Monday Mix and Etro Flashback

First, before my brain-power floats off like a dandelion puff-ball, I must thank both Nancy at Nancy's Fashion Style and Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge for featuring my orange monochrome look (this one) last week! Please visit here and/or here to check out the other fabulously monochromatic participants. The next "Good Buy/Good-Bye" will be featuring red and/or pink. Hmmm, do you think I can do it?? Hee hee! 

Today, we have a Monday outfit. It's a mix of patterns and textures, and only a splash of burgundy to liven things up, colour-wise. 

Hooray! It was light enough this morning to take a dark, blurry picture! We'll be having a Flashback on this blazer shortly. 

• Blazer - Etro, vintage 90s/00s, consignment; last seen here in February 2020 with an etch-a-sketch sequined skirt
• Sweater - Judith + Charles, consignment; last worn here in December 2019 with my Christmas tree skirt
• Skirt - Zara, consignment; last seen here in March 2020 with cobalt and glitter
• Shoes - Mini QTee, Fluevog, consignment; last worn here (2nd outfit) in October 2020 with cashmere and burgundy
• Coat (below) - Apparence, vintage 80s, thrifted; last seen here in December 2020

I'm getting in a wearing of this skirt which I found at Turnabout last year. 

It's...fine. I love the asymmetrical hemline, but it's a wraparound style. It does stay put well, and billows nicely, but I have my critical eye on it. 

Due to the cropped cut of the little cream wool sweater, I layered my burgundy leather obi over the waistband and tucked the skirt's wrap tie inside the waistband to hide it.

The burgundy tights have a gold pattern running down the front...

...and the back of the leg. 

Jacket off. 

I took the jacket off in the morning as I was overheated after running up and down the stairs attending to the coffee machines. 

Masked up - this is a mixed red/burgundy rose petal pattern.

I liked all the mix of patterns and textures in this outfit. It felt comforting. 

Outerwear - you know what else is comforting? 

The Unsafe Polar Bear! 

• Hat - Principles, thrifted
• Scarf - thrifted
• Gloves - Parkhurst

It really wasn't cold enough to wear all this stuff, but I had my heart set on all the burgundy accessories, and there are only so many coats that fit over a blazer. 

The stuff: 

I was pleased at how well these shoes worked with the outfit. They even have burgundy piping on them. 

Bold bling: 

I needed a necklace to fill in the chestal region - this is one of my favourites. 

• Leather obi - local, gift from L
• Necklace - D'Orlan, vintage 60s, thrifted
• Silver/onyx ring - Toccara, vintage fair
• Silver/smoked topaz ring - Anneli Neuman, Sweden, vintage fair
• Earrings - thrifted

Flashback: Etro Blazer

I found this blazer at the former location of My Sister's Closet (on Cook St) in March 2013, here, and I remember that shopping trip vividly for two reasons. 

One, I found a brand new MAC lipstick in "Crave" in the pocket! It was my first ever MAC lipstick, and I loved the colour - they've been my go-to for real lipsticks for years since finding it. Since then, I've found money, scribbled notes and other weird things in clothing pockets in consignment and thrift stores. Always check the pockets! (but watch out for grotty Kleenex)

Two, I had just finished reading one of my first fashion history books, and learned a bunch of fancy "old" designer names, like Courreges, Beene, and Etro. 

So imagine my delight in finding a real piece of Etro! It was $42.00 which seemed steep at the time, but in retrospect is a bargain. Plus the lipstick would have retailed for at least $16! A very basic blazer nowadays by Etro starts at $1,400. 

This blazer is likely from the late 90s or early 00s - the longer length, the single button, the slightly padded shoulder. 

The fabric is a woven stripe, and it's 50% cotton/50% wool. It feels like thicker men's suiting. 

The gorgeous woven "tie" material and the lining are acetate. The buttons are all covered with the same matching fabric, although the 4th button on each cuff is missing its cover. 

The classic logo. Did you know that Etro (founded in 1968) popularized the use of paisley in fabrics?

That's why their logo is shaped like one. 

Check out the amazing lining. The black stripe down the middle is velvet. 

And you can see the gold, burgundy and cream lining (the cream extends down the arms), and that the lapel fabric is carried on into the inside of the jacket, down to the hem. Quality! 

 

Why I Love Etro: When L and I were shopping in Florence, Italy (back here in 2014, the year after I found this blazer), we were treated very rudely when we went into Dolce & Gabbana. Both of us wear expensive glasses and shoes, and we were dressed fairly nicely (considering we were traveling!), but the salesperson there followed us around like we were going to steal everything in the store. He also dashed past us and scooped up his iPhone from a table and clutched it to him like we were going to take it. It was ridiculous. I've worked in retail - that is not how you treat customers, even if you suspect them of being shoplifters (you give those ones the BEST service until they leave!). 

Contrast with our visit to the Etro store, a calm, friendly oasis - they even offered us hors d'oeuvres and champagne! The gentleman who helped us was kind and patient, and we spent close to an hour there. We had such a lovely time in the Etro store that we bought L a new pair of trousers (these ones here). I wanted him to get the full suit (vest/waistcoat and jacket) but the pants alone were over 500 Euros - I've seen RuPaul wearing the suit! 

I've been a fan of Etro since, and I will only buy D&G second-hand. Take that!

Flush with my exciting designer blazer purchase, I made three outfits with it in March 2013. This was a thing I was doing then, wearing each new thing 3 times, and letting readers vote on it. It ended up being a pain and too much work, so I stopped. 

However, you do get to see a bunch of outfits of me wearing it right away! Shoe Flashback here. 

I wore this out to Floyd's Diner for breakfast. 

I'm admiring my yellow shoes, which sadly are in the giveaway now - the black elastic ended up staining the yellow suede. 

This is the last March 2013 outfit - I had those tights for ages!

I'm in my blonde phase here, and my former neighbour is in his "I store my bikes here" phase. 

The colours in the lapels and lining are cream, gold and burgundy, so I tend to wear all those colours with the blazer, as I did here in September 2013. 

I still have the necklace and the blue slip peeking out. 

I leaned heavily on the deep red components of this outfit, in January 2014.

The skirt was part of a suit which Yvonne now has. That necklace has been in my closet since 1984-5. 

Another red and yellow mix, in November 2014. 

I did not keep that putty-coloured leather skirt for very long - I loathed the colour. Why did I buy it?? Boots Flashbacked here. 

I just tossed it on over a plain red-orange dress in August 2015.

I actually wore this to the Ulti field (I changed into my gear at the field). Shoe Flashback here.

Guilty - I can't button it up anymore! But this is what it looks like, from June 2016. 

Less chocolate, more walking! I am also reminded to wear those shoes again soon. 

I still have this marigold yellow wool skirt, seen in March 2017.

I miss those bronze shoes - they scuffed really badly. 

I like this classy look with my cognac leather trousers, in February 2018.

Super cool! 

I like this look from June 2018, but I HATED this belt and skirt. 

The belt never stayed in place, and the skirt was way too short. 

We saw this look from February 2019 in the Flashbacks for both the trousers (here) and the shoes (here). 

Mustard yellow is a good match. 

And here's the last time I wore it, in February 2020, with my sequined "etch-a-sketch" skirt. 

I think that's also the last time I wore those shoes - they are overdue for an outfit! 

Mathy stuff: This is the 14th time I've worn my Etro blazer, brining me to $3.00 per wear. It falls into the "once a year" category, but I still love it.

What's your favourite? Have you ever been treated poorly (or amazingly) in a designer store?