Cranberry wrap

I love burgundy but usually don't think of it as a statement, exactly. I'm not even sure it qualifies as such here. Even though my sweater is a bit brighter than burgundy, more of a cranberry colour. Anyway, this is my indoor version of Outfit #4 from today's post. I didn't have pants or a skirt with a dark red stripe, believe it or not, or even a top that could take that role, so I went with monochrome navy. 

This Pure Amici sweater is one of the oldest items in my wardrobe and it is still going strong after more wears than I can count. A fabulous NAS purchase, one I worried a bit about at the time (even on sale, it was not cheap) but wow, has it proved its worth. I love it -- it's been worn to fancy dinners and to lounge around in at home or on retreats. 

12 comments

A return to contrast (for now) ETA the outdoor outfit.

The minute I saw outfit #1 in this series that Angie posted,  I wanted to try it myself. (Unlike Laura, I don't have the actual skirt, but I do have a similar plaid skirt.)  It took me until today to try the outfit. Alas, the lighting is so poor, you can't see the colours, but the hoodie is navy, and the skirt is Black Watch plaid -- green and navy and cobalt. I don't have stompy lace up black boots but I do have stompy chelsea boots, so I went with those. Such a simple formula, but really fun and a 90s look I can really get behind. 

On another note, I visited the atelier of the person who made the skirt on Granville Island the other day. It was really nice to meet her and see what she's up to this year. She had some fun red plaid items. if one of those goes on sale I might just have to spring for it! 

PS, I have continued the tonal experiments and have more outfits to show, but will save them up for a summing up post, I think. :) 

ETA: added a photo of what I wore to go out -- tall boots! I remembered them! Plus coat hat scarf mitts. And you can see the colours better outdoors...the navies are brighter than they appear in my indoor shots. 

1

Go to the full post to see all of the pictures →

16 comments

To a daytime drag show: tonal red, seasonal plaid, and ally stripes.

I've worn this outfit before for at-home festive events (and will likely wear it again, too!) But today I wore it to a daytime drag performance with brunch. I was more dressed up than anyone except the performers. ;)  No, I take that back. There was one woman who was celebrating her birthday in style, including a kind of feathered jacket and sparkles. I kept her company in my rhinestones. It was a fun event! 

1

Go to the full post to see all of the pictures →

15 comments

New Anthro Items...

and Colour, Pattern, Texture, Shine! 

Is this "older and bolder"?   

My kiddo is turning 25 today and we are going out for dinner. Time to break out a few new items from Anthropologie (and some very old items also.)

This also brings up the issue of duplication. Twice! :)

But not anxious duplication. Considered duplication, I think I'd call it. 

My new items: Colette crops in lilac pleather. Last year, I bought the red velvet version -- and I adore them. For the last few years I have been trying to increase colour in my closet, as well as texture. These seemed like a natural choice. I've already worn them twice (in four days).

In this version, I sized up one size. Angie has often mentioned that the different fabrications of this pant fit on quite differently, and that was my experience with these. (I took my regular size in the red.. I didn't want the pleather to be too tight.) The Find would not come up in the lilac but you can see the actual colour in the photo or if you click through.

Velvet shirt in a moody dark floral pattern. The background is navy. In many Anthro items I have to size down to get a fit, but in this top I took my ordinary size for a very slightly oversized fit. I like the fact that the sleeves can be scrunched and stay put, and also the navy backing on both cuffs and collar is a nice touch. 

The older items are my Ecco booties. I purchased them first in the cream, which I adore. And then decided to duplicate in the black patent when they went on sale. I wear both frequently enough to justify the purchase. I am also considering a back-up pair in cream (anxious duplication) if they go on sale again this year. 

My Pom Pom bag in silver. Another considered duplicate: I bought it on super sale and got two for pretty much the price of one. 

One of my oldest pieces of clothing, bought in my first season on YLF -- cranberry knee-length coat. Still going strong. 

Thanks for looking and for any thoughts. Are you working on adding colour or texture or some other quality to increase the zing factor in your closet? How successful have you been so far? (Confession...it has gone slowly for me, having been a goal at least these past four years....but I'm improving things.) 

1

Go to the full post to see all of the pictures →

35 comments

At Butchart Gardens update with tea!

The last time I was at Butchart Gardens, the pandemic was in full swing and I could wander its pathways almost entirely alone.  It was glorious! 

Yesterday, I met friends there for high tea and while our tea was delicious and very fresh and it was fun to sit in the old house, which was closed during the pandemic, the gardens were packed with tourists taking selfies at almost every opportunity! Consequently, I didn't get many good photos. There is supposed to be one of me and my friend (taken by her husband) but he hasn't forwarded it. Photo now of the tea and me and my friend! Notice how our outfits were colour coordinated. We did not plan on that. But we do wear very similar colours, despite our different complexions, and these colours suit us both equally, I think. 

Nothing new here except the jeans are a this year purchase and they confirm the good sense in Angie's advice to consider current or trendy bottoms. 

Despite the crowds, it was a beautiful day and the dahlias were stunning! 

1

Go to the full post to see all of the pictures →

26 comments

WIW: Quiet drama

It promises to be a rare mostly sunny and cool day here in my part
 of the Pacific Northwest and I'm on my way to Vancouver for some medical appointments (not serious) and a much needed haircut -- it has been 3 months and I have been hacking at myself with nail scissors! Time to bring out the seldom worn but deeply loved Rag and Bone coat vest! Everything here is from 1 year (the boots) to 11 years old, and I love it all. 

1

Go to the full post to see all of the pictures →

31 comments

WIW to launch a client's book

Last year I edited a terrific book of personal essays called A Life in Pieces. The author was a long-time academic in Alberta. The book is deft, witty, surprising, and at times profound. Sadly, my client died of cancer before the official release date. Her husband invited me to read in her stead last night at the launch. 

It was a lovely event, held in a local pub's private back room, with good friends of hers, including another author launching her own book about the female Vikings.   We read, talked, ate and drank, and reminisced. 

It was coolish and raining when I left the house, so in addition to my raincoat, I wore the Dries van Noten linen/cotton tartan pants, oxfords, an ancient cotton knit shell from J. Crew, and a knit military jacket. The other author also wore navy blue, so we were a match! 

Nothing new here, but I felt very comfortable and relaxed in these pieces. It's amazing how one quiet statement piece, like the Dries trousers, can make everything else feel right. 

16 comments

WIW: For our Silver Anniversary

Hmmm. Let's take a guess....    :) 

Mr. Suz and I have been married for 25 years. (We've been together for 34.). His older kids got us a gift certificate to our favourite restaurant in Victoria and we splashed out. And then came home to a beautiful note from our younger child (who was the reason we got married in the first place) and a beautiful handmade, heartfelt gift. So all in all, it was a very special occasion with lots of happy tears. 

Photos are not so great, but best I can do with my lighting. I wore my silver Rails top. Silver bracelets, ring, and watch strap. Silver shoes. And a silver bag. There was also a denm jacket involved for AC but I only wore it for the last 10 minutes and the drive home. Also wore my navy Zara skirt -- it was really fab to wear and I loved it! Except it's slippery, so my napkin kept sliding off my lap, LOL. 

So -- silver and blue. 

1

Go to the full post to see all of the pictures →

41 comments

Trip Report: WIW (and what I didn't)

Here's the full collection of what I brought.

I'll report on some other fashion moments from the trip and what I saw others wearing in a separate post. But let me start with my own outfits.

First, I took a lot -- a medium-large suitcase which I checked. In the event, I wore almost all the clothes. Things I did not wear, I did not wear because the weather wasn't suitable. But it might have turned out differently, i.e. we might have had more days of heat and sun and fewer days of drizzle (or downpour) and/or cool sun. Had the weather flipped that way, I'd have worn all the things I didn't wear this time. :)

On repeat:

  • The raincoat. (Worn 8 of the 10 days.)
  • The Wit and Wisdom wide legs. (Best travelling pants ever. And I also wore them several times during the trip.)
  • The Everlane Curve jean. Wore them multiple times. 
  • The Paul Smith blazer.
  • The oxfords and sneakers.
  • The scarves.
  • All the bags. (Brought 3! and used them all.)

What I didn't end up wearing:

  • The red Mary Janes. The weather was too wet and cool most days.
  • The skirt. Ditto to above. I had planned to wear my skirt and brocade top for Mr. Suz's birthday dinner -- but in the event it was cool and pouring, so I ended up switching to the cool weather alternative of wide legs, silver top, military jacket. 
  • The brocade top.
  • The floral cotton top. 
  • The denim shirt. 

I wore everything else at least once, and most things more than once, because I often changed during the day. I could have done with fewer items, yes. But I was not sorry to have the options. I didn't get many outfit pics but did try for a few. 

Thanks, all, for your thoughts on packing ahead of time. I felt perfectly prepared for any weather eventuality and was happy in everything I wore. 

1

Go to the full post to see all of the pictures →

25 comments

Cole Haan platform oxford: A favourite thing

I am a huge fan of the Cole Haan oxfords, both the regular and platform versions. In my experience, the platform version is a bit stiffer and requires a few wears to fully break in, but once it does, it's spectacular. I have the knit version and it is lightweight and extremely easy to wear. Like a dressed up sneaker. It was my shoe of choice in London. I sprayed it with waterproofing and despite being knit, it kept me dry enough in a complete downpour. I say "dry enough" because I would not have trusted it for longer than the 15 or 20 minutes that I was out -- the tips of my socks felt slightly damp when I took them off that night. But the shoe dried out immediately with no damage. 

20 comments