Hello, my friends! I'm back after a deliciously-long Victoria Day weekend, and have much to share! Most of it was quiet - things are loosening up locally but not till after this long weekend - but we still managed to have a quick jaunt to town and got together with our friends at the Park. In addition to everyone else getting Monday off, I also enjoyed a day to myself on Tuesday (a regular non-work day for me).
Did I dress up for pretty much everything? Well, of course I did! I have three outfits to share, two Flashbacks, a couple of surprise purchases, and pictures of Vizzini being cute.
On Saturday morning, L and I drove to town to run a couple of errands. This called for something bright!
I love my neon green blouse and that it matches my shoes. Bookends!
- Blouse - Rock & Republic, thrifted; last seen here in September 2020 for a Book Club adventure at the Castle
- Skirt - See By Chloe, consignment; last worn here in May 2020 to hang out at the Castle!
- Shoes - Eject; last seen here in August 2020 with my Big Boss Lady Red Pants
Having seen this skirt in a recent Flashback, I was inspired to feature it in an outfit again.
It's a lovely skirt with some fantastic details.
See the pretty loops in the hem?
There are two layers with a solid cotton section - it's very flouncy. We're going to have a wee Flashback on it in a bit.
I wore extra underlovelies for non-thigh-chaffing.
I'm also wearing contacts, which I have but rarely wear. I have a small collection of sunglasses; I increased my stash by one that day!
I snuck in a first outing for my new-to-me woven purse.
Masked up.
And I require a scarf for being in a convertible.
Enter my Movie Star Wrap.
I tied the scarf around my bag strap when I was walking around.
A woman hollered at me, "Oh my god, I love your shoes!"
The stuff:
They are pretty sweet shoes! Not very high either - that's only a 1-inch heel after you do the Shoe Math with the platform.
Spring bling:
The purse was functionally good. It doesn't hold much more than my wallet, keys and shopping bags, but that's all I really need most days anyway.
- Purse - Street Level, thrifted; purchased here for $19.99
- Sunglasses - thrifted
- Earrings - consignment
- Silver/aventurine ring - consignment
- Fulvia Ring - Wendy Brandes
- Scarf - thrifted
Flashback: See By Chloe Skirt
Ah, another reason to bemoan the loss of My Sister's Closet consignment store: great deals on quality pieces, like this skirt, which I purchased
here in April 2017 for $10.50. It originally retailed for $545.00.
It has an elastic waistband, but it's quite snug. It's a dark green, printed with paisleys.
The fabric is pre-crinkled, and as noted before, it has these lovely sewn loops in the hem.
Anything that's time-consuming to create is a good indication of quality!
I was not surprised to see a high-end label.
I have a few pieces of See By Chloe that I've found over the years.
Let's see how I wore it, shall we?
I love this look - that big belt is such a stunner.
This was in May 2017, and was a work outfit. I miss that vintage sweater (it wore out).
A more casual look in June 2017 - I'm likely going to play Ultimate Frisbee, followed by brunch and shopping (the sunglasses are a dead giveaway).
Only the skirt is left from this outfit.
Another Ulti outfit in September 2017.
All comfy clothes.
Same green top, in May 2018.
The paisleys have little bits of chartreuse-green/yellow in them, so I often do yellows with this skirt.
I loved this beaded snake blouse, but it was so difficult to put on (no zipper!) that I gave it up this past year.
This is a very warm-looking August 2018 outfit, even in an air-conditioned office!
Another weekend outfit, also in August 2018.
I still have those gold sandals, but they're only worn on really hot days.
Loads of yellow and chartreuse here in May 2019.
I need to find another yellow top to replace this one - the moths got it.
With my acid-wash studded denim vest in September 2019.
I recall that I went shopping in this.
And here's the last time I wore it, with that ballet wrap cardigan that inspired the current outfit, in <ay 2020.
Seeing those shoes inspired another outfit this weekend! These Flashbacks are so useful.
Mathy stuff: As expected with a skirt that only cost $10.50, my average is already very low with 10 outfits: a very impressive $1.05 per wear!
L and I split up: while he did his stuff, I had a quick browse in the Patch.
I picked up these no-name sunglasses for $19.99. I had black ones like this in the 80s (didn't we all?).
While L was buying cat food, I had a quick peek at the $10 rack at Rich Rags. I found this amazing black knit dress.
It's one of those pieces that looks terrible on a hanger. Blergh. Black dress.
But look at this lovely knit lace yoke - so trendy right now!
I also noted lace cuffs on the sleeves.
With more on the hem.
When I pulled the skirt up to look for labels, I noted that the lining is also the same knit, not a cheaper fabric. This is not a modern dress!
I found one tiny label inside, down the seam. It's by Nina, and it's made in Spain, out of 80% nylon and 20% Poliamide. It's very soft and stretchy, but also thick - definitely not a modern fabric.
When I searched around online, I found a few other knits with this label (same font on the 'Nina').
I stretched it out across my body, shrugged and paid my $10.00. I hoped for the best!
I tried it on when I got home, and hooray! It fits! I've put it in the fall/winter pile, for me to rediscover in October. It's quite va-va-voom, so I can't wait to style it up with some boots and a big belt.
On Saturday afternoon, L and I headed out to Beacon Hill Park to hang out with our best friends.
Time to break out one of my favourite vintage dresses.
- Dress - Tori Richard of Honolulu, for Andrade of Honolulu, vintage70s, Joyce's; last seen here in April 2020 for a day at home
- Shoes - Born, consignment; last worn here in August 2020 with green lace
My park outfits need to be walkable (it's about 30 minutes each way), easy for sitting on the ground, and colourful and fun!
That last part is easy in this amazing gown.
"I love your dress!" a young man shouted at me while we were dashing across the road to quickly use the washroom at Yvonne and Randall's. Why, thank you!
I've had this dress for years - it was a pass-along from my mom's best friend's mother. We shall give it a little Flashback shortly as well.
I kept my underlovelies/long shorts on with this. It felt good to have bare legs!
I had L sunblock my back - it hasn't been deliberately exposed to sun in decades.
Masked up.
I'm still wearing my mask around people when I'm in close quarters, but we're fine to be maskless outdoors now if we distance.
The stuff:
These are one of my easy, comfy pairs of Born walking shoes; I have a similar pair in gold and my gold leather thong sandals.
Round bling:
The earrings and Fulvia Ring were still sitting out from the morning's outfit.
- Lucite/silver cuff - Alexis Bittar, consignment, Vancouver
- Glass bangle - thrifted
- Earrings - consignment
- Fulvia Ring/lapis lazuli ring - Wendy Brandes
Before we get into the Flashback on the dress, a Kitty Interlude.
"You're going out?"
Vizzini is often on the deck these days.
"Cat + sun = Happy Cat. It's basic math, Woman."
I can never resist giving him a rub.
"I may as well get up now that you've disturbed me."
Ha! I caught him mid-yawn AND mid-stretch!
"Rar! I am very fierce!"
You sure are, my silly boy.
Flashback: Tori Richard of Honolulu, for Andrade of Honolulu Dress
My mom's best friend, my "Aunt" Kathy, had to move her mom Joyce into a care-home
here in June 2013. Kathy offered to let me have a look at her things to see if there was anything I liked. I spotted this dress in her closet, along with
this pink one (overdue for a wearing!), and after modeling them, Kathy kindly gave this one to me, along with a card holder and a pair of earrings. I got the pink dress months later - it was a bit tight, so I originally declined it but Kathy just loved seeing in on me and passed it along.
The cut of this dress is excellent - the back is low, but not too low for a regular bra.
It's pleated at the small of the back, with a buttoned tab over the zipper.
Wonderful labels. Joyce lived in Hawaii during the 1960s, and this was purchased then (label backup
here, linking 'cause I love).
Tori Richard is still around!
I wore the dress right away here in July 2013 for Canada Day.
In most of these outfits, the only difference is the shoes and accessories.
September 2013.
I mostly wore it to the Ulti field, and for brunch afterward.
I wore it to work once, here in July 2014.
I played Frisbee in this at our company quarterly meeting.
I've gone purple!
July 2015.
Every July, it's like clockwork.
This is July 2016.
July 2017.
I moved the dress to my Archive closet after this season, to make more room in my regular closet for my dresses.
And of course, I promptly forgot about it until last year when I rediscovered it.
This was April 2020.
Mathy stuff: Well, let's see, 8 outfits divided by Free, equals...still free!
And now, back to our weekend! L and I loaded up our backpacks with blankets and drinks and strolled down to the park.
This lovely boy checked us out. Hello, Cat of Rockland!
We had a glorious sunny day, although it was breezy (we are only a few blocks from the ocean).
Nick on the left, and Ross and Cat on the right. Those are my toes!
There were tons of people on this field enjoying the sun.
From right: L's hand, Nancy, Randall, Yvonne (sweet cowboy hat!) and Casey.
L is on his Boston Bruins blanket and is wearing his Bruins tee.
It's playoff time!
Chris and Ali showed up a bit later, so we split up our group to stay under the approved numbers.
I loved that Ali wore an old top of mine - I dropped off a bag of clothes at her place a few weeks ago.
When we arrived, I noticed someone having a fabric/sewn items yard sale across the street. I picked up a set of 3 handmade cushions for only $15.00!
Another surprise found thing!
The bag had two regular square pillows, and one bolster.
I have plans for our benches, and these were exactly what I'd been looking for.
It's beautiful woven fabric.
The covers are all removeable and washable. Nice! I got a bargain.
Someone approved of them right away.
"I appreciate this wonderful gift."
He's been very happy with us.
"Well, of course, these are mine."
This picture makes me laugh.
"Hey, I was napping here!"
Vizzini has been sleeping on the new pillows all weekend.
After a couple of quiet days, full of boardgames, movies and telly, L was back to work on Tuesday. I just had my Zoom call with Mom, so I got dressed up.
Unfortunately, Mom was having internet issues, so we just had a call to catch up. She's all good now - and we're celebrating that we can go to restaurants together again now! Hooray!
- Dress - White Stuff; last seen here in September 2020 with acid wash
- Shoes - Sorel; last worn here in August 2020 with floral and dots
The Doily dress is best for hanging out at home.
It clings to everything: it's unlined cotton and is a fine-wale corduroy.
I like it, but I might move it into my house wardrobe.
The tiger-weave tights popped a huge hole while I was fussing with the dress. Grrr.
The stuff:
L hates these, but I like their clunky shape. Too bad, they're my shoes!
Black bling:
I always wear these earrings with this necklace - I bought them together at the same vintage fair.
- Necklace - Monet, vintage 1980s, vintage fair
- Earrings - vintage 80s, vintage fair
- Silver/onyx ring - Toccara, vintage fair
- Lucite bangle - Alexis Bittar, Sidney
And now, I'm going to go give my little kitty some more attention.
"Oh, do we really have to?"
Yes, as long as you keep waking me up at 4:30am.
"But that's when I'm hungry!"
Thanks so much for dropping by, my friends! I hope you're all having a great weekend! Don't forget to check out all my favourite link-ups at the Link Parties in my right sidebar.
This is an Anthropologie brand - you can see the nice attention to detail on the lined up seams. 
Ugh, I didn't know that ginormous red thread was hanging down there. This jacket sheds more than Vizzini! 
I like this dress, but I don't love this dress. Good colours, interesting pattern, good quality, but...no pockets, very wrinkly, and gaps a bit in the boobular region/armholes. I'll probably move it along at the end of the summer. Don't worry, I still have lots of dresses. Heh. 
I had planned to wear more of a heel, but my feet needed flatter shoes. 
There's a stripe of mint green in the dress that is a good match for the brooch. 
