Bigass Weekend Wrap-Up: Panthers and McQueen Flashback; Coat Refresh; Zoom Happy Hour and Malibu Flashback

Hello, my friends! I hope you've all had a relaxing weekend! It's been pretty chill over here, with our normal brunch, Happy Hour Zoom call, and a slew of board games. I've still managed to create some outfits, and dug out my spring coats while I was rummaging in my giveaway pile for goodies to give to my favourite Pluto's servers (Felicia and Wallis/Wally). 

Anyway, grab a cup of tea, and get settled, 'cause here we go. 

Saturday brunch time! I've been motivated to not buy junk food by these trousers, which finally fit me again! Woo! 

They're still a tiny bit snug - enough to make it a bit tricky to get in and out of the low bucket seats of the Jag. Good enough for a short jaunt to town, but I'm not quite there for a full day of sitting at work with them. 

I have been wanting to build an outfit with my new Panthers jacket since I got for Christmas. 

Haute couture + NFL gear - why not? 

• Jacket - NFL Shop Erin Andrews Collection; purchased here in January for $129.00 for Christmas
• Sweater - J. Crew, thrifted; last seen here in December 2019 with pink and floral
• Trousers - Alexander McQueen, Fall 2003; last worn here in December 2019 with tangerine
• Boots - Maleika Conquer, Fluevog; last seen here in October 2020 for lunch with Jen

We're going to have a wee Flashback on the trousers shortly, so I can gush anew over them. 

The jacket was fine - it's a thick t-shirt cotton. 

I liked the black/white blue contrasted with the checkerboard weave of the trousers. 

And it's got pockets! 

We were only out for a couple of hours - I didn't even carry a purse. 

Without the jacket. 

I decided that I'm done with this sweater being in my closet, so it's now house-clothes. I've worn it around 10 times since I purchased it for $14.95 at the Patch in September 2016, and that's good cost-per-wear. I love the colour, but the cut doesn't jibe with my dressier wardrobe. L will be happy to see me in something that's not moth-eaten, hee hee. 

We had a nice chat with Nick - he's in our bubble - and hung out for a bit after we ate. 

L and I popped into Ditch Records for the new Alice Cooper CD. 

This is how most people saw me - all masked up. 

I was in stark contrast to the sea of leggings, black and beige on the streets. I'm impatiently waiting for people to go back to wearing their real clothes in public! 

A close-up of my mask. 

I have this pattern in a couple of colours. 

• Mask - by Mom

The stuff: 

I have only a few pairs of shoes that are high enough for my trousers (which I will never hem) - I love the weird futuristic vibe of these, although L refers to them as "atrocious." 

Badass bling: 

I went with a square theme to go with the checkerboard pattern. 

• Leather cuff - Guess, thrifted
• Studded cuff - vintage 80s
• Silver/onyx ring - Toccara, vintage fair
• Fulvia Ring - Wendy Brandes
• Ear-cuffs - gift from Mom
• Silver earrings - consignment

I did a couple of bathroom selfies to show the ear-cuffs. 

The white one in addition to my diamond, pearl and main piercing. 

And the blue one in addition to my opal, diamond, silver hoop and main piercing. 

While I was taking pictures, Vizzini was begging for attention. 

"But what about meeeeeee?"

Tummy rubs were had. 

Alexander McQueen Fall 2003 Checkered Trousers

I bought these here in May 2018, on a quick pop into Flavour Upstairs after work - I was picking up English sweets and crisps for Cat, Yvonne and I to stay up all night and watch Harry and Megan's Royal Wedding. Imagine my astonishment at finding real Alexander McQueen! 

Note: all links 'cause I love, of course. 

I did my research a few years ago - these are from McQueen's Fall 2003 show, the year he was named International Designer of the Year by the CFD (Council of Fashion Designers), and received the CBE.

Some more links: 

• YouTube here (there is no sound) - the black and white checkerboard fabrics start around 6:30.
• The wind tunnel in that show was noted as one of his top runway moments by InStyle magazine (slideshow here)
• Vogue.com here - slides, plus a description of the show
• The suit that these trousers go with here

Vogue described the collection, noting (my bolding): 

Fantastic details were lavished on dramatic structured carapaces, embroidered, painted and mind-blowingly embellished to look like antique samurai armor, Russian lacquered dolls and tribal ceremonial dress. Somewhere along the line, the stiff pleated skirts segued into molded suits, done in jigsaws of two-tone checkerboard—the better to show off the designer’s devilishly accurate cutting skills.

How freaking cool is that? Although my trousers are not in the actual show, similar long cuffed pants are - it's likely that these were produced to go with the matching jacket. I remember seeing the movie "McQueen" (it's on Netflix, worth a watch!) in the theatre with Elaine and being so excited when I saw Isabella Blow (Lee's sponsor and good friend) wearing the jacket. 

They have incredible details, from the WOVEN checkerboard pattern (not a print!), to how well every line is matched. They are made in Italy of a cotton/wool blend (the fabric is thick and luxurious). 

Yup, I only paid $29.99 for Alexander McQueen! These are now 18 years old, and I respect their age - I don't wear them a ton. 

I had to make an outfit right away, of course, and played colour of the black and white. 

I wore this to work in May 2018 and showed them off to all my fashion-loving colleagues. 

Another work outfit from July 2018. Actually, all of these are work outfits.

I like the circles with the squares. Top Flashback here. 

I paired the trousers with pale pink here in December 2018. 

Same boots as today. 

In March 2018, I wore this black and white ruffled sweater, which I still have but needs to be worn.

I like the red shoes with them (Flashback here). 

And here's the last time I wore them, December 2019. 

I wore them out for dinner at Zambri's with the Book Club gals. 

Mathy stuff: I'm only on my 6th wearing (so far!), which works out to $4.99 per outfit. I'm totally happy with that! These are my number one reminder to keep myself on the straight and narrow - I never want to outgrow my McQueen trousers! 

With the temps rising to double digits and spring in the air, it's time to put away my bulky winter coats for the season. 

The Unsafe Polar Bear and Ocelot, the Grape Ape, my baby alpaca coat, and a few others - I still have plenty of warm coats, but these are the ones I wear when it's REALLY cold. I bag them up in garbage bags labeled, "Sheila's coats - do not throw away!" and stash them in the library. I have a giant collection of things for donation - as soon as they're doing pick-ups again, I'll be booking one. I don't want my coats to accidentally get in the wrong pile! 

I do the backwards hanger trick in my coat closet too. Three of the possible fall/winter coats didn't get worn. My cropped leopard (a dressy option), my Ringmaster Coat (an oversight!), and my vintage chartreuse velvet cape (wishful thinking, hoping for some sort of gathering). 

The above is what was carried over from fall/winter. 

I unpacked two bags of spring coats and hung them up. I have a plethora of pinks and a bevvy of blues!

I'd forgotten all about my red-lined leopard coat! Fun outerwear times ahead! I love having a refresh of my coat collection. 

I went through all my giveaways and pulled out a couple of Regret-Me-Nots. 

I've seen this baby blue blouse in so many of the Flashbacks, and eyed it with a bit of wistfulness. I may as well put it back in the closet and see if it's still wardrobe-worthy. 

I also was charmed anew by the lovely bright yellow lace of this dress, which I only wore once, here in April 2020 to visit Nick and Karen. 

"I don't know, it doesn't have any bits for me to chew on..."

I'll give it one more shot, and then decide. No need to be hasty. 

Vizzini was having a stare-down with a big crow in the maple tree out the window. 

"I don't like crows."

They don't like you either, bud. 

For our Saturday evening Zoom Happy Hour with our group of friends, I dug out three things I haven't worn yet this year (or for a while). 

As always, comfy things I can sit in for an hour. I do get up and give everyone the low-down on my outfit (some care, some don't). 

• Sweater - J. Crew Collection, Fall 2013, thrifted; last worn here in February 2020 with olive green velvet
• Skirt - Danier Leather - thrifted; last seen here in March 2020 for brunch and Winesday
• Boots - LA Malibu, Fluevog; last worn here (3rd outfit) for Terry's and Nick/Karen's Christmas parties

I had to get a wearing in of my Thousand Dollar Sweater. I kid you not, it retailed for $1,900, and yes, you read that right - check out this article here, noting:

a short-sleeve sweater made with 35,000 crystals, sequins, beads and paillettes that costs a whopping $1,900.

 Link to the Vogue.com slideshow of this runway collection here - this sweater is the first slide. 

Would you believe I paid $19.99 and it was new-with-tags? That's got to be one of my best scores ever. 

The skirt is real leather and flaps loudly like sails when I walk. 

I tend to wear it for Winesdays, although I have worn it to work and the theatre a couple of times. 

I took the opportunity to wear these fabulous boots, which don't see the light of day very often. 

They are astounding! And also very high. My feet were a little sore from wearing them for a couple of hours and staggering around the house in them. 

The stuff: 

That is a six-inch heel, but there is a one-inch platform in the toe-box. We'll have a wee Flashback on them shortly. 

Silver and black bling: 

A few favourites, including Karen's silver cuff. 

• Silver cuff - Karen's
• Fang cuff - Alexis Bittar, consignment, Sidney
• Earrings - thrifted

Flashback: LA Malibu Fluevog Boots

I got these on our March 2013 anniversary trip to Vancouver (here), which was the very first time we met Melanie of Bag and a Beret. 

L bought me these after I fell massively in love with them. They had been marked down half price from the original $799.00 to $400.00. I'm very lucky to have such a generous guy! 

The amount of detail in them is stunning. Those black "stained glass" pieces of leather are beautifully cut and laid/sewn over the silver backing leather. You can read about them here on the Fluevog site (my comment is still there - how cute, I was in my 40s then!).

"LA - Rise Above Earthly Constraints" - John Fluevog.

I modeled them in the hotel room. 

I was afraid to wear them out in case I tipped over, but I'm counting this as an outfit! 

I have only ever worn them for special occasions, so not surprisingly, these are all party looks. 

This was for a surprise birthday party for Alison in April 2013. I still have that dress (and necklace and earrings and cuff). 

I wore them again a week later for a party at Ron and Caro's, in May 2013. 

My blonde hair didn't last long! I still have that dress too. You'll recognize both leather cuffs there. 

I strutted my stuff for L's birthday in June 2013. 

I let go of that vintage dress, but I still have all the accessories. 

A back view of the heels, from March 2015 - somehow I missed a year! 

We saw this leather dress here in the Flashback. 

L and I are both dressed up for Vero's birthday in September 2015. 

Again, I still have all of those pieces - I haven't worn this party dress in ages! Fascinator Flashback here. 

I duplicated the outfit in November 2015 for an Urbanite at the Art Gallery with Elaine. 

I enjoy towering over everyone when I'm 5'10" in these babies! 

Another birthday party for L, in June 2017 (again, I missed a year!). 

That was the one and only wearing of that $6.00 cheap dress. 

And this is the last time I wore them, in December 2018. I like my matching teal lipstick! 

I wore this to my colleague Terry's Christmas party, then later that same night for Nick and Karen's party. 

Mathy stuff: I'm never going to get these down to pennies per wear and I'm okay with that. The current outfit is the 10th time I've worn them, which works out to $40 per wear. Would I pay $40 for a pair of boots I only wear once? Sure! So I don't feel too bad about these. 

I hope you all had a positive and uplifting weekend! Stay cool!