Bigass Long Weekend Wrap-Up: Never Navy and Plaid Poncho; Brunch Leather and Boots (and a Wee Shop); Winesday Cocoon

Welcome back, Gentle Reader! It was a weekend for hunkering down, battening the hatches and being with the ones we love. 

We have lots to get to, so let's get 'er going! Here's Friday's office outfit - I ended up doing some physical stuff, so I was happy it was so comfortable. 

I built the outfit around the new-to-me Adidas cropped sweatshirt, pairing it with this bold skirt. 

• Sweatshirt - Adidas, thrifted; purchased here for $9.00
• Skirt - Tibi, consignment; last worn here exactly a year ago! in November 2023
• Boots - Original Sabado, Fluevog; last seen here in September with Anna Sui and McQueen
• Poncho - Bodybag by Jude, consignment, gift from L; last worn here in December 2023

I did a deliberate cull of navy blue from my closet a few years ago - it's never a colour I gravitate to or WANT to wear, so why have a colour I don't like in my closet?

However, I couldn't resist this Adidas sweatshirt with the white vinyl down the arms and the tee-shirt shape of the front burgundy section. So fun! And for only nine bucks? Sold! 

I was stumped on what to wear with it until I put it with a black and white skirt.

It doesn't match - but it goes, right? 

Blah, navy blue back. I'll be moving the sweatshirt along - it's not top quality and that whole navy blue thing, plus styling challenges...not worth the trouble, off to Limbo you go! 

The skirt, on the other hand, is superb quality - it's a very thick synthetic knit. That was a gift card from Turrnabout well spent.

Incognito and getting ready to don a poncho.

Scarf, check! Purse on first, check! 

Tah-dah! A fellow shopper at the drugstore after work said, "You look spectacular." Wow, thanks, kind stranger! 

I love this fleece-lined gorgeous poncho, even though ponchos are a pain to deal with. You have to commit to them. 

Hands in the giant pouch it has inside at the waist. 

I had a dearth of pockets on me, so stashed a ton of stuff in there. 

The tie threads around my waist, under the cape.

It was crisp but not too cold out for my walk to and from work. Perfect poncho weather.

Accoutrements: 

One piece of navy blue that I am still hanging onto is my vintage silk Bill Blass scarf. I can't give it up, it's so beautiful, and it reads as black if you don't look too closely.

• Silk scarf - Bill Blass, vintage 90s, consignment
• Leather studded gloves - Danier Leather
• Purse - Rebecca Minkoff, consignment

The stuff: 

Such awesome boots! These are from the last sample sale, back in April 2022. I've worn them so much - they were a great purchase. I always feel very badass in them.

Bold bling: 

I wore the brooch on the neckline of the poncho. 

• Brooch - vintage 80s, thrifted
• Lucite/silver hinged cuff - Alexis Bittar, consignment, Vancouver
• Crystal cuff and earrings - J. Crew, thrifted
• Silver/red stone ring - consignment
• Silver/onyx ring - Tocara, vintage fair
• Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes

I liked how the sparkly cuff and earrings helped tie the sweatshirt in with the outfit.

L had friends in from out of town, so I chilled out and binge-watched "Mad Men" on Friday evening and ate popcorn for dinner. We were up early for brunch, to meet up with Nick and our old buddy Norm, who I've known since we were 17 (40 years!). 

Another "waiting in the wings" outfit, put together to feature this lovely cerulean blue merino wool sweater that I picked up secondhand last month. 

• Merino wool sweater - Lord & Taylor, consignment; purchased here for $48.00
• Leather "Buffy" dress - Danier Leather, vintage 90s, thrifted; last worn here in November 2022 with funky boot
• Boots - L'Artiste; last seen here in November 2023 with a different black dress
• Suede coat (below) - Danier Leather, consignment; last worn here in October

I missed wearing this leather 90s "Buffy" dress last year - it felt too short and a bit too tight. This year? I'm in more of a "Eh, whatever, fork it!" kind of mood.

I felt great and dear Deb at John's Place said this was her "favourite of all your outfits!" - what a sweetheart. 

I did have to ensure I was covered while sitting at brunch.

And was careful clambering in and out of the car. 

I layered this gorgeous sweater underneath, and had a camisole under that.

Tights with gold dots for extra coverage. 

I picked out the orange in the brocade boots for my suede coat. 

It wasn't raining or wet out, so I was safe to wear both the boots and the coat. 

All done up - didn't need to do this for long. 

It was surprisingly warm out. 

Accoutrements: 

Sneaking in a wearing of this luxuriously fluffy and soft scarf. I ended up stuffing it and the gloves into my purse after a few minutes. 

• Leather purse - Perlina Studio, thrifted
• Alphabet scarf - thrifted; purchased here for $6.95
• Leather gloves - Roeckl, consignment

Not gonna complain about the weather, nope.

The stuff: 

Amazing boots - people stopped me in my tracks to exclaim over them. I have a small window for wearing them, as they are fleece-lined (very warm), but also brocade...it has to be cold but dry.

Gold bling: 

Note how I knotted the chain of the necklace to make it shorter. I felt very clever! It's easy to undo, and makes ultra-long pendant necklaces a bit more versatile.

• Gold bracelet - thrifted, Sidney
• Eelskin hinged bracelet - vintage 80s, thrifted
• Brass earrings - vintage mall
• Brass rings - both vintage 70s, vintage mall
• Bronze ring - P. Sarpaneva, Sweden, vintage expo
• Pinky ring - Dots
• Gold-plated necklace - Robert Larin, vintage 70s, vintage mall, gift from L

There was a longer line-up at John's Place for brunch, so I had a 10-minute shop in the Beacon Ave Thrift store. I found this blue men's dress shirt right away. 

L loved it and claimed it. 

It's monogrammed and the buttons have the name on them too.

So classy. 

I found a hologram down the side. 

So we know it's authentic Roberto Cavalli! 

And indeed it is. For only $7.00! 

A plain shirt on their website retails for $711.00!! WOW. I showed L and he was boggled.

The lovely volunteer noted that this item had just been put out. It was my lucky day! 

I love that floral, heart and paisley pattern in the luscious grassy green. 

It's thick woven cotton (although there is no content tag). 

Metal buttons. The buttonholes are frayed a bit, and the top button has been resewn with a different coloured thread.

I saw the label and grabbed it. Fenno Sport? Never heard of it! But Made in Finland? Yes, always going to grab that! 

In addition to Finnish brand Marimekko (which we all know), I now also have Arola (skirts and a cape), and can add Fenno Sport to the mix. They all seem to have started in Finland in the 1960s-1970s. I'd guess this is late 60s? I think it also may have been shortened by hand from a longer version, as there's contrasting bias tape and hand stitches on the hemline.

I gave it a good steaming and flattened all the seams, and here she is. 

A very mini miniskirt, or a tunic. So cool! $18.00 seemed like a good deal - there's a dress by them on 1st Dibs for $1,200.00!

I spent the afternoon getting ready for Winesday, then threw on a bunch of Very Comfy Things, including this new-to-me cocoon dress. 

We hung out till the wee hours, a small group of us, laughing, eating and chilling with each other. 

• Sweater dress - Scotch & Soda, NWT, thrifted; purchased here for $48.95
• Sweater - Intimate, vintage 60s, thrifted; last worn here in November 2023 layered under a Gigli dress
• Pants - Seductive, consignment; last seen here in July with velvet tangerine
• Sneakers - Adidas. consignment; last worn here to Vancouver in August

This dress was very thick and warm to wear - I put it on...then took it off. I did this at least a dozen times over the evening.

I layered a stretchy pair of leopard pants under it. 

Ignore my Klassy thick socks and sneakers.

I only wore them while getting to and from the cab each way. 

I wore this blue vintage sweater to match the blue racing stripe down the side of the pants.

Betty Draper on "Mad Men" wears these sweaters with skinny pants - I've also seen a lot of copper jewelry on Joan. It's cool to see things I own in their era. 

My outerwear consisted of a scarf and gloves, which again I only wore to and from the cab.

My ginormous bag was full of: 

• A casserole dish (I baked my tortellini and green sauce with lots of cheddar cheese - it was amazing)
• A cereal box full of fresh-made popcorn
• About four bars of chocolate
• A bag of jalapeno quinoa puffs
• My mixed drinks (mocktail amaretto sours and mock-Margaritas) and fizzy water

Accoutrements: 

I'm so Minnie Pearl (link here 'cause I love) with my tags left on the Ed Hardy bag, heh heh.

• Scarf - Vera, vintage 80s, Mom's
• Wool gloves - Parkhurst
• Giant bag - Ed Hardy, consignment, Powell River

The stuff: 

The only shoes that fit two pairs of socks I had on. 

• Silver earrings - Israel, consignment
• Silver/onyx ring - Tocara, vintage fair
• Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes

L and I are taking it easy for the rest of the weekend, playing boardgames, listening to music and chilling out. We haven't seen much of each other this week, so we appreciate that extra time. 

"I've found the warm spot."

Vizzini's been snoozing here in the bedroom lately - there's a baseboard heater under the window, so he has wafts of warm air. 

Hey, cutie-patootie.

"I accept your botherings."

Signing off to spend time with my fam. I hope your weekend has been full of peace and quiet joys, and do remember to send out your thanks into the universe for members of the military, past and present, for their service. 

As always, thank you so much for visiting! 

Cheers,

Sheila