Reader Robyn wins the "Name That Coat" challenge. Henceforth, she shall be...
- Cashmere sweater - Lord & Taylor, thrifted; last seen here in December 2020 with gold and brocade boots
- Cords - Banana Republic, thrifted; last worn here for Winesday in the Park in May 2020
- Shoes - Wittner, consignment; last seen here in September 2020 with origami and green
- Loomed Lady coat - no label, vintage 60s, thrifted; purchased here for $4.95 (after a $50 gift card)
We still have very few COVID cases on Vancouver Island, with 12-13 cases a day, so things are still open, with all safety measures in place (masks, sanitizing, distancing, contact tracing in restaurants). I'm thankful we are still able to go and do normal things.
Since the coat was going to be mostly what people saw while we were at Pluto's and then downtown, I kept the underneath pieces simple.
And some bright chartreuse-yellow cords.
Getting my gear on - the mask is navy with gold Chinese symbols and is by Mom.
I matched the navy silk scarf (one of L's) with gold dragons.
A cosy cashmere sweater (I have a camisole under it as well).
- Scarf - thrifted, L's
- Gloves - Parkhurst
All done up.
I always check pockets on coats, both in case of a lost treasure (I have found some bizarre stuff), and to make sure I have enough room to comfortably jam my hands in there.
I loaded my bag on my back - it was perfect for carrying some heavy books later.
- Bag - Able
The stuff:
I would have preferred navy walking shoes, but I don't have any - these were great.
Blue bling:
The rabbit-fur pouf was on the coat lapel.
- Necklace - Britain, vintage, vintage mall, gift from L
- Pewter cuff - Robert Larin, vintage 70s, vintage mall, gift from L
- Blue eelskin cuff - mine, vintage 80s, re-thrifted
- Glass earrings - local
- Blue ring - vintage 70s, Mom's
- Fulvia Ring - Wendy Brandes
While L spent some quality time at Ditch Records digging for CDs, I headed over to Russell Books and had a browse in their fashion section. I love used bookstores, and haven't indulged in a good look for several months. This will be some good reading this year!
The Vintage Fashion Accessories is more of a personal/business collection, but I hope to learn a bit more about vintage accessories. I thought I'd give the late photographer Bill Cunningham's biography a whirl, and the Fashion Now book is another Taschen publication (they also had Fashion Now 2, but my pile was starting to feel heavy!). All of these were second-hand.
Before we left the house, we did our usual "Where is Vizzini?" search. I found him in L's tie-box.
"Do you mind, Woman? I just got settled."
After we got back from town - we walked this weekend, to ensure we actually got some exercise! - we chilled out and watched football until it was time for my early Winesday Women call, followed by our Saturday Happy Hour Zoom call.
I had to dress up! I couldn't wait to wear the Puzzle dress!
I left my camisole on underneath, and added thick leggings - Zooming is a long stretch of sitting and I wanted to stay warm.
It didn't require much styling, but I did change the shoes out a few times.
It was very comfy for our call.
I got up and modeled it a few times.
I do think - and tell me if you concur - that I should hem it.
I love that it's a maxi dress, but it's not long enough (I like my maxis to go right to the ground). I tried a couple of lengths on the gals while we Zoomed, and everyone liked this mid-calf length. I think my sewing skillz can handle removing the lace edging inside and re-sewing this hem. A slightly shorter hem would show off shoes better, and make this more versatile for actually wearing, much like my Friday Urban Camo dress (here), only not that short.
The stuff:
I went with my blue velvet boots to hide the leggings.
Gold bling:
A belt to hide the waistband, and a bit of bling for sparkle on camera.
- Belt - vintage 90s, consignment, Powell River
- Earrings - vintage fair
- Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes
Vizzini was very bad this morning. Tell them what time you woke me up, you little monster.
"4:28 AM! The perfect time for breakfast!"
And what happened at 4:30am, Vizzini?
"You put me out on the deck for 3 hours. I hate you."
I sure did! No food until at least 6am. He has a couple of blankets out there, and our deck is enclosed, so he's not freezing (plus, he has a fur coat). We have had to do this in the past, but thought he'd learned his lesson. Obviously not - cats are constantly testing you!
I hope you all had a wonderful, peaceful weekend! Thank you for stopping by!
That's a great name for the coat! I really like it with the blue and yellow too, such a good mix of fun and classic together in one outfit!
ReplyDeleteYour puzzle dress is such a good find if changing the hem would help you love it more I think you should change it :)
Thanks, Mica! It was a fun colour combo.
DeleteI think I have to - it just hits at a poor spot otherwise.
Brunch in restaurants can happen when you live near groen-ups. So much envy. I love the yellow coat.
ReplyDeleteI am grateful we can still eat out! I'm glad everyone is behaving here, Sam!
DeleteThank you!
Your library is as cool as your wardrobe!
ReplyDeleteI need to clean up my (actual) library as it's a mess, but I do love my books. Thanks, Ally!
Deletegood morning Sheila, what a treat today's post is for a blue lover like me! That cashmere sweater is gorgeous and all the beautiful blue jewellery (reminds me I must hook out the first ring my grandmother gave me a beautiful blue stone) I loved to todays outfit with a capital L. Your week end sounded lovely with a browse in a used book shop oh I love them never mind I am glad you can still get out and about and how much more will we appreciate it when we can. Loomed lady looks fab Shazxx
ReplyDeleteHello, Shaz, and hey, I'm here to help, so blue you shall have! Dig out your grandmother's ring and wear it! Thanks so much - I'm glad you loved it!
DeleteI could have browsed much longer, but I didn't want to keep others waiting outside. It did make me appreciate how lucky we are that most things are open. Thank you, my dear!
Being able to be out and about makes me smile as I vicariously enjoy your outings. :)
ReplyDeleteWithout any bit of puzzlement my vote is to hem the puzzle dress to the length you demonstrated.
And my curiosity would like to know, please, does/did Vizzini nibble any of L’s ties? Very clever nest maker is that cat!
Yay, glad to be of service, Laurie! Yes, I think the puzzle dress will look much better when she can also show off my shoes and legs a bit. I'm going to work on it this week.
DeleteNo, Vizzini only sleeps on L's ties. He's never gone after one, although we did take an old one and use it as a cat-toy briefly...and then reconsidered as we thought he might apply "play-thing" to all of the ties! He is very good at finding creative places to sleep!
Loomed Lady sounds about right, and what a beauty she is! Your "simple" outfit is splendid as well. The blue cashmere jumper and yellow cords were the perfect antidote for today's Blue Monday! I'm also loving blue bling, with a special mention for the rabbit fur pouffy brooch!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't surprised you wanted to wear the Puzzle Dress right away. I'm hearing you on the awkward, not-entirely-to-the-ground length, and might indeed work better as a midi dress. Your blue velvet boots are incredible!
I would have snapped up that Taschen book as well. They are fabulous, aren't they?
Ooh, naughty Vizzini, I'm so glad Phoebe doesn't wake us up at all hours, unlike her predecessor :-) xxx
Thanks so much, Ann! I got a lift from that blue and yellow myself.
DeleteYes, and I think that the puzzle dress needs to show the boots better. I'm going to hem it.
I love Taschen books - they are gorgeous.
He's mixed up, as it's starting to get lighter in the mornings again, so his little pea-brain thinks it's later than it is.
Vizzini has been having words with Stephen, he was trying to get me out of be at 4am this morning, I had to lay completely still and play dead!
ReplyDeleteThe Loomed Lady look fabulous, great with the sunshine trousers. Those books look really interesting. They'll keep you out of trouble. The puzzle dress is lovely whatever length you chose to make it.
Walsall has 349 cases a day and that's gone done 40% from last week. No wonder nothing here is open! xxx
Oh my goodness, they can be such rotters in the early morning, right, Vix? I can't ignore Vizzini, as he will meow in my face, and stick his paw in my mouth, gently scratching at my cheek.
DeleteThank you so much - I felt like a little checked ray of sunshine!
Oh my gosh, that's scary stuff! I'm glad we are still keeping our numbers down!
Oh naughty Vizzini waking you up so early! I was wondering if he wouldn't eat L's ties? After all he likes shoe laces and fringing or are ties too thick?
ReplyDeleteLoving the new coat with the cords and pretty blue cashmere jumper and the puzzle dress is fab! I'm like you in that I like maxi's to be below my ankles not above them and I think converting this dress to a midi length would be a great idea. You have such a wonderful shoe/boot collection you can show more of them off!
Take care
xxx
No, he's good with ties - they are only good for sleeping on for him. Thank goodness - I'd be annoyed (as would L) if he started chewing on them!
DeleteThank you so much! I am going to hem it to midi-length. Yes, exactly! I need to show off my shoes!
Ooh! You put Vizzinni out? How could you! Ha ha, I wake up every at 5.30 because Castor wants food. I actualy have two bites in my chin at the moment. Because he washes my chin to wake me up, but if that takes to long he bites it. It really hurts and it actualy bled! Love bites Gerben said. Yeah right.
ReplyDeleteIt's an enclosed deck, Nancy, and he has two chairs (with blankets) that he can sit on - he's plenty grouchy about getting stuck out there, though! I don't get love-bites, but I do get "love" scratches and he meows in my face!
DeleteThe coat is gorgeous and yes, do hem the dress - it would be a more practical length too. I love how your pink glasses matched your dress perfectly!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a good week ahead x
Thanks, Anna, and I so agree on the length - I will wear this dress more if it's a shorter hem.
DeleteI have been told by several people how blessed I am that Sylvester doesn't come in to get me up for breakfast until after my alarm has gone off. He has never woken me up crazy early. I love the combination of that 60's coat over the bold blue and chartreuse - it adds a contemporary vibe to the vintage coat.
ReplyDeleteI would vote for shortening the puzzle dress too, as I think you will get a lot more wear out of it. Some maxi dresses don't look good if you shorten them because the proportions are no longer right, but I think the shape of this one will work fine if it's shorter.
Oh, you are so lucky! All of our cats have been impatient eaters and have bothered us in various ways: meowing, paws to the face, jumping on the bed, pounding the bedroom door. Sylvester can teach Vizzini to behave!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shelley! I like it when vintage and more modern styles are blended - they both look fresher for it.
Yes, I agree - I think this one will be fine as a slightly shorter dress.
The outfit for Loomed Lady's first outing is inspired and has me thinking of pulling similar pieces in my wardrobe together for spin.
ReplyDeleteRena
www.finewhateverblog.com
Oh, that's so cool, Rena! I'll watch for your outfit!
DeleteI see you are already wearing some of your finds !
ReplyDeleteThe British coat is glorious but the puzzle dress is just out of this world gorgeous and it looks amazing.
You found so many cool books, I would love to take a peek at the vintage jewelry one.
This year I want to read again, I am starting small: one book a month, let's see how that goes.
Oh yes, absolutely! You know I love to wear things right away! Thank you so much, Lorena, I love them both.
DeleteGood for you - just do it!
I love Vizzini captions! He looks SO startled and unimpressed in those pictures! Ha!
ReplyDeleteYour Loomed lady coat is superb and what a name! I'm rather loving those cords and that yummy cashmere jumper!
I like the puzzle dress long!
I enjoy writing them - I can read his little brain!
DeleteThank you, Kezzie! Vote noted, but it's too late - I hemmed the dress. I hate it when long skirts/dresses aren't long enough.
To hem or not to hem, that is the question. 😄 I adore - really, really adore - a long hem as a general rule (especially on myself), but the moment you raised this one up a tad, I could instantly see where you're coming from. Either way (and length) it's a properly fantastic frock and one that you rock like no one's business, my uber stylish friend.
ReplyDeleteAutumn Zenith 🧡 Witchcrafted Life
I also love long skirts/dresses, Autumn, but this dress needs to be about 4 inches longer on me to work properly. I loathe that just-above-the-ankle length - so unflattering. Yes, as soon as I pulled it up a bit, I was like, "Wow, much better!" I've hemmed it and will show it off soon!
DeleteThank you!
Oh your puzzle dress with your velvet boots is DIVINE!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the play-offs, Shiela! Your second-hand fashion books will keep you very entertained in the breaks. X
Thanks so much, Jess! I am looking forward to wearing it at its new length, as I've hemmed it already.
DeleteI will, thank you - I've already finished one of them!
woww, so lovely to see you wearing these fab pieces!. This is an even more fabulous coat 'in action', and you've styled it so brilliantly!, love the chartreuse cords and the cute matchy accessories in blue!, You Rock It!
ReplyDeleteAnd the puzzle dress is so gorgeous, and you look so fab in it!, the golden bling and the blue boots totally rock it!. I totally understand that you prefer a different length, it would be a more versatile dress withouth losing any of its good qualities.
besos
I love wearing new-to-me things right away! I adore the coat, and am looking forward to wearing it again soon, I hope.
DeleteWhile I liked the dress long, it was just not quite long enough - as it is/was, it would only get worn maybe once a year, but now that it's hemmed, I'll wear it much more frequently.
Ah.. I was far too late with naming the coat, but this is a perfect name.
ReplyDeleteI think you should leave the dress as it is. But I bet I will be outnumbered.
Greetje
You were indeed outnumbered, not that it matters, as I'll always do my own thing regardless. :) It was not long enough - as it was, it was an awkward length. I wouldn't wear it again at this length.
DeleteThe Loomed Lady is an easy name for me to search on!
Cats always like to tell you they're starving. They're terrible fibbers.
ReplyDeleteGood to know your area doesn't have too many infections and you're able to get out and about - I'm genuinely happy for everyone I know who's able to live a relatively normal life. It gives me hope!
Vizzini is a terrible liar! He's always trying to tell one of us that the other hasn't fed him.
DeleteWe have been so lucky here. It's not normal, but it's closer than a lot of people have. I am grateful!