Double Flashback: Cream Pencil Skirt and Burgundy Shoes

Blerg, Wednesday. I had this outfit already lined up and ready to go, and today's as good as any for wearing it. 

It features my new-to-me mohair cardigan, and we'll have not one, but TWO Flashbacks on other items in the outfit. 

• Cardigan - LL Bean, thrifted; purchased here for $15.00
• Blouse - Le Chateau, thrifted; last seen here in July 2020 with a denim vest and pink skirt
• Skirt - J. Crew, thrifted; last worn here in March 2020 with zigzags
• Shoes - Napoleoni, thrifted; last seen here in January with secret satin
• Coat (below) - Auckie Sanft, vintage 60s, vintage fair; last worn here in February

I'm starting to think about my wardrobe swap-over, which will be in late March/early April - it came so quick! I wanted to get this skirt worn as well as this blouse. Due to my fewer work outfits this year, I am happy with getting in only one wear per season on some of my favourites this year. 

So when I have a new-to-me item, I try to reach for the as-yet-unworn items in my closet to go with it. How do I know they haven't been worn? Simple! Anything hung up on a hanger that hasn't made it into an outfit yet has a backwards hanger. I set them all up this way when I do the closet swap-over. It ensures I wear the bulk of my wardrobe - no stragglers! 

I'm eyeing some of the backwards hangers now...hmmm, what outfits will I make? 

But I digress. This deep green mohair cardi was lovely to wear - I liked it worn open, as buttoned sweaters always ends up gaping and looking sloppy on me. 

The blouse is sleeveless, but I was fine in my snuggly cardi. I don't find mohair itchy, although I know many do. 

We'll be looking at the skirt in a Flashback shortly - it's deliciously thick and luxurious.

Masked up - this is rose petals. 

It goes with the whole floral motif. 

Outerwear - it felt like a day for the Fuzzy Flamingo. 

And my Emma Peel hat (the hat is by the company that made her hats). 

All done up - it's gotten warmer out, thank goodness. I like spring weather. 

Outerwear stuff: 

My mask is dark there because it's wet from my washing it after work. I had everything lined up in the morning, then forgot to take the danged picture! 

• Hat - Edward Mann, vintage 60s, thrifted
• Silk scarf - thrifted
• Gloves - Parkhurst
• Scarf - by Mom

The stuff: 

These shoes were a good purchase - I love the odd colour of them and the gold accents. We're going to Flashback on them too! Woo!

Gold bling: 

I loathed the earrings - they killed my ears. After 5 hours, I took them off and angrily threw them in my bag. Gone! 

• Chain bracelet - thrifted
• Eelskin bracelet - faux Gucci, Italy, gift from Mom and Dad, c. 1994
• Brutalist ring - vintage 70s, vintage mall
• Silver/smoky topaz ring - Anneli Neumann, Sweden
• Bracelet - thrifted, Sidney
• Earrings - RFM, thrifted; purchased here for $10.00

And now....

Flashback #1: J. Crew Wool Pencil Skirt

After veering into the mall briefly on one of my many after-brunch weekend shopping trips, I caught and reminded myself to Shop Second-Hand First, and headed off to the Patch. This expedition was back in July 2017, and I found many good things, including this gorgeously thick wool skirt by J. Crew.

I swooned over the classic pencil shape, and the nice details. 

A metal zip to make a walking slit in the front. 

A real pocket, although it's guarded by another metal zip, so I tend not to use it. 

What a score! $19.95 for a wool pencil skirt. 

I like a pencil skirt with interesting detail - as I've noted with this skirt previously, my Always Be Upgrading personal mandate has been fulfilled with this skirt (until I stain it/wreck it). 

As it's too warm to be worn in the spring/summer, I stashed it away for fall/winter wear - this is my first outfit with it in October 2017. 

As you can see, it's utter Class. I always feel very business-y in it. Shoe Flashback here. 

Armoured up here in January 2018 for a corporate event. 

I look forward to wearing that top again...someday when it's a bit less boob-smushy. Shoe Flashback here. 

I tend to wear it with my "orphan" blouses: tops that are funky patterns or tricky to style. 

This is a lovely pale pink equestrian-themed silk blouse, worn in March 2018. Shoe Flashback here. 

Sometimes it's the "cake" when the rest of my outfit is "icing", as shown here in October 2018. 

A cream pencil skirt is a very handy item! I grounds all the colour really well. Boot Flashback here. 

Another fancy blouse gets shown off here in January 2019. 

I let go of those shoes - they were so worn out! 

A tricky jacket to style got the pencil skirt treatment in November 2019. 

Another boob-smushing piece - this jacket is vintage and very tiny/hard to button. Shoe Flashback here.

Again, the skirt is acting as a base for a lot of fussy stuff, here in February 2020. 

I nearly wore those tights today. Vest Flashback here, and boots Flashbacked here. 

And this is the last time I wore it, right as pandemic lockdown went into place in March 2020. 

Nearly a year ago! Shoes Flashbacked here. 

Mathy stuff: From my original $19.95, I've now worn this skirt 9 times, so that's $2.22 per wear - I'm really happy with that! 

Flashback #2: Napoleoni Burgundy and Gold Flats

I don't often find shoes in thrift stores - the ones that tend to show up are either crap quality or very worn. However, once in a while, a pair appears as a gift from the Thrifting Gods. I was in the big WIN (Women In Need) store in August 2019 here when I spotted these beauties. 

I love a pointy toe, I adore flats, and I drool over nice details like the shiny gold heel and gold details. The strap over the arch has two snaps for adjusting it over the vamp. I love the raised bit at the heel, which happily does not dig into my ankle. 

These are leather, and had only a bit of wear.

They were marked down to $16.95, which is a bargain for leather shoes! 

I tossed them into the fall/winter pile due to the colour (a dark burgundy/brown shade). 

I first wore them here in October 2019 with one of my favourite jammy dresses (Flashback here). 

I have a large contingent of reds, browns and burgundys in my wardrobe - they've been very handy. 

This outfit is from November 2019, all shades of burgundy. I've moved those L'Wren Scott for Banana Republic jeans into my at-home wardrobe. 

I've worn them with trousers more than skirts so far, as here also in November 2019. 

I need to wear that Balmain jacket again. Jeans Flashback here. 

I like this outfit from January 2020, although that patterned top induced Velvet Rage when I put a this cardigan over it. 

I miss my Big Lady Boss pants! They'll return in a month when I do my Closet Swap-Over. 

I love this version of the velvet top, worn in February 2020 to the theatre with Cat, her mom, my mom and me. 

I must get another wearing of that pouffy tulle skirt in before it gets packed away for the season again. Belt Flashback here. 

I love this orange/burgundy outfit from March 2020.

I'm looking forward to getting reacquainted with those spotted cropped trousers again. 

I wore the shoes again in March 2020 with a cashmere sweater. 

And I'm wearing my own sunshine in my yellow pencil skirt. 

They worked really well with this shopping outfit from November 2011. 

Burgundy, brown and orange is such a great colour combo! 

And here's the last time I wore them, in January of this year, with my groovy satin jacket. 

I noticed that the shoes are the same colour, so I'm sure I'll be wearing these two pieces together again. 

Mathy stuff: Today's outfit marks the 10th wearing of these shoes, which brings us to $1.70 per wear. I know these will get worn a lot more, so I'm looking forward to getting my cost-per-wear down to pennies!

What's your favourite outfit? Would you wear any of these yourself?