Shopping Days: Mental Health Shop as a Senior(!); Lunch with Mom

Welcome back, Gentle Reader! I'm so appreciative that you're here, and while I'm FAR behind on comments, I am reading, smiling and nodding along (no, Laurie, I don't use any kind of spray/protector on my leather works, nothing! They are good to go!). 

As part of my time off, L and I also spend time apart. He enjoyed a day on his own with buddies Nick and Casey, and I partook in a Mental Health Shop. This was...Wednesday! 

I felt like wearing something neutral. Enter tulle and bare toes! It was a sunny and hot day (always windy).

• Cotton jacket - Sasaki Art, consignment; first seen here in August 2024 with these same shoes
• Top - Baden Baden, consignment; last worn here in April with peach leopard
• Taupe tulle skirt - no label, consignment; last seen here in August 2024 with a Madras cotton blazer
• Shoes - Miz Mooz, thrifted; last worn here in August 2024 with this same jacket (I'm so creative)

I didn't take the jacket off except to try on a few things, but here you go.

I always like to make sure my outfits look cohesive no matter how I wear them in Real Life. 

And there we are.

I strolled downtown and had a leisurely 2+ hour shop at WIN on Pandora Ave, then walked over to Flavour Upstairs for a poke around, then over to Upcycle before heading home. 

I love this pretty jacket - it's a mix of fabrics.

Will I ever NOT be enamoured of tulle skirts? Signs point to no. 

How I looked as I strolled about. Incognito, so I can people-watch.

I had a delightfully "me" day, and found a few things.

The stuff: 

These shoes were good for a day of walking around - I originally tested them out in the office. No rubbing, although my heel did slip off a couple of times, twisting my foot. 

• Purse - Rebecca Minkoff, thrifted

Silver bling:

Big bold pieces.

• Steel cuff - thrifted
• Silver mesh cuff - consignment
• Anneke & Lars silver ring - vintage mall
• Silver/crystal ring - Soul Flower
• Belt - B-Low the Belt, thrifted
• Silver/onyx necklace - Mexican, consignment, Powell River
• Silver fingerprint earrings - Daisung Kim, MoMA, thrifted

As mentioned, I started at WIN, arriving before the lunch browsers, and took my time looking at everything. 

I saw "Made in Italy" on them, recognized the brand from Footloose Shoes (it's one they carry), and admired the floral-printed leather. Also, ruffles! 

They are by Ateliers, a Montreal company established in 2008 and similar styles range from $60 on sale to $195 new. I know that the content sticker means they are leather inside and out (the diamond means "human-made"). 

I tested them for "slap-slap" and the high vamp on the top of the foot helps keep them on my foot. They are a little "toe-y", so I might only wear them a few times. But $22.95 is a great price. 

I waffled over this bag - it was the first thing I put into my shopping basket, so I thought about it the longest. 

Clearly, I did buy it! I was struck by the overall amazing quality - once I stuffed it to pull it back into shape, it looked new. 

Note the ginormous lock on the main zipper.

The centre rotates and "locks" into place. Only for use when you don't need to access your purse.

Not a lick of wear on the bottom.

Not even a scratch! 

I like the gold hardware on the pewter metallic of the leather. And yes, my friends, it's real leather.

A name on the dangly decoration. Steven. 

It's always a mark of quality when there's custom lining. It also says Steven. 

And of course, it's Steven by Steve Madden. 

The biggest drawback is that it takes up a hand - it's not a shoulder bag, so it's a special event bag (it holds a lot!) that can double as a pillow (hee). 

I don't care that much about the brand, but the quality for $34.95 is excellent. 

I couldn't resist this shiny lame (lah-MAY, darlings!) scarf in tones of gold, silver and copper. 

I plan to wear it with...copper! It was $6.95. 

I hit a bonanza in the vintage section - more lovely lingerie! 

I love this dusty pinky-lavender colour. 

It's by Christine and Company of Vancouver, a company that's been around through storefronts and manufacturing since 1973 (about them here). Based on the style this is likely from the early 00s.

The little rose is a bit too...twee for my taste, and camisoles by them are over $100(!), so it's going into Limbo. 

I'm keeping this one for myself. 

What a lovely camisole! Note the lace inserts on the back hip and that wide piece of lace on the chest.

Also 100% silk! 

I love that it's washable! 

There's pretty lace on the back as well. Again, $6.95 for silk.

This is by Adagio by Patricia Fieldwalker - a review/synopsis of the designer here from 2011.

And the last piece is this vintage pink half-slip.

I believe this is the back, or that it can be worn both ways (it has tags on both front and back). That panel of lace is sheer.

It's by Henson Kickernick, and I found out via a coffeemaker blog (they bought the factory building located near Lexington, Kentucky) that HK was manufacturing lingerie between 1958-1984 (link here).

This is probably from the 1960s. Again, $6.95! 

This dress was in the cheap area - I found it by feel. 

Sorry about the dark lighting - it's an antique white colour, with lace cut-outs. 

I turned it inside out - yup, there are the loops that would have held the missing lining/slip. Good thing I have a bunch of them.

The seams tell me this is a delicate fabric. I suspect it is silk or a silk/cotton blend.

And as I expected, there were a bunch of rips where it's snagged on things. 

I could sew these up...or just live with them. 

It's by BCBG Max Azria "Runway".

I'm sure it was sold at the store that was in the local mall for years. 

Only $14.95? Yeah, I'll give it a shot! 

I will probably move this along - it's a very pretty dress with sort of a flapper look, so worth giving a shot myself first. 

I like a good long-sleeved layer.

Not just a plain mesh shirt (there are lots of crappy ones out there). 

It has pretty detail on it. 

It will be a good layering piece that I'll wear a bunch. 

For $6.95? 

No question! In my basket! 

This snap-front top/shirt fit me perfectly.

I love the lavender colour, although it has some fading. 

Laser-cut hems - when I showed that to L he said, "Oh, it's from the early 00s." 

I've taught him well, plus he's very observant. 

I adore the snaps.

They're all in really good shape, no duds.

It's by Attitude a branch of Haggar women's wear (learned from looking up the RN number), a brand I remember being sold at Eaton's department store. Yup, the CA number tells me it was registered in 1999. 

$19.95 for leather - that's a bargain, as I see leather goods' prices climbing. 

A beautiful deep plum skirt in a stretchy bamboo cotton. 

Longtime readers may remember my Smoking Lily phase of 2011-2012 - this is by local competitor Floating Gold Iceberg.

This brand used to be sold at Leka for $$. I knew $9.95 was a bargain.

I will be moving it to Limbo and I know one of my people will love it. 

As my items were rung in and the clerk gave me the total, they said, "And...after your Senior Discount..." and I ended up getting 25% off on everything I bought! 

SENIOR DISCOUNT. I didn't even ask for it! (I never have). I was mildly traumatized that they assumed I was either 60 or 65. Boo! 

Then I stepped outside and got over it. 

I meandered down to Upcycle after a fruitless try-on at Flavour Upstairs.

I know, this colour - I'm going to look back on 2025 as the my Neon Phase. 

It's a faux suede finish, with an exposed side zip and nice big pockets.

It has a bright yellow lining. 

It's by Twik, which is a Simons department store brand. 

It was $40.00.

As I walked up to the bus, I spotted this amber plastic square on the ground. 

It fits my thumb! Every so often, a freebie comes your way.

On Thursday, L and I went for lunch on Mom at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel's Snug pub for L's birthday.

Time to start wearing some of my dresses, now that the weather's getting better. 

• Cape-coat - RolyPoly, consignment, Powell River; last worn here in November 2024 in an avian look
• Dress - Trina Turk, thrifted; last seen here (2nd outfit) in July 2024 for a weekend shop with a colleague
• T-shirt - Cynthia Rowley, thrifted; last worn here in August 2024 under another green dress
• Shoes - Vogettes Pina, Fluevog; last seen here (2nd outfit) in May with neon and a Halston dress

Without the cape-coat, which I took off for lunch.

I like a top layered under this pea-green dress. 

Gotta show off the cool back.

Right? I love that! 

I had two sets of pockets - the dress has them too. 

A plethora of pocketry! 

Dramatic cape back.

If you're wondering how I manage a purse with this...

I layer it over the dress, then put the cape-coat on.

Ahoy! Good times ahead.

The stuff: 

I foolishly forgot to wear toe-sole covers, and ended up with a small blister on one toe. Sigh. Live and learn. 

Black and white bling: 

I wore the wee black cat on my lapel, and pinned the ginormous vintage brooch to the middle of my chest. 

• Plastic bangles - vintage, consignment
• Black and white stretchy cuff - vintage fair
• Black crystal brooch - vintage, vintage fair
• Wooden cat pin - consignment
• Silver chain ring - Mexican, consignment
• Silver/green stone ring - thrifted
• Crystal earrings - thrifted

L and I arrived before Mom.

Such a hideous view! Who would want to live here? 

Ha ha, me, me! 

A clear view of Mt. Baker in Washington state. 

Mom, looking lovely in white.

That's one of my favourite necklaces. 

I was shocked - Mom wore a skirt! A purchase from Laura last year - looking fabulous, Mom! Thanks so much for lunch - I love you!

Waiting for the valet to bring Mom's car around, and L is looking resplendent in a vintage Dolce & Gabbana shirt I bought around 15 years ago, a vintage belt and buckle and polka dot navy pants. The shoes are Fluevog, of course. 

Since we were in the neighbourhood, we quickly popped into Turnabout on the way home.

These vibrant yellow pants came home with me. 

I see a date inside! 

Spring 2022, with delivery going out in November 2021. 

I like the paper-bag waist, but not the crappy D-ring fabric belt. I have my own belts! 

It's by Banana Republic and was NWT (new with tags) and is a Petite, which explains why they are the perfect length on me. They are cotton/nylon, so won't crease (and are washable), and were $40.00. They originally retailed for $175.00 (and ended up on sale for $55). This colour is called Yellow Umbrella, nice. 

L was reading in the sun outside while I looked around. 

This is Turnabout - isn't it posh? It's 3 floors connected by a spiral staircase and it's right next to an Italian bakery (Ottavio). 

From there, we popped into House of Savoy for a quick chat with Zenija. 

 I was utterly enchanted by this sheer red blazer. 

It has three pockets! 

It's also missing its belt - the broken string remains on one side, and a loop on the other. I cut them off, but I will belt it.

It's by FTF, Fashion to Figure (a plus size brand) and was $45.00.

I'm excited to wear this - it's very dramatic. 

And there you have it! Two days of shopping, some great finds and a couple of fun outfits. I'll have one more post later this weekend with my final wrap-up of my vacation before going back to work. Hint: There might be a party in there!! 

Thank you so much for being here!