Shoes My Husband Hates: Roses and Checkerboards

It's Thursday, and you know what that means? Friday is one day away! 

I love that some of you 'fessed up to not being fans of the yellow shoes of yesterday's "Shoes My Husband Hates" rant. Hey, if we all liked the same thing, wouldn't that be dull?

I was surprised that L picked these shoes - I didn't realize they fell into the "hate" versus the "meh, they're okay" category for him. We'll see what L has to say about them shortly.

First up, this random vintage dress. I say random because it's got checkerboards and roses, all on this Christmas green background. "It's very math," said one of my coworkers. I last wore it here (2nd outfit) in February with punk-y accessories.

I thought I had worn it with these shoes before (roses and roses! of course!), but no, I have not. I'm on my 4th wear of this dress, though, so its cost-per-wear is now just over $2.00.

"I don't want to be in your picture."

I wore a vivid red vintage slip under this for coverage, and because well, look at that sweet ruffled hem!

The stuff:

I bought these shoes a few years ago for $25.00 at a consignment shop downtown on a dash out during work one day. I've gotten good wear out of them, and they're still going strong. I last wore them here in May with plaid and yellow.

And what does L have to say about them?

“Truth is, these aren't too bad (despite the skewed samples necessary for this week’s theme, I actually love most of Sheila’s shoes). I picked this pair because of the solid heel (it may be fashionable of late, but I don’t like it) and for the big flower plunked down on front (also fashionable, also not for me). I like the colour just fine, although the texture and finish reminds me a bit too much those oversized key chains used by boat owners so that their keys will float if they fall overboard. I wouldn't miss these shoes if they went overboard, but sadly I don’t own a boat. Even if I did, I expect they’d float.”

Well, they do have cork in the wedge! I guess I should watch out if I'm ever on a boat with them.

Red and floral bling:

I pinned the orange fabric rose to the waistline, just above where the belt sits, so that it wouldn't wobble around.

Dress (handmade, vintage 70s, thrifted), shoes (Miz Mooz, consignment), belt/earrings (Plum), cuff (Rimanchik), flower (Le Chateau).

Shoes My Husband Hates: Mustard Disco Dutch and Cracked Glass

Oh, what an exhausting day! But now it's over...and on to another day of Shoes My Husband Hates.

I have to say, I am really having fun with it. As many of you have cleverly deduced, yes, L likes the classic pointy-toe pumps. I do as well, but I'm an equal opportunity shoe lover. If it's cool, if it rings my bell, I just might give it a shot.

Today's outfit is comfy casual - I just didn't feel like wearing anything fussy, plus we're having a bit of a heat wave here on the west coast of Canada, so unfussy = good.

I just wore this cheapass Forever 21 t-shirt top here (last outfit) on the weekend but I wanted to wear it with this skirt, so here it is again. It is not wearing well, but it's good for a summer's worth of outfits before it moves onto its next home.

The fabulous skirt reminds me of cracked glass or ice, with all the prismatic striations of colour. I last wore it here in June with another top that I got rid of. Hmmm...coincidence?

The stuff:

Oh, great Disco Dutch shoes! How I love thee! I last wore these ultra-comfy shoes here in April with plaid and leather, but I know you're dying to hear what L has to say about them.

I call these bad boys “Dutch Elf Disease” – you know, like the tree blight only more horrifying. When I accepted this challenge, these jaundiced clogs were the first pair of shoes I thought of. They have the same ugly, blocky heel as the turquoise pair from Monday, and like them, feature a gorgeous colour which has been horribly misused. They look like something a demented elf stitched together by hand in some secret faerie land where the worst parts of the seventies never died.

Ha! And just to reassure you all, L really has no say in my footwear (or my clothing, or my hair, for that matter). I like his opinion, but I dress for myself. After all, this is a man who wears an aqua blue satin Miami Dolphins bomber jacket in public. Hee!

Purpley bling:

I quite liked how my Myka jewelry set went with the cracked glass skirt.

Top (Forever 21, consignment), skirt (Club Monaco, thrifted), shoes (Prepare Hi Steady, Fluevog), necklace/bracelet/earrings (Myka, gift from L), cuff (thrifted), lapis lazuli ring (Wendy Brandes).

Shoes My Husband Hates: Marine, Caramel and Floral Platforms

Having someone pick out one element of my outfits for five days is an easy way to boost my creativity with outfits! 

Example: this outfit! Not terribly creative, but since I just wore these shoes a week ago, I would have normally bumped them to the bottom of the (very informal) rotation and not worn them again for a month or more. So many shoes, so little time!

I adore this beautiful marine blue blouse; it's not quite navy; it's got more green in it. I haven't worn it since October 2013, here, with a sleeveless vest I got rid of. I prefer it worn on its own so that you can see the great fit and nice micro-pleated collar. It's a very unusual blouse.

Another wear of this silk skirt - see me stylin' the pocket? Why don't more skirts have pockets? I last wore it here in May with teal and red underthings.

The skirt has a really small waist, so I liked having the thin leather obi over the waistband.

The stuff:

Ah, the shoes. Comfy again - and as noted, I just wore them last week here, with my red dress. That outfit - and these shoes - inspired this week's theme, so let's see what L has to say about them.

These "walk the plank!” shoes are partly on me. I have a slight colour blindness which makes the straps on these shoes come out looking various shades of brown, when I suspect they are actually much more vibrant. However, even if I could properly appreciate the colour, I’ll never appreciate the solid wooden heel nor the thick, square finish to the tips (I prefer a pointy toe for both ‘his’ and ‘hers’ in shoes). The rivets down the side just add more clunk – they’d be more at home holding down a tarpaulin on a cargo deck.

Well! Tell me how you really feel, L! The leather straps on these are of course coloured, in shades of pink, red, teal, soft green and a bit of caramel. This is why I have to help L match shirts and ties: the poor man is colourblind.

Copper bling:

I can see myself taking the picture in the copper ball of the necklace.

I forgot to take my necklace off for the "stuff" shot, above. I love copper jewelry!

Blouse (Mexx, consignment), skirt (Boss Orange by Hugo Boss, consignment), shoes (Faith Hi Lo Reumah, Fluevog), belt (thrifted), cuff (Matisse, vintage 60s), earrring/bracelet (Renoir, vintage 60s), necklace (vintage 70s).

Shoes My Husband Hates: Yellow, Aqua and Blinged Out

After wearing my red Calvin Klein dress last week (here) I noted that I should do a week of shoes that L hates. He liked the idea so much that I let him choose 5 pairs of shoes over the weekend for me to build outfits around. Scroll down to see what he has to say about these. Or just read on and get there on your own. Your call. 

Linking up to "Visible Monday" at Patti's Not Dead Yet Style! Are you dead? No? Then get over there!

I am certainly visible in this bright yellow dress.

I see a kitty on the lookout!

 This is my other Calvin Klein dress. I've had it for 3 years, purchased at Winners for around $70, I think.

"I'm a blur!"

Vizzini was mrowing and vocalizing as he came down the hall to me.

The stuff:

Okay, here's what L has to say about one of my favourite pairs of Fluevogs:

“These turquoise monstrosities have everything I don’t like in a shoe: chunky heel, rounded toe and – in this case – a stitching detail on the toe that makes them look like a folk-art project. I love the colour and to see it used for evil is truly disappointing. These shoes are all the more awful because I actually bought them for Sheila on one of our wedding anniversary trips to Fluevog. I see these shoes often, since they are one of her favourite pairs.” 

Hee hee! I can't wait to hear what he says about the other shoes I'll be wearing this week. I last wore them here earlier this month with chartreuse and orange.

Bling-o-rama!

Did you notice what I did? I pinned all 5 of these brooches around the neckline of the dress (before I put it on, naturally) to make a sort-of necklace! I am feeling very clever. I also mismatched my earrings on purpose; I actually lost one of the blue ones (the lower one), so this way I can still wear it.

Dress (Calvin Klein), shoes (Prepare Guide, Fluevog). Bling (from left to right):

• Brooches, all vintage 60s (top to bottom): BSK, Coro, Lisner, no maker stamp, no maker stamp (Grandma J's).
• Belt (vintage early 80s).
• Bracelets (both 60s, both Mom's).
• Earrings, both vintage 60s: Weiss, no maker stamp.
• Fulvia Ring (Wendy Brandes).

Speaking of shoes, it's time again for...

Shoe Shine! 

Pop in starting Saturday night, running until end of day the following Friday. 

I think I'll take it easy on L and feature a pair that he actually likes. Ha!

Weekend Wrap-Up: New Hair, Loose and Flowy, Crazy Cat and Bought New

And a lovely weekend has been had! I did social things, quiet things, things with friends, things with L and things on my own. Just right.

But let's backtrack - Friday!

It was a hot day so I wend with a very loose and flowy dress. I may have spun around a few times in this...

This is my second wearing of this consignment dress, purchased here in early June and worn that same weekend with pink accents.

I liked how the gold accents worked with it - I have to cover up the elastic waist, so a wide belt is needed.

You can just see at the bottom, where the natural light is hitting it - this dress is actually pale pink and navy blue. Under artificial light it looks cream. I swear, it's pale pink.

The stuff:

 These shoes were super comfy all day. I last wore them here in June with Chinoiserie.

Gold bling:

What time is it? Let the clock hands be your guide.

Dress (Artistic Taste, consignment), shoes (Modern Vintage, thrifted), belt (thrifted), earrings (Foxy), ring (Twang & Pearl).

After work, we met up at the University theatre, Cinecenta, to go see "Only Lovers Left Alive", a film by Jim Jarmusch. I liked it as a mood piece - very beautiful. Tilda Swinton is amazing.

But I know you really want to see my buzz.

Yup, that is my natural colour under all that red! It's white, grey and a wee bit of my natural brown at the very bottom. Scary stuff, to see all that white at my temples, but I had good reactions from everyone.

Well, nearly everyone.

"What did you do to your hair?"

He squirmed and rolled around for a while.

"I'm a cute kitty, rub my tum."

I know better.

"Really, I'm as gentle as a kitten..."

Under that cuteness...

"Crow?"

...beats the heart of a tiger.

"I'm a ferocious jungle cat! I chomp your dress!"

On Saturday, it was a bright hot day. Perfect for a game of Ultimate.

Loose and comfy before and after the game. I'm loaded with sunblock.

I haven't worn this dress in a while - last time here (2nd outfit) in June 2013 - and it may be time to let it go. Maybe not. I haven't really decided.

It is silk, it's handmade, and I do like it. I'm just feeling a little "meh" about it.

It was perfect for changing back into on a hot day, though. After Ulty, we went for brunch, then L and I drove around doing a few light chores (trying to find a particular book, buying wine, important things like that). That was followed by a nap, and our friends Cat and Ross coming over for board games in the evening.

The stuff:

I wear soccer cleats to play Ultimate - you need them to grip the field for sharp cuts - but my feet are always happy to get out of them and back into comfy shoes. These Born sandals were last worn here (2nd outfit) a couple of weeks ago in June, also to the Ulty field.

Colourful bling:

Yellow! Turquoise!

Dress (Smoking Lily, thrifted), shoes (Born, thrifted), cuff (thrifted), earrings (local).

L went over to a friend's to watch the World Cup finale. I stayed home and dyed my hair, after which I walked to town and got groceries and did a little poke around in some shops.

It's still really hot out, so all looseness again.

The cardigan was last seen here a few weeks ago, with turquoise strapless. It quickly undid itself, so I wore it hanging down all day.

The acid yellow t-shirt was last seen here (2nd outfit) in May with turquoise.

My purple flutter silk skirt has been a favourite for years. I last wore it here in June (along with these same sandals - also the last wear of them).

The stuff:

The shoes are starting to show their age a little, but I think I still have a couple of years left in them.

Purple bling:

The ring belonged to my dad.

Cardigan (Bellissima, thrifted), t-shirt (Forever 21, consignment), skirt (Le Chateau, consignment), shoes (La Canadienne, consignment), earrings (vintage), ring (Frances Jewelers, vintage 60s, Dad's).

I don't shop new very much at all anymore. It's easily been over a year since I took the "Secondhand First" pledge. However, I have been in dire need to replace some of my camisoles and layering tops, most of which are 6-7 years old and are getting worn out.

I stopped into Dots to check out the summer clearance stuff, and found two pink camis.

They were each $5.00.

They are actually a thin sweater knit, so a little more substantial than a t-shirt fabric.

Totally guilty. I bought a new skirt.

In my defense, it's a Noa Noa sample, it's a long swooshy black skirt with embroidery and it is gorgeous in person.

Ack, that embroidery is to die for! When it's on, the sheer overlay stands out from the black lining, sort of like a tulle skirt.

I like the tag.

From the "Soiree Mesh" program, and regular price of $150.00. I paid $34.99.

I did stop in at the thrift stores, but nothing clothing-wise really grabbed me. I found this thing, from the line of "diamond point glassware" that I collect. I have tons of goblets and plates and things in this pattern, all thrifted or gotten very cheaply.

However, see if you can figure out what this is.

It was $2.95, and it's a heavy amber glass. Nope, it's not a cup.

It has a hole in it!

What the heck?

Let's look at a piece I already have, this low small dish/bowl.

Can you see the slight bump inside it?

My new piece fits on top of the little bowl.

And together, they make a candleholder! Cool, eh? It's by Indiana Glass. Check out this page of their 1978 catalogue here - I have those goblets, pitcher...and there's my "angel light" candleholder!.