Snow Day: Layers of Wool, and Loads of Snow

We woke up to a winter wonderland - we had close to 40 centimeters (over a foot) of snow overnight. For a normally mild climate like ours, that's a shocker. Snow Day! 

I layered two wool pieces, but I also wore silk and fleece. 

• Cardigan - Ports, vintage 80s, consignment; last worn here in September with a gone white dress
• Dress - Karen Millen, consignment; last seen here in February with Luke and Yoda shoes
• Shoes - Truths Pilgrim, Fluevog; last worn here in November with Boss Lady Pants
• Mink coat - vintage, thrifted; last seen here yesterday

This amazing striped dress has been a favourite of mine for several years - this is its 9th wearing. 

I have a long-sleeved vintage thermal made of 100% silk under this - I was very thankful for it, as our building's heating couldn't keep up with the -4 temps outside. 

I never took this thick wool cardigan off, of course. 

I buttoned it up when I had my coat on. 

It's such a gorgeous shade of blue. 

I have fleece-lined tights on too. 

Masked up. 

Yes, pockets! 

Outerwear - I actually clipped my hair up and completely hid it under my beret to keep it dry. 

I solved the mystery of the "what the heck is this thing?" noted here when I bought this coat.

I dug around on the opposite side seam, and yup, there was an elastic hiding there! 

I snapped the end of the ribbon on, and presto! My coat will not open up in the wind - ever! Amazing! 

Accoutrements: 

Lots of red. 

• Beret - Parkhurst, consignment
• Scarf - Halston, vintage 70s, thrifted
• Gloves - Echo, consignment
• Mask - Lazy Susan's

The stuff: 

Comfy shoes for wearing in the office. 

Graphic bling: 

I liked this mix. 

• Black/white cuff - vintage 80s, vintage fair
• Black/red cuff  - Bakelite, vintage 50s, vintage mall, gift from L
• Silver/onyx ring - Toccara, vintage fair
• Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes
• Necklace - Monet, vintage 80s, vintage fair
• Earrings - vintage 80s, vintage fair

I took my little camera with me to work today. Enjoy our Snow Day! 

This is around 8am, and the snow is still coming down hard. 

Uh-oh, I can't see my feet! 

I discovered that it was deep - over the tops of my Doc Martens. 

I love this big old Victorian house. 

It's very elegant in the snow. 

No one's shoveled their sidewalks yet - it's too early.

I walked on mostly virgin snow on the way to town. I also walked down the middle of some of the streets, like the lady on the right. 

The birds were flitting around in this tree. 

Probably eating the berries. 

A mostly-deserted street. 

I arrived slightly late to work, but no one noticed. There were only 3 people there, including me! 

As I didn't put my Christmas stuff up this year, I am instead enjoying the office tree. 

I decorate it and take it down right after New Year's. 

I walked around the empty office and took some pictures of the views. I see the Legislature Building and the Empress Hotel. 

The red brick building is a church. 

Did you notice the pigeons clustered around this chimney?

They're trying to keep warm. 

I can see a bit of the harbour, and the Sooke Hills in the distance. 

The monstrosity in the foreground is the mall, built in 1989-1990. I worked in two stores there! 

Looking north, up-Island. 

A little bit of sun hitting the hills - we actually had a bit of blue sky mid-day. 

I like this view of City Hall (it's 9:07am) and the pigeons swooping around. 

Some of these buildings are very old - the one on the left used to house my optometrist and dentist when I was a wee girl. It had an elevator operator, and has marble and wooden staircases. HUGO. 

Looking towards home. 

We didn't get much melting during the day as the temps didn't go above freezing. 

On my way home, around 5pm. 

In spring this tree is a mass of pink blooms. 

Our neighbours have shoveled their sidewalk, but no one had done ours. 

I shoveled for an hour, alongside a couple who live in our building. Whew, my arms feel like noodles! 

I hope this snow is gone in the morning (but it's snowing still...).