High time for some outfit photos, don’t you think?
Here’s my good winter coat:
Coat – Mossimo, thrifted
I wanted a colorful winter coat for years, and found this one at Goodwill for $17.99. Pretty color, big collar, neat-o dark teal striped lining, and it was good as new. A Christmas miracle? Not quite, since I bought it months ago. I accept wardrobe miracles year-round.
This coat has another virtue; it closes with snaps! That seemed like a downside at first— I haven’t worn big snaps since my velcro sneaker days— but winter calls for gloves, and gloves hate buttons. Snaps are a… breeze. (Would you hate me if I said “snaps are a snap?”)
My first-ever office party was tonight. For the occasion, I combined a slew of my favorite things: a full skirt, a petticoat, a cowl neckline, detailed earrings made from vintage materials, a belted waist, AND I managed to put my hair up with the help of a dozen bobby pins. I felt beautiful.
Sweater - no tag, thrifted years ago. Looks brown in the dark, but it’s plum-colored
Skirt – Malco Modes square-dancing skirt via Ebay. Formerly black, I bleached it to brown
Unseen petticoat – Malco Modes via Ebay. Also for square-dancing, so it was ENORMOUS. I cut half the layers off, bringing it to a more wearable volume.
Boots – Payless, 2009. These are my highest heels. Surprised?
Tights – Nine West via Burlington Coat Factory
Belt – Nine West via Marshalls.
Earrings – Smiling Soul Jewelry via Etsy. Gorgeous vintage flowers— even the backs are detailed!— but the cheap hooks broke within days. Easily fixed.
Ring - My only ring.
What a shame that I appear to be smuggling snowballs. The sweater’s opaque in natural lighting, I promise. It’s a flesh-colored bra. The camera flash made a flasher of me.
Does your workplace throw holiday parties? Flashed any strangers lately?
You look gorgeous, snowballs and all.
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1: You look gorgeous, snowballs or not.
2: I’m so impressed at how evenly you bleached that skirt
3: I’m jealous that you own a petticoat
4: We have a big holiday party for the whole city, but it’s held outdoors at my museum which means that the museum staff are the ones who have to set up, tear down, and work the whole thing. Outside. In the cold. The mashed potato bar with the world’s best meatballs almost makes up for it. Almost.
5: Remind me sometime to tell you how I earned the nickname “The Fireman Flasher.”
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Are you a square-dancer?
Square-dancing skirt + petticoat + belted, tucked-in cowl + knee high boots = win all around. Good work! You look festive, sophisticated, and…jaunty. Perfect.
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Oh, psh! You look gorgeous in both of your outfits! :)
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mum – Thanks, ma!
Katie – I got really lucky with the skirt. Petticoats are easy to come by— check Ebay!
Oh, I know aaaaaallll about your fireman flashing days. EVERYONE knows.
Angela – I don’t know a darn thing about square-dancing. I simply wanted a circle skirt and petticoat. Turns out only square-dancers are into such things.
Looking jaunty makes me very, very happy. Thank you!
Corrine – Gasp! Fancy meeting you here!
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I love that coat! I’ve been eyeing some teal coats online for awhile, but I always feel leery to invest since I live in Florida and they won’t get much use. Looks like you got a great deal!
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Rebekah Reply:
January 2nd, 2011 at 9:36 PM
Howdy!
I felt just the same way about umbrellas in New Mexico. =) Hope there’s a cute, second-hand coat in your near future— whether you need it or not.
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