Friday, August 22, 2014

Shirtdress Friday, and Raise a Glass

Happy Friday! I'm going to be quick here - I'll be back on Sunday with my very Visible party outfit for tomorrow night (one of our friends is celebrating his divorce). 
A fairly casual outfit for me - chambray dress over my "chicken" skirt. I may have made chicken noises today (I do a wicked chicken imitation).

I picked up this dress on the weekend here.
It was quite comfy all day, although I was very glad that I'd worn the ruffly floofy underskirt with it.
I never wear the skirt piece on its own - it was last seen here under my turquoise origami dress in June.

The stuff:
Loafers! These are supremely comfortable and take the prize for the cheapest shoes I've ever purchased, at $2.00. For Italian leather - get out! I've had them for a few years, so my cost-per-wear is down to pennies. I last wore them here in June for L's birthday loungeabout.

Leather bling:
My giraffe hairy belt, and assorted leather cuffs.

Dress (no label, consignment), skirt (no label, consignment), shoes (Two Lips, thrifted), belt (Dana Buchman, consignment), airplane cuff (Catalyst Leather), cogs cuff (SkinZnHydez), elasticated cuff (Hollyhawk Designs, thrifted), earrings (gift from L).

I went for a little browse in the WIN thrift store on the way home. No luck with any cool clothes, but I did well with finding some glassware.
The purple glass goblets are the same as a set of four that I got as a bridal shower gift 17+ years ago. I know that they sold at a local high-end design boutique for $16.95 per glass. I paid $1.95 each for them.

The gold-trimmed pineapple glass goblet is from the 70s - here they are in the 1978 Indiana Glass Company catalogue. They're called "Golden Elegance". Nice. I paid $2.95 for this one.

Have a lovely weekend! Raise a glass of cheer!

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Mrs. Fawlty Ruffles

Another mishap-free day! It's an all-time record. Today called for some sheer bravado!
Yellow and pink-purple-orange-yellow! I felt very conspicuous in this - maybe I am still feeling like I must be even more visible!

It's hard not to be noticed in this blouse. I absolutely love the ruffles. It's insanely ruffled and they move when I walk! I last wore it here in June with purple and orange.
I really liked it with the yellow - I love these colours! I have two yellow skirts (this is the other one), and I definitely don't wear this one as much. I like the length on it, and it's a thicker wool, but it's just not as good quality as the other one. Although...looking back at the times I've worn it, I like all the outfits. I last wore it here in April with shoulder spikes.
As this blouse is so very retro, I did the same thing as when I last wore it: I kept it modern with the curvy shoes.

The stuff:
These are wonderfully comfy to wear - I like to run around in them. I last wore them here in July as part of my "Shoes My Husband Hates" week.

Simple bling:
Mom's vintage chain belt makes another appearance. I've been wearing her belts a lot lately.

Blouse (no label, vintage 70s), skirt (BB Dakota, consignment), shoes (Prepare Hi Steady, Fluevog), belt (Mom's, vintage 60s), ring (90s), earrings (local).

Vizzini was loudly slurping away at his food while I was taking my stuff pictures. His dish is right beside the bookcase. I see my "Anne of Green Gables" books there.
"Nom...I sense loud women...nom..."
Right you are, Officer Vizzini! Book Club is staring in a few minutes and I'm the host! I'm excited to show off our cool bookcase. I made chili for dinner, and we're discussing Ian Banks' "Despedair Street" (which was my pick).
"Outrageous! I'll observe from under the bed, after I scope out the food."
He's skittish when there's a lot of people over. Chicken cat!

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

The Return of Danger Pants

Gads, what a day. I am achy from my collision yesterday - thank you for all of your sympathy, I was very vigilant today for mad cyclists! However, I was really playing with fire today, as we see the return of...
Danger Pants don't like the stair pose.
Danger Pants! I used the death grip on all stair railings, muttered, "don't fall, don't fall" every time I walked somewhere (including 8 blocks back and forth from our other office in town), and made sure I had one hand free at all times.

To my relief, I am now out of these pants - not a single fall! Amazing! For those not familiar with Danger Pants, here's the last time I wore them in June when they tried to murder me.
Despite being deadly, they are also quite awesome to wear. They go to about 9 on the Swoosh Factor scale.

I bought out the pink and green in the pattern with a cowl-necked top (last seen here going to the Ulty field in July) and the cotton cardigan (last seen here, way down at the bottom, for Easter at Mom's).
But we know who the real star of this outfit is - Danger Pants!

The stuff:
I love these shoes - they are extremely comfortable, plus a very cool style. I am surprised that I last wore them here in May. That seems too long ago, but I can't recall wearing them more recently.

Minor bling:
You don't need bling with Danger Pants.
I really need to replace this crappy yellow belt (with its very classy elastic band) with a real leather one. I keep looking...

Cardigan (Kersh, consignment), top (Liz Claiborne, thrifted), pants (Signature 8, consignment), shoes (Fly London), belt (can't remember), earrings (white gold, gift from L), lapis lazuli ring (Wendy Brandes).

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Run Down in Magenta and Turquoise

My day started off with a bang - literally! I was walking to work down a busy street, when a cyclist came zooming out of a driveway and slammed right into me.
I had a big black rubber streak up the front of my skirt where her front tire hit me, and I'm sure I'll be covered in bruises tomorrow. I may have yelled some nasty words at her while she stammered an apology. I was lucky not to have either fallen on the sidewalk (my trademark!) or gotten knocked into the street. Jeez! Why don't people watch where they're going?

It's not like I wasn't visible, either! I didn't wear a coat over this (hot out again), and I had splashy bright runners on. How could you miss me?
My new-to-me button-up Banana Republic shirt was purchased here on the weekend for $11.50. I checked the tags in the side seam and it's from Fall 2012. I bet it was barely worn.
I love this skirt - it has nice deep patch pockets on the sides. I last wore it here (2nd outfit) in May with chartreuse and these same shoes.

I was worried about getting the big rubber tire mark out of my skirt, and then I thought, "Hmmm, I bet an eraser would work." Boom! Yes, a white art eraser worked beautifully, and you can't even see where I was plowed into. I would have been ticked if this skirt had gotten ruined.

The stuff:
Ah, comfy flats. They were last seen here (2nd outfit) with my orange flame maxi dress.

Round bling:
I like the chunkiness of the necklace.

Shirt (Banana Republic, consignment), skirt (Savvie), shoes (Aerosoles, thrifted), necklace (thrifted), earrings (Plum).

Monday, August 18, 2014

Round Numbers, Tomato and Magenta, and Harlequin

I totally didn't realize - yesterday's bigass post was my 1,800th! Wow, that's a big round number. It seems surreal that I've been blogging since March 2008, a lifetime ago. Thank you to all of my readers, followers and friends out there in the blogoverse for encouraging me and supporting me in my fashionable journey. 

*****

Ah, coming down off a nice relaxing weekend - good thing August is the quietest month at work. I am enjoying the peace because it's going to be a crazy couple of months.
Wow, I love the beautiful tomato orange of this dress! I was inspired by the September cover of Glamour magazine for the scarf-tied-at-throat thing - this scarf went perfectly with the dress, and from there, it was colour-clashing all the way.

Edited to add: I'm linking up to Mis Papelicos' "Share-in-Style: Summer" - what a lovely group of ladies!

The dress was just purchased here yesterday.
 It was lovely and swooshy to wear all day - the bottom half is about a Swoosh Factor 7.
I'll keep it out for the fall/winter season - it'll look great with some of my blouses under it.

The stuff:
I liked all the shades of peach, orange, tomato, red, magenta and even purple in this!

The shoes were last seen here a couple of weeks ago with blue and floral.

Pinky bling!
I love a fluttery scarf at the neck - I played with it all day.

Dress (Land's End, consignment), shoes (Miz Mooz), obi (thrifted), scarf (Ralph Lauren, consignment), cuff (Rimanchik), earrings (Le Chateau).

On a less bright note, this little girl left us today.
She was 17 years old, and leaves a big hole in my Mom's heart. Goodbye, Harlequin. Thank you for all the years of love you gave to Mom. She joins Othello and Inigo over the Rainbow Bridge.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Bigass Weekend Round-Up: Cowgirl, Cat, Art, Brunch and a Shopping Stroll

Woo, what an awesome weekend! August has really been a fun month this year. 

You've been warned: this is a bigass post. Here goes Friday!
I loved this outfit - I was perfectly comfortable in it, and felt very me. I have a fondness for the cowgirl look.

This awesome shirt was last seen here in June for L's birthday lounge-about (with the same belt).
I have a red silky satin cami on underneath it.

Check out the cool back:
The shirt has mother-of-pearl snaps, rhinestone trim on everything, chrysanthemums, other flowers, paint spatter and this crown and eagle design on the back. Insane...ly awesome!

The creamsicle orange skirt is suede and the front panel is all micro-squares cut out. I last wore it here in May with turquoise and cicadas.

It's was chilly on Friday morning, so I busted out my awesome Danier Leather orange coat.
It was too hot by the end of the day, but I looked fabulous!

The stuff:
I love these boots more every time I wear them. They were last seen here (last outfit) a couple of weekends ago.

Blouse (Dept, consignment), skirt (Co and Eddy, thrifted), jacket (Danier Leather, consignment), boots (1883 Lucchesse, consignment), belt (Brave Belts, thrifted), earrings (Oscar & Libby's), lapis lazuli and Fulvia Rings (Wendy Brandes).

I zoomed home after work and got into my "I'm going to an art opening" outfit. I pulled out the funky!
Hee hee hee! I felt very stylish and "out there" - it was great. L and I met up with 9 of our other friends and went to a local multi-media/digital art installation opening. I most certainly had too much wine, but I regret nothing!

Sans jacket.
I took the jacket off for dinner, but wore it walking to town and from the restaurant to the gallery and then walking home again. I managed not to fall over - go, me!

People were fascinated by the fur jacket, the flower necklace, the pink lace-net tights and the purple boots.
The rabbit fur coat was thrifted vintage and supposedly made its one and only appearance (prior to becoming mine) at the British House of Lords. I bought it here in May for $27.00.

I liked how the mad floral dress (with pockets!) actually anchored the rest of the outfit.
I've been having fun with my hair - it's so liberating!

I last wore this dress here on L's birthday with yellow.
Vizzini helped me tie the boots up. The shoelaces are leather and very desirable to a mischievous cat.

The stuff:
I though for sure that L would hate these boots, since they are the same heel/shape as another pair that he hates. These were a dream to wear all night - I haven't gotten much wear out of them since I got them - they are definitely going to be staying in my fall/winter wardrobe. I last wore them here in April with purple and orange. They don't really work with bare legs, so I was glad it was cool enough in the evening to have lacey tights on.

Floral bling.
I've worn this floral necklace/lace piece as a hat band and as a necklace. I have yet to wear it in my hair or as a belt, but it could still happen.

Jacket (Bebe, thrifted vintage), dress (H&M, consignment), boots (Prepare Maps, Fluevog), necklace (local), earrings (local), rings (Wendy Brandes).

I dragged my sadsack hungover butt out of bed on Saturday morning to go play a game of Ultimate Frisbee.
Minor make-up compared to Friday night! I like loose and flowy layers and barely-there shoes.

I'm feeling a bit "off" cardigans lately. I realize they are still necessary for layering, but I no longer wear them as much as I used to. I last wore this purple one here in May with lace PVC.
I think this is it for the stripey top. It doesn't fit right and I don't wear it very often (last time here in March with polka dots). In the wash, then in the donations pile it goes!
The mushroom skirt is the best part of the outfit, in my opinion. I've had it for at least 3 year, and I just love it. It helps that I can wash it! It's a wee bit long, so the hem is always getting dirty. I last wore it here (2nd outfit) in July with a kimono.

The stuff:
These are really good quality leather flat sandals - I've had them for several years, and have worn them dozens of times, including the last time here (3rd outfit) in July with chartreuse.

They were perfect after playing for 90s minutes in the heat. As the game went on, the clouds burned off - it's been lovely and hot for the rest of the weekend, woo hoo!

Cardigan (Kenar, consignment), top (Truworth by Finnegan's, consignment), skirt (Club Monaco), shoes (La Canadienne, consignment), earrings (vintage).

Vizzini spent most of Saturday snoozing on his post in the sun.
"Busy napping, go away."
L and I hung out and played games all afternoon and evening Saturday. Vizzini was happy to have us around.
"Come on, play with me!"
He tries to steal game pieces as well as stacks of cards (he's after the rubber bands).

Today, L headed over to a friend's for an afternoon with the guys, so I strolled downtown in the sunshine to get groceries (I shop in person, they deliver it later in the afternoon - it's awesome), then took a walk through Fairfield neighbourhood to my favourite consignment store.

I don't pay much attention to fashion magazines, but I do like to peruse them periodically just for inspiration and to see what the cool kids will be wearing. Not that I care - I always wear what I want! - but it's fun to see new things and get ideas for new outfits for me.
Louche pose.
So, did ya hear that culottes are big? Especially in emerald. Yeah, I've been doing that for years. Catch up with me, fashion!

In my constant goal of avoiding putting on sunblock and relying on fabric as a physical barrier, I was quite pleased with this outfit. It billowed satisfactorily as I strolled about. This was also the first long-drive test run for these between-the-toes thong sandals. Could my feet survive?
I love the abstract fruital and floral print of this blouse. I last wore it here in July with more shoes that L hated.
The culottes are pretty awesome. I last wore them here in May with brown and sequins.

And just because the outfit seemed to call for it...
I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille.
I still haven't found an occasion for my satin vintage turban hat, but it will happen! Grocery shopping is not the right time, so I'll link up to Judith's "Hat Attack!" here with this if I haven't done another hat by the next one.

The stuff:
The verdict on the shoes: success! I walked to town, walked through Fairfield, shopped for an hour, then walked home - about 3.5 hours total. I wore these Born sandals here a week ago with Ultimate blue.

Circular bling:
Trendy bigass hoop earrings; mine are real gold and were a 5th anniversary gift from L in 2002. The belt was Mom's, from the 60s.

Blouse (no label, thrifted), culottes (Jac & Dale, vintage 80s, thrifted), shoes (Born, consignment), belt (vintage 60s, Mom's), earrings (gift from L).

I actually remembered to take my camera with me! I took a few pictures of things that caught my eye.
What a lovely pergola to lounge under! The foreground is all a vegetable garden - the tomatoes are ripening up.

Look at this Art Deco stained glass window.
I love the blues and greens.

What an inviting gate and front walkway!
I love these old houses.

While overgrown gardens are my preference, I have to admit, I do love a nice colour arrangement.
Waxy red begonias and fluffy yellow marigolds.

This was the front garden of a very modern looking house.
Am I the only one seeing a mass of tribbles? Hee!

These white hydrangeas were massive.
I picked fresh lavender and breathed it in - it was such a gorgeous day.

The young crows are all out of their nests, but the ball nests remain in the beech trees.
I think they must re-use the nests from year to year.

Mmm...apple season is nearly upon us.
These ones were already starting to fall on the ground.

My former co-worker Kara gave me a $50 gift certificate from My Sister's Closet (aw, thank you, hon!), so I was looking forward to a nice browse around there.

First off the sale rack, this gorgeous Banana Republic fitted shirt in magenta.
Only $11.50! What a deal.

I always do well with dresses there. Today, I found three!
"Where is the food?" 
This cotton chambray denim dress is thin and so soft - it's a loose cut, more like a tunic. I'm excited to work this into my cowgirl looks. It has no label, and was $22.98.

This dress didn't photograph well, but Vizzini is so cute in it.
"I see ties that need eating!"
The dress has cut-out shoulders, a drapey sleeve, and the bottom is a double-handkerchief hem. The top is wrap-across and it nicely has a snap-fastener at the decolletage.

It also has little snaps and string to go around bra straps and help keep it in place.
"Where did the ties go?"
That's a great quality "extra" to find on a modern dress.

A better look at the design/fabric.
"Just waiting for my chance..."
I love the bright oranges, yellows and aquas in this! Right in my wheelhouse. This is by Nine West and was $22.98.

This dress is actually a very dark orange, although it looks red in some lighting. I like the dropped waist, and the structure of the skirt part.
It has good "Swoosh Factor" and will be great for fall. It's by Land's End and was $28.98.

I stopped in at Lazy Susan's, and bought a couple of locally-made jewelry items.
Pretty little bags! I use those for sorting some of my beaded and vintage necklaces.

I like the badassery of the spiky earrings. They were $7.00.
The cuff has a dragon on it!

It's a very heavy metal.
It's also nice and small, so fits well on my small wrists. It was $9.00.

I hope you are all having a lovely and relaxing weekend!