Bigass Long Weekend Wrap Up: Fancy Friday Pop of Pink; ABBA Jumpsuit Brunch and Hangout, Plus a Shop; Cat Pictures

Welcome back, my friends! It's been a lovely, langourous long weekend, filled with good times. Join me - grab something to fortify yourself - as we revisit my weekend adventures. 

Fancy Friday! 

Jammy Dress!

• Dress - Eliza J, consignment; last seen here in June 2021 for L's birthday shop
• Shoes - Arnold Churgin, vintage, thrifted; last worn here in October 2021 with a vintage dress (it's long gone)

This is a popular dress with the public in general - I always get tons of compliments from strangers when I wear it. 

It's another dress that's feminine (that classic fit-and-flare) without being too frou-frou. It also has ginormous pockets (yessssss!).

I'm not anti-frou-frou - it's just not me, right now. Maybe my style pendulum will swing that away again next year or the year after? 

I'm always open to sartorial change. 

I love a bold pattern - these are awesome stripes. 

I've always taken my styling cues from that band of yellow at the hem - this is the first time I've ever worn another colour with this dress! 

Masked up. 

See? More yellow. 

Incognito. It's too hot for a jacket, so I was pretty pleased with myself when my eyes alit on this ginormous Alexander McQueen silk scarf. 

I folded it into a triangle, draped it across my shoulders and tucked the two pointy ends into my belt - and voila! Hands-free coverage. 

Accoutrements: 

I'm including my little footy things for Ann, which I wear when I want to go barefoot but my shoes say, "I eat your toes!" I think I got them in the hosiery department of a major department store. Your toes go in the little pocket, there's a padded bottom and the dots are rubber so they don't slide around in the shoes. They're also machine washable.

• Scarf - Alexander McQueen, consignment
• Mask - Lazy Susan's

The little white tubes are silicon toe protectors. They're super stretchy and you can put them on any of your toes to prevent rubbing or pressure. I bought them at the local drugstore in the foot-care aisle - and they are completely washable with a bit of soap and hot water, and don't wear out.

The stuff: 

These shoes are so comfy. Isn't the colour amazing? 

Yellow and blue bling: 

I had several comments on the belt today too - it's vintage, and I think I paid $1.00 for it. 

• Belt - Liz Claiborne, vintage 80s, thrifted
• Bakelite earrings - vintage 60s, vintage fair
• Silver/lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes
• Enamel ring - Kenneth Jay Lane, consignment, Powell River

L was out after work with a friend, so I had a browse through Rich Rags on the way home. 

I don't have a hot pink viscose camisole, plus this was in excellent condition and is good quality. 

It's by Esprit.

I recognize the style from c. 2007, as some of my current camis were purchased in the local Esprit store (now long shuttered). I recall they retailed for $38.00 - at $10.00 this was a bargain. 

Vizzini, time to start the long weekend! 

"I hope it involves lots of kitty treats."

L and I hung out and played board games on Friday night, then had a wee sleep-in on Saturday morning before seeing if Nick wanted to join us for brunch at the Ruby. 

He did! It went up to 32 degrees on Saturday, so I prepped for being cool 

• Linen cardigan - J.Crew, thrifted; last seen here in July 2020 with a silk kaleidoscope skirt (long since gone)
• Linen jumpsuit - Jean Charles de Castelbajac, vintage 90s, thrifted; last worn here in June 2021 with pinks (Flashback there)
  
• Shoes - Groovy Aubrey, Fluevog; last seen here in June with houndstooth and lavender

I used to be a cardigan fiend, with varying styles and lengths, but I've gradually culled out many of them over the years.

This orange one makes the cut, as it's linen (very cool, good sunblock) and a great colour. I like long cardis. 

The jumpsuit in all its glory. I'm fully sunblocked up. 

Isn't it fantastic? It's a Designer (captital D) - JC/DC (as he is also known) has an early jumpsuit in the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection. 

This is an older piece of his, likely from the late 90s - he revisited this exact design in a cloud pattern in Spring 2009 (link here, 'cause I love), although that doesn't look like the same high-quality linen of this one. 

I treasure this - it's one of my favourite pieces in my entire wardrobe. 

Masked up.

Ready for the public. 

Incognito. 

Showing off my shoes. 

I always have to do one pose showing that yes, this indeed a jumpsuit.

I've got ABBA legs and I'm not afraid to use them! 

Accoutrements: 

My fan was so handy - I used it almost constantly all day. It's made of bamboo.

• Purse - Street Society, thrifted
• Fan - thrifted
• Mask - by Cat

The stuff: 

I wore the little padded "foot cardis" with these shoes, but by the end of the day (6:30pm), I was all, "GET THESE OFF." Leather shoes do breathe and these are comfy as heck, but my feet were tired after wearing them for over 8 hours. 

Orange bling: 

I don't like metal accessories in really hot weather. Aside from the steel ring, this is all plastic and wood (the earrings). 

• Triangle bracelet - consignment, Sidney
• Plastic cuff/ring - Italian, vintage 60s, vintage mall
• Steel/acrylic ring - Calvin Klein, thrifted
• Earrings - vintage, vintage expo

We met up with Nick and stood in line for brunch at the Ruby. Remember, kids, if there's a line-up, it means the food is good! 

Victoria's classic hanging baskets and lamp posts. What a glorious sky! 

I took a selfie with L, Nick and I.

Nick had been back east (Halifax, Nova Scotia) visiting his folks in June, then we'd had Ulti for a couple of weeks, so it's been ages since the three of us had lunch. Missed you, Nicky! 

After brunch, L dropped me off on Oak Bay Ave for a bit of a shop. We planned to meet up with our Family We Choose for our traditional long weekend hangout at Christie's Pub, which is pretty close to my favourite dangerous consignment stores. I kinda had to go, right? All links below 'cause I love (and clear your cache/browsing history afterwards if you click any of them, to get rid of their cookies).

I started at House of Savoy (all my favourite local second-hand shops here), and while I tried on a bunch of clothes, it's still in summer season, so nothing really rang my bell. I did find a few things on the clearance rack, though. 

This is a GORGEOUS condition red leather purse, with pewter metallic leather woven into a design on the front. 

It's classic 1980s. 

The strap is adjustable, and removeable through those little metal squared loops. Lots of room inside with one small, flat zip section. 

It's by Bruno Magli, and is stamped on the strap's buckle. I know this name - this was a very chi-chi designer name back in the day. 

The buckle echoes the M in Magli. 

And there's a nice little name plate (metal) inside the purse. Made in Italy - Mr. Magli was based out of Bologna. 

I don't actually own a red purse, so I nabbed it! I spotted Bruno Magli purses on 1st dibs for $950-1200, and a similar envelope style on Etsy for $1,000 (marked down to $200). I think the $25 I paid was a very good deal. 

This belt caught my eye because of the amazing centrepiece. 

It's leather but yeah, I'm only looking at that ornament in front. 

Oh my! 

This will be stunning with some of my Brutalist jewelry, right? 

It's by Sangiorgio, and is made in Italy.

I've never heard of this brand, but it was only $20.00, which seemed a good price. 

I did find one item on the sale rack that will be worn to death. 

Another camisole! I never turn down a good camisole, as I keep them for decades and wear them constantly. 

This one is a dark marled grey and is by Tatum & Olivia, a local label (I have a couple of pieces by them, including this ruffled top and this skirt).

They used to have a store in Sidney (north of Victoria), so I see garments by them fairly frequently secondhand.

This will be a warm-weather camisole, as it's 100% wool (I held it up to the light - no moth-holes!). I was happy to see it's machine washable. This was marked down to $20 - I'm sure it would have been around $65.00 new. 

At the last second, I went back to the clearance rack and grabbed this purse. I don't have a black purse (I know, I was also shocked), and all the studs are just calling my name.

"Sheeeeila...you need to take me home..." It's studded on both sides of the leather bag, so it's got some heft to it. 

It's by Rebecca Minkoff, and I know that's a Classy Brand. 

This is called the Linear Studded Rocker Bag - I found a blog entry from 2010 (so it's likely from around then) discussing this and noting that it came in cream and navy blue as well as black - they also noted that it sold for $290.00. I found a cream one online, but not a single pic of a black one.

Edited to add: Thanks to Mica (link here) for noting that the lining is the "Becky Bird" design, and that this bag is from 2009.

I don't think this poor little purse got much wear - it still had its dust bag folded up inside it. 

Aw, the dust bag has s cute little bird on it! 

And the lining is full of these cartoon birds. 

There isn't much room in there, but that's perfect for a wee going-out bag or shopping purse for me - just enough room for cloth bags, a wallet, lipstick and keys. Love it! This was marked down to $65.00 from $125.00. I knew I would have regretted not buying it. 

From there, I crossed the street and enjoyed a browse at Turnabout, which had their big summer clearance on. I actually bought 3 things that I'd hemmed and hawed over on my last expedition there, including this ginormous dress. 

It's a zebra print in a brick red on the bottom and a mix of pink/blue (reads as lavender) on top. 

The shoulders gather/expand with brick red ties.

The "waist" drops at the back. There are pockets, I am thrilled to report! 

A better look at the top. Oh, I see from the "stylings" of it that I am not supposed to tie the shoulders in bows. My bad! 

It's from the Kenzo X H&M collaboration of 2016. There's a gallery of the full collection here on Elle; this dress is slide 63 (here) and retailed for $199.00 US. 

Vogue did a write-up on the runway show here - Kenzo Takada did not design this line (he retired from the House of Kenzo in 1999 to pursue other art avenues), but designers Carol Lim and Humberto Leon pulled from his archive for "inspired-by" looks. I nabbed some of the pics from that Vogue runway to share as I find these looks....interesting.

Okay, so I need a tiger-print turtleneck and leggings, flip-flop shoes, and black leather opera gloves.

The gloves need to have the fingers chopped off and "KENZO" and "PARIS" on them.

Well, I will not be duplicating THAT look! 

This is a variation on the above looks, only with two matchy cross-body bags, and what looks like a black collared shirt underneath.

Yeah, I don't think I will be doing that either. 

Right about now, you may be thinking, "What the heck? This is a very weird dress and can't imagine that it will be flattering at all" - and you are entirely right! I found this post here from the Daily Mail (UK) with Leigh Lezark (don't know her) wearing it, and you can see it is hideous on her (sorry, Leigh).

I will likely rein this in with one of my big black belts to give it some shape. Trust me on this - I will make it work! 

There's our label, and you can see the mix of red/orange and pink/blue in the pattern there. 

I adore the little gold tiger head button used at the very top, and the nice detail of "Kenzo" buttons for the rest. 

I was very happy to see that this is 100% silk. 

I am pretty sure you couldn't buy the fabric for the $86.99 I paid! 

I had sighed and drooled over this jacket the last time I was in, and regretted not buying it - and told myself if it was still there, I would get it. Obviously, it was! 

You know I can't resist a motorcycle jacket! Yes, it's leather, and all those pockets are real and very big inside. 

There are two vents on the back seams for extra movement (a detail that denotes quality). 

It's a size L, so it's big on me, but with a cozy thick sweater underneath in fall/winter? Oh yeah. 

It's lambskin leather, very very soft. 

It's called the "Leather Moto" and the colour is Tamale Red. 

And as you can see it's from Summer 2019. 

It's by Banana Republic - they have a less detailed (many fewer pockets, no back vents) version on their site this season for $650.00, so this would have been at least that and likely closer to $800.00 new. 

Lucky me - this had been reduced by $100 to $230.99 since the last time I was in. It doesn't have any wear on it - was it a surprise Christmas present? An impulse purchase? Regardless, I'm happy its owner consigned it, and I will NOT be drawing on this one! 

Turnabout's had a massive influx of this style of bracelet and necklace, from brands like Banana Republic, Kate Spade and J. Crew - apparently an "influencer" bought them for pictures on "the 'Gram", and then cleared her collection out. 

This was marked down to $23.99 - I love the colours (it actually looks really cool with the Kenzo dress above). 

This is by J. Crew, and I know their jewelry is stoopid-expensive. 

This would have been well over $100 new. 

Do you have a favourite? What are you excited to see? 

Flush with my shopping victories, I joined our lovelies at Christie's Pub, out on the back patio, for a leisurely hangout.

Yvonne, Randall and L. 

Casey (fabulous vintage printed shirt). 

Nick - his hair's so long, he's got it in a ponytail! 

Caro. 

Her dress is silk - so classy! 

She and Cat wore the same shoes. 

Aw, I love you guys! 

Alison and Chris arrived later (I missed getting pics of Ross and Chris). 

Ali is looking very "Annie Hall" in Yvonne's hat - she's also wearing my cardigan for sun protection. 

After several hours of lounging, laughing and generally goofing off, we went our separate ways. L and I spent the evening playing Arkham Horror, and had a lazy Sunday goofing off (I finished the front of Mica's bag, here, if you missed it).

We had Cat and Ross over for more Arkham Horror on Sunday night (hooray for long weekends!), and had a grand time. An now, our final day off will be spend chilling out. I think Vizzini has the right idea...I'm going to go find a sunny spot and be grateful for the wonderful life I have. 

Thank you all so much for joining me here!