Casual Friday - Angels Become Devils

My poor feet are aching.

Yesterday, I decided to walk to work in my casual clothes. I dragged out my old Fluevog Angels, which I've had for about 9 years. I haven't worn them in about 4 years. I used to walk to town and shop all day in them. I figured they'd be fine to walk 40 minutes to work.
Look. How cute?

Oh, but I was wrong. They rubbed my heels so badly. It felt like I was wearing someone else's shoes! My heels both blistered badly, and are swaddled in bandaids today so that I could get around.

Fortunately, I had a pair of light Keds in my desk at work that I was able to wear all day (very attractive they were: white Mary Jane shoes with black socks! Ha! No pictures of that!).

But I realized while I was limping along: the Fluevogs WERE someone else's shoes. The old me. The fat me. The nearly-200-lb me from 4 years ago. My feet are a different shape now, because I'm 50+ pounds lighter.

Sadly, the 'Vogs are going to the consignment shop. Oh well, at least I'll probably get about $50 credit for them!

Today, I shuffled around in my boots, out for lunch and a CD shop:

My rock 'n' roll weekend casual uniform: layered long-sleeved shirt with graphic tee, skirt (not demin today, because it's too heavy for the scale when I go to Weight Watchers), funky tights and low-heeled boots.

Have a great weekend!

Cashmere sweater (J. McLaughlin, consignment), silk/cotton long-sleeved tee (Banana Republic, thrifted), jeans (Seven7, gift from Caro), shoes (Fluevog "Angels").

They've Gotta Go - Mom Jeans!

My work did a B.C. Olympics day today - things are crazy in Vancouver over the Olympics - and we all had to wear red and white. Woo! Go, Canada!

Despite my love for red, I had a hard time coming up with an outfit.

LOOK AWAY FROM THE MOM JEANS:
No, look up here!

I (fortunately?) spilled coffee on these jeans at 9:30 this morning, so they are toast. Gone. No more 8" zipper! Much as I love high-waisted, on pants, it's gotta be a really wide-legged drapey trouser for me. These are gone!

Look at my patriotism! All that red and white/cream! Ignore the thighs in the unflattering pants!

Jacket (Nine and Company, thrifted), blouse (Talbots, consignment), jeans (Parasuco, thrifted), boots (Zara, consignment), belt (Plum).

My Walk Today - and Some Leopard

I was stumped last night when I went to pull what to wear today. I fussed in the closet for ages, waiting for inspiration to strike. Should I wear pants? The new shoes that are too summery?

I ended up with an old stand-by: leopard!
When I got this skirt ages ago, I fully intended it to be a going-out piece. Of course, that was in my pre-blogging days, and now it's become a work piece. Amazing how your perspective changes.

I've worn it here, here, and here (for a special occasion).

The stuff:
These are such a nice classic pump.

Close-up of the colours:

I took my camera with me to work today so I could take some pictures of the things I see. I walked through town on the way to work, and took the long route home.

On the way to work: a murder of crows in the treetop:

A mural on the side of a building:

On the way home: a bridge I walked under:

The tide was way out, and it smelled very salty.

A sailing ship!

It's in drydock at the shipyards.

Another bridge that I walked over:

A lovely big tree with lights on it:

And I love how this tree is lit up at night:

As you can see, it got progressively darker.

Blouse (RW & Co., consignment), cami (Esprit), skirt (Le Chateau, consignment), taupe fishnets (Hue), shoes (Jessica Simpson), necklace (handmade by Cat), white gold hoop earrings (gift from L).

Almost Like New Shoes

I am pretty lazy when it comes to fixing things, sewing on buttons, that sort of thing. An item of clothing that has dropped its hem will languish unworn in my closet for months if not more before I get around to doing something about it, and that "something" is often getting rid of it.

Today's outfit was built around these shoes:
They lost a cap on the heel and I just took them in to get re-done a couple of weeks ago. Can you believe I haven't worn them since August? Pathetic!

By the way, when it looks like I have bare legs, it's actually micro-fishnets. They are like a regular nylon with a fishnet texture. I love them - much less grannyish than pantyhose!

I last wore the dress in November, but it's a pretty dressy style and fabric, so it's not really a work dress. It's also rather boobalicious, which I had forgotten.

Because of the colours in the shoes, I tend to just pull those out for the colours in my outfits. Yup, a bit of purpley-burgundy, a bit of blue, a bit of grey.

The stuff:

*sigh* The shoes!

I wore another one of my pins as a necklace pendant (like the bug pin last week).

Dress (Maggy London), jacket (Le Chateau), belt (Plum), brooch (probably Plum), earrings (don't remember).

Lazy Monday - Wear a Dress!

I hate Mondays, especially after a crazy social weekend like I just had. I never feel like putting any effort into my wardrobe planning for Monday. What to do?

Wear a dress!
I got this beauty at Dots (they sell off samples made by manufacturers, all kinds of name brands) - it's Mac & Jac and was $39.99. NOTE: I've heard there is a store named Dots in the US - it is not the same business as the ones in western Canada. US Dots (click here), Canada Dots (no link - it's a bare bones store, just racks and clothes, no displays, staff not there to help you!). I love the neckline, the little puff sleeves (also with nice trim), the awesome grey print with lemon and lime!, and the industrial zipper on the back.

Here's a couple of head shots for Nan in Minnesota, who wants to copy my haircut. It's trimmed up really short in the back (I'm 2 weeks away from my next time, I get it done every 6 weeks), then angled down in the front, with a hard bang/fringe. My hair has natural wave, so this would look a lot sleeker if I used a flat-iron, but I'm lazy that way.

This is the best shot of the colour of my dress - the green and yellow are almost neon, which doesn't photograph well:

And yes, I just coloured my hair this weekend!

The stuff:

The brooch and clip-on earrings are from my Grandma J - I've had them since I was about 17-18 years old, when I used to visit her on the way home from university. They aren't marked but they are super sparkly and very nice quality.
A close-up:

Pretty...

Dress (Mac & Jac), grey tights (forgot), shoes (Guess), jewelry (Grandma J, 50s vintage).

Casual Weekend - Winesday Gals

The Winesday gals got together for lunch yesterday: caesars (the drink, not the salad), food and lots of chit-chat. Ah, I love my gals.
It was still really warm out, so I went bare-legged with knee-high socks (they're stripey). I just wore a leather jacket over this.

Check this out: these Japanese cherry and plum trees are starting to bloom:

Aren't they pretty? I love early spring here. Sending warm thoughts to all of you who are snowed in!

Off to watch the Super Bowl! Go, Saints!

Long-sleeved tee (Mexx), t-shirt (BCBG Max Azria, consignment), skirt (Bebe Sport, swap), knee highs (I forget), boots (Indigo by Clarke's, consignment).

Casual Friday - Weather Report: Fail!

I listen to the radio in the mornings while I'm getting ready: eating my breakfast in front of the computer, putting on my makeup, hugging the cats, etc. Today, they said the weather was going to be, and I quote: "Highs of 11 [that's about 55] and rain."

Wrong! I guess I shouldn't have focused on the "rain" part of it. It was so sunny and hot out today! I feel bad for people in the rest of Canada and other areas who are getting their toes froze and dumped with snow.

I dressed warm! Layers!
I have on a cami, a thin wool sweater and my lovely new green velvet jacket ($30 consignment). The jacket is by Allison Wonderland, and ooh, I think I am in love with this designer! I am certainly going to look for more of her clothes when I'm out thrifting.

Due to the so-called rain in the forecast, I bundled up with my brown velvet hat, wool scarf and leather gloves.

I also wore my trench over this. I ended up carrying it arround.

I liked how the teal tights looked with the olive green net tights layered over top.

Eee! Those are my new boots! (And yes, I have laid my leg on a table to take that picture). Aren't they fab? They are Hispanitas, a brand I had never heard of before. Their mid-calf boots seem to sell for 120 English pounds. How much is that in Canadian?

These are the last of my "free" consignment items from the weekend. They are sort of an olive-y brown, and lined with a deep teal - they are the softest leather! I love the details like the buckle and button on the ankle. They were priced at $89, then marked down to $40 (those are the price tags stuck on the table). They're a little scuffed, by I like them that way. It's like someone broke them in for me!

The stuff:

The jacket is a real chartreuse shade and super soft. You can see the blue lining of the boots there. Double necklaces means double the sparkle!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Jacket (Allison Wonderland, consignment), sweater (Uniqlo, thrifted), skirt (InWear, consignment), tights (Hue, both pairs), boots (Hispanitas, consignment), necklaces (Plum (triple strand), and Jacob (chain/rhinestone)), belt (Plum).

An Early Spring?

Sorry for not being around much to all your fab blogs lately - it's Oscar season, which means we're trying to see as many Oscar-nominated movies as possible, so my time for leisurely browsing around and commenting is limited. Last night we saw "Inglourious Basterds" and tonight we saw "Crazy Heart".

Anyway, I was in a rush today:
Zoom! Home in time to take one picture! I felt very spring-y today in yellow and green. The cardi is new, part of the free haul from the consignment store on the weekend. It's a silk and cotton blend.

The stuff:

Fluevogs, tweed, flowers and funky necklace.

And look, my Christmas cactus is blooming!

It's one of the few plants I have managed not to kill.

Cardigan (BCBG Max Azria, consignment), top (Planet), skirt (unknown brand, thrifted), shoes (Fluevog, gift from L), necklace (Caracol, gift from L).

Smoking Wrap Dress

I have been on the lookout for another wrap dress, since I gave up this one in a swap last year (wow, that's an old picture - July 2008 - but, hee, I'm wearing the same shoes!).

I've had my eye on this one at the local consignment shop for a few months. It had been priced at something like $58, which was just too much for me.
But when I was in on Saturday, there is was, marked down to $40...and Annie the owner gave me a straight trade for my bag of clothes and shoes, so really, it was free (along with yesterday's skirt and a couple of other things I'll be wearing tomorrow and Friday)!!

It's by Smoking Lily, same as this skirt and these obis here and here, and this scarf. It's a local company; all their clothing is hand-screened, and hand-made. Their stuff's not cheap, but oh, I love it. Finding their things on consignment is gold, baby!

It's a burgundy and white (it looks pink above, but I swear, it's white) with tan flowers. I liked how the mustard and brown worked with it. I like the layered necklaces too.

The stuff:

The triple necklace (steel chain, yellow crystals and beige pearl beads), the groovy silver necklace (with yellow/brown crystals) and yellow crystal bead earrings. I'm all matchy! Ah, so reassuring. Those are 4" heels, by the way.

But that makes me wonder: how else should I wear this? What colours? layers? Suggestions welcome!

Dress (Smoking Lily, consignment), cami (InWear), shoes (Unlisted), silver necklace (Melanie Lyne), triple necklace and earrings (Plum).

Green, Teal and Grey (and a Bug)

I'm wearing one of my freebies today from my swap at the consignment store on the weekend - a new skirt! What a shocker - it's a pattern. I absolutely love a patterned skirt as the starting point for an outfit. It just jazzes up everything else!

This skirt was $24, but of course, I got it free from all the old clothes I took in.

The tights and cami are teal, a "sort of" match with the blue in the skirt. The green of the cardi, the dark grey in the belt and shoes are also in the plaid. I had a work acquaintance give me a "Wow! Look at all your colours!" in the main lobby today - I hit a patch of bright sunlight, ha!

I really like this shape, the slight tulip. Very flirty. The double seams on the back help keep the shape and accentuate the butt: Inigo's helping.

The stuff:

These shoes are just a smidge too small - but they are so gorgeous! I got them almost a year ago for about $45. I've worn them 6 times now, so I'm getting my money's worth!

This is for Sal! I wore my pin as a necklace:

Bug!

Cardigan (Kersh), camisole (RW & Co.), skirt (Nine and Company, consignment), tights (Hue), belt (Bianca Nygard), shoes (Lauren by Ralph Lauren, consignment), pin (Le Chateau), earrings (Plum).

Lazy Monday - Saturday Repeat (and a Special Guest)

I went shopping on the weekend - once again, I fully intended to shop in non-second hand stores, and once again, I couldn't find anything that justified a purchase. So I went to my favourite consignment stores and I found a dress and a jacket (jacket will be worn this week, dress might be saved for Valentine's day).

I also took a couple of bags of clothes in to another store, and got $90 in credit, which I promptly spent on a dress, skirt, sweater and a pair of boots (they'll all get worn this week) - they came to more than $90 total, but the owner knows me and gave me a straight trade! Sweet!

Anyway, today's outfit exemplifies Lazy Monday:
That's me on Saturday, before I went to Weight Watchers, before I went for lunch and before I went shopping. I got so many compliments on the outfit I thought I would wear it again today. So I did.

On the weekends, I also put some effort into my outerwear:

Black cloche hat, black scarf and black leather gloves, with my dark denim trench coat.

The stuff:

I added the bracelet to today's outfit, but otherwise, it's all the same. No, Rebecca, I didn't immediately rebound and go for sky-high heels! Those were awesome shopping shoes.

The Special Guest today is L, who looked so dashing in his Saturday casual wear that I had to take his picture:

The poor man has no head.

This is a variation on his "rock star" look: fab jacket, rock concert tee (Rush's "Snakes and Arrows" tour - woo!), new jeans I got him for Christmas, silk scarf and groovy ankle boots. Doesn't he look spiffy?

Sweater (Jacob, consignment), camisole (Smart Set), skirt (Le Chateau, gift money), shoes (Expressions, consignment), earrings (gift from L), bracelet (Plum).

Casual Friday - Low Heels Week - Boots Edition

Of course, I wore low boots today! It's casual day!

I actually was stumped for my outfit today. Usually, I decide on one thing I want to wear (in this case, the boots), then I mentally go through my wardrobe and put together outfits while I'm lying in bed at night waiting to fall asleep. Last night I had some wine and I didn't do my typical planning.
It resulted in me missing my bus this morning. Anyway, I tucked my skinniest jeans into the boots today - the jeans are tightly wound around my lower calf with a sock over top of them to keep them in place. Very attractive.

I actually don't like these jeans - they give me an evil case of Muffin Top. Bad jeans! Bad! Bad!

Gah, I look poochy there. Good thing I had the jacket on all day to cover up my plumber's butt, haha!

Oh, and click here for a close-up of the heel on the boots. They are a 1 3/4" heel, a modified wedge. That's my favourite height for a casual boot.

Happy Weekend!

Jacket (Gap, consignment), shirt (Nicole Benoit for Point Zero), jeans (Esprit), boots (Miz Mooz), belt (Plum), wood bead necklace (90s), gold hoop earrings (gift from L).