The Victoria Orchid Show Pictures of the more exotic specimens...

The Victoria Orchid Show and Sale was held earlier this month and I volunteered at the admissions table on the first day. It was super busy and after seeing the beautiful displays you'll know why so many people stopped by to admire these unique and unusual plants.

The pictures speak for themselves so have a wee gander...

There were many varieties of orchids on sale 

 many require specific conditions...

a controlled environment, heat, moisture, fans...

 a green house !

I opted to purchase a yellow Paphiopedilum, the one most commonly sold at the florist and many grocery stores.

Also known as the windowsill orchid.

Curiously orchids are one plant that my mischievous cats will not eat!

So they do not need to survive under the cloche! 

Two recent finds are these Ojibwa Tamarack ducks...

I planned on selling them in my case at Vanity Fair Antique Mall but they are so endearing I might just have to leave them here on the dining room table.

I am working on another in the Starring You series on accessories and should have it ready to post soon.

Hope you've had a great weekend and that you are energized for the week to come.

Shopping ~ Bling with Black...starring YOU!

The second installment in my series of wardrobe thoughts...

"Starring YOU."

Darling daughter and I went out for dinner at Rebar before embarking on a wee bit of retail therapy.

I recommend the fish tacos as they were so fresh and delicious,

 but the portions were too big for us.

We could only eat half...

next time we will order one order and split a small salad.

Darling daughter lives downtown so we took the leftovers to her condo and her boyfriend was happy to have a ready made dinner!

Then we hit the shops...

I have been shopping with an eye to Paris and the 3 weeks in a small Carry On.

Black is the core colour and there are going to be very few items so they ALL MUST work with each other.

Hose to wear with my LBD...and I did not want to go with nude or plain black.

I think hose can be a great accessory and make a statement without screaming too loud!

Target is closing here in Canada which makes me feel sad as I quite like their selection of lingerie...

I am told that Paris has lingerie shops on almost every corner...kind of like we have Starbucks.

Anne Klein silk and rayon lightweight cardigan in cream with black OOOO"S!

Brand new without tag ~ thrifted.

Will easily slip over a jersey tank or tee and can be worn over an LBD.

Striped lightweight jersey tunic top by Bianca Nygaard.

Great with skinny jeans or capri leggings which I am packing to wear in the south of France.

Super comfy black Clarks walking shoes to navigate the Parisian cobblestones...

I was on the hunt for a smallish cosmetic bag and looked high and low.

The Sportsacs were either too big or too small.

The leather Marc Jacobs was too small lengthwise and at $40 I thought a bit pricey...

as you may recall

I am saving Euros for Paris shopping!

The criteria was that it had to be long enough not to squish my Aveda blush brush.

Lilly Pulitzer for Estee Lauder cosmetic pouch ~ Thrifted.

Bright, cheap and cheerful.

Jane Iredale mascara...a luxe mascara.

I love the full brush and the formula PLUS it has a 12 month shelf life.

 I was wasting mascara having to throw partly used tubes away every 3 months.

The brush will fit inside easily with all my other cosmetics...

of which there are only a few pieces.

Mineral make up and a brush.

Eye shadow and a brush.

Eyelash curler.

Brow brush.

Eyeliner.

Lipstick.

I bought a pair of Compression socks to wear on the plane.

 Tish Jett wrote in a recent post that French doctors and pharmacists recommend them.

She's been blogging about packing for Paris and she knows what she is talking about as she lives in France.

Bring on the BLING...

I tried on this bracelet for fun.

It was pretty but I don't think I'd wear it very often...

it is not a reflection of my "authentic self."

I would feel a bit like I was "dressing up for a costume party."

I am not suggesting that this bracelet is in bad taste...it is just not "my style."

But every so often I do like to dress up in something sparkly...

New Years Eve or at Christmas.

There are a few pieces in my closet that are kept specifically for this reason.

Darling daughter gave me a gift.

It's the sequined top which I am wearing with my black skinny jeans.

I had to stretch my arms way out to take this picture because we have no large mirror in our Humble Bungalow that is well lit enough to take decent pictures.

(I must try and rectify that sometime)

She found it at a thrift shop and it is vintage beaded wool top.

Woodwards label is intact and the piece is in pristine condition.

Look at the exquisite floral detail.

(Faux Fuchsia would approve...she luffs her sequins!)

It is surprisingly heavy and I plan to fold it carefully in tissue and store it in a drawer.

I am already thinking about what I'll wear it with...besides jeans.

It might be fun to pair it with my black skirt or dressy black pants and wear it out to dinner.

I'm wearing a stack of bangles too...

having fun blogging in a party worthy outfit while sipping tea as the washer and dryer are going through their paces on a very busy domestic day.

I must get changed and get on with my day.

I have a bazillion things on my do list and they won't get done by themselves.

I think "Fashion should be fun."

If it isn't why bother?

 I took Mother to see The Next Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and she loved it...

an all star cast and the acting is marvelous.

If you have any thoughts on sequins or bling or basic black wardrobes please leave a comment.

I am not the only one who thinks about what the clothes we wear say to the world.

Check out blogs online and you'll find thousands of women are talking...

Many of the fashion and style blogs that I have read are young women.

So IS anyone bothering to look at us older gals now that we are "Invisible Women?"

Should we care?

I don't mind being invisible at all.

I find it a quite comfortable prospect...

how about you?

Dressing authentically...thoughts on personal style...starring YOU!

Jennifer at A Well Styled Life is writing a series about the "Invisible" or rather "The Vanishing Older Woman"
you can read her second installment in the series right here.
Her eloquent posts have started me thinking deeper about what I choose to wear and why I make the choices that I do...it is not an easy thing for me to explain, but bear with me please as I attempt to muddle through...

What we wear says a lot about who we are...
it gives hints as to what economic and social classes that we fall into and how we feel about ourselves...
are we shy, bold, confident, artistic, conservative, are we in touch with our authentic self or
do we even care what others think of us?

 Are you a star when it comes to putting together your wardrobe?

Is it easy or do you find it a challenge?

 Are you sending the right messages with your choice of garments?

Or perhaps you are confused about the image that you want to present to the world.

Money, work, age and lifestyle factor in when deciding what to choose.

Do you opt for designer clothes from head to toe?

Has the clerk in your favourite boutique sold you complete ensembles with accessories to go with them?

Do the clothes that you wear reflect your personal taste?

Are you bold with your colours and accessories or do you play it safe?

With so many possibilities and questions it is a challenge...

maybe a consultation with a professional is in order!

Mother has taught me a lot over the years.

 Observing her fashion sense has helped me to absorb a lot about fashion and style.

Reading magazines, books and blogs have rounded out my education in this area.

~ ~ ~

Mother and I were driving in the car the other day 

and we passed by a woman "of a certain age" with bright day glo pink hair.

Mother said "My goodness she's asking for attention wearing her hair like that!"

I said something to the effect of well anyone who makes a bold statement like that with their hair is not shy!

Mother would NEVER consider making an overture as bold as that statement 

with her hair or her clothing.

(although in the 1960's she went through what I like to think of as a  "Doris Day" phase when she was a blond!)

She would not suggest that we HIDE from our authentic selves

 but rather that we would choose to dress appropriately for each and EVERY social situation.

"Fitting in within our peer groups and blending" have been her words on fashion for as long as I can remember.

Mother is a conservative dresser and she encouraged us to dress well and take care to maintain our clothes.

 Mending, making sure buttons were sewn on right and shoes were kept polished and heels replaced regularly were high on her priority list.

Your Personal Image speaks volumes...

it says a lot about you...more than you might think.

It takes a lot of time to put together an entire wardrobe, not to mention the money that you need to invest.

It also takes a lot of thought...

What is the message that you want to project to the world?

Are you happy wearing the same thing over and over or do you want to put on a different outfit every day?

Do you like a lot of variety in accessories or do you prefer to wear the same few statement and signature pieces?

(I have owned this Burberry quilted jacket for about 8 years and the scarf, which was a gift from my husband is worn daily during the Fall and Winter.

Who are you dressing for? 

Do you represent a large corporation or a small company?

Are you a young mom, a professional in the business world or are you retired?

When dressing for your work life you may choose one style of clothing than for your personal life.

Which undoubtedly would be much more casual.

It took me many years to understand the image that I wanted to project.

It still is evolving but I figured out the basics.

I like to fit in as Mother would say...blending is more important to me than standing out in a crowd.

I do not like to draw unnecessary attention to myself.

Having a wardrobe with options for most events 

(other than a red carpet event or a gala)

 are already in my closet.

AND

they are all black!

A basic black jersey tank top is paired here with a vintage Susan Bristol sweater jacket.

Basic black Eileen Fisher trousers and my "very old" black patent leather Stuart Weitzman bow toed flats.

There are several pairs of black pants one in velvet as well as a casual pair of skinny black jeans...

various black tops and tanks

 sweaters

a black Barbour vest

 a tweedy Chanel-esque jacket

3 or 4 LBD's

a black shawl

a black dressy coat

black casual walking coat

black handbags

black kittens heels and pumps

these what I call the workhorses or the core pieces

~ ALL BLACK ~

A few colourful options have found their way into the closet, but not many.

Several bright silk twill Hermes scarves help to elevate and add some colour and interest.

Now this might not suit you at all but it works for me.

I am a no nonsense kind of gal who likes to keep things simple.

It might seem boring to you to wear the same clothes in different combinations 

only varying the looks by using different accessories.

We have to listen to our "inner voice", be true to ourselves, and project honestly our taste and style.

I do not like to waste money buying fads or trends.

Also shopping my closet just makes more sense.

 To me rushing out in a panic at the eleventh hour before an event is far too stressful...

I'd rather spend the time having a leisurely bath or doing my nails than speeding off on the mall.

Mother would encourage and suggest that we dress in an understated fashion.

(I went through a period of rebellion in my teenage years and opted for "hippie style clothing!")

Naturally she disapproved...

I grew out of it.

She counselled that good manners were as important as what we wore.

(I write and send thank you notes as she taught us.)

Comportment is the ultimate accessory and our demeanor speaks volumes.

So with that in mind...

I will continue to dress in basic black with an occasional pop of colour

opt for the ultimate in polite conversation

practise kindness and let The Golden Rule be my guide.

This post has rambled on and I apologize as it is very discombobulated...

My newest accessory is a rhinestone Panther pin in the Cartier style...

I love the beady red eyes.

I'll be wearing this...

you might have guessed...

on a black background!

It might be on an LBD, a sweater, top or coat.

~ ~ ~

."One is never over-dressed or under dressed with a Little Black Dress."

~  Karl Lagerfeld ~

"Don’t be into trends. 

Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way you live."

~ Gianni Versace ~

My OOTD

NYDJ jeans...flared

Symplii black tank top

Lord and Taylor dove grey cashmere cardigan

Clark black leather short boots

opera length pearls wrapped twice around my neck

Oh and there is some great news...the Gardener's Cottage is back!

 Janet's blog

check out what she's up to in her cottage.

Have a great week!

Hostess

A Peek into a Glass House...and a Glass Dome...

Graham's Glass House...

Seedlings, succulents and geraniums.

Pretty wire shelves and a plethora of pots bearing garden goodies.

If I had a Glass House I would be able to grow and over winter many of these tender plants.

Isn't this green jardinere stunning?

I love the chartreuse colour and the classic Weller stand that it sits on.

There are cacti and many unusual varieties of exotic plants.

A Glass House offers shelter and a controlled environment.

Speaking of controlling ones environment...

our naughty cats make it next to impossible for me to have fresh flowers in the house.

I adore fresh flowers and when my roses bloom it gives me such joy to bring them inside and arrange them in vases and place them in various rooms for us to enjoy.

I have been looking for a garden cloche for awhile.

 The Bungalow on Estevan in Oak Bay has several...

I opted for this small one but 

 a larger one would allow for a bigger display so my search is still on...

Tulips in a vintage matte white pottery bowl.

Set atop an arts and crafts copper tray designed and crafted by "Peter."

The candle sticks are Arts and Crafts hand hammered Princess design made by The Roycroft Company.

They are thought to be Karl Kipp's design from his Tookay Studio circa 1912-1915.

“A tulip doesn’t strive to impress anyone. It doesn’t struggle to be different than a rose. It doesn’t have to. It is different. And there’s room in the garden for every flower. You didn’t have to struggle to make your face different than anyone else’s on earth. It just is. You are unique because you were created that way. Look at little children in kindergarten. They’re all different without trying to be. As long as they’re unselfconsciously being themselves, they can’t help but shine. It’s only later, when children are taught to compete, to strive to be better than others, that their natural light becomes distorted.”

~ Marianne Williamson ~

"Flowers seem intended for the solace of ordinary humanity."

~ John Ruskin ~

Take one silk scarf....

I spied a pretty silk scarf at the Oak Bay United Church Rummage Sale...
buried deep in a bin brimming with garish and gaudy polyester scarves. It was like finding a needle in a haystack!

A "no name", silk, hand rolled printed in a Liberty-esque pattern.
A small versatile square in a neutral tan and black combination and for the bargain price of $2.00 how could I pass it up?

I learned this scarf tie from the fabulous blogger Faux Fucshia

You can see how easy it is...

leave the knot a little lose until you thread the two wnds through the knot then tighten it

"Expect the unexpected" ~ mixing up colours and stripes.

I like to use this cowboy tie under a jacket or coat.

Casual and unfussy this is the way I usually wear my silk square scarves.

Vintage silk scarves can be found in thrift and charity shops,

online on etsy or ebay.

You needn't spend a lot of money or break your budget when purchasing a silk scarf.

And however you choose to wear them they do add a dash of colour and interest to an outfit.

Tie one on your handbag as a nod to Babe Paley if you like...

“You can never be too rich or too thin.”

~ Wallis Simpson The Duchess of Windsor ~

For the garden enthusiasts...

I'm working on the Glass House Post from Graham's Garden walkabout and I'll post it soon.