A Smattering of Outfits

I've always thought white artificial Christmas trees are the prettiest (okay, so I have tacky tastes) and I'm going for a bit of that look here.
The vintage hat is decorated with ribbon and pearl beads. I bought it for the Marshall Field's label in it as I was feeling nostalgic.
Outfit Particulars:
Velour top-90's Jordan Marsh
Pleated skirt-Goodwill
Vintage Marshall Field's hat-Hand-Me-Ups
Brooch-Jordan Marsh (around the same time as the top)
Earrings-Hand-Me-Ups
Fragrance-Parure
Someday, I will wear a cable sweater, and take five seconds getting dressed to ensure the arms aren't completely twisted around. Someday.
Or I can just throw a nice jacket over and no one will notice twisted cables. 
Outfit Particulars:
Skirt-Goodwill
Sweater-Goodwill
Pendleton jacket (part of an 80's suit)-Goodwill
Shoes-Goodwill
Corde bag-Hand-Me-Ups
Copper brooch and matching earrings-Hand-Me-Ups
Fragrance-Habit Rouge
 This sheer top has a matching floor length skirt. I don't know why I never wear it. Must put that on the "to do " list. The vintage velvet skirt I've had for at least 20 years, purchased at a now-gone vintage shop in Cambridge, Mass. It is close to threadbare, but I can't let it go. There aren't too many printed velvet skirts out there!

Outfit Particulars:
Skirt-a vintage shop in Harvard Square, early 90's
Top-Part of a set-Goodwill
Velvet shoulderbag-Goodwill
Brooch-Thrift World
Fragrance-Modern formulation Jicky



 I do however, have a velvet printed dress. I bought this one around 2000 and wore the hell out of it for a few years. I even wore this dress in the final weeks of my pregnancy as it stretched and didn't have a waistline. The sleeves are a pain in the ass and the high-low hem is annoying, but again-printed velvet= keeper.

Outfit Particulars:
early 2000's dress-Von Maur
Boots-Goodwill
Earrings-Shop-Ko
Fragrance-Guet Apens
 The owl is back atop the Christmas tree. Danny made it in Kindergarten, and I'm rather fond of it. "Owl be home for Christmas..."
Anyway, back to the clothes...
A pink monstrosity of 80's does 50's in knit polyester by Leslie Fay. The cummerbund really completes the look. Patterned floral tights were a close-out at K Mart, and the crazy half moccasin, half pump suede shoes were $3.99 at Goodwill. The Juicy Couture plastic handbag was also Goodwill. The dress is already in a giveaway bag. There's nothing wrong with it, it just isn't me. When I laundered it I found the prettiest handkerchief with a tatted lace edging in the pocket. I'll go out on a limb and guess this was some church lady's dress. It is lovely, if you're a church lady (or aspire to be one).


Love the tights though. 
 Wore one of the celluloid scotties with it. I tried wearing the pair but it was too much. I know that sounds impossible, but that happens sometimes-even to me. 

Outfit Particulars:
Vintage Leslie Fay dress-Goodwill
Bag-Goodwill
Shoes-Goodwill
Brooch-Etsy
Fragrance-Jardins de Bagatelle (still makes me sneeze. I keep hoping it won't but eh, whatever. Some perfumes are worth suffering for).
 I bought this lovely kimono (OK it is probably a dressing gown, but let's not quibble) last summer but only now got around to wearing it. The fabric is quite heavy and it has a beautiful, vibrant red silk lining. There's a belt but no belt loops, so I didn't bother wearing it as I prefer to keep it open. The red silk dress is something I bought a few years ago that never fails to make me feel great when I wear it. Everyone needs a dress like that, even if it is red (I'm slowly getting used to seeing myself in red). The shoes are American Duchess.

Outfit Particulars:
Dress-New Life Thrift
Kimono-Hand-Me-Ups
Belt-Goodwill
Shoes-American Duchess
Vintage handbag-Thrift World
Fragrance-Samsara
This was last weekend, snapped in front of a rarely visited thrift store. The store is a short drive from my home but I rarely go there as the neighbourhood is on the dicey side. The gas station, pawn shop,  and bank on the corners seem to get robbed with frightening regularity, and the whole area gives off the feeling of post-apocalypse with people wandering around parking lots trying car handles. Skid row is one thing, that neighbourhood feels like, "Come here to get relieved of your belongings!"  I know armed robbery/carjacking/muggings/random violence/driveby shootings/etc. is a regular fact of life living here, but I try to avoid the spots that are known to be troublesome. Anyway, it was a rare trip to the shop on a Saturday afternoon when I had Mr. ETB along with me. Not sure what protection he'd be if someone stuck a gun in my face, but I feel like less of a target with him there. I didn't buy much-a straw bag and a couple brooches, and if I'm honest, I was happy to get out of there. It got so bad a woman was pushed down a few weeks ago at the bus stop by some teenaged girls that didn't even have the decency to rob her-they just injured her for kicks. 
I did wear my plaid shoes because...well, just because. 
Outfit Particulars:
Skirt-Sears-about 20 years ago
Poloneck-Can't remember
Heavy Cotton cardigan-Hand-Me-Ups (that thing is a beast!)
Shoes-Goodwill
Purse-made by me
Fragrance-Guerlain Vetiver (80's formulation)



 I'll leave you with a look at some of the treasures I didn't bring home with me last weekend. It was hard to resist, but I somehow managed. There were dozens of the squirrels-all identical which I'm sure has a great story I will sadly never know.

We have bad weather on the way, so I'm off to make a steamed brown bread and baked beans because that's what I do when the weather turns nasty. The sun is shining at the moment, but the weather radar looks unpleasant. Hope you have fair skies wherever you are. 










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