And my outfit from yesterday was much admired. To every person who complimented us (L was still in his suit and tie from work, and was permitted to accompany me all the way through), I said, "This is for you! Thank you so much for everything you are doing!" One person said I'd made her day, and looked like she was going to cry. I'm so glad I dressed up.
And then I wore a suit today.
- Suit - Part Two; last worn here (2nd outfit) in October 2020 for brunch with Nick
- Blouse - Zoe + Sam, thrifted; last seen here in January in an all-orange outfit
- Shoes - Mello Bossa Nova, Fluevog; last worn here in August 2020 with more neon
Back when I worked in clothing retail (LA Express and Fairweather, 1994 and 1999-2000), we referred to this as "suiting".
We were required to wear either suiting or cardigan twinsets(!!) at my job at Fairweather, and were usually dressier than our clientele.
L really liked this outfit until he got to the shoes.
"Those may be the worst shoes ever."
I still feel like a boss whenever I wear anything remotely suit-like. I think I had about 8 suits at one point, in all kinds of combinations of skirts/pants/dresses.
The poor man can't see the beauty in ugly shoes. He's a product of his time (a teen in the 80s), so likes the pointy-toe pump/court style of shoe. I have those too, and wearing them with this would have given me a more classic look.
This also looked really good with my Converse sneakers that I wear walking to and from work. My eyes are getting used to sneakers with "real clothes" as a look, but it's not me on a daily basis.
Masked up. This is the third time I've worn this orange silk blouse with these shoes!
I didn't see too many people today, but I resolved a complicated finance issue in an hour after at least six other people had been stumped. I'd like to think the suiting helped.
Outerwear - only a few accoutrements required.
I'd forgotten about this scarf - another lovely gift from Mom, from one of her travels. It's silk, cashmere and viscose.
Outerwear stuff:
The orangey tone of the tan gloves and the spots on the mask worked well with the suit pattern.
- Leather gloves - vintage, thrifted
- Scarf - gift from Mom, Italy
- Mask - by Mom
The stuff:
These shoes are traffic cone neon orange in real life. Put your sunglasses on! They'll sear your eyeballs!
Black bling:
The zipper rose is from our trip to London with Mom in 2010.
- Necklace - vintage, Grandma J's
- Zipper rose - V&A Museum gift shop, London
- Silver/onyx ring - Toccara, vintage fair
- Silver/crystal ring - Soul Flower
- Earrings - thrifted
Are you dabbling in suiting this season, now that it's trendy again? Or have you been suited up (or not!) all along?
Hooray! I'm so pleased that you're jabbed - welcome to the club!
ReplyDeleteJon and I are united in our dislike of pointy shoes. Back in 1980s Britain they were the choice of the mainstream, us alternative kids wore Doc Martens or monkey boots.
I love your shoes and the suit looks pretty cool, too! xxx
So happy to be here, Vix! Aw, that's too bad - early in the 80s here they were odd, then became mainstream (the Brits are always ahead of us!).
DeleteThank you, my dear!
Congrats on getting the vaccine. So nice the medical staff appreciated your dressing up.
ReplyDeleteYour suit combo is fabulous. I just realized that I don't have a pattern suit! I need to correct that. I don't have a lot of suits but I match different items (blazers and skirts/ shorts/ pants) that go well together and sometimes they really look like a suit. Yes, I remember when dresses used to have matching jackets. I loved when my mother would wear suit suits.
Your shoes are fab! I wasn't a teen in the eighties but I love pointy shoes....but then again, I also like rounded ones and square ones. I just love the neon orange shoes you're wearing. There is a chain of stores here called 'Shoe Be Do' and they sell different quality brands (my favourite is Spanish Nosense). I don't know if they have the Mello Bossa Nova brand but the design of these shoes reminds me a lot of type of shoes they are selling. I loved stopping in that store, I always find the best stuff.
I was really glad I'd done it for them - they appreciated it so much, Ivana.
DeleteThank you! Oh, you need a patterned suit, ha ha! I also like to mix and match separates. Suit skirts are some of my favourites, but I'm growing my love for pant suits.
I like all toes mostly - why restrict oneself, right? That store sounds very cool. Mellow Bossa Nova is the name of the shoe, but the brand is my favourite Fluevog.
I thought Mellow Bossa Nova was the name of the brand not the shoe specifically. No wonder I had no luck googling it. So, they are Fluevog too! A fabulous brand and you wear their shoes so well.
DeleteYup, you can pretty much guarantee that I'm wearing Fluevogs 8/10 pairs of shoes. These ones came in neon orange and neon yellow. Thank you!
DeleteThat's so awesome you've got that vaccination! I really like this suit on you too - with the statement shoes and bold orange it's so you! I really need to wear orange more, it's such a cheerful colour :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so relieved, Mica! Thank you so much - orange is an awesome colour (and goes great with blue).
DeleteMy very first purchase for my very first job in NYC was a pink turtleneck and a mauve wool pant suit. I loved that suit, though 40 years later I do smirk a tad at what I wore. ;) Then I remember it’s perspective and what was in style in the 1970s!
ReplyDeleteYour suit rocks and is versatile given the shoes and accessories you choose. I recall another pair of clunky shoes that L does not like. He surely would have frowned at the 8 pairs of Dansko clogs/shoes that I clomped around in for a number of years. Oh, though, they were comfortable for being on my feet most of the school day! I have never been a fan of pointy toe shoes; fine to admire on others but never will be the day that they cradle my feet. ;)
Absolutely delighted you are jabbed and on your way to the next one. Do you return in 3 or 4 weeks for #2? And I was not surprised at how much you and your outfit uplifted the jabbers. I get uplifted 3,000+ miles away, and in person is all that much more up-close and positive!
Love the bright orange with the suit. And especially like your pose with the gloves. Something so enjoyably classic yet fresh in that stance!
Cheers, Laurie
That suit would be right in fashion now, Laurie! I would wear it - it sounds amazing. Yes, it's all about "the fashion of the time." We thought we looked normal and everything else was dated, but nearly every trend gets dated eventually! All the more reason to wear whatever you like - you'll never be out of style.
DeleteThank you, my dear! Yes, he is not a fan of any of my chunky shoes (you're likely thinking of my aqua Fluevogs). He does hate those clogs, ha ha!
Oh, I WISH it was 3-4 weeks! Canada is so far behind, they are delaying the second dose - I'll be lucky if I get it by the end of August. We are at 50% of Canadians having gotten our first dose only; Victoria is now letting anyone above 30 register and get booked for their first jabs. It's going well, but nowhere near the level of the US.
Aw, thank you, Laurie. It makes me feel good to uplift others through my clothes. Ha, thanks - I've been trying to shake up my regular poses a bit. :)
Fab outfit and even L's 'ugly' shoes look fabulous on you!
ReplyDeleteI commented on Ann's post yesterday that it's not very often we see women's suits donated to our charity shop and it's not that often you see them in the charity shops generally, anymore.
xxx
Congratulations on your jab!
Thanks so much, Vronni! No, you don't see two-piece suits very often - they are usually split up and sold separately. I've been lucky to either find both pieces or find my suits together in shops.
DeleteThanks! So relieved to have it over with.
L has never liked those shoes, has he?
ReplyDeleteNope, he never has. :) Heh. He says that the aqua clunky ones have now been surpassed in awfulness with these ones!
DeleteFirst of all, I'm glad to hear your first jab went well, and that your efforts to dress up were greatly admired and appreciated. Do you already have a date for your second one?
ReplyDeleteI love a good suit - or suiting, as you're calling it - and have quite a few ones in my wardrobe. All skirt or dress suits, though, I've yet to find the perfect pant suit. I've just been reading your reply to Veronica's comment, and yes, they are often split up and sold separately, at least that's what they do at Think Twice. They hang them up together, though, but they're priced separately. I absolutely hate that!
Anyway, I love how you styled that suit, both the blouse and the shoes are perfect with it, no matter what L. says. He has always hated those shoes, hasn't he? I think they're pretty funky! xxx
I've since heard from many readers that it's inspired them to dress up for their vaccination, which is awesome. No, no one has dates for their second shot yet - my mom will hopefully get hers by July 1, and then the whole thing will start over - I might get mine sometime in August. Sigh!
DeleteI love suits and all suiting pieces, Ann! Pant suits are so much trickier to find, as they always get split up and sold separately, it seems. I tend to agree with that in thrift stores, as they are frequently wildly different sizes (the jackets fit me, but the tiny waists do not!).
Thank you so much, my dear! Yes, L has always hated these shoes - as I noted to Lin above, now these are his most-hated, ha ha!
Well, L can have his pointy shoes-I'm loving the pop of orange in both places! That suit is so fun-Like a Boss, but a fun Boss.
ReplyDeleteHa ha, me too, Sam! Thank you - yes, I'm fun like a BOSS!
DeleteCongrats on the jab - the gateway to freedom!
ReplyDeleteI like the look of pointy toe shoes, they're very pretty, but they are often painful, so kudos to a comfy shoe with room for your toes. The fact that they're orange is just a huge bonus!
Woo hoo, Nana! I'm halfway there!
DeleteI do too, and you're so right - they are often pinchy in the toes. Comfy shoes are awesome, and orange is the best! Thanks so much, my dear!
That is a fab outfit -- I love the orange shoes with the suit!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cynthia! Me too - it's an unexpected colour.
DeleteYou are such a caring, awesome soul. Thank you deeply for letting the healthcare personnel know just how much you appreciate their hard, tireless work by dressing to the nines for your shot. I plan to do much the same when my turn comes. :)
ReplyDeleteAutumn Zenith 🧡 Witchcrafted Life
That's fantastic, Autumn, I'm happy to be inspiration! I plan to dress up for L's shot on Saturday too.
DeleteOh good on you for getting the vaccine. So glad it went well for you!
ReplyDeleteLooooving your suit so much. You look fantastic!😍😍
I'm so relieved, Jess. I hope you get yours soon!
DeleteThank you! I love wearing suits.
You make strangers CRY?! I believe it.
ReplyDeleteAw, that's sweet - hopefully I only make them cry in a positive way, ha ha!
DeleteCongratulations on your first jab! I'm waiting for my appointment for my second shot which hopefully will be before the end of the summer. I don't remember the last time I wore two matching pieces - maybe in the 80's for a job interview?
ReplyDeleteIt's such a relief to have it done, Shelley! We're being told maybe 12 weeks until our next one? I really hope so!
DeleteHa ha, yes, those matchy sets were job interview requirements, weren't they? :)
Actually I love a suit, particularly when worn with attitude as you Do!, love the way you styled it, the orange shirt and those Fabulous Shoes rock it!. You know I have a weakness for these shoes! and totally agree with Vix about 80's and pointy shoes (same story here in Spain, as we copycated anything british back then!).
ReplyDeletebesos
Thank you so much! I loved this suit with the orange accents. I'm so glad I have another fan of these shoes!
Delete