Another from last week, which I spent creating outfits inspired by the Betina Lou f/w lookbook. Today's look is an amalgamation: I liked the layered blue top in the skirt outfit & just received a similar navy dress as the other outfit, so I put them together. I didn't go thrifting in October, so I spent my thrifting budget on Ebay instead, on this blue velvet dress. For years I've been wanting to add sleeveless fit & flare knee length dresses that would work as pinafores, but they've proven elusive in my favourite colours & fabrics out in the thrifting wild. So when I came across this Odille dress on Ebay, I thought it would be the perfect addition to my fall/winter wardrobe! I'm quite thrilled with it as a physical object: it makes a lovely swishing sound as I move, and the square neckline adds a bit of interest (there are 2 little brass buttons in the back I'll have to photograph next time). The velvet is made from a rayon/silk blend, so it's wonderfully drapey, and the lining even has a lace hem at the bottom of the skirt for a bit of secret luxury. I do love pretty clothes, so I hope this dress loves me back enough for forum approval!

On a side note, now that I'm spending my clothing budget on ebay instead of Goodwill (for two whole months in a row, lol), I'm suddenly in the 'quality over quantity' shopping camp, in the sense that I can do precise searches for my closet 'holes' without being distracted by all of the gorgeous things in physical thrift stores, in exchange for acquiring significantly fewer items (the cost of this dress on ebay would have bought 4 dresses at my old Goodwill). I'm toying with committing myself to doing this for all of 2015, as I think it'd be good for me, and I have enough hobbies at this point that I can give up thrifting without getting bored.

But back to the outfit! The Betina Lou shirt is apparently Japanese cotton flannel, which sounds delicious, but I have a severe lack of flannel in my wardrobe. So I opted for this chambray tunic that I almost always wear as a blouse (aka tucked in). I quite liked the workmanlike fabric combined w velvet, although I realise it's unconventional. It has a self-tie at the waist, which I thought would make a fun bow tie, but as the forum never approves of my neck bows (hehe), I presented an alternative version as well. Feel free to let me know which works better! I varied other elements (sleeve length & belt/no belt) to give you more to comment on. I kept the toncal blue theme going with my tights & stockings and pearl ring (which I failed miserably to photograph: apologies).

This was the day Angie blogged about ponchos, so for outerwear I pulled out my charcoal alpaca cape, just for fun. And grey oxfords to complete the governess/bluestocking feel. hehe

As usual, all feedback is welcome! Including other ideas for how to wear this dress; I already know it'll be my Christmas dress, but I want to make it a regular part of my fall/winter dressing, and I think it has a lot of 'blank slate' potential. I think I have a slight velvet addiction...at this point I'm up to 4 jackets, 1 dress, 1 blouse, and a pair of trousers. Not to mention my velvet hair ribbons, although I've tragically misplaced them in my move. And I wouldn't say no to a skirt or another pair of trousers (or breeches!) or dress, especially grey ones...