Getaway Weekend Tips: Part Two

taming the savage beast

In this second of my getaway tips posts, i'll show you a couple more outfits created out of the capsule wardrobe,  my makeup kit and how i get it so compact, and reveal my secret to attractive yet functional travel knickers (that's 'panties' for you non-Brits). Unfortunately, my camera wigged a bit (i admit, it very likely was me wigging!) so i missed some outfit pictures. But i hope you enjoy these views of Green Gables Inn!

green gables sitting area by the fireplace - original stained glass

 Again, the capsule consists of a skirt, one pair jeggings, two tunics, two tanks, a lace camisole, a cardigan, a jean jacket, and a leather jacket. One pair 'walking compatible' dress shoes, one pair hiking shoes.  I've shown around six outfits in these two posts, but the possibilities are much greater - especially if you take along larger scarves that can 'double' as tops or skirts.  While on my late-nite walk the other evening, i calculated that this capsule could yield around 20-24 different looks (not counting the power of accessories). My calculations included each individual top paired with skirt and jeggings, then adding in all various layering combinations (cardi over tank, tunic over cardi, jean jacket over cardi over tank, and so on).

napping in a window seat with a view of the ocean.....while wearing heels, of course.

Of course, people's tastes and needs in clothing vary widely.  You could take a pair of dress pants (wide legged silk trousers, lined wool pinstripes) instead of the skirt and take jeans or khakis instead of the jeggings.  Skirts are so varied - gabardine pencil, floaty floral, khaki safari, mini denim cargo....it all depends on your taste, your itinerary, and the weather.

cardigan loosely buttoned over black lace cami for breakfast our last day

 If you're a big sweater fiend, switch out one of the tunics for another cardigan that you can wear as a top, buttoned up the back, or the traditional way over the other cardi, a tunic/blouse, or tank.  You can switch out the tanks for tees (short or long sleeved). Just make certain that they are easy to layer in order to increase your possibilities.  And bear in mind the casual/dressy scale. Tossing in a couple of pieces on the other end of the scale from the bulk of your items will definitely increase your flexibility.

another view of green gables sitting and dining area and carousel horse

On to Makeup!

 

The rest of this post focuses on makeup and underwear, so 'fashion-only' readers can stop right here! I pretty much wear makeup every day.  Above you see what i take traveling.  For day to day use i only add in a couple of bigger brushes, for powder and blush.

top compact (start at top left, then go clockwise): cream concealer, eyeshadow, face powder, blush
lower compact (start at top left, then go clockwise):shimmery pinkey-taupe shadow, sheer taupe shadow, ELF Moondust shadow (dark greyish shimmer), darker matte brown shadow

These ELF compacts are my 'big secret'.  I'm not a huge fan of ELF cosmetics (except for their Moondust eyeshadow), but these compacts and pans are a fantastic deal because you can clean out the pans and fill them with any powder or cream product you desire.  (M.A.C. pans fit these compacts - i'm not sure if you have to put a magnet on the bottom). They cost one dollar each, are nice and sturdy, and have a mirror big enough that you don't need to take another mirror along.  ELF also sells pop-in, magnetized pans with eyeshadows, blushes, etc. for one dollar each.  You can use these ELF pans to re-fill with your own cosmetics.Or, as in the top compact, you can take out the insert and put in any size or shape of pan that's not too thick.  The one drawback is that the compacts don't come with a liner to keep the mirror clean. But you can easily make one of an acetate sheet, paper protectors from a binder, parchment paper, etc.

they even have internet access, so i was able to keep up with all of you!

Cream products are pretty straightforward - just use a small knife, spoon, etc. to fill you pan and smooth over the top.  But, what i only found out a year ago, you can also re-press any pressed powder (not loose!) products you want.  The basic process is to crush the powder, pack it into the alcohol-cleansed pan, put in a few drops of rubbing alcohol, and then press it down hard with a quarter wrapped in old tee shirt material soaked in rubbing alcohol.  Let it dry, and you're good to go! Of course i didn't think this up myself - i learned it by watching this video by Kandee Johnson on YouTube. The one thing to remember is that this won't work with loose powders, as they don't contain a binder to hold it all together.

top row left to right: mascara (warm water removal), blush brush (doubles as powder on the road), lid brush, wash/blending brush, crease brush, liner/smudge brush, slant-edge brush (for brows and lining eyes), clear mascara, Prestige eyeliner, HB pencil (for brows).  bottom row: poly-con with liquid foundation, carmex tin with gel primer

 The other idea you can use to streamline your makeup is to focus on multi-use products and brushes. My foundation doubles as concealer and eyeshadow base, and can be mixed with moisturizer for a sheerer look. Sheer, mid-tone eyeshadows can be used as lid, contouring, or all-over shadows.  Dark, matte brown shadows can be used to fill in brows, as contour, or as a sharp or smoky eyeliner (depending on application). Mascara that comes off with warm water or your regular cleanser means no need for makeup remover.

As you can guess, i get a lot more flexibility out of a few neutral shades and multiple brushes for my eyes than a bunch of different colors with only one or two brushes. And since i go light on powder and blush, i can get away with using the same brush for both (i wipe it briskly on a rough washcloth between the two). Take a look at every product in your routine with an eye to double-uses and see where you can pare down your own makeup bag.


The Grand Finale

We've all seen those horrifying 'around the world in one pair of undies' online or, even worse, in travel stores. Can you say bulky, unflattering, sucking all the fun out of being in some gorgeous international location? Talk about taking visible panty lines to a new level - these things are braille-compatible. Yuck!

If you want something cheerful, in a variety of colors and styles, tiny to pack and quick-drying, just look for nylon lace undies.  You can find them at any price point (i've purchased well made ones for $4 each at Target). Just look at the fiber information and check for a cotton crotch. Nylon is soft and very very long-lasting, and nylon lace dries in an hour or two if you roll it in a towel first. I have ones from Victoria's Secret that i've used as everyday undies for around seven years that are in perfect shape.

per innkeeper Honey, once a month a letter arrives from a visitor saying that the profusion of teddy bears creeps them out.   for goodness sakes, teddy bears?

You'll be pleased to hear that that's all i'm going to say about THAT.  I hope you found this useful - please ask any questions and i'll do my best to answer.  Hopefully you'll be able to go on a getaway trip of your own soon!  Maybe Vegas?

Getaway Tips: Clothing Capsules

outfit for breakfast downstairs in the inn on our first morning

In this post and the next i'll show you some pictures of outfits i wore on our recent trip to Pacific Grove's Green Gables Inn.  I'm big on using 'clothing capsules, so i thought i'd show you what i took along and some of my outfits to to give you a better feel for this concept.  In the next post i'll show you some more outfits, plus tell you how i lighten my makeup bag and give you my super secret travel knickers tip!


Before i begin, i recommend the Four Sister's Inns in the Monterey area unconditionally.  Great to amazing old houses, lovingly restored, lots of yummy food, and really really really nice staff. After we'd forgotten our cell phone, Honey and Ivy especially went above and beyond when i needed to contact my mom about a doctor appointment result.  Mom's fine (yay!).  And i suggest you check out the Four Sister's Inns - Gosby House and Green Gables. (No, they didn't pay me.)

out walking and harbor seal watching on an overcast but mild day

 I've talked about clothing capsules before. Here's the best definition i've found of a clothing capsule: "A clothing capsule is a group of 5-12 pieces (jacket, skirt, slacks, etc.) that work in combination with each other in color, style, or mood."  So, when packing for a two or three day trip, if you take one clothing capsule you should be set. What i like about taking clothing capsules, instead of planned outfits, is the flexibility - you have everything you need to create numerous outfits, all depending on your mood, the weather, or changing activities. For a longer trip you can take more than one capsule - two capsules with style or color 'overlap' will increase your options even more.


Here's the top half of the story:

left to right:  straw hat, grey floral scarf, leather bomber jacket, khaki jean jacket, black alpaca cardigan, white ruffle tunic, black lace cami, black ruffle tunic, white lace tank, black lace tank, leather hat.

And here's the bottom half of things:

left to right: leather heels, cotton black and white print skirt, white/ecru petticoat, gray wash jeggings, grey wooly tights, grey over the knee socks, ecru knit over the knee socks, black nylon stockings (i photo'd my brown ones since my black are in the wash!), khaki sneakers.  Missing: Smartwool socks: oatmeal with coral floral pattern.

ready to head out for pizza (with the addition of leather jacket) our second night.
tank, tunic, cardi tied at hi waist, jeggings, heels and smartwool socks.

The color scheme is pretty strict - black, white, khaki and grey. That's one of the tricks to a successful capsule - by limiting your color scheme, you ensure everything 'goes' with everything else with no clashing. And most of the pieces have a very romantic, flowing feel.  But i also threw in some 'tougher' more casual pieces - the leather jacket, the jeggings, the jean jacket - to allow more flexibility. I paired the jeggings with tunic length blouses, since i wear jeggings more as leggings than as jeans.

Packing pieces at different places on the casual/dressy scale increases your options as well. In this example, i can pair a romantic skirt with the lacy, crocheted sweater over a ruffled tunic and heels for a very dressy, festive look.  I can pair the jeggings with a tank and jean jacket and sneakers for a pulled-together yet totally casual ensemble. Mix the items of these two outfits as you please for looks that fall in between all dressed up and just kickin' around. To take advantage of this approach to flexibility, make sure to include a top and a bottom piece that go with your capsule but fall on the opposite end of the casual/dressy scale from the bulk of your travel wardrobe.

I include this last outfit, not because it is fabulous, stylish, or compelling (although it is very warm, which is important on the coast!). I include it because of the comment it generated as i strolled along Monterey's touristy Cannery Row late on our first night away.

the 'cowgirl' wore black stockings, not brown.  this is a dramatic recreation based on actual events.

 I walked past a bench with two ladies sitting on it. One lady was looking at the other, who was looking at me. The latter lady turned away from me to her puzzled-looking friend, and said,'She's a cowgirl.'  I looked out towards the Monterey Bay- seagulls don't care if you're trying not to burst out laughing!

Next up: a little more on creating your own clothing capsules for travel, lightening the makeup load, and a peek into my undies drawer.

Eye of Newt, Wart of Toad.......(wait, wasn't that last week?)

gratuitous tree posing photo

I've been blogging here almost half a year (hooray!) and i've yet to do a 'lovely links' post.

Until Now.

Like all Northern California residents, and most especially those clustered around San Francisco, Halloween is my favorite of all holidays.  Seriously, in these parts the event does rise to 'Holy - Days' status. In honor of this day's special place in my heart, and of all the fabulous costumes people posted on the web, here's my first links-only post - behold The Halloween Costumes of the StyleNation!!!

The Citizen Rosebud dresses as the most delicious confection evahhh.....this one outfit is like a PhD. thesis in layering.

There was an environmentally-conscious celebrity sighting over at REVA rags 2 ROSES' place (maybe get some bars for your windows, okay Reva?)

Kelly at Profisciscamur! manages to look more adorable by accident than most of us do on purpose. Typical.

Shybiker and friend make a wonderful pair of Honeymooners (with a little twist!).

Cat at Thrifty Muse pulls off a spot-on Emma Pillsbury. Be sure to check out her other outfit posts on this multi-blogger site - her typical elegant/boho style makes Miss Pillsbury quite a stretch!

Monique at My Glamourology documents her own and friend's wonderful rockabilly costumes - and waffles.

ah, serendipity.......Erin at calivintage robs her closet to dress as a classic mime, as did my sixth-grade next door neighbor! (He spent several days practicing his moves - as his mom told him, 'You don't want to be one of those kids who can't back up his Halloween look!')

And over at Ephemera, Sheila becomes the Maddest of Hatters by 'shopping her closet'.  Question: How is it possible to so completely embody the essence of this nineteenth century fantasy character while wearing clothes that make the most modern of fashionistas weep with envy?  Only a mathematician of Charles Dodgson's abilities could hope to tease out that conundrum...

I'm certain i've missed some great costumes out there, so please let me know in the comments or at my e-mail and i'll add them to the list.  I hope this adds a little fun to your Monday!

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

Remote Posting Ability

I'm puppysitting the adorable Sophie. We just got back from a walk and she seems kind of pooped today, so i thought i'd try to post 'remotely' for you while she naps.

 There's nothing i love more, in terms of presenting my 'image', than sending conflicting signals.  Personally, it's the only type of signal that feels right.  I'm just not a vanilla, pure, one way or the other kinda girl. So wearing layered, bulky sweaters and a wool beret on top, and sandals with bare legs on the bottom, felt just about right to me. I've also found that it tends to confuse men, who feel the need to hash it out with you.  Well, it's one way to go in that arena, anyway.

I found this amazing Tweeds sweater at the T. J. Maxx down the street last fall. I used to read the Tweeds catalog assiduously in the 1990's for inspiration, and was certain that they'd gone out of business.  I was thrilled to see the brand was still around, and loved the details on this sweater.  The dramatic shape with funnel collar along with oversized buttons and snaps made my decision to snap it up very easy and quick (for me). The wool in the blend makes it too hot to wear until there's a nip in the air, so when that nip showed up i went for this sweater right away!

The Peruvian Connection angel tee has a a bit of subtle sparkle in the print. It's hard to pick up on in real life, but it blasted out the pattern in the full-length photos.  I'm glad it shows so nicely in the detail pics. It's taken from a design found in a centuries old South American church (i didn't save the historical details and it's no longer sold. That's all i remember.).

Here you can get a look at the buttons and snaps - also at the black cotton wrap i had layered underneath the Tweeds sweater. (Click on the photo for a bigger display with zoom-in capabilities.)

Well, i had an interesting experience on the walk Sophie and i just took. On Edit: i wore the pictured outfit about a week ago - today's incident involved a different outfit (not revealing, just more casual).We passed an open house with a couple of realtors heading out of it, when one of them (tall guy wearing a very nice tobacco-colored leather vest) admired my outfit and asked if he could take my picture. I said sure, posed, and he took a few snaps. I didn't realize until i was walking away that it was a bit unusual to be asked for your picture on the street.  I am used to people taking my photo a lot (with and without asking) at the Renaissance Faire, which is why i think i agreed so readily. Plus, i'm taking my own pic every day for months now, so it's kind of 'same old, same old'........Has this happened to any of you, especially since you started style blogging? How did you react?

Tweeds sweater: T. J. Maxx
Black Cotton Wrap Sweater: Nine West from T. J. Maxx
Angel Tee: Peruvian Connection
Skirt: altered J. Peterman Wide-Legged Denim Pants
Sandals: Naturalizer

A Wintery Outfit......and a General Observation

The shirt i'm wearing here was *intercepted* in a Goodwill bag at my dad and step-mom's place.  Taking a piece out of your own Goodwill bag is standard procedure.  Asking, 'Hey....about that shirt in that bag next to the door...?' is par for the course in our family.  But....it turns out - how do i put this - stepma was 'doing a favor for a friend'. This shirt came from without 'the family circle'. From a man with excellent taste in Italian men's shirts - lucky me!

Details of the necklace and scarf....with another pic so you can see these tiny little pink flower earrings:

Later on i added a jacket and changed my shoes to go for a walk (with my trusty Petzl - it was dark out there):

I look like Sheila there!  And i loved the way the patterns on the jacket and shirt matched up - clothing kismet.  Little details like these are often my favorite part of an outfit.

I am glad it's become .....if not 'cold', at least less infernally hot.  I've spent so many years in climates where you could really rely on layering to express your style and get more creativity out of your clothes by mixing them up in unexpected ways. This way of dressing is just easier for me, through experience and inclination. I'm trying to keep the upcoming summer in mind though, so i can be prepared and not be too heartbroken when things heat up again.....

On A Personal Note:
Lordy, one hundred posts came and went and i didn't say a thing about it!  First, of course it's a lot more fun knowing eyeballs, and especially eyeballs connected to some smart and stylish brains, are looking at my posts. Thank you all for reading, commenting, following, linking.....you don't have to do it, you have plenty of other things to do during your day, and i so much appreciate your time.

I was looking through some pictures and it struck me how lean i look in some,

 versus how plump i look in others.

Frankly, that's fine with me - i get bored looking the same for too long and enjoy playing the chameleon. But i did want to let you all know that every bit of it is clothes and posing.  When i started this blog, i had a stray thought that looking at pictures of myself *in public* everyday might inspire me to take off the four or five pounds that would be me at my supremo weight***.  But it hasn't happened. Partly, i don't care enough.  But also, i've seen that how i LOOK (not feel, or how healthy i actually am) is so radically determined by what i'm wearing and how i pose in front of the camera.  I've weighed between 133.5 -137 pounds ever since i started this blog. That's just three pounds - not enough to notice.

Part of the reason i blog is to get some different images/ideas out there about beauty, style, what women look like, etc. I thought that my readers might be interested to know that all the changes on this blog, as far as how big my body looks, are due to clothes and pose. I think it shows that if you want to look leaner, doing all those things Charla Krupp tells you to do in How To Never Look Fat Again will work - and, in terms of how you LOOK, it may make more difference than losing a few pounds.  But i hope it also shows that you can look stylish and have fun with clothes in ways that go way beyond 'not looking fat'.

***according to joint pain, general comfort, and not eating sugar

Jacket, Necklace: own design
Top: Ann Ferriday
Shirt: we have our ways...
Skirt: own design, inspired by some girls wander
Shoes: Maine Woods, Merrell

I Walk With Death

Halloween!  Mr. E, who moved to the west coast from Long Island as an adult, thinks that Halloween is like the national holiday of northern California - we're into it around here. Not just the kids.  In fact, 'adults' are probably even MORE into it than the tinier trick o' weeners!

This is a costume i first came up with 3-4 years ago for Dicken's Faire.  It's not really the best for Dicken's, since it has a bustle instead of the Dicken's approved hoop skirt. However, i was able to make a passable bustle out of an old worn out sheet, whereas a hoop skirt takes several yards more of fabric and yards and yards of horsehair, plastic, or spring steel bones. It's a big cost and time difference.

And it's much easier to get away with a waist cincher from Sears with a bustle and smaller skirt like this one - a true hoop skirt is so heavy that you need to spread out the weight over a properly constructed and fitted corset.  I got some looks 'down the nose' for being a bit of a time traveler (1890's in the 1842-63 of the Dicken's Faire), but most people got a kick out of it. At least i made an effort!

I've added bits and pieces over the years. This year i made lace cuffs, out of scraps on hand, as i was so inspired by Sheilas' Mad Hatter ensemble.

I'm a big believer in making costumes out of whatever's to hand, making as much of your own costumer as possible, and avoiding ready made costumes like the plague. I suppose they have their place, but off the shelf costumes are made of such cheesy materials and look so fake and chintzy.....plus they tend to lack any hint of creativity or fun.

Mom made us the most wonderful costumes growing up - dyed a sheet orange and green, sewed it into a loooong triangle with holes for face, arms, and legs; stuffed it with my brother and wadded up newspaper and Voila! Giant walking carrot! According to my brother, pretty darn uncomfortable, but what a sight!  Or saving the box our washing machine came in, again cutting holes, and painting it into a giant Cheerios box.  Mom set a pretty high standard!

So. The low down. I made the bustle from an old sheet. I wore a waist cincher from Sears (origianally for low back support). I made the skirt out of some cotton that i bought out of a car trunk. The 40's hat was handed down from a great aunt. I trimmed it with a gift scarf, fake orchids from an arrangement we had around, and a feather-hummingbird earring i bought from a Ren Faire vendor. The 40's jacket made it's way to me via my sister (along with this one).  It's too tattered for even me to wear except as a costume.

The lace tablecloth worn as shawl was a gift from a fellow Sunday School teacher, decades ago. The nylon lace worn as an overskirt was mailed to me by a friend who has the knack for garage sales which i lack utterly. Blouse, petticoat, socks, earrings, necklace, belt and shoes are all wardrobe staples. I wear the watch and bow as a pendant frequently, but pinning them to the jacket gives the piece a more antique feel.

We went over to my mom's place for the evening. We never get any little ghoulies at our place, while they tend to swarm over mom's neighborhood. Plus, mom has three dogs so we figured she could use the help corralling them every time the doorbell rang. Turnout was plentiful, and the dogs are hoarse today!  Here's my spooky escort:

This shows what you can do with a little thought.  Mr. E's regular duffle coat, pants, and shoes, and my cane (which has a suspiciously sickle like silhouette). The one purchased item is the mesh mask.  This costume is at it's best walking around deserted paths at dusk - more than one big strong man has hastily give Death a very wide berth in those circumstances!

Now i'm off to ogle all the fashion blogger's Halloween get ups!   I hope all of you had a fun holiday!