Marry Me Issey!

So it would be bigamy, so what! This is the wild west, after all ;) But wait, you say - i don't see a shred of Miyake in that there look......fine, my skeptical friend. Prepare to feast yer eyeballs on:

No padding under the blouse. That's all real, baby. I got those killer curves from mom, not dad, as you would expect in the 'big square shoulders' department. It's 'all 1980's, all the time' here. 

Back view - pleats gathered into the collar and into various types of topstiching. Darts in the shoulder area give a raglan feel and shaping. This is Issey Miyake for Vogue Patterns 2761. I made this blouse going on 8 years ago (!).  But i never wore it, except for periodic 'test runs', which always felt a little off. What was up with that?!?!?

Serendipitously, Angie posted on this very topic recently, in her article, "It’s “Not You”, it’s the Future You". As Angie puts it:  "You know exactly what I mean. You see a wardrobe item that pulls at your heart strings because, for several reasons, it’s “so you”. Conversely, you see an item that leaves you cold because it’s “not you”. Obviously the former has a better chance of making it into your wardrobe. 

It’s good to have strong style preferences because that will give you a focused shopping process and a strong signature style. But I’m going to stick up for the other side too. There is something to be said for purchasing items that don’t initially look like they would suit your current style. Why? Because every so often you hit a gem that opens up a new unexplored style direction. It might even be the impetus for the next leg of your style journey."

I commented: "...for me it’s usually something i love but that’s ‘not my current lifestyle’, or ‘i don’t know how to wear it’. one of these resolved just recently – i love Issey Miyake and have made a few of his pieces from the Vogue Patterns Designer line. One blouse came out beautifully, but the crisp, white material just put me off and i rarely wore it (i made it over ten years ago) ***. The pleating and design of the blouse was so amazing i couldn’t bring myself to toss it.

the last few months i’ve become a lot more interested in blouses with some structure – i wear jackets all the time, but in 100+ F heat they are often too hot. A blouse with polish gives the same feel with less ‘heat’. long story short (or is it already too late for that?), i’ve worn this blouse three times the last couple of weeks and love it! completely fits my current style.

this isn’t the first time i’ve had this experience, so nowadays i do my best to try a few pieces outside of my ‘comfort zone’."

*** i exaggerated!  looking inside the pattern envelope, i found my purchase receipt (very rare - i've never found a pattern receipt that i've kept before). I bought this pattern (already discontinued) in December 2003, so this blouse is more around 7.5 years old.

Angie's post came at the perfect moment for me, as i'd already taken these photos and scheduled this post. I ended up writing most of it as a comment at You Look Fab! This also fits in with my ongoing scheme to find/design a core of patterns which i know from experience will be wardrobe workhorses, and make them up in various fabrics (some of them more expensive and luxurious). I'd love to make this item up in a cotton/silk blend, or handkerchief linen. Yum!

I stumbled into the 'double scarf' theme this winter because i was cold and it's warmer than one scarf alone. But by now it's just for fun, adding a bit more interest to a look. Try it, you'll like it!

What do you all think of Angie's thesis? It's obvious where i stand, but what are your experiences in 'straying outside your comfort zone"?

My Fairy Godmother...

I have a fairy godmother who lives right next door.  As my faithful readers are well aware, i stink at thrifting. I've tried my hand at it time and again, always with the same result. So i just don't.

However, there are those who have 'the touch'. 'D' has 'the touch' for sure, and what's more she keeps an eye out for me when she volunteers at the Cancer Society store.  A few weeks ago she came across this Max Studio dress.....lucky me!

I wore it styled the first way in the evening to run out to a couple of stores. I didn't feel like 'leading with my assets', so a jacket was in line. Buttoning only the top button, along with the empire waist of the dress, creates almost a trapeze silhouette. The dress by itself was great during a day that peaked out close to 80F. I wore these Dansko pumps because i'm trying to figure out how to style them so as to get more use out of them - they really are very cute! Plus, i was having a crummy day and thought i may as well look cute, even if i was just bombing around the house.

Around a month ago the weather was still pretty brisk, but i didn't want to wait to wear my new dress. I layered a tank under the top and a jacket over, and wore over the knee socks as well as a chain belt.

 I've always had trouble wearing any all-polyester knit. I stink and sweat (or is it sweat and stink?) Either way, yuck. I just avoid the fiber. Happily, i can wear nylon (as in this dress) perfectly comfortably, which is nice considering the many easy care benefits. The black with white print of this dress is such an easy fit into my wardrobe, and reminds me of a very special experience i had many years ago.  This experience actually lies at the root of my love of black.

How many of you have 'fairy godmothers'?

Next Up: a package arrives from Kansas.......

Dress: Max Studio
Top Jacket: Royal Robbins
Bottom Jacket: own design
Belt: Betsey Johnson
Boots: Bass Lamont
Pumps: Dansko
Socks: Sock Dreams
Naja: Gathering Tribes
Bracelet: custom order by Justina Leigh

Popping In Briefly

yes, i'm still alive. My timing for taking a break was excellent, as mr. e and i are both under seige from a particularly evil virus. Instead of choosing to attack either the gastrointestinal system or the upper respiratory tract, this bug hits BOTH. Two days of 'mice having a circus in your guts' (mr. e), followed by your basic sino-sorethroat blow-out. Which is gross enough, but mr. e has a techy tummy and i'm prone to sinus infections, causing the whole sordid affair to linger indefinitely.....

I had a lot more fun a couple of weeks ago at a 'Ladies' Movie Night' hosted by ielgirl.  Food, romantic movie, drinks, dessert, and some very smart and realllllly funny ladies. Our hostess requested that we all wear our most romantic hats, so i trimmed up my straw one in pink and black. I really fancy the way it turned out and plan to leave it trimmed like this possibly through summer. If this event sounds fun to you, be aware that ilegirl is hosting a Fancy Pants Reuse Outing in Danville for April 2nd - Bay Area eccentrics, consider yourselves notified!

As you can imagine, having your brain slowly replaced by mucous does little to increase one's intellectual functioning...however, i have managed to do a little of the writing on high strange experiences i wanted to focus on during this break. I also managed to miss the fabulous Sheila's Leopard Week extravaganza - click here to get the scoop at the Leopard Week Wrap Up! Those ladies aren't the only busy bloggers out there - Allie of Wardrobe Oxygen has been posting some really helpful information the past few weeks - how to dress for the weekends, her 'eat your vegetables' philosophy of wardrobe building (a little like cake and frosting). But to top it all, Allie goes where no blogger has gone before and posts a complete list of her entire wardrobe! I find these type of posts really helpful, and really hard to write, so kudos to Allie!

I saw some long, twisted scarves of cotton gauze at J. Crew a while back and finally knew what to do with that cotton gauze in my stash. I checked out the RIT website for ideas on olive drab, and a few hours later i had a new scarf. It's soft and warm and i've3 been reaching for it constantly.I think of it as a 'statement scarf'. Wearing a new color, texture, size of scarf can really change the feel of your outfits, with such a small commitment of money, time, or commitment (you can take it off much more easily than, say, shoes or your blouse, at least in the circles in which most of us move).

Last but not least at all - i can't believe that people have actually decided to follow me while i'm on this hiatus! I so much appreciate all the people who take the time to read this blog and comment and follow. It is so much more fun to put these posts together thinking about the various 'pairs of eyes' that will take in my efforts - not to mention it makes me take it a bit more seriously. So THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! to all of my readers and commenters and followers, old and new!!!  In the past couple of weeks, i've started to feel that old compulsion to photograph my looks, so i expect you'll be seeing more of me sooner rather than later - in the meantime, take care and have fun!!!  steph

Wardrobe Infusion via "The House of Mom"

 Just a nice, warm, easy to wear look.  I've been on the hunt for another small hat recently, but no luck yet. With a lot of looks, especially the 'vintage-y feeling' ones, i really like the look of a small, neat head. To my eye it gives a '30's or '20's vibe.  This hat tarts up really easily with scarves and pins, which varies the look, but i wear it enough that i think another small one would be in order.

Actually, this hat came into my wardrobe via my mom. She'd had it awhile but never wore it, so when i spotted it over at her house she said, 'Take it!'. Ah, now that's the kind of shopping i really like
; )   No crowds, and the price is right. Besides, clothing with a little history to it is just more fun to wear.

Speaking of 'fabulous accessories via The House of Mom', here's a close-up of my holiday gift from my mother. I'd had my eye on Justina Leigh's CHARLIE bracelet since i saw her work on Style Underdog last summer.  I kept an eye out for likely chains to try and cobble one together on my own, with zero luck. At least the one bracelet i really liked wasn't moving - until right after Christmas, when mom asked me what she could get me for the holiday. It had just sold!!!  Fortunately i had the presence of mind to write to Monique Lopez regarding the possibility of a dupe - 'No Problem', came the reply. Whew!

A couple of weeks later, my bracelet came in the mail.  I've taken it off two or three times since then. Thanks, mom!  Now, what type of wardrobe support do you all get from your families, specifically 'The House of Mom'?

Dark Grey Sweater: Tweeds
Khaki Jean Jacket: Royal Robbins
Henley: Aeropostale
Skirt: own design, inspired by some girls wander
Over The Knee socks: O Lovelies from Sock Dreams
Scarf: own design
CHARLIE Bracelet: Justina Leigh on etsy
Shoes: Born

No Repeats W & W: Day Nineteen

pretty cute, if i do say so myself.

Well, i wanted to end this 'workaday capsule' series with a bang - nice outfits, somewhat creative pictures in fun settings....and Day Nineteen went pretty much to plan. See above.

However, Day Twenty (the grand finale) was a bust.  I planned to wear the beige dirndl with my palm tree jacket and red clogs. I had to wake up early early to drive with Mr. E to work so i could use the car to get the oil changed, do a blood draw, etc. I'd struggled into my bra, cami, sweater, tights, slip, skirt and clogs when Mr. E commented (from his rightful place on his throne) that i had a big stain right on the middle of my skirt back.  Even i had to admit it was too gross to wear in public, once i inspected it. (I've been known to play fast and loose with bitsy stains, little tears, and so on. I mean, who can tell that it didn't happen since you left the house?)

Overnight, the weather got vewy vewy foggy as well as a good ten degrees colder than it's been. Even with expert layering my chances of pulling off my cotton canvas palm tree jacket without risking hypothermia were nil. At that point, i put my whole closet up fro grabs in order to pull together whatever clothes would keep me warm, be comfy, and preserve public decency.  My choices, as it turned out, were pretty darn slim. See result below.

Frankly, I was skeptical about learning much from taking on this challenge. But i was wrong wrong wrong. Limiting myself in this way has showed me just how low i can go in terms of the number of basic, everyday workhorse pieces i need in my wardrobe. I can get away with a pretty small number.......for a while.

But, trouble ensues when you're relying on one piece to fill a central wardrobe role and that piece gets a naughty stain. Or that piece is realistically too uncomfortable for your leg to tolerate thirteen days out of fourteen. Or that one item is your go-to piece for cold weather, but the cold weather drags out for twice or three times as long as usual. Or that skirt just plumb wears out before you can make or find a replacement.

In other words, i could stand to be more honest with myself about a) what i truly feel comfortable wearing comfort-wise and b) building some buffer pieces in my wardrobe, especially with my workhorses. I'm certain i wouldn't have found that out (or believed it enough to act on it) without participating in this challenge.

Thank You Cynthia and Anne!

No Repeats W & W: Day Ten

This is what i wore yesterday.

Today it's Christmas Eve - i'm off to the races, hopefully i'll start posting again on Monday.

Thank you so much to ALL of you for reading, commenting, and following - and of course a huge Thank You! to all of you who maintain your own fascinating and inspirating blogs! I enjoy taking the photos, putting together the outfits and writing just for the doing of them, but the conversation that develops online is a HUGE bonus, always thought-provoking and lots of fun!

focus on sock layering - warm!

Best wishes to you and yours for a happy and safe holiday weekend!

Steph

Gorgeous Red Berries in the Background: Toyon bushes, a California Native plant
Jacket, Sweater, Capris: Royal Robbins
Lace-edged cami: Old Navy
Lace Scarf: gift
Necklace, Leopard scarf: own design
Belt: Betsey Johnson
Boots: Bass Lamont
Pink OTK Socks: Target
Black Wool Socks: Smartwool

Busy Busy Days...

As a very dear and long gone friend of mine used to day, 'Good NIGHT!' I found out late Tuesday afternoon that i would have to run around like crazy on Wednesday morning, and i spent Tuesday night trying to prepare. I don't 'get going' easily in the mornings, so the more i can plan and pack up in advance the better my chances of having what i need and getting out the door in time.

When i returned home mid-morning, family matters required my immediate attention. My e-mail program, central to the whole operation, kept crashing. Matters resolved themselves, and all is well. But shortly thereafter i had to drive to pick up Mr. E at work (driving makes my leg very unhappy). On top of it all, we've been having the coldest two November weeks in the history of the San Fransisco Bay Area.  Temps have been dropping to the low 30's (F) at night and then rising into the 40's - low 50's during the day. Which isn't outrageous, except if you live in Walnut Creek and you have about 2.5 outfits suitable for those conditions....

Today's outfit was worn about 3 weeks ago, during a happy, milder time. Beautiful light shining through the trees, no need to bundle up like the Homme Michelin. A cotton skirt and lacy stocking provide the only 'protection from the elements' required. It's all just decoration!

I think i'll tie myself up with a ribbon like a little present!  And look, this picture shows my delicate little romantic birdie earrings. I love the birdies singing in the trees.  Tra la la......

aw heck, who do i think i am kidding. The outfit in this post started out like this:

Hope all of us have smoother days today!  Happy Thursday!

Jean Jacket: Royal Robbins
Blouse: own design, inspired by some girls wander
Skirt: own design
Stockings: Betsey Johnson (but the neon pink dye of the waistband runs & stains)
Shoes: Bass Lacey Oxfords
Scarf, Earrings: gifts
Hoodie: Aeropostale

The Copycat Effect

attempting Citizen Rosebud's hardcore 'do not mess with moi' look.  unsuccessfully.

 After my recent copycat mission was such a success, i vowed to keep it up. I've just discovered The Citizen Rosebud, a blogger who's also 40+ and a NorCal girl, with a thrifted, eccentric and artsy style that knocks a person's socks off!  This outfit caught my eye - i have the exact same OTK's.  But i don't have denim cut-offs (hers are an old pair of 'mom-jeans' - waaay beyond cool), a dark boxy blazer, a cloche, or dark graphic tee.  

that flippin' ribbing kept on flippin up. i tucked the flaps into the breast pockets for a less fussy line.

So i broke it down in my head - what, to me, are the main 'parts' of this look. Small, defined head. Monochromatic color scheme using varied texture and pattern to provide interest. Casual top derived from men's undergarments. Jacket with menswear echos and sleeves rolled up to reveal longer sleeves underneath.. Long scarf looped once around neck with ends hanging long. Shorter skirt or shorts hitting just above the OTK's. Booties with a lower heel and oxford details. No waist emphasis.

 I loved the way it turned out, and it is definitely a look i'd never have come up with in the natural course of things. And these are all pieces i've had at least a year - totally shopped out of the closet.  These paddock boots are somewhere around ten years old. They really need to be  re-soled before i wear them anymore, which is why you haven't seen them until now. But they were so perfect for this look, i wore 'em anyway.

 Okay - what IS 'The Copycat Effect'? I detailed in yesterday's post how a realtor on the street approached me to take my picture. This while i was wearing today's copycat look (hardly any sex-bomb type look!). What i've yet to reveal on this blog is what happened when i wore my first copycat look a week ago. That evening, Mr. E and i went to Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in SF to see The Negro Problem (fantastic). Afterwards, during the meet and greet, a very nice gentleman proceeded to chat me up - even after i'd introduced him to my husband.  Fairly persistently, in fact. 

Given that Style Underdog and The Citizen Rosebud each has such a distinctive style, and how different their styles are each to the other, i can't see that this 'effect' is due to my channeling a particular blogger's more attractive style. Here's what i'm left with: Do a copycat look, and the men come out of the woodwork. Coincidence or causation? i leave it to you to decide!

Hat, Scarf, Earrings: gifts

Jacket: Royal Robbins (i made some modifications)

Henley: Aeropostale

Skirt: own design

OTK Socks, Bandanna: Target

Paddock Boots: can't remember and the brand's worn off

Summer Wrap Up

Happily, today (Halloween!) has dawned nice and bright, so the little ghoulies and monsters should be able to run, squeal, and hold up the locals without fear of damp or cold.  However, the last couple of weeks have been typical Bay Area winter-type weather - damp, some rain, fog, a bit chilly.  I have a couple of summery outfits i haven't posted yet, so i figured i'd better slap 'em up here before they seem completely out of kilter!

Another grocery-shopping-day look.  Note predominance of pockets and tell-tale bright pink pen.

another view:

I love that skirt so much more since i made the 'coordinating' petti. Even when i wear the skirt all by itself.  It makes no sense, but that hasn't stopped anything before.

God, i just love the way linen crinkles and wrinkles and drapes.  That blouse is a linen/rayon blend and by the end of the day is just has this amazing texture. Not to mention it breathes wonderfully in the heat.  It also lasts like iron, i did you not! If i had to choose one fiber for all i wear, i'd go with linen.

Same pin/chain trick. Next you can see the multiple waist fastenings i like - knotted, belted, & tied.

This last outfit (below) was fine. But i've decided to toss this blouse (after i cannibalize it for buttons, lace, etc.). I got it on sale at April Cornell a few years back. Very nice details - buttons with loops, skinny circle-ruffle on neckline, lace and ruffle on sleeve - but the fit is just atrocious. Constantly 'falling to the back', kind of too long to wear out and loose (plus the front placket always shrank, causing the hem to dip up in the center), yet not long enough to tuck in or knot properly.

Here's a detail of how i got the blouse to kind of (not really) stay in place:

I used a hair elastic to gather up the 'knot', then hid it underneath the belt. It looked fine, but the blouse kept moving around too much for me.

I thought this clock would look so fun with this outfit.  It's a present from my mom - i love old clocks and i love birds, so it was really sweet of her to find this one for me. This clock is perfect as a kitchen clock (hmm, i think it's time to move it over the greenhouse window above the sink again...).  The funniest part is, through some mix-up, the details of which i've forgotten (mom?), mom ended up getting a duplicate and now we have matching kitchen clocks!  Of course this makes it that much more special. I'm having a feeling that i was certain i'd lost it in the move to Tony's when we married, so mom got me a replacement, but then i found the original....

Mom, does this sound right to you or.....?

Happy Halloween everybody!!!

Jacket: Royal Robbins, altered
Top, Petticoat: own design
Skirt: own design, inspired by some girls wander
Shoes: Maine Woods
Pen: Pilot Rolling Ball Extra Fine
Belt: Betsey Johnson

Blouse: Folkwear Patterns Gibson Girl Blouse, made by me
Dress: Converse One at Target
Underskirt: Liberty of London for Target
Belt: Betsey Johnson

Blouse: April Cornell
Skirt, Petticoat: own design
Sandals: Naturalizer

Me and Mr. Depp........

 .....we got a thing......goin' on........

okay, it's only this shirt, but still.  A girl takes what she can get!  I've had this J. Peterman Otavalo Mountain Shirt for, what, fifteen years maybe? It's a classic white cotton gauze peasant shirt with full sleeves that button into longish cuffs, nice little pintucks alongside the front placket. Around eight or nine years ago the buttons started cracking into pieces and falling off, so i replaced most of them. The rest of this shirt is staying in one piece, any stains bleach out nicely.....not bad for around twnety bucks back then.

Imagine the thrill i felt as i sat in the dentist's office a few years ago, paging through the People issue proclaiming Johnny Depp the sexiest man alive (well, not technically, but close enough as far as i can see) and Mr. Depp was wearing this same excellent shirt.  He styled it much as Mr. E would, with a few pieces in sterling and leather heavily influenced by nature and the esoteric.  Sadly i can't find the picture online in order to point you to it. Here's a consolation page.

 I wore this outfit around a week ago, when it dawned on me that 'all white weather' was on the way out, for this year at least. I don't wear a lot of all-white looks, but i find that they kind of 'cleanse the palate' every once in a while.  I wear 'all white' on hot days or at the beach - that's it.  I'll wear all black any old time, but all white occupies a special category in my mind.  So i decided to take advantage while i could.  i wore the 'shirt & skirt' ensemble around the house all day, then threw on the jacket, hat and shoes for my early evening walk.

I did have to laugh at myself as i strolled out the front door and down the lane.  This was the first time i'd worn this petticoat alone as a skirt, a use i'd planned from the beginning. It's not at all sheer and the hemline hits me mid to lower calf.  Yet, because i'd already worn this garment several times as an 'undergarment', i had a wee moment of alarm. 'Oh My god! I'm walking around in public in my U n d e r W e a r !'  Never mind that objectively my outfit was very modest - my mind had got the habit of equating this item with 'unmentionables'.  How easily we form habits, whether or not we mean to!

Do any of you like all white outfits? Do you keep them in a 'special' category, like i do? Have you ever caught yourself thinking about a piece of clothing a certain way that made no sense?

Hat, Scarf: gifts
Jacket: Royal robbins
Shirt: J. Peterman Otavalo Mountain Shirt
Petticoat, Necklace: own design
Earrings: liliswan
Clogs: Dansko Marcelle