Mess Around and Find Out
In which I seek out the strange stuff in my closet and figure out how to wear it, while navigating a few big social events.
Welcome back, my friends! Much gratitude goes out to those of you who read, click through, vote or comment on my weekly missives! If you’re new to all of this (and there have been a lot of you lately - come on in!), get ready for a gallivant through some truly unique items, while I provide (somewhat) witty running commentary, including a plethora of footnotes (my asides can’t be contained!). As always, you can vote for your favourite outfits, and if you desire more outfit angles or random pictures of squirrels or neighbourhood cats, feel free to check out my blog, Ephemera,1 which has been going strong since 2008 (not a typo!).
This week, I am continuing my seasonal goal of wearing everything in my closet, and we are getting down to the last of the backward hangers, with two full months left in my wardrobe season.
Let us plunge into the outfits! Let’s go! Let’s go!
Silver Sequins
Remember I said I had an outfit planned last week with a sequined skirt? Skirt ahoy! This is it.
My colleagues admired my blue shirt on our Teams call, so of course I took off my shoe and waved it at the screen. As they were reeling from my Cobalt Awesomeness, I then stood up and showed them that I was wearing sequins2. What’s office appropriate? Sequins, duh!
I added my recently thrifted leather belt over the striped waistband of the skirt, letting it hang down to give me a little swagger, the way I wore my Big Belt when we used to go dancing at Club California back in ‘863. Woo!
The silk shirt is from a few years later - they were in every mall store in 1989-90 (I had a black one as did my ex4).
I felt very clever for stringing my vintage 70s Sarah Coventry brooch onto a silver wire to make it a necklace - heavy brooches and light silk don’t mix.
Kaleidoscope Colours
I have never shied away from wearing “out there” things to work. I wore a bustier on my very first day of my current job, 14.5 years ago5! I have been so fortunate to work in an environment where I can be tattoos-out, and basically wear anything I want. I always strive to look appropriate for an office setting, of course, but there’s still a lot of room for creativity.
This outfit is the result of a play session in my closet - I combined absolute workhorse favourites with the wild-card piece, the red cotton bustier. The sleeveless pink top is shockingly versatile (I have easily worn it 30 times in 4+ years), and I’ve had the silk pants for years - that’s the most matching-friendly pattern ever.
I’ve worn the shirt and the sandals together multiple times (matchy!), and the sumptuous wool 80s duster/cardigan/dress and the silk palazzos are old friends. Having these repeat formulae allows me to take shortcuts when styling something as tricky as the bustier.
I enjoyed playing with the proportions of the outfit - flowy and long things can overwhelm me easily, so I need to ensure there is some sort of waistal definition or line to bring the eye up. I’m sure there are scientific proportion laws and such, but I kinda dress by feel and intuition.
I walked to Book Club at Yvonne’s, a lovely stroll through a couple of Victoria’s neighbourhoods. We discussed Miranda July’s “All Fours” to much hilarity as most of us are in the throes of peri- and full-on menopause.
I know those big necklaces are “so mid-00s” but I don’t care. I think I paid around $7.00 for this one many years ago.
Triple Function Fit
Like the previous day’s outfit, on Wednesday I relied heavily on favourite pieces that I knew I could count on to get me through the day.
And…not exactly weather appropriate there, Sheila. It was hot, with temps around 25. A sweater? But it’s silk and cotton! And so I wore it anyway, and I got sweaty from walking to work and from bussing to and from my mid-day dentist appointment6.
But I needed pockets, so I had to wear a blazer - I carry a thin black leather backpack during the day but I still want easy access to my phone, my bus pass…This orange blazer has been with me for over 5 years. I know it looks good with everything! A tried-and-true staple.
I still shed the blazer whenever possible, and scrunch, up went the sleeves.
The skirt was nice and flowy and only slightly tasty to office chair wheels. It’s bias-cut so I can take big strides as I walk about, as I am wont to do.
I chose it for sitting in a theatre for 3 hours, because oh yes, my friends, we are going to see a musical!
As previously noted, I am an Organizer of Fun Times for our Chosen Family, so when I spotted ads for the musical “Book of Mormon” coming to town, I put out the call to the theatrically-inclined and we had a hilarious and text-filled morning buying our tickets in the same areas during the pre-sale months ago, and now it had finally arrived.
Big Clothing Energy
Welcome back, my friends! If you’re here, you know I love clothes and talking about them, and showing you what I wore, and sharing my delight in colour. Well, settle in and get ready for more of the same, with a reminder that if you’re reading this by email, do click through to see the whole thing on the Substack app. My posts are picture-heavy and I ya…
Wednesday was the night - our theatre date had arrived! And while my heart might have wanted to wear something outrageous, I only had the energy to change my top and shoes.
This is an Issey-inspired crinkle top with no label, aside from the CA number, which tells me it was imported from Germany for a local boutique. Lots of stretch! Airing out my armpits!
A shout-out to reader Raveena7 - my friends were thrilled that I was spotted in the theatre. “You’re famous!” I appreciate that so many local people read my blog, thank you!
A tale of two shoes.
Oh, very well, here’s a picture of me, Linda, Yvonne and Randall after the show.
We all had a blast, and a good time was had by all8.
Eye-Boggle Adidas
I’ve been so good at wearing my backwards hangers, that I permitted myself playtime with things I’ve already worn this season. I know this is normal for most people - repeat wearings - but some of my more unique items are one-and-dones and I don’t always have enough days to wear them again.
So many clothes, so little time.
I am a bit of a black-and-white pattern crow9, and this is not the only black-and-white skirt I own10, and because it’s a newer acquisition than the other two, I wanted to wear it again. The first wearing of a garment is always a bit of a honeymoon phase, you know? Let’s see how you are when I get sweaty and do a lot of walking, Marimekko skirt!
Results: Solid, you can stay for now. I enjoy the dazzling pattern, which is just a wee bit eye-boggling in person. I liked how it picked up the stripes in the “camo” tee. The skirt has to be perfectly lined up on the hips, however, or the pleats are off and the pattern looks crooked. I approve of the pockets!
I took the Completely Impractical Raincoat off while we had a late lunch. Nom, salmon burgers.
My feet refused to put full shoes on. I’m not much of a sandal person, but I love the rattly chains11 and the squishy sole.
Mom and I had a lovely afternoon wandering amongst ginormous plants at UVic’s Finnerty Gardens. It was hot and sunny and we reveled in each other’s company.
As is my usual, I like to have a wee shop after I’ve hung out with Mom for a while. I love my mom, but she’s a strong and opinionated woman - just like her daughter - so we can clash at times, and it’s a mental energy expenditure for both of us. To recover, she naps; I go shopping.
A shout-out to Annie at Pocket (formerly Leche’s) - I’ve been shopping at her store for nearly 20 years. I had a good poke around and found some treasures, as I often do there. Pocket is consignment, so prices are set to ensure the sellers get a share. However, the stock is curated - nothing but good stuff! - so it’s a battle of will to make sure I don’t buy things that I don’t 100% LOVE12.
Notes on my purchases:
The ring is marked sterling and is probably American southwest in origin; I saw similar ones online marked as Navajo for over $175. I’ll wear this a lot - I love a nice silver ring.
You know I saw the local Pop Art exhibit at the Art Gallery a bunch of times, but they did not sell t-shirts. This is from The Art of Banksy “Without Limits” exhibit that’s been touring the world and was likely merch from the Vancouver show earlier this year. It’s 100% cotton and made in the USA (no side seams! good quality). I admit the hot pink attracted me.
The Townes Van Zandt tee is for Logan. He had a quote from “To Live is to Fly” in his email sign-off for years and this fits his style vibe. This is a modern take on a vintage look, likely produced for an Etsty shop. There were no Townes Van Zandt merch tables back in the 70s when he was most successful, so don’t be fooled.
The cropped top is cotton/linen and lined. Envisioning it with stuff layered under it and some big swooshy pants or a weird skirt. It’s a bit big on me, though, so now I am eyeing it askance.
Another Uniqlo X C: (aka Clare Waight Keller) and it’s pretty recent (still on their site, sold out). I like the swooshiness and the olive/grey plaid, which goes with a lot of the interesting Korean designer pieces I have in my closet.
Stop Me
I am a big proponent of wearing new things right away - find out if there’s an unforgiveable flaw, if it needs to be tailored or has some other quirk. I have at least one tag on a hanger reminding me how to wear an item, and of course, we all know to never layer anything over velvet or you will have a massive attack of Velvet Rage13.
I had no issues with the t-shirt, but it’s not one I’ll be wearing again to work. I fixated on the “Stop Me” saying, completely whiffing that maybe a policeman and dog were not the most appropriate images to wear to work. My boss lifted an eyebrow but he’s pretty used to me after 14+ years.
As you might have guessed, it was all about matching my earrings and shoes to the tee. I bought these Fluevogs on a final clearance sale many years ago, and the fuchsia pink and Wedgewood blue are such specific shades that they don’t get worn much. Even in my big collection, I have only a few things that go with them.
The shoes came with “wee kiltie” front pieces like the fringe on golf shoes - I do not wear them as I think they look dumb. I also swapped the ankle straps so that the buckles rotate to the outside ankle (like they’re supposed to), even though that means the buckles look odd. All that annoyance, but that’s a very low comfortable heel - I walked to and from work in these easy!
Thus ends our Office Outfits!
Tiki Cotton
Another of my “one and done” vintage dresses that I pull out once a year for its annual wearing. I like that this maxi is an all-neutral pattern - it makes it much easier for styling, although I usually wear white and silver/steel with it.
Note the bajillion little dome-shaped covered buttons down the front. I went shopping after Saturday brunch and had to try everything on over it. On the plus side, if it fits over, it’ll be sure to fit perfectly when when I don’t have a big dress on!
This was my first time wearing these silver sandals in the wild; I have done “adjustments” to them in several places with my trusty X-acto knife to alleviate the “cutty” sections14. They were great! I walked several blocks from store to store downtown, then to the Magic Corner15 for the bus home.
I shopped in many stores, but was really trying to be good and only buy things I LOVED. I feel good about my purchases, no duds here!
Purchase notes:
Vintage 80s tie for Logan. I have to go through the colours with him and suggest shirts, as the poor man is colourblind.
Another mesh shirt - the “landscape” pattern appeals, as does the mustard yellow, black and burgundy shades. The main body is lined.
OMG, that red velour dress is crispy and new! It’s been hanging in someone’s closet for a couple of decades, not getting worn, and I aim to change that! I felt like a million bucks in it, even over my Hawaiian dress. It has bra-strap holders and is classic mid-to-late 90s. I LOVE this dress! Might wear it for the Goth Party (this year’s theme for my birthday) or a Christmas party.
Modern (2020) Gap velour skirt. Nicked this off a “to go out” rack on my way to the cashier. This and the previous 3 items were found at WIN (shout out to Vexx, lovely staff person! Hello!).
Fluevog half-price socks. Good quality and colours.
Consignment lavender shoes and mesh shirt from the same store (Upcycle!), and are an exact match. Will I wear them together? Does the Pope shit in the woods?16
Party Boy!
I could have napped - I wanted to! - but instead, I played around in my closet, putting an outfit together for dear pal Nick’s 65th birthday party that night. Awesome friend Casey took a hilarious pic of Nick from the Urbanite event in April and had it printed on t-shirts for over a dozen of us.
I wasn’t sure if I’d actually wear it to the party17 - but there was definitely a sense of obligation, especially after Casey dropped the tees off. A big oversized tee is NOT my jam, and then the little switch in my brain snapped.
“Sheila, you do not have to treat this as a precious item! It can be customized!”
Oh, well, then, hand me the scissors, baby! I cut the neckline out and chopped about 6 inches off the hem and boop! popped it over this absolutely batshit-insane Weird Adidas dress.
Since the dress is such an unusual item and not super visible with all this other stuff *waves hands*, I thought you might like to look at the previous ways I’ve worn it. This dress is one of the foundation garments in my Weird Adidas collection. Why have a sweatshirt when you can have a dress with “leg curtains”??
It’s a long, dropped elastic waist elastic dress in a thin nylon, unlined configuration. The sleeves have ruffled cuffs, and there are tiers of ruffles around the dropped waist and on the back skirt portion, with those little adjustable sport closures. The lower front is left open (the aforementioned “leg curtains”) and the back “train” billows when I walk, very dramatic!
I’ve worn it thusly, left to right:
With my tulle Adidas skirt under it, rotated to show the stripes. Paired with bold gold jewelry and Adidas sneakers. Worn for a Chosen Family gathering last summer.
With a short dress over it and fishnet tights with open-toed sandals, a Winesday outfit.
With a red turtleneck sweater and fleece-lined leggings and tall boots (for a periodontist appointment).
With wee shorts and sneakers on its first outing.
I enjoy the styling challenge of such a weird piece! How would you wear it? What would you suggest?
A selection of other fun things. I don’t wear my Grandma J’s double pearls (not real) very often, but they echoed the Party Boy Nick image on the tee.
Enjoy my goofy Chosen Family! This is not all of us, only the ones who got t-shirts. Pal Katya took a series of hilarious snaps18, giving us directions like, “Happy, Surprised, Sad!” This is, “Look Sexy!” - you can tell by my duckface.
Nearly everyone styled their tees with black and white outfits, and Yvonne went full Flashdance, hacking the neck and sleeves off. Chris and Ali coloured the sunglasses and beads on their tees. Such creativity!
Me and the gals with Party Boy Nicky.
Cat, Rosanna, Nick, me and Yvonne. Ah, wasn’t that a party? Logan and I got home laaaaate (sometime around 1:30am).
Shine Sunday
We slept in on Sunday because ah, fuck it, we have nowhere to go, what a luxury! I didn’t feel like cooking, and we generally skip a major grocery shop when it’s a long weekend, but we were out of coffee, so for everyone’s safety19, we went for breakfast at Shine Café followed by a wee shop of things we could carry.
Minimal make-up and hair. You’re lucky I showered. Fetch me more coffee!
I wore my new-to-me velour skirt right away! What madness! It was warm enough for a nice stroll and that bright green velour was calling to me.
I layered this multi-pocketed rock and roll vest so that I could carry all my stuff in it. Sunnies/glasses, ID, phone, shopping bags, business cards, lipstick. I don’t need no stinking purse!
I also broke out the blue socks from the Fluevog pack and wore them with my sandals. Former me is having conniption fits over Fashion Rules but current me does not give a flying fuck and appreciates the extra comfort from socks.
Break the rules! No one cares!
The rest of the day was spent writing (bloggage and Substackery, tappity-tap-tap, writey-write), and we played a couple of games of Arkham Horror late into the evening while listening to new CD albums Logan had bought over the past few weeks. The best time ever!
That’s My Guy
Logan’s sartorial successes this week were legion; we have three outfits for you - and a poll for him as well! What will your favourite be?
The Heisenberg
The pork-pie hat20, and anAmon Amarth tee with a short-sleeved vintage shirt (thrifted by me 10+ years ago).
Logan went to the free Metal-Fest downtown on Wednesday night with Nick and Casey while I was at “Book of Mormon.” Metal on a school night!
Brunch Cowboy
A typical brunch look, with his newest tee, the Townes Van Zandt I picked up on Thursday.
The shirt is a Y2K one bought in Vancouver. Another pair of pointy Fluevog shoes (he has many, many pairs).
Party Boy
The other Y2K shirt bought at the same time as the above shirt, paired up with decade-plus-old pair of Balenciaga zippered jeans, bought locally at a boutique that didn’t last very long.
Such a funky man!
And that’s all she wrote! Monday is BC Day in my province, so no work, no outfit and all the time in the world to chill out and do nothing, so that’s that.
I so appreciate each and everyone one of you, and thank you for reading, voting, and letting me know what you think. Thanks for being here.
Cheers,
Sheila
Kee-rect-a-mundo! My handle references my blog (back in the day, I wasn’t the only Sheila in town). And now I’m a weirdo who just keeps doing it. Whatevs. Also, I link ‘cause I love: no shopping links, no clicks to highly-sus sites - I will not steer you wrong.
As you might have suspected, I am a hoot to work with.
The opening notes of The Cult’s “She Sells Sanctuary” elicited shrieks of glee and a run for the dance floor, where we kicked off our heels and started gyrating around.
A black silk shirt was very metal (I was a thrash metal chick in the early 90s - surprise!).
First day jitters, 2011:
Big Kitten-Eyes of Thanks at my tech Sara of the Strawberry-Kiwi hair, who told me she read my weekly missives.
Apologies if I’ve gotten your name wrong! Hope to see you at the next Fluevog event, and also, if you want to either shop my Limbo pile, be added to my sale alerts, or go shopping, you have my card. This is how I want to ripple out my clothing/shopping/life into the universe. Cool, right?
Ca-CAW!
I also have a chevron A-line maxi and a flounced mesh white-on-black floral maxi.
Probably why they got donated. What, you don’t want to announce your arrival?
I don’t always win that battle. I can be swayed by a cheap price, a fancy designer or a vintage treasure (“I can’t just leave it here!”). I’m a work in progress.
“We all know this” doesn’t stop me from fucking up with velvet. Sigh.
Never cut your shoes unless you’re willing to fuck them up.
A primo intersection where I can catch 7 buses to get me within a block of home. We never have to wait more than a few minutes - it’s magic!
Only when he’s camping!
I don’t like being told what I “have” to wear, although I do love a theme. It’s a fine line!
I require one cup to be nice to my husband, then one cup to be nice in public. Woe to you who speaks to me before coffee! Rar, she bites!
So very Breaking Bad! But Logan has had his porkpie hat for decades, long before BB.
You and Logan have the BEST outfits! I very much love your long sleeve mesh t-shirt (maybe only in theory, because the one I have makes my arms itch), I have a HUGE crush on the leopard-esque orange and black skirt and the long necklace with the iridescent beads from the party outfit is very much up my street. Well done!
Sheila I just love your orange and black and then the black and white outfits!!! They’re so cool! Also, Logan as a cowboy 😍 vrrrr.
And on another note, when you say you’re almost done with all the hangers - do you mean for the whole year or for the given season currently hanging in your closet?