Black Leather and Floral Coat Flashback; Plus the Big Tree: Animals

Hello, my friends! In this post, we have a funky leather lunch outfit, plus a Flashback on one of my favourite coats EVER, and my collection of assorted animal Christmas decorations from the Big Tree.

I'm just getting settled into having extra days off - it's been awesome having L around and enjoying some quality down-time together. On Tuesday, we had some errands to run (Christmas booze, groceries), so we decided to go to Christie's Carriage House Pub for lunch first. Of course, I had to dress snazzy! 

We had a lovely sunny and clear day - most of the snow was gone, and the sidewalks were relatively clear, although I clutched L the entire way because I have a tendency to fall down. 

• Coat - Paparazzi, thrifted, Vancouver; last seen here in March for a vintage fair
• Blouse - Talbots, thrifted; last worn here (2nd outfit) in June with picnic plaids
• Leather pants - Classique Entier, thrifted; last seen here in October 2019 with a spooky top
• Booties - Prepare 2.0 Tracker, Fluevog; last worn here in November with a plaid jammy dress

I'm happy to report I did NOT fall down. Go, me!

My outfit was greeted with glee at the grocery store - a couple of employees raved over it. It's all about the coat, which is a spectacular piece of art - we will have a Flashback on it shortly.

A "hello!" to the lovely person at the grocery store checkout - I gave her one of my blog cards. 

I have waffled on this pink blouse in the past (it wrinkles if you look at it), but the colour is such a good match with this coat. 

The coat is perfect in every way but one...

NO FORKING POCKETS!!

Without the coat, so you can see everything. This blouse is viscose with a woven-in snakeskin pattern. 

There is a subset of readers who REALLY like it when I wear leather. This one's for you - remember, DBC!*

*don't be creepy

I was happy that I fit into my leather pants again and can even zip/button/hook them up comfortably.

It's good incentive to not eat chocolate constantly over the next two weeks. Because, I really WANT to eat All The Chocolate. All bets are off on Christmas Day, though; Santa knows I need chocolate in my stocking! 

Masked up - this is a multi-tone pink speckled one from Mom. 

I went with shades of red and pink for my accoutrements. 

Outerwear: All done up and ready to go - this is how most people saw me while we were out and about. 

I didn't need anything warmer - welcome to winter in Victoria! Winter one day, spring the next. 

• Pashmina - Portolano, thrifted
• Gloves - Parkhurst
• Purse - Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac, thrifted

The stuff: 

I require shoes that have a bit of a heel with my leather pants - these are all about Platform Math! That's about a 1-inch heel, net. These are easy to walk in and the rubber soles were excellent on the wet/slushy sidewalks. 

Black bling: 

Nothing too fancy. 

• Fang cuff - Alexis Bittar, consignment, Sidney
• Chain bracelet - thrifted
• Earrings - thrifted
• Silver/crystal ring - Soul Flower
• Silver/onyx ring - Toccara, vintage fair

It's a good day. I feel at peace. 

I'm happy just to be here, you know? 

Flashback: Paparazzi Embroidered Denim Coat

I bought this amazing coat here in March 2015 for $125.00, while on one of our annual jaunts over to the mainland (Vancouver) for our anniversary. 

It was on a mannequin at My Sister's Closet (a local Vancouver charity shop, not to be confused with the former consignment store in Victoria), one of the stores we always visit when we're over. 

It's 100% cotton denim, and it's fully embroidered. 

That's the central back section, but if you look at the full pics above, you'll see that the front and arms are completely symmetrical (a mark of high quality in a garment, as it uses more fabric). 

The brand is Paparazzi, which is an Anthropologie brand. I found one listed online for $200 second-hand. 

I'm sure this would have been about double that new, at least. $125.00 is a lot for something in a thrift store, but all proceeds go to help women in need. 

"Where there is love, there is life!" Thank you for the comma in the proper space! [/grammar nerd]

Bonus pic from that trip - Melanie tipped me off to this coat at the store (one of her regular haunts), so thank you, Mel! We met her for brunch and then went to Fluevog. 

We are such goofballs when we get together! I still have that coat.

I wore the coat right away, in April 2015. 

My polka dot pants didn't get worn this past spring/summer, but I stored them away - they'll fit in 2021! 

I wore it again a week or two later to go to the ballet with Elaine. 

Same shoes, and that's a yellow dress I no longer have. I have tucked a vintage fur collar into the lapeks to keep me extra warm. 

I love this outfit from January 2016, so much that I've copied this formula a few times! 

I still have that bow-tie, but I've upgraded my yellow skirt since. Shoe Flashback here. 

I wore it to Winesday in July 2016. 

The only thing left from this outfit is the coat. 

Trying out some wedge-heeled sneakers here in December 2016. 

That was the only wearing of that embroidered yellow top. 

I wore it shopping here in April 2017. 

Some basic clothes under it. I still have those boots. 

Here's that white + yellow + red mix again, this time in October 2017. 

I think I still have that yellow skirt?? How you know your wardrobe is getting too large...

I sometimes wear this coat like a blazer (keeping it on with the outfit) and sometimes I use it only as outerwear. It's the latter case here in April 2018. 

Origami shirt Flashback here; shoes Flashback here. 

Sometimes I keep the stuff underneath pretty simple, eschewing patterns in favour of blocks of colour - this lets the coat take centre stage. 

This is from December 2018. Velvet boots Flashback here. 

This outfit from February 2019 is the last time I did the yellow + red + white theme - the bow tie returns!

I could replicate this - I still have everything, including my Mr. T black chain necklace. Shoe Flashback here. 

Worn as a coat in April 2019. 

Top Flashback here; shoes Flashback here (although I let go of them this year).

I nearly wore these yellow cords today - this look is from September 2019. 

Jelly-deer sweater Flashback here; shoes Flashback here. 

I wore it as my main outfit piece here in December 2019, when L and I went to see Matt Patershuk in concert. It was a sitting-down gig with dinner first, so I went for ultra-comfort.

I see L is being a doofus - how unlike him! Hee hee! 

And here's the last time I wore it, to the last vintage fair in March 2020. 

I love the coat with the Big Lady Boss Pants! Fab! 

Mathy stuff: This coat wasn't cheap to begin with, so it's in my cost-per-wear interest to wear it more! I'm at 15 outfit so far which is a mere $8.33 per wear - very decent. 

The Big Tree: Animals

Although I've already shown you some of my animal decorations, I have even more! I can't resist a sweet animal face. 

We carried a big selection of animal ornaments by this line - I can't remember the name, but they came in fancy boxes and were $14.95 each. 

I loved this fox. 

Nice detail. 

You know how I love "Equestrian" as one of my go-to personal fashion themes? It started with Christmas decorations! 

The "hunting" theme of foxes, black boots, horses, and golden horns was very big in the mid-90s. 

I picked up this sweet little fox then for $5.95. 

I have no idea where this Highland coo (Scottish for "cow") came from. 

I've been to Scotland, but I didn't buy this. 

Oh, here's another ornament that would have been with the equestrian theme. 

A lovely golden stag. This was $7.95. 

These next animals joined my collection in the late 90s, just before I left Christmas House to go back to university and finish my degree. 

It's a grey bunny, stopping her fall with a couple of leaves. 

And she's got a halo...so is this a dead bunny? 

Maybe she fell from the lack of flying (leaves are useless, even for a small rabbit), died, came back to life, and then used the leaves to fly to heaven? My goodness, I'm seeing these ornaments in a whole new light! 

I also have a racoon who is doing the same thing! Dead animals everywhere! 

I like that she is holding a leaf with her tail. 

Such great detail. 

Look at that face! She's pretty happy for a dead racoon. These two above were $19.95 each. 

This one is from the same line and was so gorgeous that I bought one for Mom too. 

A mouse on a butterfly! This was the most expensive at $24.95. 

Amazing detail - the shiny eyes, the antennae, the fur and the wings. 

Her little tail wrapped across the butterfly's abdomen and gripping the wing. 

The colour on the wings is amazing. This is a big heavy ornament. 

I love this reindeer. 

He's got a beautiful blanket over his back, and some good detail. He was $11.95.

He's not quite 3D; more of a thick 2D. 

Another reindeer - this one's acrylic. 

It was $3.95.

Dear gawd, this is hideous. I vaguely recall buying this on after-Christmas clearance at the drugstore? 

Probably because I didn't have a monkey ornament. I can't look at it - nightmare fuel! 

I loved these little cats in teacups - we had them with ginger cats, grey tabbies and solid black cats, I think. 

It's porcelain and these were $5.95. I always wanted a cat, but didn't get one until L and I lived together (Othello kitty). 

This little mouse looks very hungry; she probably can't get into that walnut. "Please, kind lady, won't you open this for me?"

This is from the same set as the first fox and was $14.95. 

This ornament was unfamiliar to me when I unpacked this year. 

It was stuffed into the top of one of the bags. 

Someone obviously gave it to me. 

I have never been to Yellowstone. Who do I know who has been there?

L was marveling last night that I remember how much all these ornaments and things were. It's because for most of my 11 years working in the Christmas store, I HANDWROTE all the price tags. We sold hundreds of these otter ornaments. 

He was $2.99. I wrote that price hundreds of times, which is why I can't remember anyone's names now: no room in the hard-drive. But I'll remember the prices of these forever. Thank you, brain. 

I love this wooden lobster. 

We don't have lobsters on the west coast of Canada, but these were popular enough in our nautical section, along with sailboats, globes, lighthouses, anchors, that sort of thing. He was $5.95 and is hand-carved wood with metal accents (legs, antennae). 

I also bought this big-eyed turtle from that same fancy collection as the fox and the mouse on the walnut. 

I love the shell. 

The eyes are glass. It was $14.95 as well. 

These next two are from the big folk/cow trend in the late 80s. More Stockholm Syndrome, heh heh.

Something about the rough carving gets me. 

The funny faces. 

Funny pink pig face! 

I love the little curlicue tail. These were $4.95 each. 

This felt dove is actually really old - it's one of my childhood ornaments, and was probably from Grandma J in 1972-73?

Embroidery and sequins - you can draw a direct line from this ornament to my closet contents today. 

Same with this filigree white metal unicorn, a gift from my aunt Sheila, who I was named after her, a family friend type of aunt. 

She was a Mary Kay lady in the 80s, and I learned most of my make-up skillz from her. I had Mary Kay everything when I was in high school: eyeshadow and lip palettes, base, blush, perfume. 

I like this sweet little cat hanging out in a Santa hat. 

It was $5.95. I don't think Vizzini would chill in a Santa hat - he would freak the heck out and destroy something while he fought his way free. 

I love these two griffin. I know, they are not technically an real animal, but neither is the dragon or the unicorn. 

I didn't often buy two of anything, so you can tell I REALLY liked them. 

They were $5.95 each. 

These seahorses were so delicate. They were $7.95. 

They were actually made from moulds that were created from REAL seahorses, which is kind of horrifying. 

They often broke as people clattered them together - this bottom one was probably a "take it" as the tail is chipped. 

I remember when we got these wooden hand-carved animals in. As well as being an assistant buyer, tree decorator, window decorator, staff trainer, duster/vacuumer, and salesperson, I also unpacked all the stock and put it out in the store. My boss would open the giant shipping boxes when they came in, and divide up the stock for our two up-Island stores (one in Chemainus and one at Whippletree Junction, just south of Duncan), and jot the price per ornament on the top of the box of 6 or 12, however they came. 

She would sometimes leave me a note on where she wanted things displayed in the store, but I usually had autonomy on that. I spent my days between customers unpacking the boxes, discarding the extra packaging (most of it - we always kept "the good boxes") and pricing the ornaments. 

We displayed them on pegboard on hooks (like this here, link 'cause I love). I once stepped on a hook (always wear your shoes at work, kids!), popping a hole in the sole of my foot and bleeding all over the floor. My boss, Joanne, bandaged me up ("I'm a mom, I know what to do"). 

I was ecstatic when they finally got a pricing gun. My hands ache when I think of all the freaking price tags I wrote over 10 years. 

Yes, Vix, I do have an Unsafe Polar Bear! 

These wooden ornaments are hand-carved and are from India. 

They were $9.95 each. 

That's an Unsafe Hippo! 

Hippos are very dangerous. If you see a hippo, run away. 

I could not afford the other carousel ornaments in this collection. Look how huge this is - the whole length of the photo!

It is nearly 12 inches, top to bottom. 

Glitter rhino! 

We also had an elephant, a horse and a lion. I wanted them all, but at $24.95 each...nope. Not even with my discount.

This wonderful stag brings us back to the equestrian collection again. 

He has a fuzzy, flocked finish, with a metal bell and greenery. 

The antler racks are plastic. He was $7.95. 

I hope you enjoyed my animals. Do you have a favourite? It's hard to choose just one! 

I'm going to take a little break now until after Christmas, when I'll return with clothes, presents, and more Christmas tree decorations (yes, I'm still not done). From the bottom of my heart, I wish you all peace, and whatever and however you celebrate, I wish you joy and love.

Merry Christmas!