My buys - Month seven

My spending project has changed me in many ways, but none I appreciate as much as this. It got me to say "yes" to seeing Prince in his surprise Piano and a Microphone tour stop in Toronto, even though the tickets were $225 each. I knew it was the best money ever spent about three minutes into Prince's transcendent performance, which stretched to five encores. As I told my classical music-fan father afterwards, it was like seeing Mozart. Prince in concert was that exceptional, that masterful, that much of a channel for the otherworldly power of music itself. 

The jury is still out on this $200 consignment shop find – it's just been too chilly to wear it. Also, I need to read an article like "how to wear a duster," because I'm not quite sure what the deal is. Is it like a fancy trench coat? Do you wear it indoors? Also, does my lifestyle (bike to work, rarely go out at night) justify a duster? This may end up being one of those false economies I was known for before Shopping for Happiness, where I was just too keen to get a designer label for a good price. Or not! I'll wear it soon and find out. 

Update: Wore it. Husband asked which John Hughes movie he'd seen me in – big compliment, right? It's a keeper. 

My threshold for scarf-spending has gone way, way up since I realized how much the right one can elevate any outfit. This vintage Christian Lacroix silk scarf is just beyond gorgeous. I love the print and the fabric itself has a subtle pattern printed on it. Really, it's gorgeous. 

Look, I know I have to stop buying used clothes. I really tried to buy a new suit from a new-suit store, but I have had no luck. The mall suits looked ill-fitting and a bit cheap but even the new designer suits that would have blown out my budget never looked "just right." Then I found this used trouser suit. Perfect colour, perfect fit, perfect weight, beautiful cut. It's so comfortable and so "me" that I would wear it every day if I could, then throw the jacket on over a dress at night. I guess my next step will be to buy a new Hugo Boss suit, but until then, this was a real bargain at $200. 

If you've read my blog you know I bought a makeup lesson recently. Naturally I wore my Hugo Boss suit to the lesson, because I wear it everywhere all the time. So, this picture serves two purposes: showing a little of the suit, and preserving the results of the makeup lesson, which I will not be able to replicate on my own.