Bigass Weekend Wrap-Up: Pattern-Mixing, Urbanite Shenanigans, Bright Brunch, Winesday Kimono

Hello, my friends! In the interest of me not being up till 10pm on Sunday, blogging my closet swap-over AND my full weekend of fun activities, I'm doing all my outfits separately, then I'll do a post for the closet process. 

So this is the outfit post. Here's Friday!

Another pair of pants that keeps me honest. These rose gold leather pull-on trousers have no forgiveness, and it's a relief that they fit again.

I liked how the jacket looked done up for the stair pose, so extra bonus picture.

More neutrals, but I'm anything but neutral here, ha ha!

• Jacket - Part Two suiting; last seen here with matching pants in July
• Blouse - Karl Lagerfeld, thrifted; last worn here (2nd outfit) in September 2018 with these same pants!
• Leather pants - Free People, Portland; last seen here in May with heavy metal
• Shoes - Matisse; last worn here in May when I first wore the full suit suit

Interesting things about this outfit: 3 out of 4 items are actual retail buys, and every piece has been worn with at least one of the items in this outfit before, even though they've never been worn in this combination.

The pants drive the outfit - because of the elastic at the back of the waist, I run the risk of exposing the ol' crack-a-lack if I bend over, so I have to wear a long/untucked top that covers that.

Friday was fridge clean-out day, where I toss all unlabeled and expired food items from all four office fridges. It's my least favourite part of my job, and I do it every month.

Lots of bending over and lugging around a heavy bag of old condiments and gross leftovers. Gah, people.

But I did it in style! Lots of patterns, texture and shine!

I had oodles of compliments on it, and my colleague Bryce and I fooled his young daughter, telling her that my metallic leather pants come from space cows. Fun with clothes!

It's funny to me to see this boxy style of jacket come around again in fashion.

I should really open the pockets on the jacket.

My concession to the slightly chilly mornings was this lovely silk/wool/cashmere pashmina.

 It was a gift from Mom, from Italy, I think.

• Scarf - gift from Mom

The stuff:

Comfy shoes. I've worn these a lot!

Silver and gold bling:

If I'm mixing patterns, I'm mixing my metals too.

• Gold earrings - 5th anniversary gift from L
• Silver/gold cuff - JPL, vintage fair
• Steel bracelet - POLY, thrifted
• Steel/mixed ring - POLY, vintage expo
• Silver/crystal ring - Uffizi Gallery gift shop, Florence

We had a quick dinner after work, then got ready for Urbanite at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. The theme was "Stimuli", engaging your senses. Urbanite is a 3-hour party at the Art Gallery, with a DJ, interactive exhibits, a craft table, a bar with specialty cocktails, beer and wine. It's a blast - L and I have been going for close to 20 years, since it first started.

 Yeah, I just raided my closet and went for pattern, texture and shine.

• Dress - Kimchi Blue; last worn here (2nd outfit) in May 2018 for a not so wee Afternoon Tea
• Harness - Audra Jean via Megan Mae, last worn here in October 2016 when I was Imperator Furiosa for Hallowe'en
• Shoes - Chie Mihara; last seen here in September with matching stripes
• Silk topper (below) - Nancymac, consignment; first worn here in July with yellow and browns

I like to get a little weird for Urbanite. When else am I going to get the opportunity to get my freak on? 

 This dress is black mesh, printed with small pink, brown, green and cream flowers. It has a big ruffle on one shoulder, and hip ruffles. It's very sheer, and is only lined to the top of my thigh. Scandalous!

I am wearing a copper leather harness by Mark of Audra Jean. Their Etsy page is defunct, but there's an article here from Audi's now-dormant blog from 2011, that mentions Megan Mae's "Genevieve Bronze Underbust Harness." That's this harness - I bought it off Megan Mae (blog also no longer functional).

 I mostly wear it for Hallowe'en or steampunk events. I liked how it toughened up this girly dress.

There are two front slits in the dress, which lets it billow out behind me.

 I deployed the billowing with great effect as I strolled through the Gallery with Yvonne. We had 6 of our favourite friends there as well, and a good time was had by all.

If I'm going to wear my steampunk harness, I have to wear my steampunk arm gauntlet and carry my steampunk purse!

 Bizarrely, another woman at the event had one of these purses in different colours! I've never ever seen another "in the wild".

It was too chilly to not have a topper, but few of my coats fit over that studded gauntlet.

 This silk "butterfly" topper would have to do.

I felt even more diva-ish.

 And here we are all ready to go.

It was a fun outfit to wear, and I was by no means the most dressy or whackadoo person there - Karen wore a boa with lights in it! 

The stuff: 

I would have done steampunk boots (these ones) except they are still in fall/winter storage. Sandals would have to do. At least I could walk to and from the Gallery in these.

Steampunk bling:

My arm bracer is by Skinz-n-Hydez (Etsy here), purchased at the one and only steampunk convention, back in 2012 (enjoy our awesome fun here). 

• Purse - FiveLeft, local
• Bracer - Skinz-n-Hydez
• Earrings - thrifted
• Ring - thrifted
• Amber ring - c.1996

I busted out my vintage pink crimping iron from 1986 (here) and pouffed my hair out. I fluffed it out bigger and bigger over the night - it was so fun, and I really loved it with my grey hair. 

I also played with my eyeshadow - I did a band of copper across my eyes, and nose, right to the edge of my hairline. I'm a wild woman!

L also got his freak on.

That's my man! Classic top hat, purple floral shirt, velvet purple scarf, "band leader" jacket, zipper jeans (Balmain), and a funk pair of Fluevogs.

"Look like you're having fun," I commanded.

"What is this?"

All of this bustle meant that our smart kitty figured out something was up.

"You'd better give me my treats before you go out!"

We did not; he got them when we got home at 11:30pm. He yowled quite a lot.

Aw, I love this picture.

It was an awesome evening!

Today/Saturday, we were up early to have brunch at Pluto's and run a few errands.

 What can I wear one more time? All of it!

• Coat - Paparazzi, thrifted, Vancouver; last worn here in April with circles and squares
• Sweater - Kersh decorated by Pena, thrifted; last seen here in August with green lace (and the same shoes)
• Cords - Banana Republic, thrifted; last worn here in August with double optics
• Shoes - Prepare Guide, Fluevog; last seen here with the jelly-deer sweater in August

Without the jacket, although I only took it off for brunch itself.

 The sweater is navy blue with a sparkle in it.

Our waitress at Pluto's was confounded by our dressiness.

 We get that a lot. "We just dress like this."

Coated - this wonderful (although frustratingly pocketless!) coat is black denim and is fully embroidered.

 I had to shove my hands in my pants pockets.

That's an outrage - why would you not put pockets on a coat?

 Done up for walking.

 You can see the beautiful embroidery, how it is symmetrical.

Utterly gorgeous. It's like wearing a work of art. It weighs a ton.

 Ta-dah!

The stuff:

 One more wearing of these wonderful shoes.

Turquoise bling:

 Turquoise is a summery colour for me, so nearly all of it gets packed away for the cool seasons.

• Fur pin - Catawumpus
• Earrings - Mango's
• Turquoise/silver ring - local
• Fulvia Ring - Wendy Brandes

Tonight is Winesday and I want to be comfortable and not dressed up.

 I shall just lean against the building in the sun for a while. I'm ready to chill with my gals!

• Kimono - thrifted, Portland; purchased and worn here for $29.00 earlier this month
• Long-sleeved tee - not tracked (house clothes)
• Sweater - Bleu & Gray, thrifted; last worn here (4th outfit) in August with the brolly skirt
• Jeans - Gap, thrifted; last seen here in December 2018 with shiny stuff
• Boots - Arnold Churgin, thrifted; last seen here (3rd outfit) for some shopping in August

Nothing too complicated.

I expect to do a fair bit of lounging about.

 Eating cheese and chocolate with my friends, enjoying wine.

 Catching up with each other's lives.

And recharging my batteries...and I'll do it in my socks!

And with that - Yvonne just called and the cab is on the way! I'll be back (maybe) tomorrow with the big closet swap-over! I hope you're all having a marvelous weekend!

Soft Pink Ruffles, and Walk Along the Waterfront

Ah, here we are at the weekend! It's been a quiet week for me - which I totally don't mind! 

I'm just puttering along, getting in my last few spring/summer outfits, wearing a last few of my favourite things.

• Jacket - Brooks Brothers, thrifted; last worn here (2nd outfit) in June, wearing my Corey Hart concert tee to work
• Sweater - Alice + Olivia, consignment; last seen here in May with triple patterned black and cream
• Skirt - Sandra Angelozzi, thrifted; last worn here in July with black and pearls
• Boots - Effortless Sophia, Fluevog; last seen here (2nd outfit) in July with velvet

This jacket is such a great subtle colour - I know, me and subtle are not often associated! It usually gets packed away due to the fact that it's not fully-lined. Not warm enough for fall!

 I really liked the structured jacket with the floof-tastic ruffled skirt. I'm all about contrasts.

The jacket matches the back of the boots so well.

I do love a surprising boot, don't you?

I washed this skirt after last time I wore it because I sweated in it.

The silk organza ruffles were so wrinkled! It took forever last night to steam them all, and they were still pretty creased today. Oh, well, it's going to get creased some more when I store it till next spring.

The stuff: 

 Lovely 3-toned boots: mauve, matte violet and patent violet leather. Also getting packed away.

Pink bling:

I do the seasonal swap-over with my accessories too. My pink crystal set and (maybe) my articulated salamander brooch will be boxed up with my other summery items.

• Crystal necklace/earrings - Sherman, vintage 60s, vintage fair
• Salamander brooch - vintage fair
• Crystal ring - Uffizi Gallery gift shop, Florence
• Crystal/silver ring - Soul Flower

I usually don't take a picture in my walking shoes, but I've just switched over to my rainy weather boots, and they looked good with the whole outfit.

I know, totally cute, right? They are white leather with tiny pink roses on them, and of course, they are Doc Martens (consignment). I've worn them a million times - they never leak in the rain, and they are the best snow shoes ever. I change into them at the end of the day at work, when I'm climbing up and down stepladders, refilling our office's coffee machines, which delights my coworkers.

So! I have a little something extra for you today! It's Thursday, formerly my WW meeting, but now my Mental Health Walk night (while it's still light out). Tonight was so beautiful, I took my camera along and took some pictures of things I saw along the way. I walked for about an hour and a quarter, as the sun slowly got lower in the sky.

My neighbourhood is filled with Victorian houses, many of which have been converted to house businesses.

 A couple of legal firms operate out of these ones on Fort Street, I believe.

I'm always on the lookout for wildlife.

Squirrel! He's up in a Gary oak, a giant twisty oak species that's native to this area. You might remember when one of the ones in our front yard crashed down four years ago (here).

This old house still has its porte cochere on the side, where you would drive your horse and carriage through and disembark to visit.

Swanky!

I have always loved this house's front yard/garden.

No lawn to mow!

I'm always on kitty lookout - this one was peeking out at me from the second storey window of his house.

"I'm on Squirrel Alert!"

His brother was in the downstairs front window, also on high alert.

"Move along, ma'am, nothing to see here."

I love their cute markings.

I saw a lot of spider webs.

 This one caught her dinner. Good work, Ms. Spider!

After a long hilly stretch, my route brings me out at Dallas Road. This is the tip of Vancouver Island (where am I?).

I was shocked at how busy it was! Cyclists, dogs, strollers, walkers, runners! Last week, it was so dead, but the weather was way worse.

This is looking west - those hills in the far distance are still on the tip of the Island.

You can walk down on the beach level; I have been down there with Ally (here), and we wrote our names in the sand (here). My coworker Ann and I also did that (here). It's a thing to do with visitors, what can I say!

Looking south, those mountains are Washington State.

Big tankers and cargo ships cruising around in the Juan de Fuca Strait (the Pacific Ocean). Cruise ship season is nearly over - they're often there too.

Looking back north as I head east along Dallas Road, I spotted Government House, the Lieutenant Governor's mansion. The gardens there are open to the public (groovy map here). I think the last time I was there was for bridesmaid's photos c. 1994.

The trees form a nice arch. The colours are just starting to turn for fall.

Walking along the water, towards Clover Point, site of many a teenage shenanigan I will never reveal!

They're doing some construction on the point, but the cars can still get through. I see an orange parasail there too - it's also a popular spot for kite-flying as it's always windy.

Looking back west.

I am lucky to live here.

Along with masses of Victoria-era houses and Arts & Crafts-era homes, there are modern ones scattered around. This one is on the Art Gallery's "House Tour".

I like the red greyhounds. Very quiet, don't eat much.

On the other side of Clover Point, looking down.

 That lower part is usually open to pedestrians, but not today.

Turning back to the east, that red arrow is where I'm headed.

 Ready? Here we go!

I walked down to the water level - there's a nice walkway all along this area, built to deflect the logs from going on the road when the weather's stormy.

 There's my shadow, waving at you. Hello!

Someone's carved a seat out of this cedar log.

 They even put cushions in it. How lovely.

So much driftwood, seaweed and kelp.

 There is not much sand on these beaches.

I've been wanting to capture this sculpture since I started doing my walk again. It's perched on top of a gigantic driftwood stump, see it?

 This landscape changes constantly - the logs drift in and out with the tide.

I don't know how long this bird has been here.

 It looks like a Canada goose to me.

The artist has made it look wonderful from every angle.

 I'm moved by these little details that people place in the world.

Not two seconds before I took this below picture, I saw an otter dash into the water.

A few weeks ago, I watched two frolic, long tails lashing as they dove and played.

The end of Ross Bay.

 The tide is low enough for a bunch of people to go out on the rocks.

Looking back west - I always like to look back.

Awed by the beauty.

I've been walking this same 5-mile route for over 30 years - it's special to me. While construction happens, and things change, some things don't.

 I've admired these blue dishes in this enclosed porch for at least two decades.

And these two cats have been in this window for at least 10 years.

"Shhh...she thinks we're real."

I love looking up at the canopy of trees above me.

 So many huge trees. Many of them are over 200 years old.

Remnants of an old mansion?

There are still quite a few standing in my 'hood.

Looking up the trunk of a 70+-foot tall cedar tree.

I'm just gobsmacked.

Nearly home, and the quality of light has definitely changed.

Mellowing, yellowing.

Meowing...

"Oh, were you out?"

I am off now, and will be back on Sunday, with tales of adventure (many are planned) and with my seasonal closet swap-over pictures. Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! Thank you so much - as always - for stopping by.