Weekend Wrap-Up: Rainbow Friday; Solo Saturday Shop in Tulle; Book Club in Lace and Snoots

Welcome back, Gentle Readers! I had a pretty quiet weekend, which is just what Doctor Sheila ordered after the last few weekends. 

Here's Friday's office outfit, featuring some repeats that I'm squeezing into the last couple of weeks of my spring/summer wardrobe. 

My rainbow skirt was the first outfit I wore for this six-month season, and it's nearly the last.

• Top - Danier Leather, thrifted; last worn here in May with red leather
• Skirt - J. Crew, consignment; last seen here in April
• Shoes - Homers; last worn here in June with a peak mustard blouse
• Poncho (below) - vintage, Welsh, thrifted; last seen here in March

My view of the Castle was so pretty that morning. 

A few young crows were hanging out in the nearby trees. 

I wasn't feeling terribly creative - let's just do black. 

Black leather! 

The tee is leather on the front only. 

I remembered when I got home that I have a light-weight black top by Jason Wu that I usually wear instead of this heavier top in summer. Oops. 

Fabric back - I have a tank top underneath for a bit of extra warmth.

The skirt's gorgeous, isn't it? 

Incognito - in a poncho! 

Let's just throw more colour at this outfit, shall we?

I was chilly in the morning and kept my hands under the poncho. 

But it was hot on the walk home. 

The stuff: 

I usually carry a backpack full of that day's shoes to and from work. I decided to wear these awesome yellow suede shoes all day - they'll be packed away soon (yellow suede doesn't mix with rainy weather). It was a treat to carry a purse! 

Bold bling: 

I had to throw my new-to-me cuff in there. I clacked and clanked all day, as I moused and typed. 

• Purse - Danier Leather, thrifted
• Yellow cuff - thrifted
• Green cuff - consignment, purchased here for $30.00
• Silver/amethyst ring - vintage mall
• Silver/kyanite ring - consignment
• Silver/malachite ring - consignment
• Silver/granite ring - Raul Caballero, Oui Jewelry
• Silver earrings - Brenda Schoenfeld, 1992, vintage mall

I missed L terribly for our usual Saturday morning - he arrived home Saturday night after a few days in Calgary for work. I consoled myself with a trip to...the MALL. 

I can assure you, I stuck out at the mall in this outfit. 

• Embellished jean jacket - Ricochetjackets, consignment; last worn here in July for three days in Vancouver with the Winesday gals
• Top - Marni, thrifted, Vancouver; first seen here (2nd outfit) in August with houndstooth
• Tulle skirt - Adidas, consignment; last worn here in June on the Day of Indolence
• Boots - Aldo, thrifted; last seen here in March with a tweedy bell and bronze leather

I only went there to return all my used-up MAC make-up - I hadn't done a drop-off in close to five years. 

I wandered around the mall and looked at all the bland, boring clothes. 

I had quite a few comments from the folks working in the stores. 

I'm getting in a last seasonal wearing of this Adidas tulle skirt. 

As well as the Marni top. 

I have a fall/winter tulle skirt, don't worry - can't be without my tulle.

The top is too thin for cold weather. 

I did an extra layer of tulle under the skirt, plus sporty shorts. 

Voila! Outerwear. 

It was raining all morning, so I bundled up. I missed my sunglasses - it was sunny by the time I walked home. 

Accoutrements: 

A mish-mash of purples. I stashed the gloves and beret in the purse, and tied the scarf to the handle when I was indoors. 

• Purse - Sonia Rykiel, vintage, thrifted
• Scarf - fake Louis (Lewis!) Vuitton, thrifted
• Beret - consignment
• Leather gloves - vintage, consignment

The stuff: 

Good shopping boots, but I have to resign myself to not taking them off. 

Amber bling: 

I am looking forward to wearing more amber in the fall - it feels very autumnal to me. 

• Silver/amber bracelet - consignment, Powell River
• Silver/amber earrings - thrifted
• Silver/amethyst ring - vintage mall
• Silver/amber ring - consignment
• Silver/smoky topaz ring - Anneli Neuman, Sweden, vintage mall
• Silver/amber necklace - vintage 1930s, vintage mall, gift from L

My stroll through the mall left me exhausted and rather sad - all that blandness and bad fabric - so I bussed back to town and had a good browse in the big WIN store on Pandora.

I am looking forward to Hallowe'en this year - they had more goodies out.

I love the pink, green and silver sparkly skull wreath. 

It was originally from Dollarama and sold for $3.00. 

For me, it was $1.50. And it's wood! 

I bought two flicking light lightbulbs for 75 cents each. 

Regular $2.00 at Walmart. I'm way happier supporting my local WIN. 

I found this brown velvet blazer in the menswear section. 

It has reddish-rust buttons on the cuffs as well. 

It's 100% cotton. 

XL? Men's blazers don't usually size like that (men get more sizes, lucky them). 

It's made in Europe. 

Well, that's rather vague, isn't it? 

Most of the lining is the black and white Revolution print. 

A nice striped pink and brown in the sleeves. 

And of course, it is by Revolution. 

There are a lot of brands out there called Revolution - this is not one of them. I suspect it is on the fast-fashion-y side. However, it was only $19.95, and it's a gorgeous thick cotton velvet. It didn't fit L, so it's up for grabs for my other stylish guy pals.

I found this suit draped over a display, with no one around. 

After checking the sizes, I grabbed it. 

There are no pockets on the jacket (grrr), but it does have perfect symmetry with the stipes, which are woven. It's not cheap fabric. 

And look at how they've curved the sleeve at the elbow. Wow. Three separate seams! 

The trousers are fully lined, right to the hem. 

It's more of a cream colour than yellow. 

It's by Moda International, which I vaguely recall being sold at Eaton's in the late 90s/early 00s. 

The jacket was only $14.95. 

Oddly, the matching pants are made in Thailand. 

They were $11.95. I can't believe I found a suit for under $30.00.

This gold top called to me. 

Ooh, I like that very much. 

The gold lace is backed with gold satiny lining to the chest. 

It buttons up the back (one button is missing) and has a band of velvet around the high neck. 

The ruffles at the neck and hem are looking a little ragged. 

I'll trim them up before wearing and it'll look like new. 

It's by April Cornell. 

Made in India, and only $12.95. This is probably from the 90s - it has that vibe. 

I knew this top was underpriced. 

What a great digital image. 

Misty mountains, green treetops. 

The back is longer than the front and it's a cropped cut - very cool. 

I knew it would be made in the USA. 

Because I recognized the label right away. 

I've bought a few piece of Clover Canyon - my accordion top is by them (here), and I had a skirt a long time ago. 

I knew $11.95 was a bargain. This would have retailed for around $200 new. 

I recognized this era as well, as I had a few dresses like this in the mid-90s.

A black dress, how exciting! 

It has these heavily-stitched seams that go across the shoulder, down the two sides of the chest, and one across the hem to the slit. 

This is the shoulder-chest area. 

And this is the slit. You can just see the seam coming at the top of the slit. 

It's not your imagination - the piece I'm holding is longer. Uneven hemlines in the 90s, hooray! 

I also noted that the zip on the dress is at the neck. 

Ooh, you never see that, so cool. 

It's by Spanner, a brand I also remember from Eaton's back in the day. 

And there you go - proof it's at least pre-1997, when Hong Kong went back to China. 

For this vintage wool/acrylic dress, I paid a whopping $24.95.

I was really happy with my purchases, and everything fits (the suit pants are a teeny bit snug). 

I made one more stop, at Rich Rags, on the way home and bought this blouse I'd been eyeing for a while. 

It's a lovely bold pattern (I have lots of those colours in my closet) and it fits perfectly - it is a true wrap blouse.

Three-button cuffs. 

The sleeves are ginormous. 

It's by Vero Moda (yet another department store brand) and was $28.00.

New with tags, too! It probably would have been around $59.99 new. 

L arrived home right on time, and was greeted rapturously by all (me and Vizzini). We all hung out and played board games until the wee hours (and only one of us drooled and tried to steal elastics). We were up early on Sunday for a day of football-watching, however, I had Book Club mid-day.

And why not wear one of my new-to-me things, this lovely lace dress? 

• Dress - H&M, consignment; purchased here for $2.00
• Snoots - Ivylee, consignment; last worn here during my May Dress Week 
• Cape (below) - Dafydd Snowdon Design Welsh, vintage 70s, thrifted; last seen here in May

The dress is too chilly to wear in fall/winter, so it will be packed away.

Yes, I could layer it with a blazer, but I have a lot of dresses for the chilly season. 

This one - although excellent - will reappear in spring.

I belted it as it's a bit big in the waist. 

It was lovely to wear, very comfy for sitting around at Caro's house, discussing our book, "Lincoln in the Bardo" by George Saunders. 

I wasn't very taken with the book, although it was a quick read. I've already put it in our Tiny Library in our condo's mailroom. 

Caped up. 

The weather has definitely turned to fall - there's a chill breeze in the air. 

I'm excited to wear all my outerwear again. 

A very Wonder Woman-ish pose. 

Incognito. 

We had flashes of sunshine here and there. 

Accoutrements: 

I'm also happy to have my extras back: gloves, scarves, hats, etc. 

• Purse - Whiting & Davis, vintage 1950s, vintage fair
• Silk scarf - Pierre Balmain, vintage 80s, thrifted
• Suede gauntlets - vintage 1940s, consignment

The stuff: 

Return of the Snoots! My snakeskin boots make another appearance - they go so well with the (real) python vintage belt. 

Bold bling: 

Odds and ends. Any opportunity to get dressed up! 

• Gold bangle - thrifted
• Gold/stone bracelet - D'Orlan, vintage 70s, vintage mall, gift from L
• Earrings - vintage 70s, vintage mall
• Brass ring - vintage 70s, vintage mall
• Gold/amethyst ring - Frances Jewelers, c. 1965, Dad's
• Gold/enamel brooch - de Passille-Sylvestre, vintage 70s, consignment

Book Club ran late - we gabbed for hours - and by the time I got home, it was into the early evening. Vizzini, where are you?

"As you well know, I am right here, Woman."

The stormy weather has caused all the acorns on our Garry Oaks to come pelting down, hitting cars, the street and our glassed-in deck with loud, sharp bangs. It's rather startling. 

"I wasn't scared, I was staying warm."

Oh, I really believe you, bud. 

And now, my friends, I'm off to enjoy an evening with L and a certain furry little guy. I hope you enjoyed my weekend recap - thank you so much for dropping by.