Bigass Weekend Wrap-Up: Brocade Brunch Boots; Winesday Rare Cape and Camo in the Park

Welcome back, my friends! I hope you've had a fun weekend. Things are still very chill in this part of the world - it feels like people are just hunkering down, waiting for the Covid cases to drop and we can resume our lives. 

However, L and I are still going out for brunch, although Nick was in Vancouver this weekend visiting Spence, so we were on our own. 

I chose this ensemble out of my pre-planned outfits. No real reason - it's just what I felt like wearing. It features two of my new-to-me purchases from my recent shop-a-paloozas. 

• Crocheted tank - Active USA; purchased here for $12.00
• Suede dress - Margaret Godfrey for Bagatelle, vintage 80s, thrifted; last worn here in March 2021 with these same boots
• Sweater - Tatyana, thrifted; last seen here (2nd outfit) in December 2021 for Christmas Day
• Boots - L'Artiste by Spring Step; last worn here in October 2021 hidden under a big skirt
• Coat (below) - Mallia, consignment; last seen here a few weeks ago

I bought this crocheted tank with the intention of layering over other garments - I like the big wide neckline and the waist-disguising properties (thank you, chocolate and menopause). 

I've layered a black sweater underneath a suede slip dress. 

It makes the dress look like a skirt, but it's not. 

See?

Saucy! 

A better look at how the colour shows through the tank. 

Brown or copper + teal is one of my favourite combinations. 

Masked up. 

Only a few people saw me without my coat on, while we were having brunch at the Ruby. 

Outerwear - it's still cold out, so a big coat was needed. 

I see I'm being photobombed! L and I both wore our long coats. "Like a couple of vampires," I noted. 

Et voila! 

I wore the coat done up most of the time we were out - we did our weekly grocery shop after brunch. 

Accoutrements:

Browns and blues. 

• Scarf - thrifted
• Gloves - Ralph Lauren
• Mask - Lazy Susan's

The stuff: 

Time flies - I meant to wear these fabulous fleece-lined brocade boots sooner after hiding them in my last outfit back in October (!!). 

Copper bling: 

The other new-to-me thing in my outfit is this copper/turquoise cuff. Love!

• Copper hinged cuff - Renoir, vintage 60s, consignment
• Necklace - vintage 60s, Grandma J's
• Copper/turquoise cuff - Bell Trading Post, vintage 60s, consignment, Powell River; purchased here for $20.00
• Bronze ring - P. Sarpaneva, vintage 70s, vintage expo
• Earrings - vintage expo
• Copper brooch - thrifted

Bonus blooper picture. 

I'd forgotten to do up my coat before setting the camera timer. 

After our grocery shop, L worked on a job application at his office, and I got dressed for Winesday in the Park. Sadly, due to the general sh*tstorm in the world at this time, our group chose not to meet up indoors, and opted instead for the safety of our park of the last two years. 

No one saw me like this - standing around outside in January is not conducive to opening one's coat. 

• Sweater - Wanko, thrifted; last worn here in December under a winterized kimono
• Skirt - McQ by Alexander McQueen, 2013, consignment; first worn here in December 2020 with this same sweater
• Shoes - Vince Camuto, consignment, Powell River; purchased here for $50.00
• Coat - Danier Leather, consignment; last worn here for our trip to Powell River last weekend
• Cape (below) - vintage, vintage shop c. 1997; last seen here in 2010 in a "Never Seen" feature

Most definitely no one saw me with my coat off. 

It's just layers to keep warm: a wool turtleneck and fleece-lined tights. I wore this still-a-bit-snug McQ skirt as I wouldn't have to sit in it! It's fine for standing! 

My insulated leather coat is a great under-layer for other outerwear pieces. 

Added a fur scarf and wool gloves. 

All done up - but wait! 

It occurred to me: I have a cape that I have never worn on this blog. Not once from 2008 when I started this blog, until now. 

NEVER.

It's that rare. 

I have my arms akimbo here to show the lovely velvet. This is a heavy piece - several pounds, at least. 

When we did our trip to London and Paris in 2010, I did a series of posts to show the "Never Worn" items in my wardrobe - this was one of two capes I owned (I still have the burgundy velvet one too) that I showed off here. 

I bought this on layaway at a long-gone vintage store on Johnson Street - the owner wouldn't even let customers try it on unless they were "serious". As this was back in the late 1990s, I was still working in retail, and I could not afford to buy it in one go. 

L and I were very recently married in 1997 - I put $50 down on layaway to buy this $250.00 cape.

One day, I came home from work and it was spread out on the bed - L had paid it off for me. What a guy!

I adore the thick chartreuse velvet and the heavy black satin lining. It feels like amazing quality fabric. It's surprisingly warm. 

I have only worn it a handful of times. The first was to a private Christmas party at Craigdarroch Castle in December 1997. I remember that because my dad had just died that September and I was still feeling very sad. Nick and Karen (who'd only been dating for a few months by then) and L and I walked there and I wore this over a vintage black dress. It was a magical evening of dancing, bagpipes and kilts, and singing carols around the piano at the Castle. 

I think I wore it once to my current company's Christmas party, back in 2012, but I didn't take pictures of my outerwear or note what I wore back then. 

I think it is handmade - the inside seams are simply serged, and it has that lovely big button, but there are no clues as to its real age. 

But it was vintage when I bought it in 1997. Any ideas how old it might be? I do know that I ought to wear this more! I am going to move it into rotation for special events, for sure - it's a shame to leave it hanging in my coat closet.

Accoutrements: 

I was thankful for the fur scarf - it was COLD out! 

• Scarf - thrifted
• Gloves - Parkhurst
• Mask - by Mom

Cat gave me a ride home, so I wore the mask in her car (her mom is elderly and immune-compromised, so she is extra-careful with her potential exposures, and I respect that). 

The stuff: 

Only my shoes and earrings were visible, but the shoes had many admirers. My feet were practically blocks of ice after standing around in the park for two hours. 

Green bling: 

I loved the earrings - don't they go well with my green jewelry? 

• Necklace - Plum, c. 2009
• Chain bracelet - thrifted
• Bangle bracelet - faux Gucci, c. 1986, gift from Mom & Dad, Italy
• Jade/brass ring - vintage 70s, Mom's
• Brass ring - vintage mall
• Earrings - consignment, Powell River; purchased here for $10.00

I only took a few pictures, as there were just five of us who were able to show up. 

Cat in her awesome Fluevogs. 

Greg and Rosanna. 

Happy 50th, Rosanna! Her birthday was a couple of weeks ago, but she's a low-key person, not given to bouts of partying. 

Randall and Yvonne. 

As you can tell by the lines on the grass, we were set up on the corner of a soccer pitch. We moved up onto a nearby hill when a group of players started edging towards us. 

After a couple of hours, it was getting late and slightly dark, so we all headed home. Of course, minutes later, Caro and Ron showed up! 

Ron sent these pictures later - sorry we missed you, honey! I know, you brought drinks and everything! 

Yvonne and Randall gamely sat out in the dark for a quick visit. 

What a bunch of troopers! 

I hope you all had a lovely weekend - I'm off to watch football playoffs and enjoy the rest of my Sunday! Thank you so much for dropping by!