A Froth of Tulle, 70s Chevrons and Vizzini

My favourite outfit, best acquisition and a cat picture

Hello! I’m Sheila and welcome to my Substack. I’m a long-time outfit, style and vintage fashion blogger (enjoy 16 years of Ephemera) and am taking the leap to a more writing-focused platform to both enable my blog readers to find me, and to widen my audience (I don’t do any other social media), and also to have a space where I can chat about clothes and life, and share pictures of my cat.

The Weekly Plan: I’ll be dropping my favourite outfit of the week, my most intriguing acquisition and a cat picture, and then rambling on about one or more of those things. I post almost daily on my blog, so you’re welcome to click through to get a deeper dive to see more outfits, including accessory pictures.

So, without further ado, my favourite outfit this past week was this preppy-inspired look, all pulled from my closet. My personal style currently skews to the Sporty Rock Star vibe, but I often dabble in other genres as I feel like it. I’ve been described as “eclectic” which I take as a compliment.

Photos are done with the timer on my point-and-shoot camera; I am a one-and-done photographer, too lazy efficient to take more (it’s a system that works for me). I have a bunch of set poses that I’ve perfected over the years, specifically to show the clothes.

The Outfit: A thrifted Adidas sweatshirt fabric blazer, with a striped Theory sleeveless knit top (also thrifted), and a sample tulle skirt from Papillon, recently purchased for $39.99. The frothy skirt is catnip (it’s my 3rd) and is a rare retail purchase from brick-and-mortar local shop Dots, which specializes in sales samples and has been around in Victoria for decades. The shoes are Sol Sana and bought retail six years ago at local shop Footloose. I’m wearing gold-tone jewelry, including a vintage gold shell brooch and an 80s Givenchy necklace procured at a vintage fair for $5.00. The silk scarf features nipple-less mermen (tee hee) and is vintage Valentino.

It also has a pirate ship!

It’s not signed but I know it’s Valentino because I looked up the RN number in the online database - there’s also a CA number database - which makes me feel like a Clothing Detective. This silk, Italian-made beauty was only $38.00 at local vintage collective Cheers. I found it by feel, digging in a basked of scarves - that silk is as soft as air.

Where I Wore It: This is a work outfit - I’m an office manager and I am in the office in person four days a week. My work style has always been creative and “out there” and most of my career has allowed me to express myself sartorially. I hosted an after-work gathering wearing this ensemble, where I twirled and flooffed the skirt at my colleagues.

“You know what I miss most about the office, Sheila? Your outfits!”

I have a talent for inspiring others to express themselves through their clothes as a communication tool, to dress for armour or to self-soothe, or give oneself a boost of confidence. Sharing this has become one of my life goals.

Favourite Acquisition: I shop only in person, in actual local stores, mostly secondhand, thrift, consignment, or vintage, but occasionally retail. I try to be deliberate in my choices.

After more than a decade of giving away my clothes - I cycle through them as my style, shape and eye change - I have started selling off my personal “Limbo” pile, the clothes I’ve purged, felt “meh” about or that just didn’t work for me. I’ve begun hosting Shop My Closet one-on-one or group sales and give fantastic deals on my old clothes - that money goes back into my shopping fund, with the goal of “net zero” shopping in my retirement (years off, but still There).

Doing this is a way for me to give back to the people in my circle, my favourite businesses and my city. What I do ripples out to others, who get a personal shopper and encouragement to break out of the rut many of us fall into.

Which brings me back to this week’s favourite acquisition, this skirt, found for $21.95 at the local Women In Need (WIN) thrift shop after a Mom-Day Adventure (meet my mom, scroll down for purchases). It’s handmade - I this sussed out with a bit of detective work: there are no labels, no extra finishing, the zipper is a typical found-in-a sewing-box Talon nylon one from the 70s. The textile is a knit (feels like polyester) of browns and greys with a stripe of white and black. The fabric is cut in strips at a 90 degree angle and sewn together to make the chevron Vs.

Boxes ticked for quality:

• Colours (good neutrals). Easy to pair with.

• Pattern lined up on seams (uses more fabric, so higher quality).

• Knitted-in pattern instead of print.

“Who are these people?”

World, meet Vizzini.

I am a child of the 70s, having grown up with double-knit polyester, bell bottoms and groovy patterns - it’s often a vibe in my closet, and holds a special place in my heart. I recall my mom wearing a similar grand skirt like this with a pussy-bow blouse and a flower brooch (which I now have) for a party.

I envision wearing this skirt with a grey blazer (more preppy) or a pair of Adidas sneakers and a band tee (my recent venture into Sporty), or perhaps brown boots and a chunky sweater (classic). I’ll decide later when I swap my closet over at the end of September, and see what I have. The skirt is currently stashed in my “off season” section of my closet, where it’ll tumble down with the rest of the “Oh yeah!” purchases. Swap-over time is coming - very exciting!

Cat: My husband and I are roommates with Vizzini, a 13 year-old boy with stage 3 kidney disease. We found out he was sick when he suddenly went blind two years ago - thanks to some fast action from the vet, we got him on medication quickly, and his eyesight came back, although he still has bad times.

“Oh, hello.”

L and I give him all the love and attention he deserves, and take it day by day. It’s bittersweet, knowing he’s on borrowed time…but then, aren’t we all?

Which brings me to…time. Thank you for your time, and I hope you enjoyed a bit of Ephemera.