Bigass Weekend Wrap-Up: Brocade Brunch and Peacock Coat Flashback; Shopping Scores (Sequins!); the Big Tree - Garland and Glass Balls

Hello, my friends! I'm a wee bit behind, but I hope you've had a fantabulous weekend! We have loads to cover, from my brunch outfit and a Flashback of one of the most stunning pieces in my closet, plus some scores from an afternoon shop, AND we're going to get to my big Christmas tree's decorations. Phew, that's a lot. 

Without further ado, my brunch and shopping outfit. 

The coat is the real star here, an absolute work of art that I invested in a decade ago. We'll have a Flashback on it in a bit. 

• Coat - Desigual; last seen here in February in one of my favourite outfits of the YEAR!
• Sweater - Tabi, thrifted; last worn here in March with velvet for a grocery run
• Skirt - Danier Leather, vintage 90s, thrifted, Powell River; last seen here in March for some weekend Disco Silliness
• Shoes - Miista; last worn here in November with my Buffy dress

L and I slept in then strolled down to Pluto's for lunch, followed by us splitting up to do some gift shopping for each other and L's family. 

We had a nice sunny day, so it was the perfect opportunity to show off this coat. 

It is by Desigual, and is 10 years old. I love the peacock on the front - which is embroidered on. 

And check out the bizarre back. The top part is printed on a boucle weave. 

The black parts are wool and it's very heavy and thick. 

I did have this on underneath, just for a tonal match and easy stuff for shopping. 

I trekked over the bridge to go pick up some special presents. 

And then I went to Flavour Upstairs, followed by the Patch, for a browse.

Collar worn open.

I only wore gloves, but wished for a beret once it started getting dark and colder later. 

• Gloves - Danier Leather

Collar fully buttoned up. 

I had people shouting at me with admiration all day. 

Got my crossbody bag full of cloth bags. I'm ready to shop!

• Purse - Danier Leather, thrifted

Oh, better mask up!

This is a new one from Mom - black with shiny gold stars. Love it!

The stuff:

The shoes also got a lot of love. Comfy! 

Minimal bling:

I don't wear a lot when I'm shopping. 

• Leather/chain wrap - local
• Earrings - don't remember
• Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes
• Silver/amethyst ring - Frances Jewelers, c. 1965, Dad's

Time-to-go selfie! 

I went full glam with turquoise eyeliner too. Klassy! 

I found a purse at Flavour Upstairs. 

It's a light grey leather with black-enameled metal hardware. 

I've been looking for a black/neutral small crossbody bag for a while. 

This is a nice size, and I recognized the name from reading Mica's blog (here, go say hi, she's lovely!), and she has several like this and I've admired them from afar.

I was so thrilled to find a Rebecca Minkoff purse!

I can see why Mica loves these purses. It's in fantastic condition - I originally thought it was new because it had the card insert and some spare cat food leather straps inside it.

Mica, am I supposed to add more of these to the purse? What are they for?

Upon closer examination, I noticed the wear around the bottom corners. Note the sweet little foot on the bottom (there are 4 of these).

Someone's used it regularly.

There are also some small chips in the enamel on the front clasp. I could touch those up easily, but I probably won't bother. 

The interior feels like new, no residue or dust or anything. 

Pretty butterfly fabric, with her name woven in too.

I thought $39.99 was a good price. 

There's a few listed secondhand online for $100-165, and they're $265.00 new. Nice! 

I also found a pair of linen-blend trousers that are going into the summer pile. 

They are high-waisted and bright orange, with a baggier leg - I'm thinking they will be cute with the cuffs rolled. 

They're by Sigrid Olsen Essentials

I'm pretty sure these are from the 90s - I remember this style. They were $34.99 - and they're washable!

From Flavour Upstairs, I walked up to the Patch for a browse - I haven't been there for a while and it wasn't very busy, so I had a thorough look. They have a "Buy 2 get 1 free" sale on - and I found three items! 

Item the First, this gorgeous "so 1980s" skirt. 

It is dark purple, bright pink, and cherry red. 

It's a knit, and that zig-zag pattern is knit into it. 

The little hairs you see there are angora. 

It's by Escada by Margaretha Ley - how about that? I just wore a tie by her!

It's 85% wool, 15% angora.

And it's made...

In Germany. 

It was my free item - I did not pay $19.99 for it. 

I like free! My cost-per-wear will be in the negatives!

The two items that I actually bought were both dresses, both body-con (I'm feeling good about myself, can you tell?) and figure-hugging.

If you're swooning over the print, get ready - it's also a knit! It remind me of snakes. The colours are olive green, black and aqua.

I was gobsmacked to see it was by Opening Ceremony. 

It's 100% wool. 

It was only $22.95! It's called the "Parlay" dress and I spotted one online for $165.00.

Their dresses retail for $302-960.00. This was likely around $500.00 new. 

This was my TREASURE, though. 

I know! I practically shrieked with delight when I found it. That is a 100% sequined dress! 

This is the back. 

It has white, yellow, lime green, teal, turquoise, cobalt blue, pink, red, purple, lavender, orange and black. BOOM.

It does have some age on it - some of the colour is coming off the turquoise sequins. 

It's by Adrienne Vittadini - I know that name! I have this beaded top here by her.

The backing fabric is a very thick white cotton dress.

For sure, it's before 1997 (Hong Kong went back to China then). 

Look at that. Let's take a minute to think about the person who sewed everyone of those sequins on this dress BY HAND. That is some serious skill. 

And I paid $49.95 for it. I spotted an identical one on Etsy for over $300 (if you want to be twins). I'm sure this dress would have been VERY expensive new. 

I am pretty sure it's from the early 90s - check out the enormous shoulder pads!

Yeah, baby! When I tried this on, I came out of the fitting room at the Patch (I rarely do that) just to show it to the guy working there - we both just gushed over it. "OMG!"

I wore it for our Saturday night Zoom call and wowed all my friends. 

Flashback: "Abrig Colette" Coat by Desigual

I bought this coat new here in March 2011 during the Best Weekend Ever! because I'd just gotten my new job (which is my current job). I paid $489.00 for it at a local boutique - it was worth every penny. 

My original pictures of it were just...not good, so I took fresh ones. This is my coat after nearly 10 years of wear. 

Every section is a different piece of fabric, all sewn together. The black scrolly vines are woven into the shiny green fabric, as are the black flowers on the darker green background.

That's a crazy boucle "backpatch" of some sort of abstract plant-like designs. The lower two-tone purple section is also all woven - and don't even get me started on the strip of embroidered purple roses! EEE!!!

The front has this lovely panel of a peacock.

There's brown woven swirls on another tone of shiny green below that. That same fabric is around the collar too.

I like the gold embroidered "bubbles" which are also on the sleeve cuffs.

The collar is outlined with a strip of black wool - all the solid black parts are wool.

Amazing buttons. 

There are two of the top dome filigree ones. 

I have a spare of the lily pad one. I've had to sew most of these back on - they get handled a lot from the buttoning/unbuttoning.

The green swirled button is the same as the red one on the collar.

The only picture from my original set of pictures is this one of the eye button.

Sadly, that one fell off. I think it's in my button tin, but it might be lost. Dang.

A good look at the backpatch. I like that shiny purple pattern above it. 

I often wear purple gloves and beret with this because of all these nice purple accents on it.

I adore that band of purple roses. So. Pretty. 

This is the lining on the backside of the peacock. It's one of those patterns that doesn't read in photos (as you'll see in the Flashback).

The rest of the lining is green satin, except for another backpatch.

Sure! Look at those hip young things traipsing through the flowers! 

I wore it the day after I bought it in March 2011. 

Aw, my old kitty Inigo. I'm wearing a denim maxi skirt with purple combat boots there. 

I wore it for a Weight Watchers meeting and for my new office job, also in March 2011. 

I'm showing off my new keycard while Inigo "helps" me. Those shoes are Fluevogs and I sold them years ago.

I nearly always wear this jacket as a coat, as it's far too warm to wear indoors most of the time. 

This was in November 2011.

It was featured twice in my 30 For 30 For 12 Challenge in February 2012. 

I have a turquoise streak in my hair! That didn't last long, but inspired me to do my blonde streak (for about 4 years), and to go purple. 

Second outfit of the month, featuring the same shoes and skirt, and showing off the lining. See? It doesn't look at all interesting there! 

I still have that necklace. 

Oh, I'm in my blond phase. 

This was April 2013 and I'm wearing my sky-high 6" Fluevog boots, so I'm going to a party (I think it was Urbanite at the Art Gallery).

In November 2013, with Vizzini's tail peeking in.

I like that these purple leather gloves have lasted so long - nearly 8 years! 

I still have these tights from December 2013.

Skirt Flashback here.

This is the only time I've worn it with trousers.

This was in February 2014. Vizzini ate all the laces off those shoes. 

I wore it to Vancouver for our anniversary in March 2014.

L and I looking chill. 

I had to include an extra one of me and Melanie! Plus, I wore the coat for 3 days, so I get to count an extra wear in there.

So much fabulosity! 

December 2014.

I should wear those boots soon. 

Oh, I forgot I even owned this lavender ultrasuede dress.

That was its one and only wear, in March 2015, I think. I prefer real suede.

One of the few times I wore it to the office as my blazer, in January 2016.

I kept having to take it of when I overheated. Skirt Flashback here. 

Going all purple in November 2016.

I love it with those shoes (Flashback here). 

Looks like I'm going shopping here in February 2018. 

Yes, bizarrely, I skipped a year. 2017, WTF? Boot Flashback here.

Over a party dress here in November 2018.

A fancy hat is afoot! 

Off to the cold theatre to see a play with Mom, in December 2018.

I still have everything here, including the black leather maxi skirt. 

I wore it for my birthday in October 2019.

I hated the outfit under it in the end, but I always have enormous love for this coat. 

And here's the last time I wore it, in February 2020, and it might be my favourite of all.

The tights, the shoes, the gold accessories, the pink leather skirt (Flashback here). 

Mathy stuff: I'm at 21 wears in nearly 10 years for a cost-per-wear of $23.29, which is not bad considering it's too hot to wear for half of the year. This is a "forever" coat, and I'm glad I have it. 

Christmas Decorations: The Big Tree - Garlands and Glass Balls

Like I did with the small tree, I've taken photos of all of my decorations, and have categorized them for easier viewing. To start us off, we'll look at my garlands and the glass balls on the tree. 

These next two swags will look familiar to you, since I had a blue one (here) and a gold star one (here) on my little tree. 

Here's the purple one! Again, I've marked the shape of the swag, and where I've bent over tree branches to make it stay in place. It's also a bit hard to see with some ornaments hanging in front of and behind it, but enjoy the sneak peek! I see a soccer ball, a lantern, a purple stripey ornament and a big velvet/gold ball. 

And here's the red acrylic crystal version.

While that big blue/gold/silver ornament is indeed a ball, that's not a glass ball, so it will be looked at in its own collection in a future post. 

I have a few strings of hand-blown glass garlands on the tree. This one is from Poland, and the shapes are fruit.

I spy grapes, an orange, a raspberry, an apple and a pear. I love these rich colours, and the lovely glow of the matte finish. I put these garlands on before all the other ornaments. 

I also have two strings of German glass beads, which are a shiny finish. That pink spiraled thing is an ornament. 

They are just random shapes too: balls, bells and a pear-like shape with gold beads in between them. 

They are such pretty colours. Jewel colours are my jam. I spy a toucan, see him?

I love the rich emerald, cobalt blue and bright pink!

I see part of a striped tiger!

I couldn't afford very many of these garlands - they were around $29.99 each. European glass is expensive! 

I also have two strings of "light bulb" garlands, which consist of a long gold string that has blown glass light bulbs with metal caps tied along the string. 

They don't light up, but I love the matte finish.

The bulb colours are red, pink, teal and blue. 

Each of the "bulbs" is about the size of the top of my thumb. These were $16.95 each.

Time to look at the balls. Similar to the matte purple balls on the little tree, I have 6 matte soft blue balls tucked into the branches of the tree. 

They are about 3" diameter, and were around $1.95 each. 

There are 6 purple ones too.

I tuck plain balls into the inner branches, so that when you look at the tree, your eye's drawn deep into it.

I also have about 6 shiny red balls. They are slightly larger than the matte ones. 

That's a big close-up of one of the bulbs on the string garland. You can see a blue one further back.

This is a one-off unique ball. It was around $5.95 and is about 4" diameter. 

I love the matte copper colour and the gold glitter swirls. I did a full tree in these colours (plus purple and teal) for the store, I recall. It was gorgeous. 

I'm a sucker for a matte finish (did you guess?). 

That's a burgundy colour, with handpainted gold and touches of gold glitter. I just have the one, and it was around $4.95. It's about 3" diameter.

Another pretty one - this one is matte red with swags of iridescent silvery glitter.

It was in the $4.95 range.

This one is small, only 1.5" diameter.

But it's matte purple! I got into purple in a big way in later years. The gold glitter definitely helps. 

This the largest glass ball I have - it's 6-7" diameter.

I love the matte red finish and the "fish scales" of gold glitter. 

And this isn't a ball, but it's big and it's glass and it goes thematically with the light bulb string garland. 

I see me in my Caroline Panthers sweatshirt (I was watching football while I finished photographing everything). This is a giant (fake) light bulb in a rich shiny aqua. The gold cap is metal, and it's quite heavy. It's by Department 56, and was around $18.00.

And there we go! I'll leave you with one last shot of me in my sequined dress, basking in the light of my big tree.

I hope you enjoyed this - thanks so much for reading! Tell me what you loved - outfit, Flashback, ornament, whatever!