Mom-Day Adventure: Birding at Colquitz Creek in a Swooshy Dress

Welcome back to Mom-Day, my friends! We met up at Tillicum Mall and did the stretch of path along Colquitz Creek behind the Silver City Cinemas. 

We haven't done this area since June 2024! Shocking! Re-visit here (I like seeing how the seasons change).

Getting in a wearing of this awesome dress. 

Why not sooner? So many dresses, so little time. 

• Dress - Proenza Schouler for Barney's, thrifted; last worn here in July 2024 with chunky sandals
• Boots - Original Sabado, Fluevog; last seen here in August with my Murder Mystery dress

I layered a pink cami and little shorts under it, and had socks on with the boots. 

I hoped I would be warm enough...and not too hot! September's such a changeable month. 

It's not your eyes, the pattern has a "negative, and it's flipped on the seams. 

Mom noticed it right away (she's got the eye of an artist, she never misses anything). 

Incognito. I love this swooshy dress - I might keep it out for winter as it layers well. 

A kind person on the bus loved my boots. 

Accoutrements and stuff:

I bused straight to the mall, and bused straight home - I had stuff to prepare for Rifflandia this weekend. 

Blue and silver bling:

I forgot to put the lapis lazuli ring on for most of my pictures, whoops! 

• Silver/lapis lazuli bracelet - Nepalese, consignment
• Steel cuff - Lakeland Art Metal Works, vintage 70s, thrifted
• Silver/crystal ring - Soul Flower
• Silver/kyanite ring - consignment
• Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes
• Silver earrings - Israeli, consignment

We had a glorious day, with temps in the low 20s and a light breeze. 

The perfect day to stroll under towering trees, watch dragonflies flit over us, and enjoy the sun beaming down. 

A wild rose.

No colour adjustments! 

I saw a black bird with red, and thought it was a red-winged blackbird (which are common in this area), then thought, "That's too big!" 

I zoomed way in and...it's a Pileated Woodpecker! So cool! Look at that red mohawk! 

I got on the Merlin app, hoping for more (I use the mic and let it tell me what I'm hearing). The usual bird suspects were out - lots of them! 

The Golden-crowned Sparrow was another new bird. Very exciting! 

Way up on that hill is the highway. 

In the middle area is the creek. 

We went out onto the viewing area to get away from some Loud Talkers. 

The post with the box on it in the distance is a bird house - they are all over the hill. 

The creek's looking good. 

Faded green as the summer wanes. 

Mom noted that all the apple trees are from when there were houses down here. 

I like that the area's being restored to the natural flora, but they've left the apple trees. It's good food for the birds and other critters. 

It's been a dry summer. 

Two very spindly and not-green-looking trees. 

All the new birds I recorded. I'm up to 62 on my Life List. 

I added the White-throated Sparrow after I took this picture. Six new birds! 

We retreated into this forested area to cool off. 

And rested on a giant granite rock for a while, then headed back. 

The skyline is changing in this neighbourhood. 

A crane and some tall buildings. 

A turkey vulture soaring on the thermals overhead. 

Some trees starting to turn as the weather cools. 

Nearly back at the mall. 

Mom and I both did patterns in our outfits...

...and SLEEVES!

We both have split cuff detailing. Great minds...

We enjoyed a yummy lunch at Montana's. Mom was classing up the joint! 

Thanks so much for the wonderful day, Mom! I love you!

I hopped on what turned out to be a Chaos Bus which did not take me straight home, so I got off in a familiar area of Fairfield and walked home. 

A kitty in a window enjoying the sun. Aw! After this weekend, L and I will be looking in earnest for a new furry family member...(I am SO EXCITED).

Street art. 

"Wish you were here." 

My friends, I'm signing out for the weekend, and as you may have surmised, it's going to be a busy one! I may be a day late as I catch up, but please do pop by on Monday for tales of adventure! It will be worth the wait! 

Thank you all so much for being here. Group hug! 

I am Stardust, I am Cerulean

I felt like wearing this new-to-me suede dress today.

My usual go-to for styling a dress like this would be tights and a blouse under it.

• Suede studded dress - Danier Leather, vintage 80s; purchased here for $68.00
• Ruched mesh top - no label, thrifted; first seen here (2nd outfit) under my Cheese Curls dress in July
• Leggings - Sympli, thrifted; purchased here for $14.95 (I've been wearing them around the house)

As I looked at my shoes, I realized that the gold dots...matched my gold sneakers. Why not try something different? 

I didn't want to be fully bare-legged, but I wanted to wear these little sheer lace-topped anklets (thrifted recently). Enter leggings! 

I know some of you are picking your jaws up off the floor, but never say never. I really liked wearing the dress this way! 

I also adored this cerulean suede, and the little gold studs had me humming "Woodstock" all day. It's like a deep blue sky sprinkled with stars. 

Incognito and scarfed up. "I love all this!" said a lovely person when I stopped at the drugstore on the way home. 

I was also delighted with the unusually roomy midsection - I'm so used to the 80s dresses being very snug hourglasses. 

The stuff: 

I walked to and from work in these shiny shoes. 

• Mulberry silk scarf - Fluevog

Gold bling: 

I wore the bracelets over my long mesh sleeves. 

• Gold bangle - thrifted
• Both eelskin bracelets - vintage 80s, thrifted
• Earrings - vintage fair
• Brass leopard ring - thrifted
• Lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes

Weird Adidas and the Pirate Skirt

It's high time I wore my Pirate Skirt. It's not that I've been avoiding my shorter skirts, it's just that it's been too hot to wear tights. 

My lovely Dries Van Noten was perfectly accompanied by the new-to-me Weird Adidas jacket. 

• Jacket - Adidas X Farm Rio, consignment; purchased here for $68.00
• Cotton top - Planet, thrifted; last seen here layered under my Halston dress in May
• Silk/cotton skirt - Dries Van Noten, Fall 2005, thrifted; last worn here in May 2024 with a cropped pink blazer
• Shoes - Sol Sana; last seen here (3rd outfit) to Nick's birthday party in August

This longer length has the right louche vibe for me. Winner!

The sleeves scrunch up just right (and stay there). 

Just a big ol' floral from the back. 

I appreciate the Adidas/leopard on the hem, a nice detail. 

I had the jacket off briefly in the morning, after hoofing it up the stairs. 

I layered a vintage cami under this cotton shirt. I liked that the Creamsicle shade of orange matched the jacket perfectly - and the tights! 

Incognito and happily pocketing. 

I did not need the scarf on the way home, and wore the jacket open. Sweaty! 

Accoutrements: 

Did you see Ms. Audrey on my jacket? I used her to cover the Adidas logo. 

• Mulberry silk "F-This, F-That" scarf - Fluevog
• Brooch - consignment; purchased here for $10.00

The stuff: 

I usually pack these shoes away for the fall/winter - this is probably the last wearing of them until next year. Thanks for another good season! 

Orange and green bling: 

My orange and green sets also get packed away. I wear more bright colours in the warmer months. 

• Plastic cuff/ring - Italian, vintage 60s, vintage mall
• Silver/aventurine ring - consignment
• Silver/malachite bracelet - thrifted, Sidney
• Silver/malachite ring - consignment
• Wooden earrings - vintage expo

Cropped Bomblazer and Wacky Pants

First, I must apologize - I neglected to include the pictures of this cropped, half-blazer, half-bomber jacket when I bought it at Turnabout just over a week ago! The front of it is like a blazer, and you know I love those ragged edges...and the back of it is a nylon bomber jacket, with knit hem. 

I also was 100% positive it was black...but it's navy blue, sigh. I'm not a massive fan of navy blue. 

• Cropped jacket - Zara, consignment; purchased NWT here for $28.80
• Blouse - Rock & Republic, thrifted; last seen here in May under a blue sweater
• Pants - Gorman, consignment; last worn here in May with this same blouse!
• Sandals - Sorel; last seen here in August 2024 (that can't be right...)

Castle view, as I haven't shared one for a while. 

The weather's been mostly like this - white from smoke haze. The sun burns through every so often, and sometimes it's more grey. 

Back to the outfit - the blazer/bomber jacket. All very classy in the front, although that's a very high crop. The white line you're seeing is a raw edge (you know I love them, your tastes may differ). 

I think I might like the IDEA of this more than the actuality. I'll have to try it with my fall/winter stuff. 

Let's have a look at the back. All black nylon, with a couple of deep pleats at the back of the neck. 

The backs of the sleeves are also nylon, and the cuffs are half-blazer/half-rib cuffed, but I rolled them twice to show my sleeves (also rolled) and bracelets.

I didn't take the bomblazer (of course that's the name) off, but I could have! 

I love this bright sheer blouse - it goes with a lot in my closet. I have a pale yellow cotton tank under it. 

Incognito. 

I only buttoned the bomblazer while I walked home, but it rode up quite a lot with my knapsack. Noted for next time. 

The stuff: 

I was sure I wore these sandals already once this season, but I can't find them anywhere. Huh. I did like wearing bright neon socks with them. 

• Belt - Emmanuel, vintage 80s, thrifted

Copper bling: 

I always love getting in a wear of some of my copper. 

• Squash blossom copper/turquoise cuff - Bell Trading Co., vintage 60s, consignment, Powell River
• Copper/turquoise brooch - vintage, thrifted
• Copper bracelet - Renoir, vintage 50s, thrifted
• Copper/glass and copper ball ring - vintage, consignment
• Copper/enamel earrings - Matisse by Renoir, vintage 60s, Grandma J's
• Copper necklace - Renoir, vintage 50s, consignment

Weekend Wrap-Up: Friday Popular Velvet; Tracy's Party in the Laurie Dress, and an Art Project Update: Yvonne's Badass Boots

Welcome back, my friends! It was a quite weekend (only one party), but I still have lots to share - let's delve in. 

Here's Friday's outfit. I needed to meet up with a friend for a walking meeting, so I built the outfit around the shoes...and these new velvet trousers! 

These pictures do not do the print justice - they are BRIGHT in real life. They look so dark in the pictures! 

• Satin top - Madam Q, thrifted; last worn here (2nd outfit) in December 2024 under a red bustier for brunch
• Velvet pants - Anthropologie, consignment, Powell River; purchased here for $89.00
• Creeper shoes - Call It Spring, consignment; first seen here in August with linen and Dries

I think I'm done with this satin blouse - I don't reach for it enough to call it a basic. I paid $14.95 for it two years ago and wore it 7 times, so I'm totally happy with that.

I think a slimmer knit top would work better. Next time! 

Here's a reminder of what the trousers REALLY look like. 

As I was out in the wild, walking to work, hoofing it to the Inner Harbour to meet a friend, and lugging my weekend drinks home...so many people told me they loved my outfit! 

I had questions about the pants - are they too hot? - but they swooshed so much, it was like wearing a maxi skirt. 

They are massively wide and to the ground in these shoes, but because they are SO swooshy, the hems actually got out of the way when I walked. 

Incognito. This is how I looked while I wasn't at my desk. 

I've never had a more popular outfit "in the wild." 

Accoutrements:

I liked the contrast of the orange and purple. 

• Leather purse - Fossil, consignment, Powell River
• Leather belt - Silpada Designs, thrifted
• Silk scarf - Fluevog

The stuff: 

I wore thin socks (with butterflies on them) and these shoes were amazingly comfortable. I'm a fan! 

Bold bling: 

I pushed the bangles over the sleeve cuffs. 

• Carved jadeite bangle - consignment
• Silver/Lucite cuff - Alexis Bittar, consignment
• Silver/amethyst ring - vintage mall
• Silver/crystal ring - Soul Flower
• Silver earrings - Israeli, consignment
• Silver Celtic S pendant/amethyst crystal - gifts from Mom & Dad, c. 90s

I lounged around in the morning, while L buzzed off to have lunch with a friend, and I got ready early for that evening's party at Tracey's, celebrating her 50th birthday. Woo, I love a party! 

I got in a wearing of the Laurie Dress, a favourite going back 10 years.

• Laurie Dress - vintage 70s, handmade; last worn here (2nd outfit) in July 2024 for brunch
• Shoes - Chloe, consignment; last seen here in August in our North Saanich adventure
• Fur stole - Foster's Furs, vintage 50s, vintage fair; last worn here (2nd outfit) to a January cocktail party

In case you aren't Laurie, this is called the Laurie Dress because I wore it when I met her and spent the day showing her, husband Fred (hi, Fred!) and son Robin (hi, Robin!) around downtown, visiting some shops and having a lovely lunch. Enjoy our visit here in June 2018. 

Nothing too fancy, just throw accessories at it! 

Rock on! 

It's a comfy dress for sitting, standing, eating.

I worried it would be chilly later, so I busted out my mink stole! 

I had to re-sew one of the arm straps - I'm demonstrating here how they go on the arms. This keeps the stole from falling off when you're wearing it. Hands free! 

And after my handiwork, the other strap came unstitched and it was too warm to need it. It was still very snuggly to wear on the way home. 

Tracey and Martin live way out near Mom's place, so L drove us there in Vlad the Jag. 

Accoutrements:

A purely functional purse - I had the card in it, and carried home our empty drinks bag and a jar of fancy local popcorn that Yvonne gave me. I dumped my bag in a corner at the party, along with the fur.

• Leather purse - Banana Republic, consignment
• Silk scarf - Ralph Lauren, thrifted
• Belt - vintage 70s, Mom's

The stuff: 

I put the heels in "non-flappy" mode this time. 

More Mom-bling: 

Mom's gold mesh-backed cuff, cocktail ring and clip-on earrings, all "liberated" by me in the mid-80s. 

• Metal mesh cuff - vintage 70s, Mom's
• Gold plate and pink stone cuff - D'Orlan, vintage mall, gift from L
• Gold/amethyst ring - Frances Jewelers, c. 1965, Dad's
• Cocktail ring - vintage 70s, Mom's
• Clip-on earrings - vintage 70s, Mom's
• Necklace - vintage 70s, thrifted

I only snapped one picture at the party, but the lovely Caro sent me a bunch - thank you! 

Here's the one I took - it's the gorgeous Tracy looking resplendent in a dress she bought at my last Limbo sale! I bought it at Dots and never wore it.

She rocked her tiara and "Birthday Queen" sash! Happy Birthday, Trace! 

Me and Vero.

Vero and Tracey have the same birthday! Much love to you, honey. 

Martin and brother Phil whipped up a dinner feast of smokies (a larger hot dog in a bun), hamburgers and chicken thigh burgers on the barbecue. SO GOOD. 

From left: Ali and Chris, Cat and Ross, and Linda. 

Caro and Yvonne! 

My lovelies! 

Vero, Tracy and Phil - all have the same birthday! 

What a sweet gesture - Vero and Phil got their own special birthday cakes. 

After dinner, guest Jen got out her DJ kit and started spinning the dance tunes.

Wow, I've never been to a house party with a DJ! So classy! 

And last, the yellow pants guys, haha! 

Brad, and L wearing the newly-purchased Torras leather jacket. 

As the party started earlier in the afternoon, we ended up leaving early. L and I chilled out and played boardgames when we got home.

And now...

Art Project: Yvonne's Badass Boots

Go here for the last update in August! 

I got ready early as noted, then sat out on the deck in the afternoon and worked on Yvonne's boots. Time is slipping away so fast - I needed to get busy on them. 

Here's where we last left the unfinished boot. Yup, very unfinished. 

I coloured in all of the black. This took about 2.5 hours. 

I have to fill all the black in, then wait for it to dry fully, and then go over it all again to pick up any light spots. 

The grey straps are next, then the "shadows" - it's easily another 2.5 hours to finish! 

But it won't be this week. We have too much going on.

I hope you enjoyed my weekend adventures - thank you so much for being here!