Footwear Switcheroo: Chunky Clogs and Kinky Boots

Hello, my friends! My Wednesday/Thursday was one big shemozzle of boots, theatre, construction and cats. Join me as we do a slight outfit tweak from work to fun (a shoe switcheroo, and then a few pictures as our condominium gets a new fire alarm/detection system. GOOD TIMES. 

This is what I wore to work on Wednesday, after doing some pre-planning on Tuesday night.

I wanted to wear my chunky clogs to work, to see how they would be with things like stairs.

• Tunic dress - Junya Watanabe for Comme des Garcons, consignment; last seen here in March for the vintage fair with Rosanna
• Skirt - Club Monaco, vintage 90s, thrifted; last worn here in April with the long bomber jacket
• Clogs - Drie VogClog, Fluevog; first seen here (2nd outfit) last weekend for brunch

I also knew I would be going to see the Broadway in Victoria production of "Kinky Boots" on Wednesday night with Nick, Casey and Casey's youngest daughter, Jacquie, and I wouldn't have much time to change and get to the theatre. 

My long tunic/short dress is layered over a straight grey jersey skirt for office-appropriate length. I also have a camisole under it.

I had fun wearing this in the office. 

I "threw a shoe" once, when I backed up suddenly, due to the rubber soles grabbing the office carpeting, but that was the only issue I had. Of course, I use handrails on the stairs. Safety first! 

Incognito. 

The plan was to use this same bag to carry my own "kinky boots" to the theatre, and then stash my sneakers in it, but I didn't like carrying this bag to work, so off to Limbo it goes.

I had company from Barnabas, who demanded a morning cuddle. 

He gives a very grumpy "MOWWW!" if not picked up. 

The stuff: 

I like the idea of the bag more than the actual thing. It doesn't hold as much as it looks like it should! 

• Silk scarf - Valentino, consignment
• Cotton canvas bag - Robin Ruth, thrifted

Mixed metal bling: 

The necklace tends to loop my boobs. Have to be constantly on alert! 

• Necklace - Nine West, vintage 00s, thrifted, Sidney
• Chain/metal bracelet - Jenny Bird, consignment
• Silver/obsidian cubes bracelet - Mexican, consignment, Sidney
• Silver/obsidian bracelet - consignment, Sidney
• Silver/obsidian ring - consignment
• Silver "Anneke & Lars" ring - vintage mall
• Silver/crystal ring - Soul Flower, early 00s
• Silver pinky ring - consignment, Sidney
• Earrings - Chan Luu, consignment

Here's some pictures from my Test-Drive on Tuesday night. I always do a try-on of the basics before a special event, especially if I'm low on time. 

I accidentally took a picture before I was ready...

"What's the rumpus?"

Longtime readers may remember these AMAZING boots. Of course, "Kinky Boots" - these immediately came to mind, and I mentally planned to wear them that night. 

They are the LA Malibu, bought in Vancouver on an anniversary trip back in 2013 (here), when L and I first met Melanie! Gads, it's been 13 years! Where does the time go? And it's been FIVE YEARS since I last wore them.

• "Stained glass" leather boots - LA Malibu, Fluevog; last worn here (2nd outfit, after a Flashback of my now-sold McQueen trousers) in March 2021 for a Zoom Happy Hour during the pandemic

I paid $400 for these beauties - that's half off the original $800 price tag, I recall - which I didn't note at the time. 

For many years, these were the most expensive piece of clothing/footwear I'd ever bought. They still are, although my green suede boots were $599 - but I spent $500 in gift cards on them, so that wasn't MY money. 

I admit, I'd mostly forgotten these as I store them up high in my closet. I have vowed to rectify that - these deserve to be shown off, right? They are too pretty to hide! 

So, here are my "test-drive" pictures - just taken on the fly as I tested out my options. 

Clinging to the wall for dear life, as my feet get used to being in a 6-inch heel! I'm 5'10" in these! 

But DAMN, they are fine boots, even if my calves immediately seized up. 

I was constantly thinking of my dear friend Vero, who literally BROKE her foot two years ago from super-high heels after a long time of not wearing them. Zoiks! I do not want that happening to me! 

So, despite how awesome they look in the pictures...

I knew it would not be realistic, or safe, for me to wear these to the theatre. The Royal has VERY steep aisles, and although I'd pre-enlisted Nick and Casey to walk me down the aisle (ha!), I knew it could still result in a fracture, or even worse, a fall. 

But while I was in the upper reaches of my closet, I spotted THESE boots...which again, I had totally forgotten about. 

Well, hey, these are actually not bad! I can manage a 3" heel still, for short jaunts.

Still hanging onto the wall, but I can walk in them.

And I do believe...

These will do! 

If I can do an action pose, I can wear these! 

When I got home from work on Wednesday, I redid my make-up and quickly did my pictures. 

Oops, I forgot to put my necklace back on! 

• Black boots - Prepare High Adventure, Fluevog; last seen here (2nd outfit, after another Flashback of my frock coat) in March 2021
• Suede jacket (below) - Prosper & Devine, vintage mall; last worn here (3rd outfit) in May to Mack's birthday party

There is a Flashback of these boots at the link above (scroll way down), if you want to see all the outfits I previously wore them with. 

Now, with 100% more necklace. 

I just slipped the skirt off and voila, I am ready! 

Sure, it's short, but whatever. 

I see Whateley sprawled on the tiles! 

Barnabas came in for some love.

Showing off the laces. I loosened them up a bit so that I could quickly zip my boots on and off and not wrassle with them, legs up in the air. Not classy!  

It ended up being FREEZING out, and very windy, so I had to add a coat. 

Blurry Whateley begging for a cuddle. 

Pointing out that I walked there in my sneakers. 

Half a block away, I pulled out my boots and swapped them, and shoved my white runners into my purse. 

The stuff: 

Yes, my sneakers fit in that bag! It's like a Tardis - huge inside!

• Leather purse - Steve Madden, thrifted

My boots also fit! Proof! 

I was amazed! I even had room for my phone and sunglasses in there. 

Oops, forgot my earrings, which I also swapped.

Still showing the love! 

• Earrings - vintage fair

I met up with my crew outside the Royal. 

Me, Nick, Jacquie and Casey. 

"Look to the left of the phone - that's where the camera is!" I said. 

"You're kidding me," said Casey, who did not know that. I always coach Mom on this too - otherwise you're looking off to the side in pictures. 

We met up with Rosanna and Greg and their kids, Emme (in red/tie) and Mieka (dress/green jacket). 

Jacquie, Emme, Mieka, Greg, Nick, Casey and Rosanna. Work that pose, Rosanna! 

They were two rows behind us. 

Hi, gang! Wow, that woman's hair on the left is AMAZING. 

Row selfie! 

Casey, you doofus! 

A few pics from my seat - we had primo seating, thanks to Casey, who bought the group tickies. 

We'd been expecting the Royal to be roasting hot (it usually is), but they had either brought in extra AC for this show, or cranked it. We were chilled to the bone! 

Ooh, you know I love the loge boxes.

We were just in front of the lip of the balcony. The best sound! 

A gorgeous golden ceiling. 

Sculptures and fabulous detail. 

We went for a stroll at intermission. You know I wanted to show off the boots and see what other people were wearing. 

Rosanna, Emme and me (and my necklace has wrangled my boob, sigh). 

Casey and Jacquie. 

Casey is always so fashionable! 

The show was...fine! I saw the movie when it first came out, and remembered the general idea/plot and that it was based in England. 

I loved a few of the numbers, the performers were great overall, and the actor playing Lola (Omari Collins/Scarlet D, Von'Du) was A+/a STAR. I was boggled by an incredibly complex dance/singing routine with conveyor belts. But the lead actor was kind of "meh" (sorry! you're very talented!) and I couldn't understand a bloody word they were singing. It was the same issue I had with "Come From Away" (set in Newfoundland) when I saw it with Yvonne and Cat (here, May 2023) - singing while also trying to do an accent. I would have appreciated side-titles or sur-titles like at the opera! 

BTW, the Brit accents were dubious at best - only one was accurate, according to Nick, who is from Manchester. Heh heh.

So...it was still a wonderful time, being with my Chosen Family, dear friends, my people. The event is being together, being amongst people, with real people - artists! - performing live. It's the experience.

We also spotted and said hi to Cat - she was there with a couple of work-friends.

A group selfie after the show! Thanks so much for giving me and Nick a ride home, Rosanna-clan! 

And today/Thursday, our house is under construction as the guys came to install our new fire detection system. 

"What in the who, now?"

Get ready for some drilling and hammering and sawing and big men in our house! 

"I'll just sleep through it."

I spotted mama deer and her faun in the front yard. 

"Mom, quit smelling my bum!"

While I was walking to town last night, I saw a stag with a big fuzzy rack of antlers. 

Perhaps dad? 

And here we are, our crown moulding taken down, all the pictures off the walls, and stuff out of the way.

All that is now yellow used to be blackboard matte green (we also had pink borders - it was truly hideous) when we first bought our place in 1999. 

Barnabas looks on from the bedroom.

That little dude is not afraid of anything. 

Peeking out from the bedroom. 

It will be over soon bud, and then our home will be safer! 

There are still weeks of work ahead - the entire building's units have to undergo install (we were first) and testing, and one piece of equipment remains to be put in, and THEN the crown mouding goes back. It's currently being stored in our living area, to the fury of the furry beasts (much whacking of the spinning ball toy).

Whateley listened from a distance, staying well out of the way. 

"I don't approve of any of this."

And there we are, my friends! This install took several hours and took up most of my day. I missed seeing Mom, but this all had to be done (and there's more to come!), and thankfully was on my day off (better than missing a day of work). 

I'm signing off now for the weekend, my friends. Thanks so much for being here - I really appreciate it! Stay tuned for tales of adventure on Sunday!