In which I try to balance summer heat and a wicked cold AC with expressing my badassery...and then it all went to casual as the week went on. Plus a surprise Substack guest and a bunch of shopping!
What a lucky Substacker to meet up with you! I would be the one doing all the fan girling! I love the skirts this week, especially the Mondrian-esque one. That denim suit is such a showstopper! We have had lots of rain here, too, but now we're getting heat. We have a good old heat dome over us for the next several days. Hurray for AC! Hope your week is really fantastic and I started counting down before two years so you're right on track.
So many beautiful bespectacled… buddies? Had to continue the alliteration 😅 I love that Anglomania skirt but especially the outfit that was shat upon! I’ve really been liking pairing red with orange, AND I’ve been scouting copper-colored bags because of you too
Four out of seven Book Club women agree: Spectacles are spectacular! I adore my Dame Viv skirt - it’s even more stunning in person - but I agree, my “on the fly” shat upon outfit is my personal fave. Being able to freestyle and just play in my closet always opens up so many possibilities and combinations I wouldn’t put together for a work look.
I adore red/orange together - it goes so well with copper. Good luck finding a copper bag - this is the only one I’ve EVER seen. Copper is a really rare metallic!
Your colleagues must look forward to seeing what outfit you’re going to wear each day, and I’m sure this week didn’t disappoint! The first black and blue maxi skirt look is awesome, and the brown tulle skirt is such a great piece for balancing the feminine/ballet aesthetic with a darker, more masculine colour scheme, especially as you’ve paired it with the strong architectural copper. And that black suede dress, and the vintage dragon robe, and, and, and… you get the idea: I’m super impressed with your thrift/secondhand finds, as always! Another great read :)
I so appreciate this lovely comment, thank you, Maddy! A few of my colleagues check me out, but not many on a daily basis (the daily coworkers are very much used to me and my clothes!).
That black/blue maxi is such a cool piece (I’ve worn it with the sequined mouth cardi before). I adore my tulles, and although that taupe one wasn’t a colour I would normally go for, it’s been surprisingly versatile. Ha ha, you are so kind. I try to be really strict with myself and not buy things just because I like them! It’s hard!
That would be such a great combination for sure! The sequined mouth cardi is very cool!
I can definitely relate to the need to be strict haha, it can be especially challenging since thrift store prices make purchasing easier to justify and therefore harder to resist 😂 and I do love the taupe tulle; it would be a great way to start out with that style because of the softer neutral tone.
I loved the look you put together for our meet-up! Mixing Vivienne Westwood, a concert tee and a crystal necklace is perfection! I forgot to mention that I have an almost identical necklace from my grandmother. I also love your Monday look!
I’ve continued second hand shopping in Vancouver, including Turnabout. Still haven’t bought anything!
Thank you so much, Terra! Yeah, those necklaces were very common back in the late 50s, I believe. I have a clear white crystal one from my mother-in-law and my mom has a green one, but neither of them are Sherman (mine is very high-end compared to some of the cheaper versions).
The Turnabouts in Vancouver are so good. If you are near Main St, that area is full of vintage and secondhand shops, including a Turnabout and Front & Co.
Thanks again for reaching out - what a fun evening that was!
The red leopard suit is fabulous. I am always amazed at the good stuff that you find. Incredible brands and great vintage. Canada is quite different from Australia on that front, or maybe I just don't go to the right places :)
Sandra, thank you so much! Keep in mind, I have decades of experience in finding good fabrics, and I know what to look for when I shop! I have shopped with people who are amazed at what I pull out that they totally missed. I bet Australia has great shopping!
I’m having a bit of a day over here but have been coming back to this post in spare minutes and it’s been a bright spot! As always, love each look! I laughed especially hard in the part about suing someone if you got hit by a car. 🙂
Oh, I’m sorry you’re having a day, Rebecca! Sending you good vibes, and glad to provide a bit of respite from the world. Thank you so much! Ha, I’ve been saying that for years - I walk to and from work every day and I’m often nearly hit by cyclists and cars! Really, how do they miss me? I’m so bright!
“1970s Brutalist copper” is such a good descriptor! I love your red leopard suit (I’m sure I’ve said that before) and how you styled it with the black and white print. Omg your silk Sung Sport blouse is so beautiful and you get to play with cuff links. Great find!! Excited to see how you style it.
It’s accurate, for sure, Fawnia! Isn’t that red leopard suit the most fabulous thing? It’s one of my go-to’s when I need a lift mentally. I’m excited but also trepidatious about that blouse - it’s TRICKY. I mean, what do you wear with it? a red pencil skirt? black pants? I’m pretty sure that’s the OG “business style” that it was made for. I need to play around with it - cufflinks can be heavy, so they will change the drape of the sleeve. Stay tuned!
I feel like you could do so many ways, like with one of your tulle skirts or your red leopard suit pants. A red velvet skirt in the winter? Other prints? Over a slip dress! I’d probably get lazy and just wear it with denim shorts.
Yup, I’ve considered one of the tulle skirts (the one with the roses on it, of course!), but not with the red leopard pants (yet) because I just wore them and I don’t like repeating that frequently. I don’t own a red velvet skirt (Velvet Rage!), nor a slip dress, nor shorts of any form, but that does remind me of my two denim maxi skirts…You are full of good ideas, Fawnia, thank you!!
Always love your take on workwear! Also, I am not a weirdo, but it it is extremely unlikely I will ever venture to southwestern Canada (though never say never) since I am about as northeastern an American as ever north-easted. The kitties are so big and so sleeeeeek!
Absolutely love your take on office wear! I'm sure you're the best dressed person in your workplace. Your coloured leopard print pieces are fabulous, especially the suit! It's also so cool you got to meet up with another Substacker!
Thanks so much, Maria, and I don’t want to blow my own horn (oh, who am I kidding? ha ha) but YES, I AM the best dressed at work! I love that red suit, it’s so awesome to wear.
If you would ever like to meet up, let me know - I would love to, but NO pressure.
Thank you for stepping into my house this early afternoon and sharing your monologue! I LOVE 'hearing' your voice through your substack writing! I quite like the photo collages because it's easy to click the first one, view it large and then continue viewing the others. And I am smiling with delight at recalling our in-person meeting; so cool that Fred and Robin were in on the satisfyingly fun day!
Aw, thank you so much, Laurie! I really do enjoy writing these - it’s so much more writing than my blog, but also a lot more work. L thinks I will stop my blog, but I like that I can still do a bigger photo dump there and share it, especially with my Mom.
Glad the “gallery” photos work for you! It’s a Substack thing, sigh. I know, I reread that post on my blog and relived the day. It was so wonderful to meet you all!
Maybe it will feel like less work when you are retired from your day job and have more time to devote to both the blog and substack. Smiling as I recall a commenting conversation where you said you leave some of your more colorful vocabulary out of your blog precisely because your Mom reads it. :-)
I was getting total Mondrian vibes from your skirt, no brooches needed :) Although you made up for it with your copper brooch. I hope this means you'll have an extra lucky month and the cats are adorable as always.
What a lucky Substacker to meet up with you! I would be the one doing all the fan girling! I love the skirts this week, especially the Mondrian-esque one. That denim suit is such a showstopper! We have had lots of rain here, too, but now we're getting heat. We have a good old heat dome over us for the next several days. Hurray for AC! Hope your week is really fantastic and I started counting down before two years so you're right on track.
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Luck had nothing to do with it, Marsha! She reached out and I offered! If you are ever in the Victoria area, I’d love to meet up with you.
Isn’t the Mondrian-esque skirt amazing? But yes, the red leopard denim suit is a stunner.
Ugh, I hope that heat dome passes! It’s been 5 years since we had one here - it was horrendous, as no one here has AC.
Yup, 23.5 months to go! I am counting!
So many beautiful bespectacled… buddies? Had to continue the alliteration 😅 I love that Anglomania skirt but especially the outfit that was shat upon! I’ve really been liking pairing red with orange, AND I’ve been scouting copper-colored bags because of you too
Four out of seven Book Club women agree: Spectacles are spectacular! I adore my Dame Viv skirt - it’s even more stunning in person - but I agree, my “on the fly” shat upon outfit is my personal fave. Being able to freestyle and just play in my closet always opens up so many possibilities and combinations I wouldn’t put together for a work look.
I adore red/orange together - it goes so well with copper. Good luck finding a copper bag - this is the only one I’ve EVER seen. Copper is a really rare metallic!
Your colleagues must look forward to seeing what outfit you’re going to wear each day, and I’m sure this week didn’t disappoint! The first black and blue maxi skirt look is awesome, and the brown tulle skirt is such a great piece for balancing the feminine/ballet aesthetic with a darker, more masculine colour scheme, especially as you’ve paired it with the strong architectural copper. And that black suede dress, and the vintage dragon robe, and, and, and… you get the idea: I’m super impressed with your thrift/secondhand finds, as always! Another great read :)
I so appreciate this lovely comment, thank you, Maddy! A few of my colleagues check me out, but not many on a daily basis (the daily coworkers are very much used to me and my clothes!).
That black/blue maxi is such a cool piece (I’ve worn it with the sequined mouth cardi before). I adore my tulles, and although that taupe one wasn’t a colour I would normally go for, it’s been surprisingly versatile. Ha ha, you are so kind. I try to be really strict with myself and not buy things just because I like them! It’s hard!
That would be such a great combination for sure! The sequined mouth cardi is very cool!
I can definitely relate to the need to be strict haha, it can be especially challenging since thrift store prices make purchasing easier to justify and therefore harder to resist 😂 and I do love the taupe tulle; it would be a great way to start out with that style because of the softer neutral tone.
Yeah, the prices can make it easy to overconsume, for sure. My first tulle skirt was the black Adidas with the white stripes.
I loved the look you put together for our meet-up! Mixing Vivienne Westwood, a concert tee and a crystal necklace is perfection! I forgot to mention that I have an almost identical necklace from my grandmother. I also love your Monday look!
I’ve continued second hand shopping in Vancouver, including Turnabout. Still haven’t bought anything!
Thank you so much, Terra! Yeah, those necklaces were very common back in the late 50s, I believe. I have a clear white crystal one from my mother-in-law and my mom has a green one, but neither of them are Sherman (mine is very high-end compared to some of the cheaper versions).
The Turnabouts in Vancouver are so good. If you are near Main St, that area is full of vintage and secondhand shops, including a Turnabout and Front & Co.
Thanks again for reaching out - what a fun evening that was!
Yup, I’m right off Main, so that’s where I’ve been going! I’m off right now to try to find some pjs that I initially passed on.
Sending you good vibes! Secondhand Gawds, send this woman some good treasures!
The red leopard suit is fabulous. I am always amazed at the good stuff that you find. Incredible brands and great vintage. Canada is quite different from Australia on that front, or maybe I just don't go to the right places :)
Sandra, thank you so much! Keep in mind, I have decades of experience in finding good fabrics, and I know what to look for when I shop! I have shopped with people who are amazed at what I pull out that they totally missed. I bet Australia has great shopping!
I’m having a bit of a day over here but have been coming back to this post in spare minutes and it’s been a bright spot! As always, love each look! I laughed especially hard in the part about suing someone if you got hit by a car. 🙂
Oh, I’m sorry you’re having a day, Rebecca! Sending you good vibes, and glad to provide a bit of respite from the world. Thank you so much! Ha, I’ve been saying that for years - I walk to and from work every day and I’m often nearly hit by cyclists and cars! Really, how do they miss me? I’m so bright!
“1970s Brutalist copper” is such a good descriptor! I love your red leopard suit (I’m sure I’ve said that before) and how you styled it with the black and white print. Omg your silk Sung Sport blouse is so beautiful and you get to play with cuff links. Great find!! Excited to see how you style it.
It’s accurate, for sure, Fawnia! Isn’t that red leopard suit the most fabulous thing? It’s one of my go-to’s when I need a lift mentally. I’m excited but also trepidatious about that blouse - it’s TRICKY. I mean, what do you wear with it? a red pencil skirt? black pants? I’m pretty sure that’s the OG “business style” that it was made for. I need to play around with it - cufflinks can be heavy, so they will change the drape of the sleeve. Stay tuned!
I feel like you could do so many ways, like with one of your tulle skirts or your red leopard suit pants. A red velvet skirt in the winter? Other prints? Over a slip dress! I’d probably get lazy and just wear it with denim shorts.
Yup, I’ve considered one of the tulle skirts (the one with the roses on it, of course!), but not with the red leopard pants (yet) because I just wore them and I don’t like repeating that frequently. I don’t own a red velvet skirt (Velvet Rage!), nor a slip dress, nor shorts of any form, but that does remind me of my two denim maxi skirts…You are full of good ideas, Fawnia, thank you!!
Always love your take on workwear! Also, I am not a weirdo, but it it is extremely unlikely I will ever venture to southwestern Canada (though never say never) since I am about as northeastern an American as ever north-easted. The kitties are so big and so sleeeeeek!
Ha ha, I meant “weirdo” affectionately! But you can say you know someone out here if you ever make it to this side of the continent!
Barnabas is a hefty boy - he’s thick in the middle! Whateley is very slender…but when they sit side-by-side, they look identically shaped.
They are identically cat-shaped!
Exactly! So weird!
Absolutely love your take on office wear! I'm sure you're the best dressed person in your workplace. Your coloured leopard print pieces are fabulous, especially the suit! It's also so cool you got to meet up with another Substacker!
Thanks so much, Maria, and I don’t want to blow my own horn (oh, who am I kidding? ha ha) but YES, I AM the best dressed at work! I love that red suit, it’s so awesome to wear.
If you would ever like to meet up, let me know - I would love to, but NO pressure.
Thank you for stepping into my house this early afternoon and sharing your monologue! I LOVE 'hearing' your voice through your substack writing! I quite like the photo collages because it's easy to click the first one, view it large and then continue viewing the others. And I am smiling with delight at recalling our in-person meeting; so cool that Fred and Robin were in on the satisfyingly fun day!
Aw, thank you so much, Laurie! I really do enjoy writing these - it’s so much more writing than my blog, but also a lot more work. L thinks I will stop my blog, but I like that I can still do a bigger photo dump there and share it, especially with my Mom.
Glad the “gallery” photos work for you! It’s a Substack thing, sigh. I know, I reread that post on my blog and relived the day. It was so wonderful to meet you all!
Maybe it will feel like less work when you are retired from your day job and have more time to devote to both the blog and substack. Smiling as I recall a commenting conversation where you said you leave some of your more colorful vocabulary out of your blog precisely because your Mom reads it. :-)
Did you know I was so nervous about meeting you?
I also plan to get a laptop in the next year or so - L and I currently share a desktop computer - which will allow us to both write at the same time.
Yes, that’s true! I do swear in front of her (it’s part of me, ha), but I don’t like swearing there - this newsletter feels more authentically me.
I assumed you would be - I was too! Meeting new people is nerve-wracking at the best of times, and Internet People? All axe-murderers! (hee).
Each of you having your own computer will likely feel freeing!
Spot on!
"Meeting new people is nerve-wracking at the best of times, and Internet People? All axe-murderers! (hee)"
The pop art was fabulous. So pleased you had a Substack meet up. Such fun. X
Thanks, Margaret! I know this will not be the last time I meet a Substacker! Ping me if you’re ever in my ‘hood!
That pigeon CHOSE you 🕊️
😂 I hope he gives me a pass tomorrow!
I was getting total Mondrian vibes from your skirt, no brooches needed :) Although you made up for it with your copper brooch. I hope this means you'll have an extra lucky month and the cats are adorable as always.
Isn’t that a great skirt? So fun when my clothes have a playful element. Thanks, I feel luckier already!