Spring Surprises

Even though I am enjoying my dresses this splendid time of year, I do wear pants now and then, and this outfit came out fun and colorful, so I though it's worth sharing. 

WARNING: 

More pictures than usual - of not just the outfit, but a fun day in a park and in antique malls.

I like how it has a bit of a 60s flair. The cheetah print jacket is a new addition to my jacket collection - I'll admit that jackets are probably my overall favorite clothing item. I know, it's hard to choose. But I have a soft spot for all sorts of jackets and blazers and have a few statement pieces which I have not shown on the blog yet. You can probably recognize the style by now - yes, this one is by Chico's again, bought recently on crazy sale  for $30 (originally over $100). I realized that thirty dollars is something of a personal borderline - if I really like an item, it is of good quality and its price is 30 dollars or lower, there is a very good chance it will end up in my closet. Do you have a price borderline?

What do I like about this jacket? I like that it's cropped, lightweight (made of soft cotton, I could wear it like a shirt in Summer), I love the animal print, and the studs make a fun detail.

It was fun to mix it with the top and pants from my closet which, oddly enough, though I've owned them for over a year, I haven't mixed together before, even though it's a surprisingly good combination as I see it now. I think I did not dare before - such a bright color combo would feel over-the-top to me a year ago. It doesn't now! I felt visible, but light and playful.

We hopped over to a couple of favorite antique malls this weekend. I wanted to show Justin this fun mid-century wall unit with ORANGE shelves, in amazing condition (about $700 they want for the two pieces). It makes me soooo happy to look at it! I imagine my collections of little boxes, or some fun pottery pieces, or my mini-collection of teapots/samovars... If only I had $700 to spare, it would have been mine by now. Lucky one who'll find it - I bet they will be over-the-moon with excitement! I am already sooo happy for them!

This cute vintage wicker bicycle (tricycle actually) is another great find which I can't afford - I forget how much, $500 or $600 they ask for it? It's a beauty and as I can see, also pretty rare - I have not seen anything like it before.

Everyone is probably familiar with this famous Polish pottery line. I have to say that this jar/pot is definitely the finest example of what I have seen. But $275 for it? Really? C'mon guys. But I can always photograph and admire it... for free. :)

Then we went to a local city park, one of nicest Tacoma parks which was redone recently. Spring is amazing this year - spectacular shows of blooming trees everywhere, in gardens, parks, in my own little garden! I don't remember SUCH a glory in my 7 years of living here. 

As we strolled around the lake, I noticed a less traveled road, not a paved one, a smaller graveled one, and took Justin there... On the way back from that wooded trail Justin noticed a coyote. As many of my readers don't live in America, I don't know how much you know about them, and so I included a link to a Wiki article about this wild animal. We've seen coyotes many times - one the beach where we used to live, on a road near the State park in our neighborhood. They don't seem to be dangerous, or aggressive towards people. They are blamed for missing kitties around though. But they look friendly and handsome (when well fed like this one seemed to be, giving that she lives in a park where people bring their picnics), just like a big dog. The coyote followed us from a distance, stopped if we would stop, went a little backwards away from us, but still looking at us with much curiosity. Maybe just like us, she saw people from a distance before, but never that close? Or she was on a look-outs protecting her babies hidden in a cove somewhere nearby? Or she hoped that we would bring her a snack? We don't know that, but she did not mind Justin taking some photos of her. After all, not every coyote ends up in a fashion blog!

Seven coyote pups. Source: Wiki article 

Cheetah print lightweight jacket - Chico's on clearance. Pants - Chico's (last year, clearance). Top and bracelets - Lane Bryant (last year, clearance). Shoes - Keds, Necklace - Magnabilities. Purse - Cole Haan.

Linking with Sacramento's Share-In-Style: Red!