and Anthony Burgess - I am duly impressed and ever so slightly envious. Hope you had a fabulous weekend, Sheila! xxx

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    1. It is horrid, Ann - it's so thick today too.

      Thanks so much, my dear, and aren't shoe inserts a life-saver? Jenn is such a dear, and she knows my taste so well! No way, you did your dissertation on the book! That's amazing! I hope you both had a lovely weekend.

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  11. Uuuurgh, the smoke haze sounds awful! We went to my friend Lara's earlier and she lives in the countryside and she said a local farmer has been burning all sorts of nasty stuff (plastics etc) on his land and the fumes are horrendous- you don't expect it in the countryside!
    OOoh, SHIIIIINY! I like the jacket and its Trekkie vibes!
    The bag from Jenn is really cool! Got to love a novelty bag! I have only kept one of my novelty bags as others were too small but love my watering can!
    No Vizzini?!

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    1. It's horrendous, Kezzie, and it's not moving at all right now.

      I love shiny too. :) Isn't that a fun bag? I don't wear them very often, but I do appreciate the thought.

      No, Vizzini was hiding on Friday. Pics of him on the weekend post, though.

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  12. At least if you're wearing masks anyway it will help to keep you from breathing in smoke. The situation in California and Oregon is so scary right now.

    This is a great outfit - very funky and put-together at the same time. I love those wide leg pants. The Clockwork Orange-themed bag is so cool - it could definitely be part of an excellent Halloween costume.

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    1. Yes, but it seeps in. Even my office building smells like smoke inside today. It's really horrifying how much damage the fires are doing.

      Thank you! I really liked it. The bag is so fun.

      Delete
  13. Good morning and great pics. I love snakeskin and make so many different axcessories from it, so I love those shoes !! The milk bag is awesome too, what a brilliant idea ...

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    1. Thanks! The shoes are leather (cow), but are printed with the snakeskin pattern. Fluevog uses some lovely leathers.

      It's a fun bag. :)

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  14. If the smoke is reaching you, I hope the fires don't! We've seen s lot about the fires further south in the USA here - the ones down in California - and a lot about Oregon, but I hadn't realised Washington state was affected too.

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    1. No, we'll be fine here - although Vancouver Island does have lots of forest, and we do get occasional small fires, they don't come into the city at all.

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  15. You like clothes? Who'd have guessed? :) Terrific outfit.

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  16. You've gotten a good cpw on that jacket and it looks as good as it did the first day.
    What a nice gift from your friend, that milk bag is wayy too coool !

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    1. I bet you remember it from way back then! :)

      I know, she is such a sweetheart.

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