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
2
3
4
This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

26 Comments

  • Angie replied 4 weeks ago

    You look fably casually autumnal, Suz! Trendy classic as always, and you match the beautiful surroundings :) 

    Old pieces are effectively refreshed with trendy jeans. It's a style strategy I much enjoy myself! 

    Freshly cut pixie with long fringe looks KILLER.

  • Jaime replied 4 weeks ago

    Fabulous! The cranberry is stunning on you!

  • JAileen replied 4 weeks ago

    You look fabulous!  It’s funny how one piece can really update an outfit.


    We were there probably 25 years ago.  Beautiful, but too many people.  :(      I really enjoyed Vancouver, though.

  • Lisa replied 4 weeks ago

    As a fellow member of team blue I am taking notes on this look. I adore the mix of a deeper red with the blues. I have a pair of red pants I'm thinking of mixing with navy, thanks for the inspiration!

    I like the idea to swap one item in an outfit with something more "on trend" to freshen up the look. Those barrel jeans do that brilliantly here with the cardigan and plaid shirt. And aren't Rails shirts the best, the Hunter Plaid is always so soft.

    Those gardens are beautiful!

  • slim cat replied 4 weeks ago

    Beautiful pictures and great outfit - love color combo!

  • Star replied 4 weeks ago

    I love the colours of the shirt with the topper.  Is the shirt a bit pink or is that  my screen? You look stunning Suz.  I am so warming up to barrel jeans, you wear them so well.  Perfect bag too.  I am looking forward to wearing burgundy when it cools a bit more.  Most of my burgundy pieces are for cooler weather, although I would not mind some warm weather pieces.   I am really feeling this shade again after a long hiatus.

  • Runcarla replied 4 weeks ago

    Tea looks delicious - as does the outfit!  

  • Lisa replied 4 weeks ago

    I love high tea! I try to fit that in anytime I’m in England or anywhere else that’s serving it. How nice they have tea at the gardens. You and your friend look lovely! How fun you were color coordinated!

  • MsMaven replied 4 weeks ago

    Oh, I love Butchart Gardens. Haven't been back there for ages, not since my kids were young. I'm going to put it on my list of places I want to visit again.

    Love your outfit too. For some reason the plaid shirt seems like a surprise to me--a good surprise--looks great with the cardigan. Do you wear plaid very often?

  • pirouette replied 4 weeks ago

    Gorgeous photos and outfit and the tea looks delicious.

  • Sisi replied 4 weeks ago

    You have put together a modern and practical outfit with some touches of Autumn colors - very nice and adequate to the activity and the season! That garden looks fantastic. I love botanical gardens. And wow,  those pastries! Did you and your friends eat them all? :)

  • Dee replied 4 weeks ago

    Lovely causal outfit to stroll in those beautiful gardens, looks just like something I’d enjoy wearing. Tea looks scrumptious too.

  • RobinF replied 4 weeks ago

    Oh wow, that tea looks amazing!

    Great outfit - I like layers like that for wandering outdoors. Beautiful reddish-pinks on you both!

  • ChristelJ replied 4 weeks ago

    Those jeans look amazing on you! Love the entire outfit, yet can't get over how great the jeans are. I haven't worn my barrel jeans in ages because of the hot weather but you inspire me to pull them out for fall in hopes of looking half as stylish as you do.

  • cat2 replied 4 weeks ago

    Great Fall outfit! We saw amazing dahlias at the Mendocino Botanical Garden this year. But we didn’t have such a great tea to go with it!

  • Vicki replied 4 weeks ago

    Suz, your autumn-inspired colors and plaid look amazing in this setting, and Butchart Gardens is a place that has been on my travel list for a long time.  It's beautiful and I love the photos of you and your friend.  Both of you look happy and pretty at your afternoon tea.

  • SarahD8 replied 4 weeks ago

    Great outfit! You look beautiful in that cranberry color...and so does your friend!

  • Suz replied 4 weeks ago

    Thanks for all the kind words, all. In truth, I guess my friend and I were dressed tonally -- I was in cranberry (the sweater, at least -- with burgundy bag and a shirt that combines off-white, pink — correct, Star —burgundy, blue) and my friend was wearing something a bit more plummy. But we coordinated for sure. You can't see her husband but he was also wearing a grey and off-white and red plaid shirt, so he sort of blended with us. Except for his pine green raincoat, which I guess coordinated with the foliage! 

    I do wear plaid, Ms. Maven -- quite a lot in the cooler months, especially. My current plaid items below. 

    Sisi, we didn't eat the entire tray -- took some home! Fortunately, they have boxes for take-away. :) 

    Christel, I find barrel jeans great for transitional temps. They are wide enough to catch a bit of breeze or not feel too pressing, if you know what I mean, and at ankle length, they also expose some skin. 

  • Janet replied 4 weeks ago

    You look great! And I loved Butchart Gardens and am so glad I got to visit. A friend told me about it over 30 years ago so it had been on my list a long time!

  • Irina replied 4 weeks ago

    You look so chill and elegant. Love your bag. Unfortunately, a page is not available. How do you like it? I’m looking for a hobo bag for fall and yours is fabulous. 

  • Suz replied 4 weeks ago

    Irina, thank you. I love this hobo bag! It is older and one of my favourites. It is very large, so at first I worried it would prove overwhelming, given my height. That has not been the case at all, probably because when it isn't stuffed, it collapses against the body and sort of disappears. I like the zippers (which work, and can be used as separate pockets, if desired.) And for me, the size is useful, especially when travelling. I can fit a water bottle, an umbrella, and a jacket or coat into the bag if necessary, along with all the usual things.  The strap is very wide so it does not become uncomfortable. It has worn well, also. It has a few marks but they come off as patina. The only problem is that, due to the size, things can get lost on the bottom if you are carrying a lot. 

    I had a similar Rebecca Minkoff bag in off-white but it was much heavier (despite being a bit smaller) and after the first few years I rarely used it, so I passed it on. 

  • Sal replied 4 weeks ago

    You look great Suz - and the tea looks and sounds fun.

    My Dad loved Butchart Gardens and hosted a high tea on his return with some photos to 8 women in the retirement village.

  • Jenni NZ replied 4 weeks ago

    I loved going there in 1989. It didn’t feel too busy at the time- even with our bus load of tourists! We didn’t go back last year, we went to the way smaller Abkhazi garden instead.
    You and your friend both look lovely, and the high tea amazing! Glad you could get what in NZ we call a “doggie bag” to take some away!

  • Laura replied 3 weeks ago

    Looking good, Suz! The Rails shirt drapes beautifully on you and the colors are *chef's kiss*!

  • bella replied 3 weeks ago

    Your color palette is right on trend! 

  • Joy replied 3 weeks ago

    You had me at Butchart Gardens I found lots of inspiration for the wardrobe.
    ourdalias are great fall flowers.  The cool nights are also being enjoyed by roses and snapdragons.   It is hard to believe it is October and winter is coming.  I still am wearing sleeveless tops although with toppers.   It is hard to get out the winter clothes and coats.   My wardrobe  seems to have lost its color.  More needs to be added and neutrals cullled.  I will welcome fall colors but there will be months of black and grey, with some brown and denim.   

You need to be logged in to comment