Monday's outfit was picked out on Sunday - I was hopeful that this brown faux suede dress would join the legions of Jammy Dresses in my closet, but...
...I felt good about it until I saw the photos. Do I look like a potato? Do I care? I did love wearing it...
- Dress - Kaffe; purchased here from Dots for $22.50
- Top - For Love & Nancy, thrifted; first seen here (2nd outfit) in July over my Laurie Dress
- Boots - Donald J. Pliner, vintage 90s, consignment, Sidney; last worn here in March with turquoise and brown leather
- Poncho (below) - Welsh, thrifted; last seen here in April
For a change of pace, I layered my cropped cream top under the dress.
I do like the bubble of sleeve sticking out.
And they match with the cowboy boots.
The back view is...fine. It's a brown box.
Maybe it's the colour - it's a rather spud-y shade.
It was soft, stretchy and easy to wear. Big pockets are a definite plus.
I used a little purse, and carried a tote bag with my boots and lunch supplies.
It's a good canvas for my vintage jewelry too - I always appreciate that. What do you think?
Incognito in a cape.
Accoutrements and stuff:
Such sweet boots - I only keep them out in warmer weather, due to the canvas body.
- Purse - Day + Mood, thrifted
Copper and turquoise bling:
And then I spotted two young deer nibbling at a different bush. I think our condo must be a top-rated Deer Restaurant!
We had a noon potluck in the lunchroom at the office - so many of my lovely colleagues were there!
My entire outfit is second-hand today, including all of my jewelry. Gotta love that!
I walked to and from work in my boots. I don't like carrying these - they're heavy, so hard on my back/shoulders to schlep an extra bag. Thus, most of my boots must be walkable.
This is another fabulous old J. Crew piece, picked up for cheap at Turnabout.
This is all of my turquoise and copper. Vix and I have the same necklace - thinking of you, honey!
- Necklace - Bell Trading Post, vintage 60s, consignment
- Squash blossom cuff - Bell Trading Post, vintage 50s, consignment, Powell River
- Enameled cuff - Matisse by Renoir, vintage 60s, vintage expo
- Rings - consignment
- Brooch - thrifted
- Earrings - Matisse by Renoir, vintage 60s, Grandma J's
I remember my grandma wearing these earrings when I was a child.
When I left for work in the morning, this fellow was chomping down on the bush at the end of our driveway.
Be my guest.
The next morning, a doe blocked the drive. I gently shooed her onto the grass by clapping lightly.
For Wednesday, I had a different top and shoes in mind, but when I awoke to a gloomy, rain-promised day, I switched to a cotton sweater and tall boots.
- Sweater - J. Crew, thrifted; last worn here in February with a Limbo'd mini (Ali bought it!)
- Skirt - H&M, thrifted; last seen here (3rd outfit) in July 2023 for a planning meeting for our Winesday trip last summer
- Boots - Matisse, consignment; last worn here in May with my Just Cavalli "critter" dress
- Cape - Dafydd Snowdon, Wales, vintage 70s, thrifted; last worn here in March
My orange and blue colours and the skirt were the hits amongst my colleagues. I always feel good in orange!
This is a 2012 J. Crew sweater, purchased four years ago for a whopping $9.99.
It's an excellent piece of "cake" in my closet - it's such a bright, vibrant colour, the cabling is perfect, and it's not too bulky. It goes with many of the crazy "icing" skirts I have.
The skirt is probably from a few years earlier than the sweater, around 2010-ish - I had a few mini-skirts cut in this full, extra-pleated "bubble" front (they all had pockets too). I recall a silvery-grey velvet one (this one here, in Feb 2012), and a wine brocade one (this one here, from Jan 2011).
This lovely blue skirt is by H&M and it's fully-lined, with ginormous pockets, and even a tab at the top of the zipper! The pattern is birds and flowers.
Incognito and caped.
The inner part is connected to the cape at the neck, which means I have a full fitted layer around my core with a cape over that.
Accoutrements:
Another "real" purse during the week! Shocking!
- Scarf - Metropolitan Museum of Art "Eagle Wing" scarf, King Tut exhibit, 1970s, thrifted, Seattle
- Purse - no label, consignment
The scarf was not needed on the way home. It's not fully autumn yet!
The stuff:
Bold bling:
I don't care that these bib necklaces aren't in fashion right now. I love them!
- Necklace - J. Crew, consignment
- Orange stone bracelet - Loren Hope, thrifted, Sidney
- Purple stone bracelet - Moda, Malta, vintage mall
- Steel/Lucite ring - Calvin Klein, thrifted
- Silver/amethyst ring - vintage mall
- Earrings - thrifted
I happened to have the camera in my hand when Vizzini and I shared our usual after-work closet moment. We sit on the stool just inside the door, facing the mirror, and he looks around and I give him many pats and scritches.
"What is this chicanery, Woman?"
Love his fuzzy head! Mwah! I want to kiss it!
He's the only cat we've ever had who sees us in mirrors - he understands that he's looking at me.
"Yeah, I'm smart like that."
I treasure these times with him, and give him as many cuddles as he wants. Aw!
I'll be back on Thursday - I warned you, this week is very full! - so enjoy my recent adventures and please do pop in again soon. Thanks so much for stopping by!
I like the brown dress but as soon as I saw the first picture thought that a more closely fitted sleeve, and in a vibrant colour would be better. I was thinking turquoise or teal, then realized you were wearing your copper and turquoise jewellery.
ReplyDeletePossibly too matchy though? Or what about orange, same or similar shade as your next outfit?
I don’t think you look like a potato but perhaps the full white sleeves remind you of the inside of a baked potato?!!
My verdict: keep the dress. After all, it has pockets!
Peggy
Thanks, Peggy! I love the idea of orange (I have a mesh long-sleeved orange/yellow mix top that might work). I also have a short-sleeved teal turtleneck sweater.
DeleteHa, maybe that's it! If I'd worn a little yellow, I could have had the pat of butter! Lol, I have a yellow purse, what a missed opportunity! Now I have to keep the dress so I can be a baked potato! Ha! Love it!
Thank you so much for taking the time to give feedback - I truly appreciate it! <3
Great outfit with the skirt and orange! Love the vibe of a shorter skirt with longer boots. And how magnificent it is to see the doe, or deer? Have to check what the difference is...We have a couple of beautiful sunny days here this week. I'm afraid it will be the last ones sadly.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nancy! The short skirt-tall boots combo is one I've done for ages - going way back to the early days of my blog.
DeleteDoes are grown female deer; bucks are grown males; fawns are newborns/young deer; and deer is the group term for those animals. :) English is so confusing.
Aw, I hope there is still some more sunshine for you, Nancy!
Love the brown dress, 'cake' not potato sack :) I am wearing a black dress today that also is not as flattering as it could be, but hey I love it, and that is what matters. Lise
ReplyDeleteLol, you are right, Lise - it's not a potato sack! Wise words from a wise woman! <3
DeleteOkay, you asked what we think about the brown jammy possibility…first thought was the color is meh. Then I concluded it might look nice either without a longer sleeved top underneath OR with a vibrant close-fitting longer sleeved top underneath. Looking closer I liked the lines of the dress and, as you noted, it has pockets, a definite plus! Boots, cape and jewelry…all Oo la la!
ReplyDeleteYay for vibrant color on Tuesday and the bib necklace is fabulous, so bold yet welcoming. (Think it’s the first time I ever described a necklace as welcoming!) As for Vizzini, it is said connections are an important part of healthy aging. You each provide that TLC to/for one another; it’s the part of his health regimen unspecified by the vet. ;) ❤️😻
Cheers, Laurie
I agree, it's a meh colour, Laurie, and you were on the same track with a brighter colour as Peggy, above. A more fitted top will certainly alleviate my bulkiness complaints on the top half.
DeleteThank you! I get what you mean about the necklace - it's somehow comforting.
L and I each have our personal time and routines with Vizzini, and I love our closet time cuddles. Yes, it's just as good for us as it is for him. <3
Thanks so much, dear friend.
You don't look like a potato. If I were wearing it, I'd lean into the all one colour thing with a brown turtleneck, and possibly a longer skirt. I'd keep it the same shade and then go nuts with jewelry. Anyway, that's me not you and I'm sure you will figure out a way to style it.
ReplyDeleteCool copper/turquoise!
Thank you!! I like that idea...I have some interesting fall skirts that could be interesting with it, and I have gobs of cool jewelry that would work with that. Thanks so much for the ideas - I keep an open mind!
DeleteWelsh wool envy!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I don't think you look like a potato and the dress is a great canvas for your wonderful copper jewellery, I do think it's a bit meh. Perhaps the outfit is a bit too matchy, so I'd love to see the dress in a different guise! The boots though <3
The second outfit is much more you, I think. Yay for orange "cake"! xxx
I know you have it, Ann! I don't think the brown dress is going to stay with me - it's just not high enough quality, unfortunately. I like everything BUT the potato.
DeleteThank you! I agree!
ReplyDeleteThat brown dress is fabulous. I love how you styled it with turquoise accessories.
The second outfit with the blue and orange colour combo is fantastic as well. The orange sweater is very chic, especially paired with that statement orange necklace, and the blue mini is beautiful.
Kudos to Vizzini. Most cats can't tell their reflection in the mirror. Monkeys can't figure it out either, only apes. I think elephants are the only other mammal that always passes the reflection mirror test. Most animals can't do it. Some birds can- the clever ones like crows. Conclusion- Vizzini is a clever boy.
Thanks, Ivana! I know - he also can open closet doors, in addition to being attuned to the ways of reflections. We noticed it when he was a kitten - he would watch us in a reflection. Such a smart boy!
DeleteMonday's outfit is style perfection; understated but super cool with those boots and pops of turquoise.
ReplyDeleteGlad you're making the most of those capes and that Eagle wing scarf is a stunner!
Thank you! The scarf is one of my treasures!
DeleteYay, pendant twins! I love those cowboy boots that you wore with the suede dress. I've got a 1960s suede mini dress that Jon bought me, I like the idea of it but when I see photos of myself in it I think sack, too! xxx
ReplyDeleteYeah, what is up with sack-like dresses? I Limbo'd this potato. Pendant twins!
DeleteMy building is also a deer buffet. :D I think the brown dress is a great colour, but needs more contrast. My go-to is always bright tights, or maybe a bright undertop? Scarf?
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas here, Rachel, but if I have to work that hard on a garment, it's not going to last with me.
Delete