Sunday, March 29, 2015

Bigass Weekend Wrap-Up: Artners in Crime, Fringed Brunch, Last Stripes, and the Spring/Summer Closet Swap-Out

I wouldn't call this past weekend relaxing per se, but it sure was fun! Thank goodness for a long weekend next week (although I do not get Easter Monday off, boo).

Let's get started - here's my outfit for the Art Gallery event on Friday night!
Linking up to Judith's "Hat Attack!" over at Style Crone. Killer hats! It'll be up soon!

  • Dress - Stop Staring!; purchased here last weekend
  • Hat - custom-made, Tierre Joline; last seen here for the September 2013 Vintage Expo
  • Shoes - Big Presence Desmond, Fluevog; last worn here in February with Lacroix

"I pose like the woman."
I loved wearing this dress! So comfortable and flattering. I had tons of compliments and one lady even recognized the brand. I don't shop online much, but I could be tempted by Stop Staring!

The hat blended into my hair - did you see it?
"I'll meow until she looks."
Vizzini was being a little monster. He doesn't like it when we go out.
"Ignoring you!"
Butt bow! And I always like a chance to show a bit of ink.

It was lightly raining when Elaine and I walked down, so I only wore a thin wool vintage coat.
Tierre, who has made 3 of my hats, was recently featured on Humans of New York here. Isn't that cool? The local paper did an article on her after that, here. I'm so happy for her - she's a lovely person and her hats are amazing!
I've had this vintage 50s swing coat for a couple of decades; it's one of the few things I have from before I met L (which is nearly 20 years ago).

The stuff:
I love mixing yellow and red!

Silver bling:
Instead of going full-on retro, I went a little rock and roll with the accessories, and loaded up with rings and my side-eye-don't-say-anything ear cuff.

  • Purse - Accessorize
  • Ear cuff - Claire's
  • Earrings - local
  • Death Star ring - Stone Roses
  • Crystal ring - Uffizi Gallery gift shop
  • Spinner rings - local
  • Bitty ring - local


Vizzini was furious that I wouldn't give him his kitty treats early.
"I am a seething ball of fury!"
I held off until just before Elaine and I left. He was still furious.

The event was tied into the local opera, so they had some performances of opera pieces. I'm not a major fan of opera, but I love the Art Gallery, and I like people-watching.
I'm also rather fond of my "artner in crime", Elaine, who is the most fun person to go to art-related events with!

Three of the leads singing with gusto.
The gentleman on the piano was very entertaining.

Later on, a whole bunch of singers performed on the staircase.
It might have been something from "Madama Butterfly" but I'm really clueless.

There was a demonstration of Kabuki face-painting. While the singers were performing, I saw the make-up artist working through the window of the house.
The Art Gallery is an old mansion that's had a new-ish extension built onto it that houses all the main exhibits.

After that woman's make-up was done, I spotted her posing in front of this large painting.
I liked how the rain blew on the glass.

These two ladies were so fun!
Their face-paint matches their dresses and even the painting!

After a nice sleep-in on Saturday morning, L and I went for brunch.
This is the outfit I saved in case of the leather pants not fitting. I have worn this outfit (jacket and skirt) together before, but I love them so much.


  • Jacket - Le Chateau, consignment; last seen here in December 2014, with - you guessed it - this skirt and these boots!
  • Skirt - vintage 80s, Pioneer, vintage fair; last worn here in that same outfit as the jacket
  • Boots - Indigo by Clark's; last seen here in February with equestrian stuff

I love this skirt - I wanted to see if I needed to keep two vintage aqua suede skirts.
Such great fringe!

And so swooshy!
Yes, of course, I kept it. However, it did get packed away for the spring/summer.

The stuff:
My boots were packed away too - bye, boots!

  • Necklace - vintage fair


It's been a little on the rainy side this weekend, but it's warm enough to let Officer Vizzini on the deck.
"The neighbourhood's a shambles! I must patrol!"
He's very agitated by the leaves coming in on the maple trees.
"Wait, is that a bug? Must investigate."
He became very interested in a bug.
"I will eat you, bug!"
The bug looked like it had a stinger, so I killed it. I don't want my kitty to get stung in the mouth.

We had a late night on Saturday - our friends Liz and Nigel came over to play Arkham Horror (their first time). We ended around 1:30am!

Today, L dropped me off in town to get groceries. One last fall/winter outfit for me.
I've resolved to keep the skirt - it's so cool.

  • Sweater - Expression, consignment; last seen here (2nd outfit) in December 2014 with red plaid
  • Skirt - MNG, consignment; last worn here (2nd outfit) in October 2014 with lots of red
  • Boots - Aldo, consignment; last seen here last weekend for our annual trip to Vancouver

Sadly, this cashmere sweater has a hole in one of the sleeves, so I'm downgrading it to "wear around the house" clothes - no more blog for you, sweater.
This is also the last wear of the boots - they have given me several years of good wear, and it's time to replace them.

Everything is better with orange.
I have resolved to stop using the same bag over and over again, and to make more of an effort to change up my purses. I only use about 4 different ones at any given time, but I tend to default to the same 1 or 2.

I might have stopped in at Rich Rags after I got groceries. They might have had a 50% off sale on.
I can't reasonably be expected to NOT buy lime green leather, can I?

This awesome jacket was $65.00.
It's by the Leather Ranch, which was a mall institution all the way through the 80s, 90s and up into the aughts. I loved the smell of the stores, but could never afford anything in them.

Pretty button!
I'll be wearing this as an outerwear piece - it's still going to be rainy all week, so it will be debuted!

All afternoon, I've been cleaning out my closet.
"Hola!"
The "before" picture. I've let it get a little messy, knowing I was going to be cleaning it out soon.

Vizzini always helps.
"Is that food?"
He skedaddles once I get the vacuum out.

These are all the shoes I packed away for the spring and summer. Oh, there are a few missing - they got put into shoe boxes and tucked away in the closet before I took this picture.
These shoes/boots all work best with tights/nylons. Usually my fall/winter shoes and boots are in darker colours too.

Piles of belts, blouses, skirts, jackets and more skirts and jackets.
I did weed out a lot of things that don't "sing" for me anymore. I'm happy to see things got to a good home with my friends.

The winter purses that I barely used, dresses, and the shoes and boots that are going back into the closet. This is before I unpacked all the stuff under the bed; those shoes are ones I've purchased and haven't worn yet (at least 5-6 pairs!), and my yellow and aqua Fluevogs that were in shoeboxes.
I always have a huge tangle of hangers as well. And then I run out of them again!

And time passes...
The finished closet! I'm happy to see lots more colour and bright patterns.

All the shoes! I barely had enough room.
So many fun things that I'd forgotten about! I will be spending some time tonight putting outfits together for the coming week.

I got very ambitious and cleaned my chandelier in the closet.
It was shamefully dusty.

I even ironed a few dresses, blouses and pieces that got very wrinkled in storage.
Don't worry, it will be years before I do ironing again!

Happy Spring!

16 comments:

  1. Sheila you are absolutely spectacular in all of these outfits. And I love the biannual closet clean-out visits, you are the maestro of the fantastic system, and all the gorgeous things! Very cool about your milliner, I saw that HONY post. I am also of course terribly sorry for the dramatically treat-thwarted Vizzini, poor boy!

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  2. Looks like your closet got a makeover! Wow to have such a great space for everything must make it so much easier getting ready for work or an event.
    You wear green so well Sheila...and your new jacket is a great investment that didn't break the bank.
    Enjoy your short week.

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  3. I love the story about Tierre and HONY. What a boost to her career. You never know, right? I was on Humans of Vancouver, and I got 69 Likes. Heehee.
    I love this new dress on you with those pops of red and yellow and orange. And your seasonal clothing overhaul. You have a great closet space! Great new LIME GREEN jacket as well.

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  4. I always enjoy seeing your closet change overs! I like seeing how you organise things. I'm in desperate need of a new wardrobe as there is only so much organisation you can do before you realise the problem is not the system you're using but the amount you are trying to cram into such a limited space, haha ;)

    What a small world as well, I saw Tierre's photo on HONY at the start of the year! I recognised from your description and I clicked through and yep I remember her! Such a small world.

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  5. Your closet is the greatest! It's where the magic happens. Love the Stop Staring dress - it's like vintage only better (easier to wear and care for). Officer Vizzini - back on the job, and the neighborhood is safe! xo

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  6. What a pretty dress! It fits you so well. You look like a million bucks. (And that's in Canadian dollars.)

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  7. Fantastic Stop Staring dress!! It's a super popular vintage repro brand. I have one that I thrifted, but it's a bit too small now. I think everyone feels the urge for a spring closet clean out :D

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  8. I loved all those outfits. And your closet is nothing to be ashamed of - you should see how messy mine gets before I get angry and fix it. My little Vinni got stung by a bee this weekend, so it's a good thing you killed the stinger bug. He was tripodding it for a whole block!!!

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  9. LOVE that green jacket. Omg, it makes me swoon.

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  10. Love the Stop Staring dress, especially with the orange shoes!

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  11. Hi from Australia. Just discovered your blog and absolutely Luv it ( particularly that Awesome green jacket). I'm enjoying following your posts.

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  12. Oh wow, it's that time of the year again .
    You manage your closet space so well and everything is so organised-
    Even though I dont have to change my closet for different seasons, I do once in a while take it all out and arrange by colour and will also then clean the closet bars and lamps.
    Its also a great way to find long lost forgotten items.

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  13. OHMYLORDY I am in LURV with that green jacket!!!!! You lucky duck!
    The first dress and red hat look gorgeous on you (I thought the hat was your hair), and I would totally wear the turquoise and black and red and black outfits in a heartbeat. Damn I would love to play dressup in your closet (I think we are close to the same size??).

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  14. I forgot to say that I saw Tierre featured on HONY and started following her page on FB!!

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  15. You are lucky. It is supposed to SNOW again here this weekend. It might be June before I can switch over my closet here.

    That first outfit and polkadot dress is a stunner. Fits you like a glove too.

    bisous
    Suzanne
    http://www.suzannecarillo.com

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  16. A glorious array of outfits! I love the hat by Tierre! I saw her when she was on Humans of New York, but had no idea of her story. You just put it together for me. I will be checking out her site more in the future. Thank you for sharing your hat and your beauty with Hat Attack!

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