A Tribute to Alice - Black and Blue

L and I are going to see Alice Cooper this week, so my outfits are themed accordingly: black, black and perhaps a touch of black.

Naturally, I can't forgo colour altogether, so here's a touch of dark blue.
Eee. I used the flash so that I wouldn't be a big black blob...but I kinda look scary. Rar! Crazy old lady coming through!

Damn, I like those shoes. Best Shoe Purchase from a Small Town...ever!

Black cardigan (Vero Moda), blue camisole (no label, Point Zero?), black skirt (Kensie), grey ombre wedges (Qutie), black wood double hoop earrings.

Return of Dress Week - Casual Friday - My Own Bit of Sunshine

I felt like going with straight hair today - thanks again for the flat-iron, Ruth.

As always, I look half-awake in the mornings. It's like I need toothpicks to hold my eyelids open. This is why I warn my clients not to call me before 9am.

Love the dress, love the denim jacket - great fit, colours, and of course, my own little bit of portable sunshine in the yellow flower. Not too many days left where I can do a light dress and sandals so milking it as much as I can.

The earrings are Book Club booty!

Happy Friday!

Denim blazer (Bisou Bisou, consignment), floral dress (Kenzie), brown wedge sandals (Nine West), wood earrings and fabric flower pin.

Return of Dress Week - Polka Dotty

I have had this dress for over a year and only worn it once due to it being a fairly skimpy halter. Inspired by Kasmira's post about wearing a halter to work, I thought, "Why the heck can't I do something to make this work-appropriate?"
I'm quite pleased with the result. I felt very chic in a 1950s kind of way, particularly with Grandma J's faux pearls on. I was going to wear my mom's old sweater clip for the shrug but I can't find it! Very sad if that's gone missing.

Inigo wants his food. He looks like he's going to bite my ankle, but he just rubbed on me.

I dyed my hair last night - it's a dark kind of burgundy shade. It will lighten up over the next couple of days. I like it.

Off to Book Club! I'm baking Peaches Disarono for our 5th Anniversary Bash and Gift Exchange. I'm not very inclined in the kitchen, but this recipe only has 4 ingredients and any recipe with booze is a winner in my book. Ha!

Cream/red polka dot wrap skirt halter dress (Vero Moda), black cami (InWear), black shrug (Debut), black patent shoes (Wild Diva), Grandma J's faux pearls (vintage, probably 80s), rhinestone earrings.

Return of Dress Week - Aqua Overload

I think 3 is enough aqua dresses.

This is my "I'm not impressed" face. That's because I took my picture, thought I had uploaded it, then deleted it off the camera. Being the ditz that I am, I had not uploaded it entirely (I've done this before...I get distracted). So, I had to put it all back on again since I had already changed into my comfy clothes.
I think I am well on the road to Crazy Old Ladyville with this outfit. I get a kick out of the very 80s vibe of it (you should have seen it with a wide belt - whoa! It's 1982!), including the oddly cut shoulders. This thing has almost no shaping at all - those big darts at the bust are it. It was regular $59 on sale for $17. I think it will look good with a sweater and tights, jacket over it, boots.

It was actually quite fun to watch people's faces when they saw me today. Mostly "Whoa!" Love that reaction.

Aqua satin dress (Lori M. Collection), black turtleneck t-shirt (Esprit), black kitten heels (Kenneth Cole Reaction, from Cat), black/silver bracelet, black twisted hoops. Whackadoo hair!

Return of Dress Week - Grey Schoolgirl

Dark grey pinstripe dress (Mac & Jac), black cotton blouse (H&M), burgundy shoes (Bleka), black and silver necklace (vintage, gift from L), crystal stud earrings.
Back to crazy hair.

This is one of the new dresses - I adore this sort of schoolgirl look. I plan to wear this dress with pretty much every blouse and sweater that I own - this is a wardrobe staple. If you can find a neutral dress that is a similar cut to this, buy it, you won't regret it.

Sorry the picture's so dark. Here's a closeup of the pattern, along with the necklace:

I LOVE that this dress is lined in dark red!

I got a lot of compliments on this outfit - not to mention the shoes - I'll wear this again.

Return of Dress Week - Swirly Kimono Dress

Patterned kimono dress with matching blue belt (Vero Moda), rust cami (InWear), two-toned wedge shoes (Aerosoles), wood cuff and disc earrings.

I had a spastic moment this morning with my new hairstyle. It looked like a Brillo pad mated with a Tribble. Bad, bad news. Hence, the old faithful straight hair.
Did I mention I love dresses? I love dresses.

I'm really getting my $9 worth out of this dress this summer - this is a repeat from June when I went to see "Sex and the City", right down to the shoes and jewelry. There isn't a whole lot I can do with this dress - the colours are somewhat limiting (rust, cobalt blue, white and pale pink). Matching it up with the browns is the easiest - I don't have any other cami other than this rust one that I can wear under it (and I have a kazillion camis, so I don't need anymore!).

I think I could do it with a turtleneck underneath and boots and tights for fall/winter. Cobalt would look good.

Suggestions for how else to wear this dress? Let's see how creative you are...

Casual Friday - and an Evening Out.

Burgundy sating blouse (Nygaard Collection), grey pinstriped vest (Kensie Girl), jeans (Esprit), black ankle boots (Rinaldi), silver hoop earrings, burgundy patent bag (KGB Studio), black scarf, burgundy shoes (Blecka).
For Diana, here's the boob vest. It's cropped, fitted, and hugs my boobs.

It ended up being pretty warm on Friday, so I didn't need the scarf, but it does look nice with the outfit.

After work, I went to the mall and found these magnificent shoes:
I can't wait to put together some new funky outfits around them!

I also found an ankle-length black winter coat (I don't have a long coat), a new "schoolgirl" dress, and a party dress. I just sent out the invitation for my birthday party, so I think I will wear the party dress for that.

Went out for dinner after my little bout of shopping; met up with Elaine and some of her friends for a Jamaican/Caribbean dinner and drinks afterwards. A lovely time! Happy birthday, Elaine!

Office Uniform

Black pinstriped vest (Oxmo), blue shirt (Plum), plaid skirt (consignment, Jacob), t-strap heels (consignment, JonesWear), white stone and silver necklace & earrings.
If I had to pick a uniform to wear to the office every day, it would be a variation on this theme: shirt, vest, pencil skirt, shoes, jewelry. I've done this look in a variety of ways, sometimes changing to a sweater vest or the boob vest, sometimes with a white shirt or a red shirt or another colour, and the skirt is sometimes black or grey or brown (but usually a neutral), then sass it up with the shoes and the jewelry. Can't go wrong.

I'm not even sure what drove me to put this outfit together; none of the pieces on their own are all that special (except the shoes, which I love).

I wanted to share my creepy bouquet that L gave me yesterday. As you know, it's been a craptastic week at work, and he is always so thoughtful in getting me some flowers when he knows I've had a bad day. About a year ago, he started buying these "Nightmare Before Christmas" bouquets:
I love the mix of light green, purple and grey - and thistles! I don't even know what those other weird flower things are - they look totally alien. Here's a close-up of some of them, and the great vase I put them in (a handmade wedding gift - I love monsters, gargoyles and this lovely scary fairy).
And this is for Carollyne, who wanted a close-up of my hair.
Of course, it's not as good as it was before I walked to work, worked all day then walked home (in the wind). And I do have a bit of a crazy look in my eye...

70s-Inspired Menswear

Burgundy velvet blazer (Nygaard Collection), pinstriped white blouse (Vero Moda), brown plaid trousers (Vero Moda), brown leather belt with flower buckle (Plum), bronze t-strap shoes (Aerosoles), gold chain and tiger-eye stone drop earrings.
I felt very kick-ass, yet comfortable, in this all day. Some days you've got to just be tough, and some days you don't. Today was a "be tough" kind of day.

I adore a velvet blazer or jacket (I own 3 and am always on the lookout for more). There is just something elegant, timeless and chic about them. I've owned probably a dozen or more over the years - found this one on a clearance rack for about $40. They're a little too warm for summer, but Fall is in the air...my favourite time of year.

If You Can't Say Something Nice...

Blue cardigan (consignment, Romeo & Juliet Couture), black dress with black bead neckline (Kensie), hose (Hue), grey ombre patent wedges (Qutie), rhinestone bangle & earrings.

Okay, so after the positive reaction my hair got on the weekend, both at the Fair and at the subsequent BBQ afterwards, I was waiting for the big reaction from my co-workers today.

Bah! Nothing! It didn't help that everyone was in an awful mood, coming back from the weekend to much unpleasantness. Which is why I overdid the outfit a tad today - if I was going to feel bad about work, dammit, at least I could look good.

This outfit would have been without the hose (which I think are rather funky), except that I forgot to shave my legs yesterday and our bathroom is in a half-renovated state and I have no idea where my razors are.

Going Out - To the Fall Fair and BBQ

Grey jacket (RW & Co.), patterned silk blouse (Nine West), black leather belt, jeans (Esprit), black boots (consignment, Zara), black wood hoop earrings, red bead bracelet.

I met up with my mom and my ex-sister-in-law and my nieces at the Fall Fair on Saturday. L and I had a BBQ to go to after, so I wanted to look nice, but also not too casual or overly dressed up.

I think I was the only person at the fair wearing silk, though.

Casual Friday - Jungle & Denim

White jacket (Jacob), jungle print wrap t-shirt (Jacob), jeans (Esprit), white and brown wedge shoes (Aerosoles), leather studded belt, wood earrings & bracelet, straw and leather bag.
Ooh, I look all awake. I must have taken this picture in the morning. A shot with the outerwear and bag:
And a shot post-haircut. We are "going big" and emphasizing the natural curl I have in my hair. I'm sure there's curl somewhere since when my hair grows out, wonky bits go every which way.
Friday was a crappy day. And I have been painting our bathroom for what feels like all weekend. I'm exhausted.