Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Cozy Day: Cats and Casual

Hello, my friends! Today is the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (link here, 'cause I love), and nothing could be more fitting for us than to get to meet two dear rescue kittens. They will be joining us on Friday as part of our family in their forever home, and although we still have to do some paperwork and pay for them, they are OURS. I've included a couple of pictures below, and it's totally cool if you want to scroll down.

I dressed for sitting on the floor and grabbing and petting and playing with the kittens (names to be revealed once we have them), as we visited them in their foster home in the morning.
I also wore this to Book Club at Caro's later that night. Casual was called for.

  • Sweater - Luisa Cerano, thrifted; last worn here in January with pink tulle to hang with Mom
  • Nylon pants - Cambio, consignment; last seen here (4th outfit) in June for an evening of board games
  • Sneakers - L'intervalle, consignment; last worn here in August for our trip to Powell River
  • Suede coat (below) - Danier Leather, consignment; last seen here in April

For days that were supposed to be full of rain, it was a pretty lovely sunny/cloudy day. 
It boded well for the visit to meet the wee furry boys.

L and I got home and could barely contain our excitement - it's like Christmas, only with cats! 
We chilled out in the afternoon, playing boardgames and listening to music, as we shared pics with our family (chosen and actual), and got more and more excited. I'm supposed to be chill about it, but I'm NOT! 

I haven't worn this sparkly light sweater for ages, but kept it out for a day just like this.
Nylon pants for little kitties sitting on me.

An orange coat as a nod to the day. 
The temps are quite cool, and the wind has a bite to it. 

The stuff: 
Cozy things. 

  • Purse - Rebecca Minkoff, consignment
  • Silk scarf - Museum of Modern Art, thrifted

Strong bling: 
Armoured up! 

  • Steel cuff - Lakeland Art Metal Works, vintage 70s, thrifted
  • Steel/crystal bracelet - Juicy Couture, consignment
  • Steel earrings - gift from Lise
  • Silver/crystal ring - Soul Flower
  • Anneke & Lars ring - vintage mall

And here are the boys:
We'll share the names once we actually have them (they have foster names which we won't keep). They were completely chill with us, a little playful, not too shy, and submitted to cuddles and grabbing (from me, ha ha). They seemed very happy and friendly. 

We'll see you again soon! 
Friday will be here before you know it! Oh my gosh, how will I wait that long!?

Monday, September 29, 2025

Monday Regret-Me-Not Cocoon, and Found Pockets

This is going to be a weird week, partly because there's a stat holiday on Tuesday, which throws things off. So I only had Monday at work, and then a day off. I'll take it! 
I was tapped to interview of a bunch of my colleagues in the morning, so I dressed for armour in this cocoon dress.

  • Dress - Ayrtight, thrifted; last seen here in August 2024 during our trip to Powell River
  • Cotton sweater - Zara, consignment; last worn here in January with aqua leopard
  • Shoes - Estefan Entity, Fluevog; last seen here in April on Vizzini's last day
  • Denim embroidered coat (below) - Paparazzi, thrifted, Vancouver; Regret-Me-Notted here in July, and last worn here in November 2024

You read that right in the title, it's a Regret-Me-Not! I moved the dress into Limbo after feeling a little bored by it. Black dress, yeah yeah yeah. Snore.
But I also found myself thinking about it, wondering how it might work with tights and a turtleneck underneath. I've only worn it twice before this, both times just plain, so I don't think I've given it a fair chance.

Over the weekend, I hosted Madyson of local vintage consignment store Botched - I'm going to be featured in a pop-up at her shop (along with some other folks, very cool!) - and she helped me select 50 of my best items to feature on my very own sale rack in a couple of weeks. 

As we dug through it all, I pulled out a few things that I'd been mulling over. I'm not tempted by the bulk of it and I only let myself take back the things that I remember and long for. 
I did love wearing this dress again, and have welcomed the cocoon shape back with open arms (the weird shaping at the rear is due to the full back, not my backside). I had originally planned to wear the matching neon fishnet hosiery, but swapped to nylons when I remembered the interviews. Let's at least pretend I'm profesh! 

Another thing I did over the weekend was to commit to adding in my own pockets to this wonderful denim and embroidery jacket so that it would be more functional. It's always galled me that a jacket...doesn't have pockets. 
And now it does! But, my friends...I did not add them! I cut open one pocket, ready to insert the little hand-sewn pouches I made from old Fluevog shoe-bags, and what did I find??

POCKETS!! I was jaw-drop FLABBERGASTED. It's had them all along! 
And I had to sew up the fabric I'd cut too, very annoying. Most pockets that are sewn shut at least have a tiny hole you can dig your pinkie into and wiggle around to ascertain that yes, there is a pocket there - this does NOT. I had to slip a thin blade in...but then there they were! 

All these years, complaining about no pockets, and I had just missed them! 
Oh, well! Now I have pockets (although they are small, just enough for my keys), and a set of ready handmade pockets I will add to my next project. Still...I'm shaking my head.

Accoutrements: 
The heavens opened up on my way home and I got soaked. 

  • Silk scarf - Krizia, thrifted; purchased here for $12.95
  • PVC bucket hat - Babaton, consignment
  • Leather gloves - consignment

It's hat season again! I have to dig out my berets...

The stuff: 
I thought the cantilevered shoes would be fun with the simple cut of the dress. 

Bold bling: 
I told one of the interviewees, "Stare at the lobster!" to keep him from looking at the camera. It worked! Lobster power! 

  • Lucite/silver cuff - Alexis Bittar, consignment, Vancouver
  • Steel lobster brooch - Bermuda, Mom's, vintage 90s
  • Green stone bracelet - vintage mall
  • Silver/crystal ring - Soul Flower
  • Silver chain ring - Mexican, consignment
  • Silver earrings - Israeli, consignment

I might have some kitten news soon! I'm trying not to get excited, or get my expectations too high again...(but I'm super-excited!!). 

Sunday, September 28, 2025

Weekend Wrap-Up: Friday Blue Pleats; Brunch Tiger and Adidas; L's Top Ties

Welcome back, my friends! We had a much-needed quiet weekend, but I still managed to wear outfits. Let's get to it so I can enjoy the waning hours of the weekend with L. 

I couldn't resist wearing this newly-thrifted pleated dress right away.
I played with the flecks of blue in it and layered a summer stripey top underneath.

  • Striped top - Marimekko, consignment; last seen here worn two ways in June
  • Dress - Uniqlo X Claire Waight Keller, thrifted; purchased here for $14.95
  • Shoes - MJUS, consignment; last worn here in July with blue silk and sequins
  • Leather jacket (below) - Elizabeth and James, consignment; last seen here in April

No shocker, I liked this dress as much as I do its twin, which is a lot. So many possibilities! 
It's clearly a Jammy Dress. The only thing it lacks is pockets. 

Whooshing the full skirt at you! 
It's the perfect length for not tripping up the stairs, but is still nibbled at by my chair's wheels at the office. 

Incognito and enjoying wearing this gorgeous blue leather jacket again. 
We're in for a bout of rainy weather soon, so I've been dusting off the cobwebs (not really) from my coat closet. 

The stuff: 
The scarf was just the right weight. I love these shoes - that's a very easy heel. 

  • Scarf - thrifted

Blue bling: 
I don't wear the full blue set very often. The long necklace has real crystals on it.

  • Crystal bangle - Juicy Couture, consignment
  • Crystal cuff - Swarovski, consignment, gift from L 
  • Necklace - vintage 90s, thrifted
  • Silver/sodalite ring - 1996, Scotland
  • Fulvia ring/lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes
  • Silver/kyanite ring - consignment
  • Silver earrings - gift from Petra

L and I enjoyed a much-deserved and needed quiet evening on Friday, playing boardgames late into the evening. 

We gobbled down a delicious breakfast at John's Place on Saturday morning. I'd done some outfit styling on Friday night, and wore the outfit that appealed to me in the moment.
My wonderful silk Kenzo dress comes out to play!

  • Silk dress - H&M X Kenzo, consignment; last seen here (3rd outfit) in February for a pal's 50th
  • Sneakers - Soul Speed Duesy, Fluevog; last worn here with my JCDC jumpsuit in September
  • Jacket (below) - Adidas, consignment; last seen here in June with a crinkle skirt

I layered a vintage black slip under this and wore black tights - it was a warm day, very pleasant to be walking around as the silk billowed about. 
I walked home after brunch, as L needed to do some gift shopping for my upcoming birthday. 

I had to pick up some more sale tags for marking my Limbo clothes - I'm going to be doing a special sale in October, so I need to do some prep for that soon.
This Adidas jacket with the mint green stripe picked up the bits of blue in the top half of the dress. 

It also has enormous pockets, as does the dress as you can see in the above picture. 
A chunky sneaker to clash with the fancy tiger stripe. 

And voila! This is how most people saw me. 
This felt very me, right down to the Audrey pin covering the Adidas logo. 

The stuff: 
These sneakers are finally loosening up a bit - this is the first time I haven't had any rubbing. They're ugly but I love them. 

  • Leather purse - 5Left, limited edition, thrifted
  • Belt - vintage 90s, consignment
  • Audrey pin - consignment

Matchy bling: 
More stripes! 

  • Bangles - vintage, consignment
  • Silver/crystal ring - Soul Flower
  • Silver/red enamel ring - antique shop, Sidney
  • Carved carnelian bangle - consignment
  • White gold hoops - 10th anniversary gift from L

And here's a little treat for you, Gentle Reader - L's top 6 ties! 
I attempted to arrange them chronologically, from the 1950s to the 2010s. A few of these I bought, and L splurged on one himself.

The far left tie is silk and made in Japan. I originally thought it was 1950s or possibly early 60s, but after doing a bunch of searching online, it is more likely to be a transitional 70s to 80s tie, vibing on the mid-century era. 
A rare olive shade in L's tie collection, but the rich blue and slight touch of navy make matching a shirt and suit easy. Love that swirly detail in the design and the flowers woven into the textile. I think this was a thrift find.

This one has lost its 1950s tag that noted it uses a special photographic technique to print on the silk. I bought this at Flavour Upstairs for $7.00, I believe.
This is an actual photograph! L wears this one so much, it's starting to get a little faded at the edges. 

I know I thrifted this one - it took a long time to get L into browns and greens, and this tie helped. Birds and lily-of-the-valley woven in a thick polyester, it's a classic 1970s tie. 
It's by Christian Dior! Fabulous! 

I found this at House of Savoy and bought it for L, knowing he would like the sexy lady on it. 
It's the only tie he has that he can't wear to work! It's clearly 1980s, the height of saucy ties. 

L bought this one for himself in the late 90s/early 00s, while on a work trip. He paid over $200 for it, an astronomical sum for a tie, now and then. 
It's by Duchamp and is made in England. Gorgeous colours! 

I thrifted this beautiful tie for a few dollars. 
It's by Stacey Adams, a brand specializing in clothes for dapper men (although they do not make ties anymore). This is a modern piece, made in China, probably from the 00s-10s. 

I hope you enjoyed some of the beauty that lives in L's tie-box, and I thank you as always for being here. 

Thursday, September 25, 2025

Mom-Day Annual Shop in Tulle and Black, a Wee Shop, and the Fern-hood.

Hello, my friends, welcome back to Mom-Day! Mom needed a low-activity day, so we went shopping at Uptown centre, at her favourite clothing store, Laura. 
You might remember our shop last year, here in August 2024. A shout out to the staff who were so nice, and gave Mom the giant fitting room. 

For our day, I enjoyed building an outfit out of things I just felt like wearing. 
I started with the tulle skirt, then added the t-shirt and jacket. From there, I added more matching and gold things. 

  • Jacket - Upcycled by Kelsey T, consignment; last worn here (3rd outfit) with camo and tall boots in June
  • T-shirt - Handsome Family concert merch; not tracked
  • Flocked tulle skirt - no label, consignment; first seen here in July with cobalt bookends
  • Sneakers - Findlay, consignment; last worn here (2nd outfit) to the theatre in July

I really wanted to wear this flocked velvet tulle skirt again. As I'd done a dressy look the first time, I opted for my rock & roll casual vibe to change it up.
A concert tee, and my upcycled jacket for more badassery. 

Yeah, baby! Folks loved this - the chain at the back is the best part. 
I had a ton of comments from people as I was out and about. 

I took the jacket off at Brown's while Mom and I had lunch.
It was sunny with a faint chill in the air, so I wore wee shorts and lacy socks, but risked bare legs. 

Incognito.
Oops, lost my balance as I posed. I'm a blur! 

The stuff: 
I thought I might need the scarf to keep my neck/chest warm, but it remained on the purse the whole time. 

  • Purse - Rebecca Minkoff, consignment
  • Silk scarf - fake Louis (Lewis!) Vuitton, thrifted
  • Metal stretch belt - Deborah Marinoff, Charmant, vintage 70s, thrifted
  • Bee pin - gift from Megan Mae
  • Lizard pin - gift from Cat

The pins were on the pockets of my jacket.

Gold bling: 
Get ready for "critter season" - once I do my swapover, there will be lots more than this! 

  • Gold shark jaw cuff - Tom Binns, 2012, consignment
  • Snake bracelet - vintage 90s, consignment
  • Brass leopard ring - thrifted
  • Crystal ring - Uffizi Gallery gift shop
  • Stone ring - thrifted
  • Necklace - Givenchy, vintage 80s, vintage fair
  • Vermeil ear-cuffs - consignment
  • Earrings - thrifted

I walked to town and caught a bus to the mall. 
I spotted this fluffy Siamese kitty snoozing in the sun on her stairs, through the glass of her front door. "No junk mail." She looked at me! 

I arrived before Mom, so waited outside. 
There she is! She's classy in her shiny blue jacket and pearl brooch, a polka dot top and grey pants. 

We scored in the sale section, and while I couldn't convince her to try on some gorgeous magenta-burgundy tops ("too purple!"), we did find her a pair of cropped red slim pants, and three tops. 
Showing off her silver handmade First Nations necklace. The red tee has ties on the side to adjust the length; the white tee has a nice cutout detail on the sleeves and a hip tie, and SWOONING over the beautiful green satin-front (tee back) top with the cap sleeves. Nice haul, Mom! The green one is my favourite. 

We strolled over to Brown's for lunch.
The mall is outdoors, a cluster of buildings with public spaces outside. 

We had a delicious lunch.
You look lovely, Mom! Excited to see your new tops! I love you! 

I bussed back to town, and popped into the Beacon Ave Thrift for a quick look-around. 
I'm glad I did because look at this gorgeous plaid (real weave, not printed) blazer! I opened the pockets, which were still sewn shut. 

Note how the plaids are all lined up! Yes! 
You all know how much I love raw edges. 

There's a baby blue metallic stripe as well as a gold one. The buttons are all brown swirl domes. 
This will go with orange, blue, green and brown - coincidentally, I have a lot of those colours in my wardrobe.

Not much wool, but very soft acrylic. Custom lining with the brand name on it.
Don't look this name up - the designer is a convicted sex offender. EW!

But I'm not giving him any of my money! This line is Bianca Nygard and it had a full section of the local Bay stores (which closed this year, sad). 
My $20 went to charity instead. A jacket of this quality would have sold new for over $200, and based on the style/colours this is probably from the mid- to late-00s. 

I headed up the block to the WIN (Women In Need) Warehouse store on the way home and had a thorough browse. In a sea of polyester scarves this one stood out. 
Chartreuse, neon yellow, black, leopard? 

Another big YES. 
I see a name, and also that the edges are hand-rolled. 

It's by Kritzia, was made in Italy and is 100% silk. 
For only $12.95. Jeepers, I saw scarves by this brand online for between $70-1,200. My jaw just hit the floor! 

Yes, another mesh top - this one is a good pinky colour. 
It also has a dotted texture that you can't quite see... 

You can see them here. 
Good thing there's a tag still down the seam, so I can look up the CA number.

It's by Suzy Shier, a Canadian mall chain store - I shopped there when it first opened in the mid 80s, and there's lots of it from the last 40 years in the thrift stores. 
It was only $9.95 and I'm sure I'll wear it a lot. 

I waffled over this dress. 
I love the bold pattern, which is a pale grey, black and two shades of blue. 

I love the pleated skirt and the uneven hem. 
Is it feeling familiar to you? 

It's Uniqlo : C, which is Claire Waight Keller. 
Only $14.95, a great price, since it retailed for $90.00. 

I waffled because, hilariously, I bought the identical dress in green for $19.95 after our last shopping trip with Mom! 
I can't remember the last time I bought the same thing in a different colour/pattern. Have you ever done that?

Thank you, Laurie, for reminding me that I didn't even mention the play we saw at the Belfry Theatre the other night! I even took pictures of the Fern-hood! You can tell my brain is tired. 
We have Tiny Libraries all over town, but this is the first time I've seen a Yarn Library. This is outside the knitting store, Knotty by Nature, in the heart of the Fernwood Village. 

I walked and met up with my lovely friends for dinner at the Fernwood Inn. L and I refer to this as The Winchester (from the movie Shaun of the Dead). 
The food is...fine! It's across the street from the theatre and they take reservations for big groups (we are 8-9). 

This is the Belfry Theatre. We saw "1979" which was a comedic take on the very short (9 months) tenure of Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark.
Local review here. We all enjoyed it - it was presented with two of the three actors playing both male and female characters. 

And now, my friends, I'm signing off for the weekend. Sending you all the best good vibes, and please do pop back in on Sunday for tales of adventure! Thanks for being here.