Bonus Thursday post! I had a haircut at 10am, and I have a new hairdresser, so I wanted to make a good impression.
Kelsey was agog over this dress. Yes, it is leather! I've had it for ages, so we'll have a wee peek back in the Flashback below.
The stuff:
Good shoes for walking. I hoped I wouldn't have to undo them to try anything on! The laces are unwieldy (they are tucked away from Vizzini here).
Bold bling:
Things that don't get in the way.
- Belt - Pringle of Scotland, vintage fair; last worn here
- Silver/onyx ring - Toccara, vintage fair
- Silver/crystal ring - Soul Flower
- Earrings - Glee, local
Thanks for the cut, Kelsey! While we were discussing second-hand shops, she asked me about Vintage After Death - link
here 'cause I love. I haven't been in there in well over a year, truthfully, and I had actually forgotten all about it. I find it's very curated vintage, so a bit on the pricey side.
However, since Verve and Duchess & Duke were both closed when I went by, I decided to stop in. You can catch a glimpse of my purchase behind me!
Mom and I had our weekly Zoom chat today. She indulged in some retail therapy and had a fashion show off all her new purchases, including this striped sweater/tunic.
She's nicely accessorized too (and had two other alternative necklaces to show me her options). Gee, I wonder where I get it from!?
While we were chatting, Vizzini was eyeing this new skirt that I found.
Yes, it is a ginormous vintage 70s fringed maxi skirt! The fringed hem is sewn on, not raveled edges. It needs a small trim to clean it up a bit.
That's the back - it zips up. I love the high waistband.
It was hung up sideways, maybe thinking that the zip should be on the side, but the inner fabric hanging loops told me it went this way.
Vintage After Death puts cute little blurbs on their clothes - ideas for what to wear, or what the garment reminds them of. Pumpkin Patch Witch is a title I aspire to! Marked down to $28.00, she had to be mine. Look at that amazing woven texture. It's primarily chocolate brown and burnt orange boucle wool, with a thread of bright yellow.
I actually saw tons of stuff that I drooled over in the store - I tried on six things. Ann, Vix, my fellow vintage lovers, this place would destroy your bank accounts! But everything is so pricey. $55.00 is too high for me, but I'll do half that.
I've never heard of this brand before, but I could tell that the fabric is probably hand-spun and/or hand-loomed. It's fully lined, probably with acetate (hence the "Dry Cleaning" tag).
Arola, made in Finland. All wool. Design Pirkko M'a'ki. I have Finnish jewelry (this ring
here by Pentti Sarpaneva), but this is my first Finnish garment.
Let's see what we can find on the interwebs...
And...not much! Pirkko Maki was the daughter of Pirkko Arola who founded the company Arola Kutomo in the 1940s - there's no source for that, just the same phrase over and over. Not a lot of results, either. I still feel good about calling this a 1970s skirt - the colours scream 70s, as does the style.
Thoughts?
Edited to add from reader Maria:
What I could found (in Finnish) about Arola: it was founded 1948. First wool products were fabrics, scarfs and ties. Starting 1955, they invested new machinery and started to make twinsets(?). From 1960, they started to export the items outside Finland. They had 300 employees at highest. Unfortunately, 1990's depression affected to them also and they did bankruptcy. They were trying to continue with name "Arola Design Oy" but it also banckupted 2012.In google search, if you try "arola skirt" or "arola villahame", you'll find some pictures of similar clothes.
Vizzini, I know
your thoughts - that skirt is getting moved out of your chew-range.
"I'm insulted by your insinuations, Woman."
Flashback: Truly by Part Two Leather Dress
I've always shopped second-hand, but I do have a soft spot for Dots, which I've shopped at since the mid-80s. It's a reseller of samples that buyers use to place orders for boutiques and big department stores, as well as some deadstock from some businesses (my tights are all American Apparel, for example).
Dots sends out regular emails with coupons, and when I saw one for "All Dresses $20", I dashed down. This was in early December 2010, so over 10 years ago now, and I first wore this dress
here a few days later.
I recognized right away that it was amazing quality leather (like butter!) and it's fully lined, plus POCKETS!
It would have retailed for $499.00, and Dots was selling it at $149.99...but it was only $20 with the email coupon. Score!
I had never owned a taupe garment before, but I have always loved browns.
Those are the same leopard footless tights I still have! This was in March 2011.
I pulled out all the stops in May 2011.
This was a really "out there" look for work! I still have that silk fringed scarf (it's L's actually), which is worn here as a belt/sash.
I also still have this leopard blouse, seen in this October 2011 look.
I quickly discovered how versatile and easy it was for layering.
This was the first time I layered a top over it, in April 2012, for the 30 For 30 For 12 Challenge.
A dress that can double as a skirt is twice as useful.
I really like this look, also from the April 2012 capsule.
I'm wearing a vintage slip under it to add a bit of visual length.
A rare blonde look from March 2013.
Vizzini is helping. Shoe Flashback
here.
I layered both under
and over the dress in this outfit from February 2014.
I loved those fabric/leather shoes - I thrifted them for $10! Jacket Flashback
here.
My beloved fruital blouse got layered under the dress in September 2014.
Same shoes as above, and that is Mom's 70s chain belt.
I wore this in January 2015 to hang out and Zentangle with my former coworker Kadriya.
A rare outing with my floral Doc Martens! This was the first time I layered a sweater under it.
I went full Mod here in September 2015, again layering a thin sweater.
That's the first time I didn't belt the dress. It came with a grosgrain ribbon belt originally, by the way - I didn't keep it.
I spy a weekend brunch outfit - this was in December 2015.
Those burgundy tights have destroyed a few items of clothing - grrr, non-colourfast things!
There's my leopard blouse again, and today's lion belt.
I like the pops of mustard yellow. This is from November 2016.
Fruital again, and we skipped a year - this is January 2018. I'm still technically wearing it once per fall/winter season, though. It doesn't stay out for spring anymore.
That's the same belt as the March 2013 look above. I still have it. I miss my gold shoes.
A dressy look in October 2018.
That's my Dior belt! Klassy!
And here's the last time I wore the dress, in December 2019.
L and I are headed out for lunch. I'm wearing reader Shaz's sweater (we're sweater twins).
This one's for you, Shaz!
The "it's really a dress!" shot! Ha!
Mathy stuff: I've worn my leather dress 17 times, so that brings us to $1.18 per wear. What a deal!
I layered my navy blue sparkly Ted Baker top with the dress as that collar is wide and gape-y. 
The dress is 100% silk, even the lining (KLASSY) - it's a chi-chi brand that's been around forever: Escada. 
The last time I wore this dress was the day our dear Karen left us (guaranteed to make me cry link here). I thought of her all day while I wore it. I can't believe it's been 8 months since she died. 
There won't be too many more opportunities to wear her this season. 
My silk Lanvin scarf matched perfectly. 
Once I matched the belt (which has gold hardware), I dug out all my blue and gold jewelry. 
I hope those are winds of change...for spring! 
