Five work days mean five outfits, so I took some time on the weekend and put together looks for each day. For today, I planned my outfit around this as-yet-unworn dress.
I liked the coverage for my arms - it's a fun shape.
I have had the same emerald green dress for a very long time - some of you may recall the "Lettuce dress," (last worn here) a cotton eyeless dress with a funky ruffled hem.
I chose this light cocoon as a topper because it has bits of green in it. I've also only worn it once (in winter), so I needed to style it for its proper season.
And it has peacocks!
One of my mottos is Always Be Upgrading - my old green cotton dress was worn 18 times over 12 years and was looking a little ragged around the edges.
It's a comfy shape and is a useful background for fancier pieces.
No pockets, so there's definitely room for an upgrade here too!
It balances the boots.
This dress is the upgrade, and it performed well.
Incognito. I walked to work in my boots.
I worked for four hours, then left for the day - I ran some errands then had a browse in the second-hand shops on Fort Street.
Accoutrements:
The stuff:
I had so many comments on these boots from people in stores and on the street.
I was glad of the gloves in the morning - it's still chilly overnight.
- Purse - Ted Lapidus, vintage 90s, vintage fair
- Leather/cashmere gloves - Club Monaco, consignment
Copper bling:
I'm happy to have my turquoises back. These colours work well in spring/summer.
- Copper necklace - vintage 60s, consignment
- Copper/enamel cuff - Matisse by Renoir, vintage 50s, vintage expo
- Copper squash blossom cuff - Bell Trading Co, vintage 50s, consignment, Powell River
- Earrings - Matisse by Renoir, vintage 50s, Grandma J's
- Copper/glass ring - consignment
- Copper ring - consignment
I browsed in about 8 stores and only bought one thing, this snake bracelet, at Vanity Fair Antique Mall.
It is a cheaply-made knock off of the original Whiting & Davis snake bracelets (picture of mine here - it's the 4-coil one, and is from the 70s) The necklace shown in that picture is a reproduction from the 80s/90s, and I think this bracelet is an even more recent knock-off of those.
My good bracelet has a solid cast metal tail and head.
These are pressed metal that's folded in half.
I gently re-shaped the thick wire that is the main shape of the "scale" section and tweezed a couple of the links back in place and it's ready to go. For $20.00 I'm happy!
The green dress looks stunning on you. I like the snake bracelet too, it's the sort of jewellery I would wear too.
ReplyDeleteI never thought or heard of a fashion "upgrade" but, as you demonstrate, it makes perfect sense. And of course those boots are going to attract compliments.
ReplyDeleteThe green Cos dress is really fab. I love the lettuce dress too. I would be tempted to keep both. Lise
ReplyDeleteI bought my first jewelry in a art galerie when I was 19. It was a snake bracelet. I used to love snake jewelry. I think that bracelet is fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised you get complimented on those cowboy boots, they're phenomenal! Great to see that glorious copper jewellery again especially my pendant's twin! xxx
ReplyDeleteWhat a glorious outfit, Sheila! Fab bracelet too, even if it's a cheaply-made knock off. Oh dear, I'm so hearing you on having to work a full 5-day week for the first time in three years! Poor Sheila! Will this be a permanent fixture now? I knew I could never go back to working full-time even after a bit more than a year ... xxx
ReplyDeleteFabulous outfit! The cowboy boots rock!
ReplyDeleteCos is a lovely brand! Your new dress is really pretty and how gorgeous it looks with that Peacock cocooon! How well they match those boots! I love them! I really love the copper and turquoise jewellery- it really is such a beautiful combination!x
ReplyDeleteI think the green dress and that pretty cocoon work so well together!
ReplyDeleteHope your first 5 day work week in a while goes well! I am consistently amazed with how little time I have each week since I went back to 5 days a week. I was talking to one of the big bosses about it in the office last week, like how did we ever work 8 hours a day 5 days a week in the office and have time for anything else?! It's an adjustment for sure post pandemic.