Long Weekend Wrap-Up: A Major Announcement, Plus Friday Poppies and White Jeans; Fake Cape and Leopard Brunch; and Hangout in the Park in Adidas and a Bathrobe

Welcome back, my friends! I have a Major Announcement (this will also be tagged at the top of Ephemera, in the sidebar (website view)).

I have branched out and I am now posting on Substack. 

Here is my very first post, link here. 

If you like what you see, please click on “Subscribe” and enter your email – once a week, a lovely post will arrive in your inbox, and you can read at your leisure in its entirety. You don’t have to click through to read my posts, and the email also links to my blog (wherever you see Ephemera), so you can also stay up-to-date on that if you so desire. 

No obligation to do this, of course. I'm hugely appreciative of all of you readers, and I full intend on still blogging as usual. 

Friday was a busy work-day, so I armoured up in bold poppies.

While I'm a fan of this wonderful red-orange poppy print, this blouse is off to Limbo.

• Silk blouse - Max Mara, vintage 90s, thrifted; last seen here in August 2023 with sold Adidas culottes
• Jeans - Articles of Society, thrifted; last worn here in July with jungle and orange ruffles
• Sandals - Geox, thrifted; last seen here in July with a caftan for a day of swanning about

It is just a big ol' box - it's too big on me. 

I'd intended on wearing my cropped velvet trousers with this, but they didn't look right. 

And these jeans are off to Limbo as well - they're doing me no favours.

I am on the lookout for a wider-legged pair.

But no need to take up closet real estate for something that I don't love. 

And doesn't love me back! My bum deserves to look better (I do a lot of stairs!). 

Incognito. 

I can still "cool pose" the heck out of this 'fit, though! 

The stuff: 

These sandals are best for not a lot of walking. Good thing I was stuck at my desk with a busy day, har har.

Copper bling: 

Best thing about the outfit! 

• Leather belt - Land's End, thrifted; purchased here for $3.95
• Copper "leaf" hinged cuff - vintage 60s, thrifted, Sidney
• Copper ball cuff - vintage 60s, vintage expo
• Copper brooch and earrings - purchased here for $1.95 each
• Copper/turquoise ring - consignment
• Copper ball ring - consignment
• Bronze ring - P. Sarpaneva, Finland, vintage 70s, vintage expo
• Pinky ring - purchased here for $2.95 for two rings, so $1.50 for one

As I noted when I bought the belt, it's too long. 

Admire my butchery with a craft knife! Never do what I do, kids! 

L was out with a friend well into the evening, but I kicked his arse at board games nonetheless when he got home (he'll deny this, ha ha). We overslept on Saturday and ended up at John's Place less than an hour before closing.

It was so bright and hot out I had to huddle up and sit in the shade to get a Stair Pic. 

• Cape/blazer - RolyPoly, consignment, Powell River; purchased here for $20.00
• T-shirt - Karl Lagerfeld, thrifted; last seen here in May with my Dries pirate skirt and cropped pink blazer
• Pants - Soaked in Luxury; last worn here in July 2023 with graphic mesh
• Sandals - Chie Mihara; last seen here in July with orange ruffles and jungle

The blazer/cape was perfect for keeping my arms covered without actually having any sleeves.

I showed it off to anyone who commented - it's a fake cape! 

I unstitched both of the pockets and stashed my sunglasses and phone in them.

The pants have been with me for just over 4 years - a good Dots purchase - and now worn 8 times (not bad for less than $12.00). 

I love the mix of this static-y looking pattern with the leopard print.

I strode about downtown feeling like a movie star. 

Without the fake cape, which I took off at John's while I ate. 

I wore a simple gold-foil printed t-shirt, which I hung out in all day and slept in that night.

Incognito.

One thing with a cape (even a fake one) - they don't work well with purses! I had to carry my purse - no cross-body or shoulder-strapping for me. 

The stuff: 

It pleases me when all my tones match. These sandals are barely an inch net height - check the Shoe Math!

• Purse - Streetwear Society, thrifted

I clomped over to the Bay to buy a gift card, picked up a birthday card for Vero as well, then met up with L at Ditch Records. 

Creepy animal bling: 

Sometimes my armour is pretty literal! 

• Snake belt - Notes by Nord, thrifted
• Gold shark cuff - Tom Binns, 2012, consignment
• Gold/eelskin bird bracelet - vintage 80s, consignment
• Gold/amber spider brooch - consignment
• Amber ring - c. 1996
• Wood ring - Dots
• Glass tile necklace - Venice, Karen's (gift from me)
• Gold hoops - 5th anniversary gift from L

L and I chilled out again on Saturday evening, playing Arkham Horror and listening to music (my current fave band, Sleaford Mods, featured). 

After a leisurely lie-in on Sunday morning, I got up and played in my closet for a while, putting together an outfit for hanging out at Ye Olde Pandemic Park, with our dear friends for the long weekend and Vero's birthday. 

Ahoy! That would be me in my new-to-me Adidas track pants, and a purple bathrobe. I'm so KLASSY. 

• Robe - Kathleen Staples, thrifted; purchased here for $14.95
• Shirt - Cos, thrifted; first seen here bookending plaid in March
• Track pants - Adidas, thrifted; purchased here for $14.95
• Sandals - Doc Martens, consignment; last worn here (2nd outfit) for a Mental Health Shop in August
• Sneakers (below) - Adidas Superstars, thrifted; last seen here in June for a trip to the mall

Mixing a dressy blouse with louche robe and pants is an interesting contrast in style. Casual + dressy instead of all casual.

A t-shirt would look too sloppy (I did consider it). 

I wore the sandals while at the park, so I could slip them off and feel the grass on my feet.

I took the robe off early while it was hot and sunny, but it was handy when we were walking home, as it was a bit cooler by then (slightly cloudy). 

It's a glorious colour, and is a mix of silk and cotton. 

No pockets, unfortunately. They can't all be winners, kid.

Thank goodness my track pants have giant pockets! 

Double-knit polyester was probably not the best choice for a hot August day. These pants are WARM.

Bucket hatted and incognito.

Who is that cool cat? I wore my Adidas Superstar sneakers to walk to and from the park. You can't see them, but I wore bright pink socks. 

My pink leather backpack contained a poncho for sitting on (a Ralph Lauren one that I thrifted many years ago - it's my Computer Poncho in cold weather) and my spare shoes.

Bring on the revelry! I ended up wearing the poncho home as it was overcast and windy by then. I regretted not having a scarf!

Accoutrements: 

That backpack has a lot of zippers but realistically doesn't hold much. 

• Backpack - Ash, consignment
• Bucket hat - thrifted

The hat is light and provides good sunblock - it's woven from paper.

The stuff: 

A tale of two shoes. I changed into my sneakers when my feet got cold.

Black bling: 

I rattled my chains at my friends.

• Necklace - Club Monaco
• Leather cuff - Guess, thrifted
• Steel/stone bracelet - Moda, Malta, vintage 70s, vintage mall
• Silver/onyx ring - Tocara, vintage fair
• Silver/amethyst ring - vintage mall
• White gold hoops - Frances Jewelers, 10th anniversary gift from L

Allow me to indulge in a few pictures from our party in the park. 

I was just Ross, Cat, Randall, Yvonne, L and I for a long time...

...and then Casey arrived! 

Good to see you, man. 

Ali and Chris, plus Greg (chatting with Casey) and Vero.

The Winesday Women sang "Happy Birthday" to Vero, and gave her our gift card. 

By the time the sun started hiding behind the clouds, we had a full crew. 

Justin and Django (the dog) are there somewhere, and Brad and Linda arrived. It's a party! 

I spied this cat in a window on the way.

Guarding the neighbourhood. 

Vizzini's getting arthritis in his hips, so we got him a new post to help him get up on our (very high) bed.

We picked this combo post up at Bosley's and I assembled it. As you can see by the triangle post, the furry tunnel and the other big scratching post, our little boy is spoiled for choice.

He was intrigued and has sample-scratched all of it.

"This is for me?"

He's been snoozing on the padded (and removeable/washable) bed section all weekend. 

"I deserve this."

You sure do, buddy! 

Me and my guy, L. 

Rock on, my love! 

Thank you so much for reading, my friends! And I hope you will follow me on Substack too!