Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Chocolate Corduroy Suit (and a Brown Boot Flashback), and Owl the Snakes

Today, I'm debuting this luscious chocolate brown corduroy suit.
I was thrilled to rediscover this June purchase a couple of weeks ago. I love a good suit! 


  • Suit - B. Bennett for ASL, vintage 90s, thrifted; purchased here for $34.99
  • Blouse - Girls from Savoy, thrifted; first worn here in February with two tones of brown
  • Boots - Rockport, thrifted; last seen here in March with my Beene suit 
  • Sleeveless coat (below) - Only, thrifted; last worn here in May over another coat


I wore the blazer undone like this for most of the day. 
I debated about whether I should do some textured or coloured tights with this look, but went with plain nylons instead. 
Isn't the suit amazing? It's the softest wide-wale corduroy ever. 
I'm a major Boss Lady when it's fully done up. 

Masked up - the pinecone/gold mask that Mom made. 
The blouse has a rounded scoop neck with a bow at the apex, which is why I chose it - I wanted something to show when I did the suit up! 

Without the jacket, which I took off a couple of times when I was hot-flashin'. 
On one of those occasions, I managed to leave my access card at my desk (it was looped around the arm of the jacket, d'oh!) when I attempted to use the bathroom, and locked myself out. 

I only had one other person on my floor, on the opposite side - he'd never hear me. I knocked on the window to the next floor...no answer. The only person there was on a conference call and didn't hear me. 
Tried the final floor - one person couldn't leave their video meeting, but one of my colleagues (Gary! so awesome!) opened the door then walked me upstairs and opened the door to my "office" (reception). I haven't forgotten my card in years! 

Outerwear - as the suit jacket is quite bulky, this was the perfect time to haul out my sleeveless coat. 
No buttons, just a tie front and a big shawl collar (and big pockets, yes!). It's a very useful coat - with no sleeves! 


  • Wool gloves - Parkhurst


The stuff: 
I waggled my feet (very klassy, Sheila) at my Vancouver coworker Sasha on our biweekly video chat - she thought these boots were high until I pointed out the platform on the front. It's just over an inch heel - super comfy. 

Although I haven't had these boots long (not quite a year!), and they were packed away for spring/summer, we're still going to have a Flashback on them. Why not?

Snaky bling: 
This is almost every piece of snake jewelry I own.


  • Bracelet - Whiting & Davis, vintage 80s, vintage fair
  • Earrings/hair pin - Red Sky (local)
  • Silver snake ring - BC Museum Gift Shop, 1985
  • Amber ring - c. 1996


I also have a black glass snake pendant, a snake necklace like the coil bracelet above, and a silver snake brooch too. I am always on the lookout for nice snake jewelry.

In case you're wondering how I wore a hair clip on my blazer lapel, the secret is...
A safety pin! And lots of experimentation, until I found a position where the loose front snake part wouldn't flop around or fall off. 

Vizzini really wanted to get into my closet when I got home from work. 
"No, I don't, I'm just cleaning my paw, see?"


Such a liar! He kept going in there and licking my clothes.

He's been feeling the cold lately - the west coast of Canada is a temperate rainforest climate, with the emphasis on "rain", and we are right on the ocean here, so it's a very damp cold and it really seeps into your bones. It feels colder than a mid-west or prairie cold, honest! 

Anyway, I feel it in my knuckles and joints, and if I feel it, it's likely my little fuzzy-head feels it too. So I filled our hot water bottle with piping hot tap water, slipped it into a Fluevog shoe bag (minus the ties, removed for Cat Safety), and presented it to Vizzini in his favourite napping spot. 
"I don't know what this is, but I love it and hug it and call it George."


I could hear him purring! He has a very quiet purr - I usually have to actually feel his throat to see if his motor is going. 
"This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."


He's sprawled right across it (see his little curled up paw?), getting all the heat. I might have to buy another one for L and I, as he's so taken with it! We'll never get to use it! 



Flashback: Rockport Basic Brown Boots

I bought these boots almost exactly a year ago (here) in October 2019 for $34.95 at the big Women In Need (WIN) store, back when I did massive trawls and try-ons. 
Although I have brown boots (a few pairs), I didn't have any in this nice chocolate brown, and I'd also been looking for a pair with a dressier heel vs. a chunky heel or wedge. I like different shades and styles - variety! - to go with different looks.
I don't often find shoes in thrift stores, so it was a nice surprise to find this wardrobe staple at such a good price! These would have been around $150.00 new.

I first wore them right away in October 2019 with one of my other new purchases from that weekend, this orange double-breasted blazer from Dots.
I let go of that skirt this year - I could barely walk in it (skirts need walking slits!). 

I wore the boots once nearly every month, only missing February. How did I survive without them? 
Here they are in November 2019. We just saw that sweater recently, and we'll see that leather ruffled skirt at some point. 

These boots were made for suits! This blazer is part of one of the oldest suits in my closet. I should wear it soon, just for the Flashback.
I love that leather skirt too! So many skirts, too little time! 

I might have to duplicate this outfit from January 2020 again in its entirety. 
The velvet blazer, the cuffs, the bizarre blanket skirt, the lion rampant belt! What's not to love?

And here's the last time I wore them, in March (the day the reality of a global pandemic hit!) with yet another suit. 
That was the first wearing of my Geoffrey Beene suit. Suit boots! 


Mathy stuff: So, how am I doing after only a year? Today was the 6th time wearing these boots, which brings them down to a respectable $5.83. It'll be fun to revisit them in another year and see how much better my cost-per-wear has gotten.

26 comments:

  1. Morning there Sheila, you so rock a skirt suit! This is such a good look on you smart but funky. I am envious of those boots they look great in the flashback and the cost per wear will be pittance by next year I'm sure and yes to repeating that outfit it looks great have a great day Shazxx

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    1. Hi, Shaz! Thank you so much, my dear! Yes, I plan to get the boots down to mere pennies if I can! I'll definitely have to pull that outfit out again, or something similar (I don't always do "same" outfits exactly the same!).

      Take care, hon.

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  2. Lovely look. I admire the boots so much I can't stop looking at them.

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  3. Oh, that suit is very luscious indeed! I love that deep shade of chocolate brown. And it looks absolutely spot-on with the nylons and tall boots, which is what I'm often tempted to do with a shorter skirt this time of year. Being locked out would have freaked me out, especially with so little people present in the building! What a relief Gary was able to hear and save you from your plight. Love your snaky bling, and your hair clip trick, which I am totally going to steal from you :-) And hurray, another flashback after all :-) They're fab boots and totally deserve it! xxx

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    1. Isn't it wonderful? It's so soft too.

      I had a mild panic, then started knocking! I'm so glad there are people around, although I could have gotten one of the cleaners or building maintenance guys to let me in. Thank goodness for Gary!

      Thanks, Ann - go ahead and "steal" my idea for the hairclip. I have a lot of fun fall clothes that deserve flashbacks!

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  4. That is a great suit on you and I love the bright yellow with it! It's so nice that you were able to get back in with your colleague helping - earlier in the year my boss went to the office to try liberate the snacks we have in the kitchen order to distribute them to us and avoid waste, but as they sealed off the floor his access card didn't work and we didn't have anyone manning reception in the office anywhere for him to get an old fashioned key or override, he went home empty handed! I think we have a few staff starting to go back, we officially reopen for people to return to the office in a week, but I have heard some people saying they are there already. I'm still working from home though, as it's not a mandatory return yet and I have to take public transport.

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    1. Thank you so much, Mica! I loved it with yellow, very autumnal.

      I know, what a relief! Oh, your poor boss! I left all the snacks and food for a few months, and then just tossed it all in July. That sounds positive, although if you don't have to go in, you should stay home.

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  5. Love the cord suit, Shiela!

    And I do adore a good pair of brown boots and snake jewellery. We'd have a field day in each other's closets/collections.

    Vizzini is so funny attached to the hot water bottle. And sooooo cute! 😍 X


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    1. Thanks, Jess - it reminded me of you. YES, I can imagine us having a good rummage in each others' closets (let's do your mum's too!), ha ha!

      He is such a cutie, and he's really loving that warmth when we (L and I) are not around.

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  6. I went from wearing suit type clothes to a more work day casual vibe when I changed jobs, but I do enjoy a good suit as well. I miss my thin days when the suits looked better-maybe by the time a I work in real life I will have a couple rocking suits like yours. Love the boots, but I'd beg for them with just a bit of a chunky heel.

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    1. That makes sense, SAM - I doubt I would wear a suit if I weren't working in an office. That's a good goal, if you want to do it!

      I already have multiple pairs of chunky-heeled boots, which is why I wanted a skinnier heel.

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  7. That suit is fab! I love the double breasted fastening and that lovely rich shade of deep brown. It's perfect with those boots.
    Oh no, the locking out scenario instantly transports me back to my corporate days, I was forever misplacing my pass card and getting trapped in corridors!
    Those photos of Vizzini are the cutest ever, look at how snuggly he is! xxx

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    1. Thanks, Vix! It's funny how the double-breasted suit is right back on-trend. It's a great colour and fabric.

      It's a heart-stopper! Ha ha, I can't picture you in the corporate world at all!

      Isn't he a cutie? I just want to snuggle with him.

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  8. Love those boots! I love brown and brown tones anyway. You wear that suit with flair. Oh Vizzini is such a lucky chap to have as staff!

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    1. Thanks, Nancy! I am a big fan of browns. Yes, we wait on Vizzini hand and foot, lol.

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  9. Love the boots! And I laughed when I read you had Vizzini saying he is calling the hot water bottle George hahaha. So funny.
    Greetje

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    1. Thanks, Greetje! That's a quote(ish) from a Bugs Bunny cartoon, which was a play on "Of Mice and Men" (a character has a rabbit who he 'loves and hugs and calls George').

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  10. How fabulous is that dark brown cord suit! I love how you paired it with those high brown boots and a yellow shirt. You created a wonderful contrast with the yellow shirt.
    It was great seeing how you styled these brown boots in the past. I loved seeing them paired with orange!
    p.s. Vizzini is such a charmer!

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    1. Thanks so much, Ivana! I really liked how well the yellow shirt worked with the suit. I enjoyed looking back at the boots' outfits.

      Vizzini is so cute.

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  11. Oooo, I love a good wide-wale corduroy and the jacket looks great with the two rows of buttons. If I was required to wear a suit that would be the kind I would want to wear.

    Sylvester agrees with Vizzini that a hot water bottle is THE best thing to snuggle with when the weather is chilly.

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    1. Isn't it awesome? I was so lucky to find it.

      I am amazed at how useful the water bottle has become!

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  12. That's a great blouse! Fabulous colour and beautiful shape.

    My cat Lulu gets a microwaved beanbag every morning, and now that I'm working from home I give her a reheat every time I have a meeting in hopes of distracting her (she's a joiner).

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    1. Thanks, Rachel! I love it too - and who can resist an owl print?

      Aw, that's so sweet! Vizzini and L share the hot water bottle.

      Delete
  13. That is an excellent suit. The blouse goes so well with it, too.

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    1. Thanks, Mim! It felt like a score - I love the yellow owl blouse, so pretty!

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