Polyvore, not to be confused with omnivore or cat

I admit it - I look a bit like a cat poised to tear around the room for no apparent reason, then bite your leg. Unlike a cat, when I tear around a room my reason is usually screamingly obvious. And forget about legs - it's your head I'd bite off.

Wearing neutrals: thrifted made-in-Italy dreamy-soft charcoal top, $5, Clarks black ballet flats, like new, $24, black crepe wool, lined Anne Klein palazzo trousers, a gift from dear and talented friend Jean of IG here and blog Dross Into Gold, and magic loupe and vintage mechanical Tissot watch from O. And a new haircut from O as well. 

Here I am running with wolves in an awkward emu style.

In these new flats, I feel like running across the veld. Instead, I loped around downtown, apron points and pant-legs flapping, startling wildlife at their watering holes. This outfit may be neutrals, but it is ineffective as stealth wear. Occasional minimalism helps me cleanse and refresh my style palate. 

A little journal sketch.


Some things I found crossing the urban veld. It's Earth Day as I write this, and I am happy (sort of)  to report that two-thirds of these found objects are organic. Obviously, any clicks on the images will yield nothing for you and me both.

Passersby often wondered what I was photographing on the sidewalk, and when I left a scene they often furtively stooped down for a closer look, like how if you look up at the sky everyone else looks up. Trying to explain what a fake Polyvore is would not have eased their confusion. I'll leave the real Polyvores to the pros who often provide inspiration for thrifting safaris.

And I'll wrap up with another tidy ensemble of: thrifted bright red shoes shown in stealth grey; thrifted black executive skirt and tuxedo blouse; gifted tie; magic loupe; retail tights. There will be no cavorting on the veld in this outfit, but you might find me later in the lodge doing bad Marlene Dietrich impressions.

That's all. Has anything in your life been making you feel cat rang-y lately? Been to any good watering holes? Bitten anyone's head off perhaps? Eating garbage...?

Visibling in the city - calm us down

Me on right, feeling vampirish. Ah, poor Jean. She comes to Vancouver a mere mortal and leaves as, well...

"Cut it out, Mel, or I'm throwing you overboard!" 

This photo shoot went something like this: "Did we get it?" "I don't know, I can't see." "Let's do it again." "Yeah, okay!" And again, and again. With lots of laughter in between, counting to ten with the camera timer like kids watching Sesame Street in the middle of a crowded thoroughfare.

Note the caution tape around us.

TOO MUCH FUN WITH JEAN of Dross into Gold, blabbing, shopping, power walking. And I broke a dish, oompah! What a privilege to hang out with Jean on her visit to Vancouver, and to meet her son and grandson. More photos of her trip are on her blog HERE. We were like a big ball of light illuminating the city, such a grand simpatico. Seriously, she is such a warm, smart, artist friend. I can see we're going places.

And secrets revealed - Jean is a real schtar. For REAL. Did you see her in this music video? You've got to watch it. Stunning! And she made that red top. Hold on to your hats, it's 1984.

!!JEAN STAR ALERT HERE!!

And if that weren't enough, the day before my Big Jean Adventure I got to hang out with Sheila of Ephemera and her Studly Man L for brunch, a wee thrift, and a preview of some serious shoe shopping during their anniversary pilgrimage to Vancouver. Sheila rather shamefully lied on her blog when she said there was no bum-pinching going on during this trip... Naughty. But no one is complaining. In fact, I feel rather left out! I had the honours last time here.

Happy anniversary to these two gobsmackingly smart, stylish, fun people. As soon as we walked into the Fluevog store another dapper gent asked them where they're from, he clocked them as out-of-towners by their sheer fabulosity. Sheila posted lost of excellent photos of their trip HERE, including the one below taken by L.

Oops, can't jump in those shoes. I look forward to future meet-ups - it'll be BYOWB (bring your own wild boar, insider joke inspired by a famous writer I know). 

Blogger meet-ups. Sheesh! From my computer into my meat life. It's surreal but oh so WONDERFUL!

Thanks to the inspiration from Jean and Sheila and L, my street style blog has groaned back into action. You can see them HERE.

Massive train engineer pants to carry big loads

Kick the can, that was a game, wasn't it? Well, these high-waisted train engineer pants with the massive dropped crotch, spacious enough for Miz Bagg's slipping brain wang, make me feel like kicking a barrel, or doing a flying chopper kick, although I wouldn't want to damage these awesome thrifted Miu Miu boots (you've seen them before). BAM-BAM! Ow.

That's the same black DIY cropped mohair sweater top I wore with my previous Meh outfit. Hard to see here but you the outline shows up a in the last black and white photo.

And my favourite red wool cape with faux fur trim. Look, I'm smiling at absolutely nothing! I wore this cape for Jean of Dross into Gold.

Rather than the Orient Express, I am clearly the engineer of a freight train; these pants are designed for hauling the big loads. The pants have that tiny blue and white stripe, which creates the moiré effect in the photo. Or maybe my hitnotizing massive butt has pinwheeled your googly eyes with its massive gorgeousness.

I am wearing:

• high-waisted train engineer dropped-crotch pants with ankle zips, thrifted (did I forget any adjectives?)
• Miu Miu boots, thrifted
• red wool cape, vintage, thrifted
• indigo beret, thrifted
• Tissot mechanical watch, vintage, gift from O
• mohair DIY cropped top, thrifted
• black under top, thrifted
• magic loupe, made for me by O

All this train action has exhausted me. Time to take a nap. Wake me up for snacks, please.

How do you carry your big loads?

Yellow Skirt Freak Show Update!! and more...

The Mystical Freakish Yellow Skirt

F R E A K S   O U T!!!   fer realZ 

Each teensy glitter bit gets its groove on when

SULTRY  JEAN of

Dross into (Disco) Gold 

struts into town....

See her freakishly fabulous FREAK-out in this 

magic spectral yellow skirt

Complete with S O U N D T R A C K!

We KNOW you wanna dance...

G O!   G O   N O W !!!

________________________________________________________________
Thank you, Jean. You look awesome!! Great timing for this post, for both of us...

AND -
Today is Visible Monday over at Patti's - which means it's time for Excruciating Elegance.

This outfit was soooo excruciatingly elegant that I wore it TWICE last week, yesterday and the day before that. I don't know if anyone noticed. I am currently in a video phase so I had to capture this look in a kinetic-wise counter-clockwise-like fashion. If the video looks blurry (and you are not ill after the first few seconds), lock and reload - it should be high-def.

This look is called "Bonjour Gung Haggis Fat Choy" for the French, Chinese, and Scottish elements it incorporates. Gung Haggis Fat Choy is a Vancouver cross-cultural event which celebrates Chinese New Year and Scottish Robert Burns Day. Haggis is a dish made of sheep heart, liver, and lungs; I've never had it.

The T-shirt is upcycled from a rag of a crap shirt. I lopped off the sleeves and transplanted one of them onto the bodice in elephant trunk-like fashion for supreme practicality. Naturally, I used black glitter yarn as thread. The robe was last worn here inside out. Everything is thrifted, ah, I mean purchased at the finest boutiques in Paris, New York, and Milan.

Let's raise a glass to silly celebrations and come up with our very own. I'm curious - what nonsensical celebration would you invent? Hugs, all!