My big screen debut

I recently attended a pre-screening of a film. Why? Because I'm in it! It's a documentary feature called Keep It In The Streets. As such, I didn't have to memorize anything, but I still managed to flub my lines. Heh.

What's the film about? The YouTube trailer caption says: "A nameless group of street photographers chronicle what happens when they start to interact with, and wake up to the city they live in." Yes, that's exactly it. (Trailer is below.)

I was photographed by two of the filmmakers a couple of years ago one wintry day outside of Nordstrom, and then last summer they caught me again coming out of the library, which is when they asked for a short interview.

So I'm in a few scenes, along with some photos from Bag and a Beret. Several movie-goers asked for info about my blog after the screening, which was surreal, considering I thought I'd have ended up on the cutting-room floor. I was relieved that the "flubbed" parts were gone though.

A still from the movie trailer

I love this movie (not just because I'm in it, heh). What's cool is there is no one star. The filmmakers captured a diversity of people. With such passion. Such joie de vivre. It is a true showcase of what complex yet simple creatures we humans are. We want the same things - to be happy, to pursue our dreams of every size and shape, to connect, to find and share compassion. Very uplifting.

Keep It In The Streets let me experience my city in a fresh new light. That's the trailer below.

The young men who made this hope to get the film in the doc film fest roster, which would be awesome. I wish them luck. Their sense of purpose, vision, and total lack of pretension were a blast of fresh air. It was an honour to be included in this project. I'll keep you posted on developments.

Behind the scenes. The film has an amazing original soundtrack.

In the meantime, check out the Keep It In The Streets Instagram HERE, which features photos and clips from the film. And their YouTube channel HERE, where they have an excellent "Brainwash Teaser." Feel free to spread the love. Keep It In The Streets. What's it called again? Oh yeah, Keep It In The Streets. 

In more news...

Lyn Slater, Accidental Icon, just won a Shorty Award, which are social media awards, in the category of Fashion - not fashion over 40, not fashion over 50, just Fashion. Whoa. That's progress. She has always said age is not a factor. Way to go, Lyn! See her at the podium HERE. 

Also, Catherine, Not Dressed as Lamb has won her second UK Blog Award for Fashion & Beauty, again, a win where age is not a factor. Congratulations! Her post is HERE. 

AND...

I made a tiny video of how I felt wearing a vintage dusty-yellow brocade coat I recently altered. It was a coat-dress and I opened up the front so that now it is definitely a coat. I've left the edges raw, which I might keep this way - time will tell. You have to click the photo to see the movie, which is on my Instagram.

There is not a really clear view of the coat - it's just a capture of my mood. I'll show the coat more clearly another time. 

And below, what I wore today, my floral bell-bottom pants with a burgundy burnt velvet blouse, and man shoes, yes.

I almost forgot to post the outfit shot. Then how could I link to Patti and Catherine? So here we go: linking to Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style and #iwillwearwhatilike at Not Dressed at Lamb. See you there!

Have a stellar week, all! May your boundaries be stretched - in a good way.

New favourite handbag alert!

It's not possible! No way! My lunchbag handbag has been usurped by a sneaky handbag interloper?! Oh yes, yes, and yes!!

Introducing my new absolute favouritist new handbag. I didn't know it was possible to have such a handbag crush. I'd sponsor myself if I weren't already doing it. But, really, I should ask for more - I egregiously undervalue my services. Heh.

This is a vintage shiny handbag, vinyl I'm pretty sure, "A handcrafted Bernard Original, Made in Canada, Montreal," probably late '50s/early '60s. That's handcrafted vinyl, everyone. I've had this bag in my collection for several decades (yes, you read that right, from Value Village back in the day), but it never really sang to me until now. Until I wrote on it. Yesss.

One side says: "I'm not the accessory - she is!" And the other side says: "Handbag attitude." Indeed.

Below is the genuine handcrafted vinyl interior, which features two sleeve pockets, one on each side, and a zippered pocket in which to squirrel away flat, totally top-secret stuff.

I have to say, this bag was the most fun bag I've ever carried around town, and I've carried a few. I couldn't get more than a couple of blocks without someone smiling and stopping and asking about my bag. Of course, one might expect that reaction when carrying one's bag out front like a cross against a vampire or a stiff-armed Frankenstein with a dribbling baby, in a happy way of course, not a horror show way, to show it off.

No, I just swung my bag at my side, all lah-ti-dah, going about my business, but the bag cried out for attention even when I shushed her. She made me feel like a million bucks.

Speaking of a million bucks, I adore the co-star of this shoot, the Jacqueline Conoir suit - she is a local designer. It's a shame I didn't get better photos of it - I was obsessed with the bag. The black fabric has a circle motif, which you can only see in certain light.

I bought the suit a couple of years ago at My Sister's Closet and only wore it once. In fact, it was in my donate pile, but by taking in the pantlegs by about 3 inches on each side, and adding buttons, one black, one blue, a couple of inches over on the front, I've decided I love it. You can see it pre-upcycled here. It was definitely a more feminine styling.

But now guess what? I'm selling this bag! Gaaaa!!! It freaks me out! You must all know that saying: if you love something, set it free, if it comes back, it was obviously preprogrammed. Heh.

No, what I mean is, I'm ready to set this free for real. I am not kidding when I say this is my most favourite bag ever. The bag itself has been with me for decades, not an easy feat, and the upcycle has made it come alive, but letting it go will be part of a letting-go process in general in terms of my closet.

AND, I want a new camera, one that will do bokeh backgrounds. I adore my point-and-shoot, but I'm ready for something new, not a replacement, but a DSLR with a super-fast lens, which makes this purchase an extravagance I'm willing to sell things for. If I didn't want a new camera, I might not sell this, but letting-go is a good thing, right? I keep telling myself that.

I may undervalue my other services, but the bag, non! I am selling it for US$150. If you are interested in being an Accessory to my plans, heh, please email me and we can work out the details.

As my friend Mr. Wonder says, Signed, Sealed, Delivered, it's yours. Own a piece of Bag! Heh.

I'll link up with Patti at Not Dead Yet Style for her Visible Monday, thanks, Patti, and Catherine at Not Dressed as Lamb for her #iwillwearwhatilike. Thanks to you as well for hosting. See you there!

Dressed up for Ed Poe

A Bag and a Beret quiz. Based on the first photo, which scenario is this blog post?

1. The post in which I birth a lunchbag handbag. A labour of love. The doctor faints, nurses weep with joy - "Madam, O joyful day! It's, it's not a boy or a girl! It's a handbag!" Celestial bells. Twinkle stars and tweeting birds orbiting my head. I cradle my newborn and immediately stuff her with chocolate bars, chips, lipstick, and my keys.

2. The post in which I scream in the countryside while balanced on a split-rail fence. I had to put in the fence to sit on and support the handbag because otherwise it looks like I've just given birth to a handbag. (In the original photo I was sitting on the stairs.)

3. The post in which I debut the latest trend, the dangling muffy-pack, a fanny pack worn at the front really low, sub-muff-line, and get swarmed by paparazzi in the woods. Walking is awkward and trying to fish out change or business cards is not only difficult but embarrassing. Restrooms? Pfff, and you thought overalls were difficult...

4. The post in which I wear a tarp.


Go to Photo 2 for the answer.

Ding ding ding ding. If you guessed No. 4, tarp, you'd be right!!!

Bwahaha! I saw this tarp hanging off the side of the truck the day after I wore this dress. This is clearly the vehicle of a tailor who does serious gardening on the side.

In reality, this is the block mesh dress, as known before I polluted my mind with all those other images that I'll think of now every. single. time. I put this on. Thank you so much, brain.

I bought this dress on an expedition to My Sister's Closet with Sheila of sheilaephemera and her partner L when they were in town celebrating their wedding anniversary. Sheila picked it out for me. I would not have given it a second glance because: 1) form-fitting; 2) see-through; 3) Kardashian-ish (say it fast five times). And now I love it so much. Thank you, Sheila!

There's a built-in cropped cami, front only, a very short sewn-in slip, and a big slit up the back. I wore black tights and lycra shorts for psychological backup, a light-knit striped top, and knee-high Converse sneakers, also from MSC.

And to finish the look I wore black eye shadow, which my eyelids are cleverly hiding. Believe me, it was there - it took for-frickin'-ever to take off because I forgot to apply my eye-shadow primer. And I'm wearing near-black lipstick called Poe, as in Edgar Allan.

It's hard to imagine how my image of that writer would be altered if he were known simply as Ed Poe. "Look, honey, there goes Ed Poe of The Pit and the Pendulum." Did you know that that story first appeared in The Gift: A Christmas and New Year's Present for 1843? Happy holidays!

In other news, Margaret Manning of Sixty and Me published a transcript of one of the interviews I did with her early last September. I did a post about the interviews HERE, my first time doing a video interview.

Well, I was immensely relieved to discover that I spoke in real sentences, at least sometimes. You are welcome to have a read HERE and post feedback. (Sorry, I can't join in because I'm not on Facebook.) This particular interview is called "Fashion over 50: Forget what others think and express your eccentricities!" Thank you, Margaret, for this transcript.

And there's lots going on here in Bagland. I'll keep you in the loop as much as I can. I hope YOU are all fine, getting done what needs to get done or at least putting it off satisfactorily with dull pencils that need sharpening. I recently bought 450 vintage pencil crayons. Divine procrastination! More divine than birthing a lunchbag handbag.

I'll link up to Patti at Not Dead Yet Style for her Visible Monday and Catherine at Not Dressed as Lamb for her #iwillwearwhatilike. See you's there.

The dress of 1,000 faces

It's spring. And I'm ready - in this awesome striped dove-grey linen dress and jacket. They arrived on my doorstep almost like magic a while ago, specially sent from GRIZAS in the EU, so this is a sponsored post. After you read a little more, you'll know why I couldn't say no. Of course the views are entirely my own.

I had been waiting impatiently for the exact right day to debut this outfit, and then, BAM, last week, sunshine and semi-warmth, it was time. Hurray! The problem was having so many styling ideas and just one photo shoot. In the end, I opted for coppery-green glitter tights, two super-long strands of faux pearls, and, at the last minute, men's shoes. Plus of course the magic loupe O made me - I never leave home without it.

All of GRIZAS's clothing are made from natural fibres. This dress flows beautifully when I walk.

There's something regal about that black and white photo, all harumphs and tra-la's. It appears I had to shove my hands in my pockets lest they break into a royal wave! No doubt I'm on my way for pinky tea in the solarium at the country estate, whilst awaiting the hounds and news of Lord B's scandalous little adventure. Ah, euphemisms, how I miss them. More tea? Don't mind if I do. With a little something added perhaps.

But don't let that B&W image fool you.

Versatility travels the limits with this outfit, so much room for play.

For example, femininity sprang to mind initially with this jacket and dress, which I played up with the pearls and a brief flirtation with pointy-toe black pumps and a scarf for a lovely tinge of '20s style.

But then I put on the man shoes and heard an electric guitar. Yeeeah! The shoes were the perfect anchor for my mood; they said, Get your trod on!, while the dress said, Nay, tarry a while. I always enjoy the push/pull of contrasts.

I would happily wear this styling to a spring/summer wedding or tea at my country estate or indeed to a stenchy alley, obviously.

I'd also be more than content to swap out the man shoes and pearls for, say, knee-high Converse sneakers and a cross-body book bag for a casual vibe and hanging out at the cafe. Linen easily crosses lines when it comes to high/low styling.

Oh, and did I mention pockets? Yup, both dress and jacket.

Plus, these pieces work well as separates - the jacket with a T or blouse and jeans, and the dress with a top underneath if I need coverage. Or I could wear sandals and my swimsuit under the dress for a trip to the beach.

So here we have it, in this order: cafe, wedding, country estate tea, beach and stenchy alley (perhaps with Lord B?!) all in one day. And pockets to keep my royal wave at bay. See what I mean? One must always be prepared.

Below you can see the jacket buttoned up and how the stripes form a great upward arrow, and the strong A-line or arrow cut of the dress with its vertical stripes emphasizes the play between the angles. These triangulations are what attracted me to the outfit in the first place.

I started out the shoot with a scarf, but I ditched it quick - too fiddly for my taste. Don't you love those windows?

And I made a super-mini video just for myself, 10 seconds. I was not only in the mood but the alley was quiet, which made filming with a tripod less of an ordeal. I am going to post this video without the voice-over on my Instagram as well.

That's all from me this week. I hope you enjoyed this little romp with GRIZAS. They were a pleasure to work with, and you'll be seeing these pieces more as summer descends.

Whether you're celebrating a holiday or not, may the rest of your weekend be jolly - and your whole week for that matter.

When the time is right, I shall link up with Patti at Not Dead Yet Style for her weekly Visible Monday and Catherine at Not Dressed as Lamb for her weekly #iwillwearwhatilike. See you there.

THANK YOU for visiting!