Friday, October 8, 2021

Fancy Friday in Gold, an S Dress, and Lace Collar Done

 Surprise! I decided to do a Friday post, just so that I wouldn't have SO much to blog about later. Welcome to my Fancy Friday outfit. 

Just wearing things I love - oh, and I rescued these leopard shoes from the giveaway pile, so this was a second chance for them. 

  • Leather jacket - Danier Couture, consignment; last seen here in March in a fabulous outfit
  • Blouse - Renuar, thrifted; last worn here in September 2020 with sequins and orbs
  • Skirt - A New Day (by Target), thrifted; last seen here in December 2020 with boots and a chunky sweater
  • Shoes - Banana Republic, consignment; first worn here in May with plaid

I'm not sure what the starting point of this outfit was - sometimes things just come together. 
I love this radiantly gold velvet pleated skirt - it even has an elastic waist. 

If it had pockets, it would be an A+. 
"You're an easy marker."


The black leather jacket is the only plain one I have in my closet. All other black jackets have some kind of extra colour detail. 

I love the cropped style.
I like the sleeves hanging out too. 

Masked up - my coworker Milind exclaimed over this leopard one.
We had a good discussion about leopard as a pattern - a lot of people associate leopard print with a "trashy" look. I think it's one of the most classic and chic prints around. 

I finished my gold crochet collar! 
So why not wear it? I'll show you some detail pictures in a bit.

It's buttoned at the back. 
I popped into a couple of stores on the way home (more on that shortly), and the ladies in one shop were in raptures over it. 

Accoutrements: 
Mark my words, that collar is SPARKLY. 

  • Collar - made from thrifted vintage wool by me! 
  • Mask - Lazy Susan's
  • Gloves - Parkhurst

The stuff: 
The verdict on the shoes is KEEPERS! I was in a funk the first time I wore them, but they've been on my mind since I put them in the giveaway pile - that's generally a good sign that it's a regret-me-not! 

Classy bling: 
Mom's metal/glass brooch got a lot of love too.

  • Belt - Talbots, thrifted
  • Brooch - vintage 60s, Mom's
  • Amber ring - c. 1996
  • Feather ring - Fossil, thrifted
  • Earrings - thrifted

I popped into the Fluevog store on the way home to pick up my gift card from Mom, and to ogle the new styles. I have a few pairs I can't wait to try on! 

I also took a quick tour around Flavour Upstairs, and bought this dress without even trying it on. 
I mean, it has an S on it! S for Sheila! And it's deep purple and a mossy green 

It's by Uniqlo, and it's 50/50 wool/acrylic. The design on it is knit (not printed). 
The pattern itself is by Marimekko! I love their designs. 

This dress is from the second Uniqlo x Marimekko collaboration from Fall 2019 - I found an article by InStyle here (all links 'cause I love) that has a picture of it. Apparently it's merino wool. 
I don't know how much it retailed for, but I saw one on a reseller site for $75.00. I paid $39.99 and that felt like a good price. 

It's a fairly thin knit, but it looked roomy so I didn't try it on. It's marked an XS (extra small), but clearly it's more like a medium. 
"You should feed me."

They styled it with plain black flat boots. I think I can find something more interesting.


Art Project: Crafternoon Crochet Collar

So, I finished my gold collar, as you saw above.
Remember when I started it, with just the neck portion? 

And then it grew! 
That was the last update. 

I did a fancy trim on it the other day. 
Mom calls Italian stitch, but it's basically doing a single crochet backwards, which twists the edge into a nice finish. Ah, the Google tells me it's called "reverse single crochet" - well, that's boring. 

A closer look at it. You can see the edging on the neck part that I added. 
I had these leftover buttons from another project.

I didn't want the design to look too frilly. 
No scalloped shapes! 

It still turned out frilly.
I did a couple of rows of single crochet down the split at the back and built in buttonholes that way. 

With the buttons, which I sewed on last night while I watched football. 
Voila! 


Okay, now I'm really gone for my long Thanksgiving birthday weekend! 

39 comments:

  1. I love all the gold in your outfit - that collar is so fun it's really impressive you were able to make it! And I like the dress you bought too :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mica! I don't know how often I'll wear it, but it felt good to have something I made. I love that dress!

      Delete
  2. Sparkly and fancy. I will be curious what footwear you select.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's me, Sam! I am not sure - I'll have to try a lot of pairs on!

      Delete
  3. Happy birthday Sheila! Seeing your bonus post today was a lovely surprise. I love it when outfits come together without too much thought or forward planning. This one is fabulous, not in the least due the - alas pocketless - gold velvet pleated skirt and, of course, your gold crochet colour, which is absolutely delightful. The leopard details are just right! I wasn't a fan of leopard print until I found my great-aunt's leopard fur at my parents back in 2017, but now I am.
    I'm swooning over that knit Uniqlo dress which of course you had to be because it's got your initial on it. I can't believe how different sizing can be sometimes, which is why it's always worth giving things a try which aren't your size. I just bought a dress which is a size 34, while I most definitely am not! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Ann! I had to sneak in a quick post, just to keep the big one a little easier.

      I do too - most of them require brain power, but this one was easy. I love the gold and leopard together. I wasn't much of a leopard fan either, until after I started blogging.

      I love that dress - it's so fun! Sizing is just wacky. I try everything if it seems like it's anywhere close.

      Delete
  4. TODAY is THE DAY…🎂 H A P P Y ❣️B I R T H D A Y 🎉 Sheila!

    And a huge WoW for the collar! It is, like your recent leather painting, a beautiful, creative, lovely work of art. It did make me think of Ruth Bader Ginsberg and her Supreme Court collars. :)

    Three cheers fir you, your birthday celebration, and your long Thanksgiving weekend…hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay, it is! Thank you so much, Laurie! That's so kind of you, thank you - it was more the creation than the result, and yes, I love the RBG vibe! Ha!

      Hooray for birthdays! Thank you!

      Delete
  5. Happy birthday Sheila. I love your leopard and golden look. The golden pleated skirt is a fashion gem and looks great paired with leopard shoes and accessories. The golden collar you made is fantastic. Doesn't it feel great to have something handmade? It is always lovely to wear something you made yourself...it does make the outfit super unique, doesn't it? Adds that special something.
    Leopard pattern is interesting. People seem to fall into two groups: those who think it's tacky and those who think it's a classical print. People seem to be really divided when it comes to leopard. I often hear that leopard is basically a neutral and can be worn as such (paired with everything). I think it's a pattern that can be worn in many ways and personally I like it in all its incanarnations. When I was a little girl, I saw that music video where Shania Twain was wearing all leopard (That Don't Impress Me Much) and I just thought that was the most fabulous outfit I have ever seen and she the most gorgeous woman.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Ivana! I love the skirt - not bad for Target! It does feel good to have a handmade item - I am impressed with my own accomplishment!

      It's funny, isn't it? I love it, and had forgotten that some people still consider it tacky or trashy. Oh, I LOVE Shania's outfit in that video! She is so amazing!!

      Delete
    2. I love it too, for me leopard is a classic.
      Yes, she is.

      Delete
    3. Fun fact: I have only done karaoke once...and "Don't Impress Me Much" was the song!

      Delete
  6. Happy birthday dear She! Looking forward to seeing what you do with your new S dress! xocaro

    ReplyDelete
  7. Happy birthday sweet Sheila! I hope you are having a fabulous weekend and look forward to read all about it!

    ReplyDelete
  8. What lovely crochet work! Another beautiful project.

    Happy Birthday!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Fabulous collar; it looks like really intricate work.
    Love your creativity. x

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your gold skirt looks divine
    and your shoes is so chic.

    Ann
    https://roomsofinspiration.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh, well done on the collar - fabulous! The buttons are so cute. Lovely outfit from head to toe and I agree; animal print can be classy and a neutral. It was given a bad name in the UK thanks to a TV soap opera(Coronation St) where a barmaid (forgotten her character's name - Bet Lynch, I think)) often wore it with huge junky earrings; bleached blonde hair and far too much make up. She was the epitome of trashy but had a heart of gold....

    Loved the knitted dress; what a great find.
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Vronni! I had fun making it. I love animal print, and we had a late night comedy show (Second City) with a character that wore leopard who was rather trashy. Same thing!

      Delete
  12. I remember buying a few pieces at Uniqlo during a visit to New York many years ago (before they came to Canada) and the quality was very good (I still have a couple of pieces from then). Now I find their designs pretty boring, but not this dress, probably because it's a collab with Marimekko. Nice find!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have been in a Uniqlo in London, but that's it - I wonder if there is one in Vancouver? I bet someone ordered this online and the size was wrong for them. I love it!

      Delete
  13. Your handmade collar is resplendently gorgeous. From the height of the neck portion to the gentle, rolling edges to how it cascades across your jacket in this outfit, there's nothing I don't adore about this wonderful piece.

    Autumn Zenith 🎃 Witchcrafted Life

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love how your collar turned out! I am simply amazed you did that with no pattern! That stitch (the backward sc) is also called the crab stitch…probably because you feel like you’ve got your hand all crabbed around. Anyway, it looks fabulous with that leather jacket! And, oh, how I love pleated skirts! This whole outfit is sublime! And, I definitely think leopard is a neutral. Your Marimekko design dress is pretty amazing, too. What fabulous finds you make!


    http://marshainthemiddle.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Martha! I like the freeform flow of just making it up as I go. I love the crab stitch!

      Delete
  15. What a fab outfit, I love the proportions of the skirt with the cropped jacket. Your crochet collar is amazing, I think Lord Jon needs one so he can dress like his ancesrots - I better get my hook out! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Vix! I love how cropped jackets make everything look long and lean. Lol, break out the hooks and crochet that man a ruff!

      Delete
  16. Sunray pleasted skirt in a gorgeously sunny shade of gold. Well, if the weather won't give it to you, you can find your own!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is just like sun-rays! Thank you, Mim, I shall. :)

      Delete
  17. You Rock Fancy Friday, and this golden velvet skirt is really Fabulous!, love your jacket and love your accessories!. Your gold crochet collar is something really amazing!
    And totally agree that leopard print is a classic, even a neutral!
    besos

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Monica! I enjoyed this look. :) I agree, leopard is awesome and a neutral!

      Delete
  18. Gosh you can crochet as well? And that fine needle work? Tsss... your skills don't end.
    Greetje

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yup, I was in Brownies and Girl Guides for YEARS. I have all the old-timey skills, lol.

      Delete

Comments are so incredibly special, and I love them and hug them and treasure them forever. Please feel free to tell me what you think!

I'm not currently able to respond to comments, but I will make every effort to answer questions. I do read every single one, and appreciate your comments.

Please note that comments containing affiliate links spam-y sites, spam comments and anything I deem inappropriate will be deleted.

Cheers,
Sheila