New Year's Eve 2010

 We begin our Dashing Eccentric year with a couple of bonus pictures of Mr. E. Frankly, ever since i started this blog i've been dying to do at least a week of posts featuring his outfits.  He has crazily good taste and style, and there's not a lot out there in 'outfit blogging' for guys, especially guys out of their twenties. If any of you would like to see more of Mr. E (in his clothes, that is), please leave a comment and i will use them to pressure him to step up to the tripod.

He's a helluva fun guy, to boot. It's just Mr. E hates getting his picture taken, and is not too thrilled with anyone else getting their picture taken, either.  Unless it's something he's really passionate about.

Okay, ladies and gentlemen, leave those comments! Now, on to my outfit. I wanted to wear the skunk skirt with a fitted top. Mom was rooting for the embroidered belt, so a black top seemed the best choice.  This Peruvian Connection cardigan (alpaca - so soft!) has a traditional boxy-cardigan shape, not that exciting with a skirt as full as this one (kinda blobby). Thus, i took a few minutes and basted the sides to take in some of the fullness and create a more form-fitting shape.

New Year's Eve had even more excitement in store for me - my Sock Dreams order arrived!  Their free shipping option only took four days (order placed Monday, arrived on Friday). These Vertically Inclined Stockings in black/charcoal provided the perfect balance of subtle detail for the legs of this look. The black stripes are opaque while the 'grey' stripes are a wonderful, open-crochet texture. More looks featuring my recent acquisitions coming soon! (And, Yes, i'm already fantasizing about my next order......terrible! To quote myself, "What is enough?!??!")

Here's a couple of pictures of my hairdo.  For festive occasions i like to put it up and make it big. If any of you also have a lot of strong hair, i find that roller pins work better than regular bobby pins for keeping my hair in place. Roller pins tend to be around 2 3/4" long and the metal is much thicker than that of bobby pins. They come on cards of 15-20 pins, found next to the bobby pins. I used about six for this 'do, and it didn't fall down until the next morning after i slept on it.  With bobby pins, it can take 25-30 pins (or more), and pieces will start falling down in fifteen minutes. If you have similar troubles, check out the roller pins!

That's it for now.  Leave a comment if you want to see more focus on Mr. E's style, and have a great first Monday of 2011!

Earrings, Necklace: gifts
Cardigan: Peruvian Connections
Belt: private sale
Skirt: own design
Stockings: Sock Dreams
Shoes: Clark's Passion

No Repeats W & W: Day Twelve

talking to mom's dog

 I wore this look last Sunday, the day after Christmas. We went up to Napa to spend the day with my mother and take her out to dinner. Mr. E came up with the idea of going out for the holiday dinner on the day AFTER the holiday.  It worked out pretty brilliantly, too - no crowds, no need for reservations, no weird 'holiday fare'. We went to Grace's Table in downtown Napa (a few doors down from Pleasures Unlimited, the adult supplies store). A wee bit pricey, but not outrageous. Delicious food. My only regret is that mom and i shared a piece of Devil's Food cake, instead of getting two pieces.

here's Jack!

The belt is an amazing hand-embroidered Central American piece. I found it about a year ago at a private sale up in Mendocino which we stumbled upon while staying in town for our tenth anniversary. I'd been on the lookout for a similar belt for years. This one is almost 1/4" thick, it's got that much work on it, and was $35.00. I've never seen anything remotely similar for under $100.00. The sale is run by an older lady who's been living/traveling in Mayan country since the 1960's, and importing various handwoven articles.

The only trouble with this belt, as far as wearing it goes, is the pink dye. It's not fast at all and wears off on whatever comes into prolonged contact with it (jeans, purse, etc.). So i've been wearing it with black. It really looks stunning with jeans. I haven't worn it with jeans that much because of the dye trouble - but frankly it washes out very easily.  Looks like i've just shot down that reason - prepare to see more of this belt in future!

In this close up you can get a better look at the jewelry. The beautiful garnet and marcasite necklace is from my mother, who i think bought it at an antique shop. The garnets have a really nice color, and are set high to catch plenty of light. The earring is the Thomas Mann piece my mom and i discussed a couple of days ago, in the post and the comments. Both the arrow and the striped piece are moveable.

And here's my outfit from Monday. I realized sometime over the weekend that i've been keeping track of my No Repeats Workdays and Weekends outfits in a misleading manner - i've only been 'numbering' the workday outfits. So this last outfit in this post is 'Day Twelve', while the first outfit is kind of a 'bonus' look. Well, folks, i suppose it would be possible to go back and re-count, re-number, and re-name all this to make it make sense. But with this brain, it would take a ridiculous amount of blood, sweat and tears. Those posts are going to stand as they are - i'll be numbering outfits #1-20 in my 'workaday capsule' as part of the No Repeats challenge, and i'll be showing the weekend outfits without numbers.

 Just goes to show what happens when you try to organize the human brain.

Boxing Day Outfit:
Hat: The Berkeley Hat Co.
Tunic: Converse One for Target
Skirt: gift
Over The Knees: Target
Boots: Bass Lamont

Day Twelve Outfit:
Black Wrap Cardi: Nine West
Henley: Aeropostale
Skirt: own design
Belt: Betsey Johnson
Wool Blend Tights: Hanna Andersson
Shoes: Maine Woods

No Repeats W & W: Day One

my ubiquitous cuppa. i average 5 a day.

Last Saturday, sitting on BART on the way to the KPFA crafts fair, i drew up a little 'workaday' capsule, including accessory sets.  I have many days where i have a lot to do around the house, and i tend to put off getting dressed until late morning or early afternoon, by which time i'm all frazzled and it ends up taking even longer to get dressed.......basically, it's just a bad start to the day. It sets a bumbley tone.

So i figured i'd draw up a little capsule to focus my morning dressing, and make it 'idiot proof'. I set some parameters: all the clothes would be appropriate for working around the house, all the items would be comfy (my leg hurts worse in the morning and i just can't bring myself to put on certain items, like jeans, until the meds kick in), and they'd all be 'guaranteed to match'. Kind of like Garanimals.

I wasn't even thinking about Cynthia and Anne's challenge when i drew up my notes. But the challenge is about wearing your neglected pieces. And i do neglect my more casual or basic clothing items, and i've always tended to dress 'dressier'. Tackling the more casual end of my 'style spectrum' (Paula's term) has always been the real challenge for me. So during this challenge i'll dress exclusively from my 'workaday' capsule on Mondays through Fridays, with no repeat outfits (all remixed). This will make it more of a challenge for me, and should be interesting for people who are wondering about wardrobe capsules and how they 'work'. It's a bit of a 'challenge within a challenge', i guess.


My 'reserves': I reserve the right to draw from outside the 'workaday' capsule on holidays, Mr. E's days off, seasonally-specific activities, etc. I reserve the right to add additional items to the capsule if they obviously should be in (but i just forgot - thank you Lyme disease) and/or if i can manage to find the 2-3 waffle/henleys i've been shopping for the past month.

Tomorrow i'll set out my 'workaday capsule' (it's about 20 pieces). The outfit in this post i wore yesterday, drawing from the workaday capsule. The skunk skirt is a little on the fancy end, but it's cotton and a completely comfy piece. The color and pattern cancel out most staining worries. The top is a promotional polo from my mom's former workplace in size XL - too big for anyone i know! It comes down to my mid-thigh point without stretching. I've worn it a couple of times to see if i could pull it off with artful styling, but at this point i've decided to slice and dice it into some species of ruffled tee or tank. Like this - or maybe this? Either way, it stays in the 'workaday world'.

How many of you are also participating in the No Repeats Workdays and Weekends challenge?

Wrap Sweater: Nine West
Polo: gift
Skirt: own design
Shoes: Bass Lacey Oxfords

p.s. it's very foggy and rainy here lately - & it's really bringing out my natural curl!

Sun Sprites

The day after i've posted a couple of articles with advice (from me) on how to take photographs - and i'm showing you an outfit that was an absolute pistol for me to photograph! Seriously, i don't know what was going on between me, my clothes, the camera, and the lighting........but i threw in the towel when i started arguing with my blouse.  Out loud.

So the outfit pictures that turned out the best show me mugging goofily....which could be worse.  However, i do wish that my pendant would have stayed more visible in these pics, and that you could see the striped ribbon and black bandanna detail a bit more clearly from the back.  If you click on the pictures it will show more clearly......but then part of the point of why i wore it that way is so these accessories kind of blend in to the clothes from the back, but then from the front you can clearly see that they are separate pieces.........who the flip knows what i'm complaining about.  I sure don't! I'm just happy as hell you're reading this blog.

Let's discuss the outfit, shall we? This is one of those 'quintessentially me' get-ups.  Like if you'd shown this outfit to me at seventeen, and told me i'd be wearing this at 48, i would have been thrilled.  In fact, this isn't that far out from some of my high-school looks......romantic, old-fashioned blouse, floral skirt, chunky heels, stray pieces of string hanging down for no apparent reason.

Sal at Already Pretty has a great manifesto up arguing for remaining flexible in your style, and setting out her ideas for doing so. And honestly, it's a change or die type of world we live in. But, as i said in the comments, i think remaining up to date as far as clothing and accessories trends is a lot more important for some style types than for others.  Edgy, urban, sexy, glam, chic, sporty, professional or business, avant-garde artsy - i think these style types really benefit by trying a lot of trends and incorporating any that work into their wardrobe STAT. 

But for people who styles run more to the romantic, ethnic, bohemian, retro-glam, gamine, plain old artsy, and (dare i say it) eccentric ............ being too keyed into current styles can detract from the essential flavor of what they are trying to convey.  A lot of these latter style types are purposely trying to evoke a different era. And while i concede that every era evokes it's own version of the past, you still want to create a little feeling of distance from the quotidian.  At least i do.  I like to exercise my flexibility by dressing 'true to my type' in new areas or activities (as in my notorious camping series). What do you think? Do you find that staying current with trends is more important to different style types, in different circles or professions, or at different times of life? Do you have any tricks for staying flexible within your own personal style?

Sex Tips for Eccentric Gals: Even when your look states commandingly: 'All buttoned up!', you still want to let him know you know that half the fun of buttons is in un-doing them.....give him a hint of what could be in store (if he plays his cards right)  by showing a little unexpected skin!

Hat: ??? from The Berkeley Hat Company
Blouse: Folkwear Patterns Gibson Girl Blouse, made by me
Skirt, Jacket: own design
Shoes: Clark's Passion
Bandanna: Target
Black & White Ribbon: Tail of the Yak, Berkeley, CA
Necklace, Earrings, Ribbon Flower: own design 

Dinosaur Dreams

Another 'bombing around town' outfit. As it happens, i'm bombing around town today as well....so this will be a short post.

First - those are black lacy 'low cut' peds from Chinese Laundry via T. J. Maxx. They stay in place, shield the foot from friction, and don't sprout holes (like these evil Peds from HUE).

Secondly - i couldn't get the camera to pick up the stripes in this jacket on this day. So look over on the coast or at UC Berkeley to see those nice stripes.

Thirdly - i lied. Mostly this is a short post because i have nothing to say, of interest or not. However, some intrepid paleontologists have unveiled the discovery of two new dinosaurs in Utah, namely Utahceratops and Kosmoceratops. In my opinion, the latter species should rightly be spelled 'Cosmoceratops' as it '...boasts the most ornately decorated dinosaur head known to date, with 15 horns.' Ha! The next time some Ignoramus sp. give you grief over your own concern with ornamentation, remind him or her that the evolutionary process saw fit to encourage and maintain maximum ornamentation as long as 76 million years ago. That's even before the Americas had come into being as continents!

hhmmmm.....that's giving me a whole new perspective on the pyramid studs on this bag.

Lace Tank: Jockey
Jacket: McCalls Pattern M5594, made by me
Skirt: own design
Shoes: Clark's Passion
Belt: vintage Coach

Full Disclosure

A while back we had an interesting comments-based discussion here on TDE. I was wondering what to show on a 'daily outfit' style blog - is it ethical to only show one iteration of an outfit, when actually you wore it that day with and without socks, and with and without the bunny pin? Turns out there are varying opinions and practices out there in the blogosphere, but the discussion got me thinking it would be fun to 'tell all' now and again (i tend to change what i'm wearing many times a day, little by little).

So here's what i ended up in yesterday. The hecticness that was my Friday started Thursday evening, when i found out a prescription i need was accidentally incorrectly written. As i was almost out of the medicine, and the weekend was coming up, i would have to drive half an hour to the doc's office to get it straightened out. As most of you know, i have nerve damage which is especially bad in my left leg. Any activity (walking, sitting, standing, driving) REALLY aggravates the pain and leads to limping and even temporary paralysis if i really push it. We only have one car and share it, so any of my weekday driving involves Mr. E driving to work, me heading out from there, and then me driving back to pick Mr. E up at the end of his workday. So i usually end up driving an hour more than would be the case if i just left from the house. I'd already driven once this week, so i wasn't looking forward to more. In fact, i was dreading it and so started out the day in a bad mood. But i had to, so.

My first mistake, clothes-wise, was to plan ahead. I'm especially pain-ridden and gimpy first thing in the am, so i checked out the weather forecast to pick out an appropriate set of clothes for the day. I was headed through the Caldecott Tunnel toward the bay to Albany. I thought, after i hit the doc's, why not drive a couple of miles to Stone Mountain and Daughter to check things out in the fabric world, seeing as it's on the way home anyway. That means i'll be next to the bay all morning. So i checked the 94706 zip code at NOAA. Let's see, 64 degrees F, heavy fog - yay! i can wear a sweater and fuzzy over the knee socks!

Ah, a nice fall feel, what we've all been looking forward to the last few weeks.......of course, the next morning, on the way to drop off Mr. E at work, the forecast was mid seventies, with no fog visible anywhere over the entire bay area. I opened my car window to keep from sweating. It was only 7:10 AM.

So the jacket lasted until i got out of the doctor's office. It took only ten minutes to get things squared away, with apologies from the doc for me having to make a special trip. But it was fun at Stone Mountain! I even got a compliment on my outfit (the one above, with the scarf). They still have a couple of yards of the skirt material, and a bunch of new fall fabrics. For any sewers in the area - head on down and check it out!


For the drive home i lost the scarf and turned on the ac. When i got home it was 81 F and climbing, so i changed into:

AAhhhh.....bare feet, my favorite accessory. I come by it honestly - my feet are almost a carbon-copy of my paternal grandfather's. I know this because bare feet was his default fashion statement as well. I have no idea what my paternal grandma's feet look like!


Time to pick up Mr. E. It's now 84 F, not so hot, but i will be waiting for him in the car outside his office.....or, as it turned out, on the steps outside his office. It was too hot sitting in the car, cooking away. I threw the jacket over my shoulders for a little coverage, and wore the heels in case we went shopping on the way home. Also, i was craving a little change of look...

The scarf is a piece of 'distressed pleather' i picked up at Joannes to test how i like it. I've been throwing it on as a scarf or belt, carrying it around in my purse or tote to see how it wears before i commit to getting some to make into a scarf (backed with silk or rayon crepe), a belt, or to use as trim on cargo pants or a skirt. So far (~ four days) it's holding up well and is also comfy against the skin. Hopefully i can get some to have 'on hand' as well as enough for current projects. It comes in darker and lighter versions as well.

Flash pictures taken after i got back from my evening walk. Back into the clogs with different socks, added a hat. Wore the brim turned down.....

.....and turned up.

In sum, the commitment, dedication, and loyalty shown by all the style bloggers who wear one, and only one, outfit all day long is just - - - it's an inspiration. That's what it is.

An Eccentric Steps Out

To see another well-known eccentric, Miss Joanna Newsom. We had purchased tickets back on May 21 to make sure we'd get seats, and the hall did sell out. Mr. E is of the opinion that this could be the last time we'd get the chance to see Miss Newsom perform at such a reasonable price - her star is on the rise. Her writing, composing, singing, and performing skills surpassed what we expected. She also made diligent efforts to showcase her fellow performers, acknowledging them verbally many times and giving them ample opportunity for great solos, etc.

Here's a few you tube choices if you'd like to learn a little more about Ms. Newsom. Good Intentions Paving Company is from her new album and contains some of her trademark squeaks. Inflammatory Writ is a hoot. Like something from a twenties speakeasy populated by unionizing chorus girls - this clip also shows her charming performing style at the keyboard. She looks like a wee, antsy mermaid. '81 is ethereal and haunting, and this video gives you a look at her phenomenal personal style. Peach Plum Pear ended the show and brought down the house! Check it out, people.

Just in case you've yet to twig, this is what i wore to the show. I hope the pix give you a flavor of the way this phenomenal jacket moves. It's wool crepe de chine lined with silk crepe and has shoulder pads. Please take the time to really look at the detail pictures below - bound buttonholes, pieced and fully functional pockets (four, the bags are also silk crepe), ceramic buttons in the shape of little seashells. It was a present to my sister from a lady in Vermont who was cleaning out her attic and it found it's way to me. I also received a green shot silk jacket with covered buttons which is literally falling apart, but in the most gorgeous manner.....

As near as i can tell (no labels) this jacket is from sixty to seventy years old. I've had to re-stitch the shoulder seams, but otherwise it's fine. Can you think of clothes we have nowadays that will survive in good shape until over half a century in the future? For heaven's sake, the stuff we wear these days doesn't even look a quarter as nice! And things fall apart on the way home from the store..... But enough ranting. I do try to make and get a few things that have a little of that magic about them.

This pic came out kind of va-voom (i'm pretty sure i was trying to keep from scratching until the shutter went off). The necklace and watch are both old pieces as well, and both from my mom. I love wearing gifts from people i love, clothes that have traveled across the country and possess mysterious histories.....


How have your favorite garments found you?

Jacket: ???
Top: Ann Ferriday
Skirt, Scarf, Earrings, Ribbon Flower: own design
Bandanna: Target
Watch, Necklace: gifts
Shoes: Passion by Clarks

Building A Small Wardrobe: Color

Oh, this was nice outfit! Comfy, cotton, just two easy pieces, a really fun shape and easy to accessorize. I threw it on because i wanted something simple for the day which we planned to spend packing up for leaving to go camping the next day. Mr. E asked where i was headed - he thought i looked a little fancy bumming about the homestead!

Below you see how i generally feel when i'm taking pictures by this tree - i have to run down a ramp, go down a step, more ramp, step over a wooden border, clamber onto the base of the tree....all in eight seconds. It's a wonder i ever look decently composed in these photos.

I think in this pic you can see the detailing on the tunic for once. I've had a hard time capturing the ruffles and plackets that are a big part of the appeal for me of this garment. Here it seems to come across.

Now, on to the title topic: color in the small wardrobe. For decades now i've been using a method but i can't remember where i learned about it - possibly in the 'four seasons' color theory books. Anyways, it's a simple system but for it to work you have to be very strict, especially in the beginning. To start, choose two colors that you like, flatter you, and can easily be worn together. It is also recommended to choose one dark and one light color. I chose black and beige. Other pair choices could be navy and grey, chocolate brown and teal, indigo and pale yellow, etc. As a rule, neutrals or less outrageous colors are preferable because they are more flexible, but it depends upon your individual situation. If you're a beginning lawyer, coral and sage green may be lovely on you as well as with one another, but might be tricky in your profession. If you're an artist or stay at home spouse, on the other hand, go for it!

From this point every piece of clothing you buy will be one of your two 'base' colors (white/ivory is a wild card you may also purchase as long as it flatters you). Stick with your two base colors until you have put together a 'core' wardrobe sufficient for your needs (maybe 5-12 pieces?). This will vary depending on your needs and the purpose of this part of your wardrobe (business, travel, casual). Staying within certain style parameters is a big bonus to the versatility of this strategy, but you'd be surprised how many seemingly stylistically opposing pieces come together when they are the same color. Also, keep in mind that classically-fitting, simple, well made pieces will last longer and be more versatile for mixing with other pieces. Solid colors are also more versatile for mixing, but prints consisting of primarily your base colors can add a lot of life to your look. Prints are also quicker to 'date' than solids, something to keep in mind if you are buying investment clothing.

Once you've got your 'bases' covered, add in one more color. This color can be dark or light, which ever you prefer and makes more sense (what is the dominant season in your area? do you do a lot of messy activities in this wardrobe?). The third color needs to 'go' with both base colors and, again, be flattering to you. I chose grey. Proceed as above, purchasing only items in one of your three colors until you have enough for your wardrobe's purpose. At this point you may want to concentrate on finding pieces in your third color, but don't pass up anything really great or useful in your two other colors.

As i'm certain you've realized, this scheme can be carried out with as few or as many colors as you can think of as long as they all can be worn together successfully. I started with black and beige, added grey, realized i had a couple of blue pieces and added a few more. I have two orange pieces from years ago and just now have added the predominantly orange 'umbrella skirt'.

This scheme sounds tremendously limiting because it does limit the items you can add to your wardrobe. But if you stick to your plan, once you go to get dressed suddenly everything you own can be worn with everything else, meaning you have literally HUNDREDS or even THOUSANDS of possible outfits. Once i'd seriously committed to this plan i found i started never repeating outfits, though the number of clothing items i had stayed about the same or even a little less. My creativity in creating outfits took a leap forward as well, since i had so many options and possibilities.

I hope this has been helpful to anyone interested in a planning a smaller wardrobe. This concept is also worthwhile when packing for travel, as well as developing 'clothing capsules' for specialized areas of your life (sports, weekends, hobbies, severely hot/cold weather, etc.).

Tunic: Converse for Target
Skirt, Earrings, Necklace: own design
Shoes: Dansko Marcelle
Hat: ???

Skunk Skirt!

So last weekend i finished the skirt i bought the fabric for in this post. The next day i wore it out to Point Reyes Station and Point Reyes National Seashore for some hiking, birding, and basking in less than infernal temperatures. This skirt got it's name when i smelled our fragrant friends as i was clipping the last stray threads from it's gathers. Combined with the black and white colors, i could not resist.

This outfit is interesting to me from the 'color' perspective. I focus almost exclusively on neutrals in my clothing for a lot of reasons. Especially when i was younger, i had no luck finding any colors that were actually flattering and which i felt comfortable wearing. Neutrals are much more flexible to match with each other, crucial when you have a small amount of clothes. I like to wear a lot of unusual silhouettes and outrageous details, and a neutral palette keeps these elements from going completely over the top. And my romantic, eccentric, old fashioned style lends itself to a muted color scheme.

But i love color! i love visual variety! This particular outfit has enough color and variety to satisfy me, without my feeling overwhelmed or garish. So, i'd like to look at it to see what works so i can duplicate it in future. (Question - is it ethical to copy yourself?)

While the outfit is totally composed of neutrals, none match in color and all have varying degrees of pattern. These patterns include stripe, straw braid, floral, and animal. Even the ivory blouse has a very subtle 'white-on-white' print, along with eyelet trim and lace applique. In addition, there's a large light to dark tonal range. The only traditional 'colors' are the two rose pins and some red in the skirt (scroll down for a fabric detail). Though physically small, for me the rose pins' color stands out a lot more because they are set off by the surrounding neutrals.

It looks like i should be able to quench my thirst for more color and variety fairly easily using the formula found in this outfit. I can add colorful accessories to any of my neutral 'ensembles'. Also, scarves, ribbons, etc. are much easier to dye a color pleasing to me. I can make sure to up my patterns in outfits and in new neutral pieces, as well as adding a punch of light or dark to monotone outfits.

I'd mentioned the idea of 'accessory sets' in a previous post, then came up with one here by mistake. The pink (or rose) rose pin was on the jacket and i left it on out of inertia. When i saw it next to the purple rose, which i'd pinned on my blouse on purpose, i really liked the effect it created along with the two necklaces. I'll try it again on a tee shirt, my black dress, and long-sleeved sweaters in winter.

Do any of you name your clothes?

Jacket, Blouse, Skirt, Scarf, Rose Pins: own design
Earrings: liliswan
Hat: from Berkeley Hat Company
Shoes: Clark's Passion