Monday, November 30, 2020

Houndstooth, Pink and Burgundy, and a Baroque Flashback

We are getting into that time of year when my Stair Pose starts getting wonky. I do my pictures in the morning before I leave for work at 8am, so I'm now dealing with lack of light.
It was still a bit dark out when I took this, but at least the stairwell lights had turned off. But, you've all been warned, so lower your expectations around these pics. Heh. 

  • Mohair sweater - no label, thrifted; last seen here in February with blue and houndstooth
  • Tux silk blouse - no label, thrifted; last worn here with gold and cream brocade in December 2019
  • Skirt - Wilfred, consignment; purchased here for $30.40
  • Boots - Baroque Velasquez, Fluevog; last seen here in February with floral and a leather vest
  • Coat (below) - Auckie Sanft, vintage 60s, vintage fair; last seen here (3rd outfit) a few weeks ago

I always like to wear my new-to-me items right away, so this houndstooth skirt is on deck. I know it doesn't look like houndstooth - it looks grey. Don't get me started on Patterns That Don't Photograph Well. 
I knew I wanted to wear boots with it, and I've been eyeing this pair that's been showing up in Flashbacks. 

Burgundy boots meant I'd need a burgundy top - although you can barely see it here under my pink sweater (just collar and cuffs), I'm wearing a silk stretch blouse with ruffles down the centre front 
I love the thin pink mohair sweater - it's excellent for layering, and thin enough to go over blouses or under dresses (like a slip dress, for example). 
The skirt was fine - it's "cake" instead of my usual "icing". I left the tie belt on it for its inaugural wear, but I think a swanky belt would be more interesting. Next time! 

Masked up - this is one of the first masks I bought from Lazy Susan's. 
My black-and-white-mask-that-looks-grey goes with my black-and-white-skirt-that-looks-grey. 

Outerwear - we had a storm warning this morning and lots of parts of lower Vancouver Island were without power today. I'm happy to not have been affected. 
The Fuzzy Flamingo was the perfect weight (and pinkness!) for wind and rain. 

I actually wore the silk scarf tied around my head with the fur toque over that to keep my hair dry this morning. It totally worked! 
I wore it like this on the walk home - there were streaks of pink in the sky as the sun set, same colour as my coat. 

  • Fur toque/leather gloves - Danier
  • Silk scarf - vintage, thrifted

The stuff: 
These boots are amazing, aren't they? We'll have a Flashback on them shortly. 

Simple bling: 
I am glad I wore the necklace - the sweater needed something in the middle. 

  • Necklace - Dots
  • Onyx/silver ring - Toccara, vintage fair
  • Silver/crystal ring - Soul Flower
  • Earrings - Glee



Flashback - Baroque Velazquez Fluevog Boots

L and I have been buying each other Fluevogs for close to 20 years. We go to Vancouver for a few days every March for our anniversary and visit the Fluevog store, and pick out a pair (or two) for the other to buy us. 

I got these amazing boots at the same time as my Prepare Guides in turquoise (Flashback here), in March 2012 (post here). While L was not thrilled to buy me the Guides (he hates them), he was very happy to buy me these beauties. They are called the Velazquez and they are from the Baroque Family (characterized by that groovy flared heel). 
The toe/heel and the leather strip up the back of the calf are a dark burgundy with some of the finish deliberately rubbed off to reveal a lighter wine underneath. 

The main part of the boots and the ruffles on the vamp and at the top of the laces are made from a very soft suede, which is embossed on the shaft of the boot. They are adjustable up the front with the laces, but have full zips up the inside.
This was the last pair in the Gastown store, and they were on clearance (I am pretty sure they were $199.99 on final markdowns), and I was drooling over them, but they were not my size. I'm usually between a 9 and 9.5 (around a 40 in European sizing), and these were marked 8.5. However, I have bought Fluevogs in 9, 9.5, 10 and 11, so I thought, "If I don't at least try them on, I'll just kick myself after." 

Lucky me! They fit with lots of room! Here I am posing during our visit to Vancouver in March 2012. 
I may have worn them out to dinner that night, so I'm counting this as a wearing. There are those same pink tights that I wore this past weekend! 

I was just 2 months into my massive 30 For 30 for 12 Challenge at the time and was just dying to wear them, so I snuck them in as the "Wildcard" (free monthly outfit) a couple of times that year. 
This was one of three Steampunk outfits I wore to the Victoria Steampunk Expo in April 2014. I've hiked up my skirt here because it's a floor-length one. So Klassy! I wore this to the grocery store! 

This is the other Wildcard outfit, in November 2011. 
Such a fun outfit! That dress was Flashbacked here

The boots were included in my December 2012 Wardrobe Capsule, during which I wore them four times. 
The only thing left from this outfit is the black stomacher piece. I also discovered that the boots are more pink/burgundy than red. 

I was really into Steampunk in 2012. Lots of vests, ruffles, layers. 
I don't even remember which black skirt that is. I've had a lot of black skirts over the years! 

Still in December 2012 - I wore that strapless dress for ages, always with a blouse under it. I still have that brooch and that glass beaded belt. 
It's the same dress I'm wearing in the illustration framed behind my head (by Megan Mae!) in all these pictures. 

This is one of the few times I wore these boots with a colour palette that didn't have any red or burgundy in it. The shirt is teal (I also have teal tights on) and the obi has blue, turquoise and magenta.
We're still in December 2012, and that's the same grey strapless dress. I still have that Smoking Lily obi.

I bought this ship-patterned dress (aka Holy Ship!) from a Smoking Lily sample sale - I later gave it to coworker Fiona. 
I still have that leather obi and the red slip that's peeking out at the hem. This was in February 2013 and that is some...interesting layering. 

I quite like this all-pink/wine outfit from October 2013. 
The velvet blazer is now long-gone, as is the Smoking Lily cape (worn as a skirt). 

I still have this grey wool bustier top - I adore the crystal buttons down the front - and should wear it again one of these days. This outfit is from December 2013. 
That plaid skirt was lovely, but got eaten by moths (it was vintage and started out life with me already hole-y). 

There are more Stair Pictures for the boot Flashback than the "regular" indoor pictures, as I usually wear them in fall/winter and the lighting indoors was too dark for my old camera. Lighting is always an issue, sigh. 
This is a pretty outfit, although fairly simple. I still have the belt and buckle and the Myka jewelry set. This is from November 2014. 

I really love this wacky Victorian punk-ish outfit from October 2015. It stuck with me for a long time - I felt so totally ME in it. 
I remembered this look and did a variation on it 4 years later. I still have that leather skirt, and that corset-y type top.

I am a sucker for ruffle-fronted blouses and this was a lovely silk Ralph Lauren one. Look at all those ruffles!
I layered it under this dark brown bubble-hem velvet dress (I still have it!) in December 2016. 

I paired it with the boots again here in March 2017. 
Unfortunately, during the day (and evening at Book Club), I kept pulling the blouse's sleeves down as they rode up under the cardigan, and ended up ripping the cuffs off! Very sad-making! All I have left from this outfit is the cardigan and the necklace, but aren't these great colours? 

I love this outfit from October 2017 - I wore this out for dinner with my friend Tammy for my 50th birthday. 
We saw that skirt in Flashback here.

This is the same brown velvet dress as above, worn again in January 2019. 
That's today's silk tux blouse. I need to wear that dress again! 

And here's that corset top revisited in March 2019, with a different Victorian-style blouse and skirt. 
I still have all of those pieces. 

Here's the last outfit I wore with these boots, in February 2020. I'd just picked up this floral blouse in Powell River, thinking it would replace my ruined Ralph blouse (above). 
It wasn't anywhere near as nice, so I've since let it go. We saw that vest in Flashback here.


Mathy stuff: I have worn these boots 20 times in the past 8-9 years, which is not very much, but they are quite difficult to style (ruffles, colour, steampunk look). They are also somewhat fragile, so they are not an everyday boot. Still, that is a decent $10.00 per wear - nothing to sneeze at! 

Do you have a favourite from these outfits? What would you like to see again? 

28 comments:

  1. HI there Shiela, well what a gorgeous outfit today!! You are an artist of clothing that's for sure. Those boots are divine and what gorgeous details and colour. You can carry off ANY colour and the pink and burgandy is beautiful. It's also the simple things like tucking your jumper in your skirt well I could go on you are full of ideas. Pure class today! Shazxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello, Shaz! Aw, you are so very kind - I'm glad you enjoyed the outfit and the Flashback! The sweater/jumper is thin enough to tuck in - I don't do that with all my sweaters. Thanks, my dear!

      Delete
  2. They are beautiful boots so I love the flashbacks and I think you've done really well with 20 wears for such a statement piece - they look so good on you!

    I really like the pink and burgundy combo in your outfit too, even if you don't like how the print on the skirt photographs I really like this outfit :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same here, Mica - I'm really happy with 20 wears. I don't actually mind the print not being visible on this skirt because it reads as grey...and I wanted a midi-length grey skirt!

      Delete
  3. This is a beautiful styling. The houndstooth skirt is fantastic and I like the burgundy silk blouse you layered under the pink sweater. The burgundy lace up boots are so feminine and glam. I enjoyed the fashion flashback with them very much. I would like to see those steam punk outfits again and the rose wine outfit as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, thank you, Ivana! Aren't the boots amazing? They are really favourites of mine. I doubt I'll be doing any steampunk again soon, and I don't have any of the items in that rose wine outfit anymore, sadly. I like those outfits too.

      Delete
  4. Oh dear. I once had that weird comment (see above) too! What do people think they'll achieve by it, I'll never know!
    Back to your post! Don't you hate it when it's too dark for proper photos? Anyway, even with the slight blurriness going on, I immediately noticed you were wearing your new houndstooth skirt. And it's gorgeous, especially paired with the burgundy blouse/pink jumper combo, and those boots! As for the skirt's pattern, I was secretly thinking about Patterns That Don't Photograph Well when I first saw it, but didn't want to say anything :-) I know it's one of your bug bears! Always delightful to see the Fuzzy Flamingo, and I ooh-ed and aah-ed over the boots flashback. My favourite is the March 2017 one, but what a shame about the blouse! I'm also loving the photo of you sprawled in the red chair in Vancouver! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, I just delete those spam comments right away. No worries!

      Yes, I hate the dark mornings! They are so challenging for taking pictures! Thank you - I don't mind that it looks grey and I'll probably style it as though it was grey. This is one case where Patterns That Don't Photograph Well works in my favour.

      The Fuzzy Flamingo - I think of you when I wear her! I loved that outfit too, and I was absolutely heartbroken over that blouse. Maybe another one will turn up one day?

      Delete
  5. oh how I've missed you Sheila! and this post is exactly why! I was on self-imposed social media hiatus for 2.5 months--because I had to get so much done around the house and yard before the winter hit...and now, i am hibernating, and as a reward, allowed myself to come back full force...love this style of yours!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Unknown stranger! I'm glad to have you back - you've missed loads of posts, so enjoy catching up! Thanks for commenting!

      Delete
  6. Gosh I would love to wear this outfit! Love the Burgundy and pink together abs in a real fan of a houndstooth print. And definitely when it is in a skirt like that. The coat looks stunning on the outfit. I'm going to see if I can copy this look somewhat!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, thanks, Nancy, yes, it's right in your wheelhouse, isn't it? I love the modern cut of the skirt - it keeps my funky clothes grounded. Thank you, I'd love if you did a look like this!

      Delete
  7. I love your first outfit. Such great mix of colors and textures! The pink coat is gorgeous!
    xoxo
    Lovely
    www.mynameislovely.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Lovely! Isn't the pink coat amazing?

      Delete
  8. Such lovely colours together, I adore those boots! I own their vintage twins, 1960s cranberry suede with patent leather go-go boots which haven't had an outing yet this year!
    So good to see the Fuzzy Flamingo getting an outing.
    January 2019 is my favourite in that epic roundup although it's a tough choice! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Vix! I'm not surprised that you and I have some more clothing in common! I am looking forward to seeing your boots!

      I adore the Fuzzy Flamingo, but her season is quite short - it'll soon be too cold to wear her. Thank you!

      Delete
  9. Very nice outfit. If I could wear women's boots in public, they'd be burgundy. And look like these beauties.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Have you seen the Fluevog Bowies??? They have lightning bolts on them! I think you would look fab in them, no matter how you're dressed. :)

      Thanks, hon!

      Delete
  10. Madly in love with the classic grey + sweet, earthy berry tones of the first outfit. Those are amongst my all-time favourite colours. I reach for them often in my own wardrobe and you'll find them peppered liberally throughout our house. Indeed, grey is the main colour in our wee living room.

    Many hugs & happy start of December wishes!

    Autumn Zenith 🧡 Witchcrafted Life

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Autumn! The colours go so well together, don't they? I don't do any decorating in grey at all - I need warm colours for the most part.

      Delete
  11. Amazing that the Fuzzy Flamingo can stand rain. I would have thought it would absorb the rain like a sponge. Those magnificent boots don't look rain resistant either. But I suppose you know what you are doing. They have served you well. I especially like the Victorian punk-ish outfit of 2015 and the October 2017 outfit.
    Tip for the skirt: I think it would be wise to sew in a little triangle of leather at the top of the split. To prevent tearing.
    Greetje

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, it was only spitty rain in the morning, Greetje, not full-on downpour, but even so, it's wool, and would have dried easily. No, I don't ever wear my good shoes in the weather - I always wear my Doc Martens for walking.

      Yes, that's a good idea, thank you!

      Delete
  12. I'm loving all the pinks and greys and the opulent fabrics!!!
    20 years of Fluevogs is impressive! I think they need to give you an anniversary present!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are so pretty together, aren't they, Kezzie? Ha, not likely! There are lots of dedicated customers like us!

      Delete
  13. Those boots really are SQUEE-Worthy! You and L should be in an ad campaign for Fluevogs (note to self, write an email to John himself requesting this...). I love your 50th Birthday outfit with the pouffy skirt.

    ReplyDelete
  14. These are some gorgeous boots!, and love to see them in so different ensembles, they rock with all those vests and obi-belts and all the steampunk and victorian fabulousness!. Those 2017 outfits are some of my favourite ones!.
    besos

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are rather spectacular! I love the steampunk/Victorian looks too.

      Delete

Comments are so incredibly special, and I love them and hug them and treasure them forever. Please feel free to tell me what you think!

I'm not currently able to respond to comments, but I will make every effort to answer questions. I do read every single one, and appreciate your comments.

Please note that comments containing affiliate links spam-y sites, spam comments and anything I deem inappropriate will be deleted.

Cheers,
Sheila