Bigass Weekend Wrap-Up: Grey Gigli Flashback; Snowy Muppet Flashback; Red Lace Zoom and Versace Flashback; Zoom With Greetje

Hello, my friends! It's been a full weekend of nothing but snow and cold! Brr! However, I still managed to get dressed and wear some snuggly - yet stylish - outfits. I also took a bunch of pictures when L and I ventured out for brunch on Saturday, and I have three small Flashbacks on some lesser-worn items from my closet. 

So grab a hot cup of tea, a blanket (if it's cold where you are) and settle in. 

Friday was freezing - literally! It did not go above 0 all day. Snow kicked in later that night. 

I am swathed in wool and fuzzy things. I need warmth! 

 

• Turtleneck sweater - Wanko, thrifted; last seen here in December 2020 with McQ
• Dress - Romeo Gigli, vintage, consignment; last worn here in February 2020 in two day-to-night looks
• Shoes - Wittner, consignment; last seen here with the Loomed Lady in January
• Coat (below) - Mallia, consignment; last worn here yesterday

I have only one more unworn sweater dress after this one (a sweater slip dress!). Some winters, that cold weather never quite shows up, and I end up sweating in my wooly dresses. 

Not this year! We were expecting snow for the following 3 days, with temps as low as -25 with the wind chill (it was also forecast for constant wind, gusting to 50kmh, oh yay). 

I layered up a wool turtleneck sweater under this wool dress. 

I also have my fleece-lined tights on, and a vintage half slip. 

My sweater dress is...unusual. 

It has long arms. Like, REALLY long arms. It's a Romeo Gigli, a very Classy Designer - Alexander McQueen worked for him. 

Gigli was known in the late 80s/90s for the extra-long arms on his dresses.

The better to keep me warm! 

Masked up - I mixed all my metals today. 

Outerwear.

I'll be wearing this coat until it gets a little warmer! 

Fully done up. 

I wear my Doc Martens for walking to and from work - this was good coverage in the wind and bitter cold. 

Outerwear stuff: 

These gloves were very warm - gotta love a cashmere lining.

 

• Fur boa - thrifted
• Mask - by Mom
• Hat - M&S, consignment, Powell River
• Gloves - Roeckl, consignment

The stuff: 

Comfy shoes. I like how they kind of look like snow. 

Brutal bling: 

Spiky things. 

• Belt - Pringle of Scotland, vintage fair
• Leather cuff - Guess, thrifted
• Pewter cuff/necklace - Robert Larin, vintage 70s, vintage mall, gifts from L
• Earrings - Glee
• Volcano ring - vintage 70s, Mom's
• Hematite ring - thrifted
• Feather ring - Fossil, thrifted

Flashback: Romeo Gigli Dress

I found this dress here at Rich Rags in August 2018 marked down to half price: $27.50. I immediately recognized the fabric as quality - it's a very thick wool knit (although the content tag is missing). 

I recognized the name, but that's about it. I started doing some research when I got it home and Gigli would have been up there with 90s designers like Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and Prada if not for some bad financial issues. He was revolutionary for being counter to the big shoulder-pad/heavily made-up look of the 80s, instead focusing on cocoon-like shapes and soft draping that showed off a woman's neck and shoulders - all qualities in this dress. A couple of good bios here and here, if you're so inclined.

My dress was in with the XLs in the shop (it pays to look through every size!) and is labeled a size 46, which is about a modern size 10. It was most likely made in Italy. I think this is probably from the late 80s or early 90s.

That label is about right for that period. I've seen a few pieces by Gigli on luxury second-hand sites for up to $2,000 for a dress. 

I wore it in November 2018 - it was far too hot to wear it in August after I bought it. 

I'm wearing a band tee (Frank Turner) for bra strap distraction there - the back is much lower than the front as you can see from today's back shot above, and it's a very wide neckline, so my straps show.

I always have fun with goofy poses with the extra-long sleeves. I layered my sparkly black turtleneck under it here in January 2019.

I'm basically doing the same formula every time: match the shoes to the belt. Boots Flashbacked here.

This is one of my favourite looks with it, because it mixes pink and red. I wore this to the theatre with Mom in November 2019 - that might have been our last theatre outing together. 

I also wore the Fuzzy Flamingo with this. Love those boots.

This is the last time I wore the dress - twice in one day! - in February 2020. 

This is my work outfit. Shoes Flashbacked here. 

When I got home, I changed up my accessories for dinner out at Zambri's with our friends Tony and Laura. 

I need to wear that beaded belt again soon. 

Mathy stuff: I haven't worn this dress all that much, but I'm still at $4.68 per wear over six outfits. 

On Friday night, I watched the snow start to come down. 

The view of the apartment parking lot across from our condo. When the sky is that colour, you know snow is coming! 

The next morning, we had close to 30 cm/a foot of snow! 

L is on the left, and that's our neighbour Terry on the right, out there shoveling the rear parking lot, the driveway and the front sidewalk. We were the first on our block to clear the walks; the other apartment buildings did theirs later in the day.

It snowed for most of Saturday morning, but that did not deter us from getting dressed and heading down to Pluto's Diner for brunch. Would it be open? Worth a shot! 

A snow day calls for my Muppet skirt! We'll have a Flashback on this shortly. 

• Cashmere sweater - Lord & Taylor, thrifted; last seen here in January with yellow cords and the Loomed Lady
• Skirt - Joy Nilsson, thrifted; last worn here in February 2019 on our last Snow Day
• Boots - Doc Martens, thrifted; not tracked
• Coat (below) - Mallia, consignment; last worn above on Friday

This was my view of the staircase - we have a snowdrift! 

I had to sweep the snow off the ledge on the left to put the camera on. 

My view of the Castle. 

Looks like the neighbouring apartment building also has big drifts on their roof. 

I can barely see the Castle. 

Spooky! 

I'm layered up here with a vintage silk thermal long-sleeved top underneath the cashmere sweater. 

And I have wool leggings on under the skirt, plus two thick pairs of socks. 

My Doc Martens are the best shoes for walking in the snow. 

The rubber soles stick to the snow, so I have less slipping. 

Masked up.

Outerwear is key! 

I feel so fabulous! I haven't worn this vintage fur top-hat in a long time. 

I am all geared up here, ready to go out. 

Outerwear stuff: 

This is the first time wearing this mask - it has purplish shiny dots on it. 

• Fur hat - vintage, thrifted; last worn here for 2019 New Year's Eve
• Fur boa - thrifted
• Mask - by Mom
• Leather/wool gloves - consignment

The stuff: 

Totally minimal stuff - I only took my coat off while we were in Pluto's (which was open - yay!). 

• Necklace - thrifted
• Earrings - Kate Spade, consignment

Flashback: Joy Nilsson Mohair Skirt

I found this skirt here in November 2015 at Flavour Upstairs - I was a few minutes early for my hair appointment, so I dashed in a quick look around, and gasped when I beheld...the Muppet skirt! 

It was $17.99 (I KNOW), and was filthy. You can see at the bottom above, that the hem is dirty - there was also a big streak of dirt up the back. It weighs a ton - at least 10+ pounds - and is 100% mohair. 

Normally, when you see mohair, it is woven or in a very loose weave (compare this mohair sweater I just bought, and this other pink mohair sweater I have). This skirt is a very small-gauge knit that must have been really difficult to make - mohair is a very fuzzy wool.

Note the painted pink metal zipper there, and that's the original button at the waistband. 

It's by Australian designer Joy Nilsson and is pre-1974, as she shuttered her business in February 1974 (check out this old newspaper article here from the era). I also found this article (here, including a picture of her) about Joy asserting her opinions on Melbourne Cup fashions in 1965 (she's against big hats and bare arms).

I found a couple of pictures of 1960s gowns (here) and here by her, and a label on this 1960s jacket on Australian eBay (here, in the slideshow) that is quite different from mine. The label on my skirt is woven; since she won two Supreme Awards from the Australian Wool Corporation, and also received citations in 1970 and 1973 "for fashion excellence", I'd guess this skirt is from later in her career, so early 70s. 

After washing it (a big glop of shampoo and smushing it around in the bathtub worked well, then rolling it up in a towel for about a week), it came out beautifully, no stains or dirt at all. I wore it first in December 2015. 

I discovered very quickly that it's very HOT to wear (that tight knit!), and also that it drags on the ground and sucks up all water, dirt, twigs, and garbage off the ground. 

Later that same day in December 2015, I changed up the top and wore it to the theatre with Mom. 

I still have that top - I haven't worn it ages, though. 

I wore it to brunch and then shopping and hanging out with friends here - a full year later, in December 2016.

It's far too hot to wear on any except the very coldest days. 

It was my Christmas Day skirt in December 2017. 

I still have all that jewelry. 

And I wore it last here in February 2019 on the last Snow Day. 

Wooly grey boot Flashback here. 

I had to include the outerwear look from this outfit. 

Hooray for my Ringmaster jacket! 

Mathy stuff: So, I don't wear this a lot, but I only paid $17.99 for it, so Saturday marked only the 6th outfit with it. However, at $3.00 per wear, I am very happy to enjoy it on a snowy day once a year. 

Snow pictures! Here's L in his Boston Bruins toque and matching satin jacket. 

He's showing off the great shoveling job he did. Well done, love!

We strolled down towards town, and shouted our thanks to the other folks out doing their walks.

Everyone was very happy and cheerful. All those trucks are from a TV/movie production being filmed at the local school nearby. 

How do I feel about the snow? 

I love it! Woo! 

So does this guy, doing a little cross-country skiing on Linden Ave. 

We saw so many people with snowboards, building snowmen, and out shoveling. 

Looking down Cook Street. 

A few cars, but not many. 

Yay, Pluto's was open! 

The inside - it's an old gas station with a planetary/space theme. We sat in the Jupiter booth.

Say hey, Felicia! She's a fabulous person. 

Remember when I mentioned the pink blossoms starting to come out? 

Here they are, all covered in snow. 

I stood outside snapping pictures while I waited for L in the liquor store. 

There's my boots. My skirt started to get a little wet and therefore heavy in the hem, so I ended up having to do the two-handed hold of it as I walked. 

"Are you guys going to a party?" a random stranger asked. 

"Nope, we always dress like this!"

A snowman looking at the car tail-lights swerving on the slippery hill on the way home. 

This snowperson was of indeterminate gender. 

Maybe they're a mermaid. 

I love the old Victorian houses in the snow. 

L and I huffed and puffed all the way home. 

Whew, I'm done. I need a nap. 

Which is what I did (along with L and Vizzini) until it was time for Winesday + Happy Hour Zoom. 

The theme was "Fascinators and Sweethearts" since it was a year ago this weekend that we did Ronnie and Caro's Sweetheart party. I wore my new-to-me dress!

• Dress - Luisa Spagnoli, thrifted; purchased here for $12.50
• Shoes - Versace, vintage 90s, vintage fair; last worn here in May 2019 with vintage angora and pink

View of the Castle in the late afternoon. 

The snow had slowed down but was steady for most of the night. 

This was a fun outfit for our Zoom calls.

It always feels good to dress up. I showed off the pockets. 

I had fun with all the black accessories - this belt worked well on the slightly-big dress. 

My fleece-lined tights kept my legs warm.

I draped my giant fringed velvet scarf over myself  - must stay warm! 

"You should pay attention to meeeee..."

I bought that scarf when I worked at Fairweather in 1999 - it was my party scarf for years. 

The stuff: 

A rare wear for my vintage early 90s Versace shoes. Aren't they badass?

Black bling: 

I felt very Karl Lagerfeld in my black leather gloves. 

• Leather obi - thrifted
• Velvet scarf - Fairweather, 1999
• Leather gloves - Heart's Content
• Fascinator - Heart's Content
• Fang bracelet - Alexis Bittar, consignment, Sidney
• Crystal bracelet - Birks, 1975-ish, Mom's
• Earrings - thrifted

Flashback: Versace Jeans Couture Studded Shoes

Edited to add - I found more pictures/outfits! 

In November 2012 (here), I bought these awesomely badass shoes at a vintage fair, back when it was held at the church at Fairfield and Moss Streets, in the basement. They were a splurge at $40.00.

However, VERSACE. So KLASSY.

I adore the studs and the D'Orsay style. They're not the most comfortable shoes in the world, but when I want that classic black pump, they are perfect. I've never been able to find out anything about these, but I vividly remember this style being very much the fashion in the mid to late 90s. 

Edit: More pictures found! I wondered why I hadn't worn these shoes prior to 2014 - I just didn't track them for some reason. 

They were included and worn twice in my December 2012 capsule, part of my ginormous, year-long 30 For 30 For 12 Challenge. 

Loved that Smoking Lily skirt - see the giant red skull on the right where my hand is? - if only it had been lined.

Again in December 2012. 

That was a useful jacket but I didn't keep it long after the challenge was over. 

March 2013 - I was really into "trumpet" skirts at this time! 

A rare spotting of my blonde hair! Bustier top Flashback here. 

I had these green culottes for ages - this is an April 2013 outfit. 

I finally gave them up...just after culottes came back into style! 

I wore my new-to-me studded sweatshirt in August 2013 with the studded shoes (of course). 

I wore that sweatshirt around the house mostly, though. 

And here's a party outfit from December 2013. 

I gave that dress to Tracy shortly after. 

Back to what I previously had...

I first wore them in May 2014 - I have no idea why I "saved" them for 18 months before I finally wore them! 

I felt like a pirate in this outfit. I miss that blouse - I ruined it in the wash many years ago. I still have that belt! 

This is the one and only wearing of this vintage brocade dress. 

This was in December 2014. One of my Weight Watchers members really loved it, so I gave it to her as a "goal" dress. Kathleen, I hope you made it! 

Skip forward another three years to January 2018, when I next wore them. 

I like how the studs go with the studs on the D&G jacket. Dress Flashback here. 

And then over a year later until I wore them again here in May 2019. 

Skirt Flashback here. 

Update: Mathy stuff: I found 6 more outfits, so this is actually my 11th wearing of them, bringing us to $3.64 per wear.  This is only my 5th wearing of them in nearly 10 years! That brings us to $8.00 per outfit, but I should really wear them more. However, I don't mind a few things that only get aired every so often - I have some other shoes that also don't get out too much.

I booked a Zoom call with Greetje of No Fear of Fashion for the extra holiday Monday. We're on a 9 hour time difference, so morning for me, evening for her. 

Sorry, Greetje, I didn't get really dressed up - but I knew she would appreciate elements of this: the Kenzo cardigan, the studded boots (very "her"). 

 

• Cardigan - Kenzo, consignment; last worn here in April 2020 for a careful visit to Mom's
• T-shirt - Frank Turner tour shirt; not tracked
• Jeans - Smashed Lemon, part of a suit; last seen here with the jacket for the dentist in December 2020
• Boots - Ash; last worn here (2nd outfit) in January 2020 for an afternoon shop

Sneaking in a wearing of this Kenzo cardigan - I've had it for a few years, and it's been useful. 

The big KENZO on the cuffs can be hidden by flipping them down. 

I rarely wear the boots these days - my love for them ebbs and flows - but they are still a keeper in my closet. 

I considered doing a Flashback on one or the other, but eh, now it's my extra Monday off and I'm going to hang out with L and Vizzini instead. 

The stuff: 

Lovely studded boots. The studs "zzzzh" against each other when I walk. 

Bold bling:

Greetje and I had an in-depth earring discussion, but I totally whiffed and forgot to take a picture of us! We just got caught up in our chat and the time flew by! Lovely to see you and talk to you again, my dear friend! 

• Belt - gift from Ruth
• Leather cuff - Guess, thrifted
• Studded cuff - vintage 80s
• Silver earrings - Brenda Schoenfeld, 1992, vintage mall

And how's your weekend been? 

Thank you again for stopping by my little corner of the blogosphere!