Mom-Day and Jab-Day Greens, and a Fascinator Flashback

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM! 

Today is a special day. Not only is it Mom's birthday, but it's also my first shot of the COVID vaccine. I never thought I would be so happy to get jabbed in the arm. So Happy Jab-Day to me! 

I would dress up for either occasion, so it's not going to surprise anyone that I pulled out all the stops. 

I dress up to honour the volunteers, nurses and medical staff, to thank them for all of their work. It's also armour, as I am a bit nervous. New situations are always laden with anxiety for me. 

• Dress - Etro, consignment; purchased here for $51.00
• Shoes - Channi B; last seen here in January with brocade and gold pleats

The fascinator is probably overkill, but eh, who cares? 

This is my first wearing of this dress, which I bought on deep clearance in December 2020 at Turnabout. 

I love that it has so many greens and blues in it, even a bit of grey/brown. 

As it's mostly silk (with a touch of viscose), and isn't really a layering dress, I had to wait for warmer weather to wear it. 

I really love the pattern, and was delighted to find I had the perfect belt stashed away. 

I'd planned to walk downtown in these shoes for my shot and then to walk home. 

But I gracefully accepted a ride from L in Vlad the Jag. It does save the wear and tear on my shoes, plus....vroom vroom!  

Outerwear - I need to have a bit of warmth for the small amount of time I'll be outside. 

And I need to keep my upper arm ready for the jab. Enter my faux fur stole. 

Outerwear stuff: 

Some coordinating favourites. I love the olive green snakeskin printed suede purse, found ages ago at Flavour Upstairs. 

• Purse - vintage, thrifted
• Mask - by Mom
• Fascinator - Tierre Joline, 2011; last worn here for Diwali in October 2019

We'll be having a little Flashback on the Fascinator in a bit. I've had it for 10 years! 

I've had this stole not quite as long - I decorated it with some of my bug brooches. 

I don't want to catch the COVID bug, but I'm happy to wear them. 

• Stole - Danier, thrifted; last worn here in March 2020 for theatre with Mom that didn't happen
• Moth brooch - vintage fair
• Bee pin - gift from Megan Mae
• Beetle brooch - Le Chateau, c. 1999

The stuff: 

Comfy shoes. Teal is a really useful colour for footwear. 

Gobs of bling: 

Some of Mom's pieces and others that I've collected. 

• Belt - Emmanuel, vintage 80s, vintage fair
• Earrings - consignment
• Brutalist ring - vintage 70s, vintage mall
• Jade/brass ring - Mom's, vintage 70s
• Leaf bracelet - vintage 60s, Trifari, thrifted
• Green crystal bracelet - vintage 60s, Mom's (gift from Dad)
• Gold cuff - thrifted, Sidney

Jewelry as Armour! 

While I set up for my Mom-Day Zoom call, Vizzini came around for a cuddle. 

"We should have some kitty treats."

He drooled all over my lap-blanket (aka my Ralph Lauren poncho).

"I heard it was a birthday."

He graced us a few times with his presence. 

"Can't you just let me sleep?"

No, I can't. I must take pictures. 

"You will pay for this...later."

Oh, you mean your 4:30am wake-up calls? 

Mom and I had a nice chat, catching up since Saturday. She'd been getting calls all day, plus a visit outside from a friend, so was feeling very "Yay, it's my birthday."

We matched in our teal outfits. Mom's also wearing a paua shell necklace she bought on her last holiday, in New Zealand in 2019. 

Modeling the jacket I bought her for her birthday. It's a perfect fit! 

It's red satin - a total Theatre Coat. Mom teased me - this is the 10th jacket I've bought her! 

Flashback: Custom Tierre Joline Fascinator

I met local hat-maker and artist Tierre Joline here at an art opening in a container in a shipyard in November 2011. L and I were going to a wedding later that month, and Tierre and I connected to design a hat for me to wear to it. She ended up creating two for me to choose from and I bought them both for $150.00 total. 

So this one is teal wool felt, with ribbon, bead and netting detail. It holds to my head via an elastic that hides in my hair.

There's her label. She now goes by Tierre Taylor (link here, 'cause I love) and is based in Toronto, making hats full-time since she was "discovered" in New York City and featured on Humans Of New York (HONY), here. 

The other hat I bought is this red one with the orange feather. I also have this beige/black one, bought from her at a booth at a Vintage Expo. I don't wear my hats nearly as much as I feel I should, so I guess that's something for me to work on! 

This was the outfit I wore in November 2011 to Steve and Celia's wedding at the Art Gallery. 

This was the first time I'd mixed teal and blue, and I felt very daring for wearing that denim Smoking Lily jacket to a wedding (Caro now has it). 

I wore my little hat to my company's Christmas party in December 2012. 

I forgot I owned that brown gown. It was boring and ugly and I'm glad I got rid of it! I still have the fur stole, and I'm wearing my Grandma J's parure of Sherman Aurora Borealis crystal jewelry there. 

I also only wore this black backless dress once, here in December 2014, to Nick and Karen's Christmas party. 

I loved this outfit, but it poured rain during our walk there, and my make-up and hair were drenched, and my nylons were wet and filthy when we arrived. Shoe Flashback here. 

I became totally discombobulated, and spent half an hour cleaning up when I arrived at the party, and had such a bad association with the dress that I gave it away. 

I looked so good before we left, too! I love the curls in my bangs there. I recognize most of that jewelry! 

I discovered that this fascinator matched my new Dots teal dress so I wore it to the theatre with Mom in November 2018. 

Walking shoes Flashbacked here. 

But it was more about the coat with this look. 

The shape of the fascinator is tricky. I've positioned it multiple ways and they're always a little odd. I'm okay with that, though. Coat Flashback here. 

And here's the last time I wore it, with my orange sari dress and fur bolero, for Diwali in my office in October 2019. 

If the shoes match...wear them! Flashback on the bolero here; shoes here. 

Mathy stuff: This is only my 6th outfit incorporating this hat, so not a great cost-per-wear at $12.50, but it's a distinctive hat requiring a specialized outfit. I'm okay with that - it doesn't take up much space, anyway. 

What would you wear with this hat? Are you into head-wear? 

Finally, wish me luck on my jab! 

And a very Happy Birthday to my mom! I love you, Mom! 

Vizzini, do you have anything to add?

"Kitty treats for all!"

Hear, hear! Kitty treats for all!