Is it comedy or is it simply life?

Look who's wearing the big pants now!

Pants as in trousers, but not just trousers: my palatial vintage palazzo pants, fully lined so they swish. The fuchsia of the ruffled blouse clashed madly with the red in the pants. Luckily, both sides surrendered in a detente refereed by an elastic orange neutral zone. Treaties were ratified and eaten. I was elected president. Hurrah.

No matter how I style these pants, I can never come close to Curtise of The Secondhand Years in her unforgettable RED Valentino pants, made even more so by her always-witty text. Here. Her pants are the stuff of blogging legend.

Next outfit:

I'm standing in poo. I thought it was important to share that with you. Urban parkland. Man or beast, who's to know? Was this some of kind of cosmic life lesson on the dangers of veering off the beaten path? Or a comment on this selfie/outfit? Have you ever tried to clean poo from glitter booties?

I bought that anime denim tunic/dress from a consignment shop during the meetup. Now I know it's too short for comfort without jeggings or pants -  next time. But I love the psychedelic tights.

And a new comedy video. 

In it I'm recovering from the let-down of the awards ceremony and the discovery that my statuette is in fact a rubber glove over a dumbbell, not "gold made to look like rubber," which they told me.

The clip is also based on some emails with Suzanne Carillo and Sue of  A Colourful Canvas (we're bound for life after the meetup). This video is in part a response.

Oops! This video was a limited-run feature. It is now closed. These are stills from the video.

I also got a couple of AWESOME packages in the mail from Sheila of Ephemera and made a video of that, but I'll save it for the next post. I don't want you to barf from overload.

You've come a long way baby! 

- referring to these pants for surviving the decades intact. Yeeeah. 

I'm linking this up to Anne of SpyGirl and her 52 Pick-me-up: Honey/Service/Loyalty. The pants have a couple of shades of honey and their service is keeping my lower half decent in a groovy way. Also, the day I wore this outfit I bought a cell phone - I promptly returned it the next day. Close call.

After my last couple of snarky and also crude posts, I lost a few followers. I'm afraid things will only get worse from here.

How's your week been?

Silks and sci fi

One of my neighbours was in that movie, Chupacabra vs. The Alamo. A chupacabra is a demonic-looking beast that preys on outdoor animals. The creature sucks all the blood from its victims through surgical-like puncture wounds. Some say the chupacabra is a contemporary legend; others, especially operators of souvenir shops, swear they are real. Whatever the case, they are excellent fodder for a B movie. You can read about chupacabras here. 

:::: hip-slung silk blouse as skirt, silky golden top, pastel yellow tights, ostrich ankle boots, similar to here ::::

::: the "chupacabra sheriff look" is edited from a photo posted here ::::

I sometimes enjoy a B sci-fi/monster movie, especially if it's raining outside, I have a steaming mug of hot chocolate, and a mountain of pillows and junk food, but I miss the days before computer graphics. No realistic gore/slime fest created in a CG lab compares to my imagination when it comes to freaking myself out, which is why I also prefer books to their film version. Below is one of my favourite sci-fi clips, the running scene starting at 20sec, from Ultra Q, a Japanese offshoot series of Ultraman.

I'll be linking this up to Sacramento's Share-in-Style: Autumn on her blog Mis Papelicos. This outfit counts because it is in a favourite autumnal colour of decay, gold, and it also has blue, the colour of mould on cheese, a decrepit colour snap. Curtise's post featuring outfits in the colours of mould, decay, detritus, and fungus was truly inspiring at The Secondhand Years. I bet you've seen it already; look here if you haven't.

B movies: yay or nay? Seen any notable ones lately, something worthy of a slacker afternoon?

Above is what I wore today, Sunday. The tunic/dress says "Happy" on it. Having a clothing manufacturer factory-stamp "Happy" onto its fabric makes me feel as joyful as having a bank machine tell me to smile. I shall change this writing posthaste to Hoppy or Hippy, anything but Happy. That's just me, even though, thankfully, I don't object to the emotion itself. Everything here is thrifted, except the shoes (ultra discount) and the magic loupe from O. These skinny jeans, made in Dublin, are plaid so I shall link them up to Anne's 52 Pick-me-up: Plaid at Spy Girl.

Patti (Not Dead Yet Style) and Greetje (No Fear of Fashion) have both worn Turnip Head. Hee hee. I like their own heads better, who wouldn't?, but Turnip had a good time.

If you haven't seen Charlie in the Freakish Yellow Skirt, you'd best make tracks to her blog, Fur Earwig. Now that's what I call Happy styling!

Yellow Skirt Freak Show Update!!

saucery

SAUCERY

...S A U C E R Y...

. . ."S A U C E R Y". . .

A nickel gets a peek

at the travelling yellow skirt freak

show of golden arse-blooming magic

whirlagig riots on Smug FAIR

maiden, witchery wonderfully

wrings the hex out of each day

*********

C U R T I S E

The Secondhand Years

********

See the fascinator fountain

bloom eerily from her ENGLISH head garden

in a spray of floral delight

Step Right UP

Come one. Come all.

G O !   G O   N O W !!

_________________________________________________________________

The magic of Curtise combined with the magic of the skirt... Incredible styling and incredible graphics. You have to see what Curtise has done if you haven't already. FYS has a way of pinching our imaginations (in a good way). Thank you, Curtise, from all of us! xo

VOGOFF December 2012 issue

Here it is: the VOGOFF December 2012 issue. This is what I have been busy doing during my spare time. Miz Bagg was a taskmaster. I hope you like it - I certainly enjoyed putting it together. My thanks to all the wonderful people who contributed to this issue. Mwah!! Maybe YOU will be in the next one...? Click below to read it in pdf format.
VOGOFF December 2012

EDIT
Issue 1 (test issue)
Issue 3
Issue 4

Jumpin' jacquard, luscious lurex, and twirling tulips

I have some special pieces I've been longing to show you in real life, but since that hasn't happened yet I decided to do a photo shoot last night. How much fun was that? - especially with these garments...

First up is a maxi skirt which I received from gorgeous Curtise of The Secondhand Years who got it from Terri from Rags Against the Machine in a circuitous transcontinental effort. (In this same package of love I also received a fabulous velvet maxi dress with a lacy sewn-in blouse featuring leg-of-mutton sleeves, here. Can you believe its amazingness?) Here is the skirt, first in closeup and then how I styled it.

Details

• vintage maxi jacquard skirt with rear zip/button enclosure, gift from Curtise and Terri
• jacquard vest, hand-me-over, downsized three sizes
• vintage jacquard jacket, thrifted, home-made (the price tag said "Mad Hatter at the Tea Party")
• aubergine silk blouse, hand-me-over, many sizes too big
• red wool beret, thrifted
• brown crackle leather Miu Miu boots, thrifted
• blue brooch, craft fair, sold as hat adornment

I wore a variation of this outfit a couple of weeks ago but was unable to photograph it that day even though I felt bee-yoo-ti-ful in it. The jacket is heavy like upholstery fabric - it can almost stand up on its own - and the skirt doesn't have any vents in the bottom which meant I had to take feminine steps thereby enhancing my wearing pleasure. My approach to this outfit was, if I'm going to wear one piece of jacquard, why not wear all my pieces at once? I call this "Runaway Chesterfield." (I always get confused between brocade and jacquard - I hope my use here is correct...)

The next piece I received in the same package. It is an absolutely delicious lurex capelet, special from Curtise. Oooh, she knows my heart well.

Details:

• crappy dreamy shoes, retail, with vintage kimono-strip laces, gift from my friend Sharron
• glitter bronze tights, retail
• lurex dress, thrifted
• lurex capelet, Curtise
• red wool beret, thrifted
• black long-sleeve under-T, thrifted

I haven't worn this ensemble out yet because the shoes, worn only once, already need sole reinforcement, hence the "crappy" descriptor, but this outfit is DEFINITELY an incentive to get that done. The capelet is very cool because it has little sleeve openings sewn into it. I would  need to wear a wrap or shawl of some kind over it for outdoors, thus adding to the drama and glamour of the sparkles.

And the finale, ta-dah, this is a gorgeous maxi dress with a tulip motif and beret which I received from awesome Ariane of Style Sud-Est.

Isn't this dress divine? At first I wasn't sure how to style it - the bodice is attached to the skirt in a zig-zag line you can barely make out in the first photo - but when I added the belt everything fell magically into place. This dress is so filmy and dreamy; it's the most fun to twirl in. You should hear the swishy sound. And the green beret, I have to thank Ariane for reintroducing me to this beautiful colour! I love it now with my white hair. The denim jacket turns this into daywear but the delicate hemline requires dry sidewalks. Thank you, Ariane!

That's all. Sorry for such a long post. I have woken up every day wondering if this is THEE day for any of these outfits and I'm glad I have finally photographed them to share with you. So hugs to Curtise and Terri and Ariane for making possible this post and my happiness wearing these amazing pieces.

When you're stumped by how to style an outfit where does you mind go first: scissors? scarves? belts? donation bin? I was tempted to shorten the dress and I'm so GLAD I resisted!!

No cure for velvet maxi dress nostalgia

This dress was singing "American Pie" so I had to Respect the Tune by throwing lots of gew-gaws around my neck and my beret on my head, and slipping on my lace-up boots with grommets (and sneaky side zippers). I would wear this elegant dress to drive my mud-spattered pickup truck, if I had one, pedal to the metal, not because the dress is unworthy of a Rolls but because I love the contrast and would love to listen to that song on the truck's radio.

This dress has been travellin', travellin', travellin' from Terri's place (RAGS Against the Machine) in the USA to Curtise (The Secondhand Years) in the UK, where it did an abrupt U-turn back to North America and my greedy little mitts. Bwa-ha-ha. I adore it! Excited hugs and clapping with glee to Terri and Curtise for this awesome dress. In this rescue parcel (it arrived on "Day from Hell") Curtise also included a moving card and a stunning looorex capelet, as well as a brocade skirt, also of Terri origin, all of which I shall show you soon.

Details of the outfit

• homemade velvet maxi dress with a built-in lace blouse with big puff sleeves
• mantis pendant that I made; loupe that O made; beads and bracelet, old retail
• boots, thrifted
• beret, thrifted

The velvet ties on the dress are very long so I criss-crossed them in front before knotting them in back. You can see them in the next photo, which also details the accessories.

Aack! That's a big face! My lips are orangey! I would have preferred a frosted pink lipstick but alas don't have any. I'm wearing a black shirt under the dress for warmth because I wore only my brown wool wrap on top to go out. Can anyone correctly date this divine dress? "American Pie" came out in '71 and that's what came to mind. Terri?

So look out. I'm tearing down that dirt road in my pickup truck to Patti's Visible Monday. I mustn't soil my frock because I'm going dancing afterwards. I look forward to seeing what you're all wearing.

In Other News

Earlier this month beautiful Smiley Clara awarded me another Liebster Award. Thank you so much, Clara, although sadly I notice that her blog is no longer there! To fulfill at least part of the awardee obligations, I am responding to her questions below.

1. Hey, how are you feeling today? With my heart

2. What was the most inspiring thing you saw this morning? My coffee

3. If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would play you? Gloria Swanson

4. And who would play your love interest(s)? Gene Wilder

5. If you were a song, what song would you be? "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred, LOL

6. What would be your drag queen name? Miz Bagg

7. What is the best present you've ever been given? A jigsaw (among others)

8. If you could be anything in the world, what would you be? A volcano

9. What was the most romantic moment in your life? Top secret

10. What would you do with a million dollars? Spend it

11. What do you want people to know about you? I exist

Instead of naming 11 people to carry on this award, etc., I am sprinkling it like confetti over everyone with best wishes for a great week! Thank you, again, Smiley Clara. Where are you?

Sometimes simple is best on a trip to fake Paris

No shagariffic boots or bright colours here, but I feel just as visible in this black and white outfit as I do in my most brilliant plumage. This is exactly what I needed to wear on my stroll to my favourite cafe in fake Paris, or maybe fake Italy - does it really matter where? It's all in my head anyway. I'm putting this in Patty's wonderful Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style (even though it's already Tuesday). I've also put this up at Everybody, Everywear, which coincidentally has a monochromatic theme right now.

I'm looking rather dazed here, like a cat that has suddenly gone rang-y for no apparent reason. In fact, I'm feeling rather rang-y myself. 

TOO MUCH NOISE IN THE CITY!!! 

CAN YOU HEAR ME ABOVE THE DIN?? 

YES? 

THEN LET ME TURN UP MY FREAKING CAR STEREO OR 

RIP THE MUFFLER OFF MY HARLEY!!! 

Sorry, just venting here...effing, yeah! (heavy metal side effect)

The black things hanging down the front the outfit are the ties of the skirt. I carry a straw bag with this demure outfit and wear my other camera slung across my torso for style scouting. They're not in this photo because I needed to unburden myself as soon as I got home, which is when I snapped this. 

The Outfit

• wide-brimmed black hat, retail
• wraparound circle skirt, retail many years ago 
• flats, Geox, retail many years ago
• light cotton boat neck, three-quarter-sleeve top, thrifted, Value Village

This is the cartoon I drew of me in this outfit on my way to fake Paris (or Italy) with two of my favourite feline friends.

I'm including another outfit cartoon below. O and I had seen a marmalade cat hunting a dragonfly one night which I mentioned the next day when I saw Lisa at Dreamz n Wishz wearing fabulous firefly earrings, plus she had gone out for dinner at Firefly restaurant. She suggested that the cat might make a good cartoon. 

I was wearing Steven Madden slim trousers with ankle zips, and a shirt-dress, which Joni at Walking Colors had reminded me of, pointed black shoes, and my beret.

It has been hot here. By that I mean mid-20s tops. Compared to some places I should not be complaining, but I have been wilting terribly. No amount of watering is able to revive me. I have TREMENDOUS respect for all those bloggers weathering greater heat who manage to look so cool and fabulous, even in light jackets! I sleep sometimes with an icepack wrapped in a towel at my feet or under my neck, which helps. I hope it's not hot this week because I want to wear tights, but the odds are against me...

Other Housekeeping...

I drew this cartoon based on an incident that Curtise at The Secondhand Years had with Ms. Grabby Hands at a thrift sale. In the real story, Ms. Grabby TOOK Curtise's treasure. I could write a not-so-sweet heavy metal song about that too!

I sketched the cartoon below a while ago; it made me think of Robin at her blog a little sewing.

Okay, that's all. Whew. 

I hope you have a tremendous week! I've only been managing to post once a week lately, but I still make the rounds even if I'm not commenting as much as usual. You guys are all ROCK STARS!!!

Would you give a blog award to THIS woman?

As style blogs go, would anyone in their right mind give a blogger appreciation award to THIS woman?

Well, the inimitable Curtise at The Secondhand Years has deemed me worthy of the 

BLOGGER APPRECIATION AWARD! 

(Homework assignment: Debate Curtise's soundness of mind.) 

Many hugs and kisses to you, Curtise! 

Thank you. I'll try not to to let you down... 

FYI: The above photo is unretouched, that's exactly what my hair looked like when I crawled out of bed - and, yes, my face IS that blurry in the morning. This look fits right in with Patti's (Not Dead Yet Style) retrospective of '80s looks.

It always amazes me that what I tap away on my keyboard makes it past my front door! 

To fulfill the obligations as a reigning Blogger Appreciation Awardee I must NOT do the following - pose nude in a magazine (darn it), give the finger to children, hork in public, hike my skirt to pull up my tights (commonly accepted blogger queen practice aka CABQP). A winner MUST, however:

1: Thank the person who nominated you by linking his/her blog; 

2: Answer the four questions below;

3: Award the Blogger Appreciation Award to fellow bloggers;

4: Let the Bloggers know that you have nominated them.

THE Q&A

1. How long have you been blogging? Since January 31, 2012, just over three months.
2. Why did you start blogging? Dressing in clothes that resonate with my feelings makes me feel invincible, my light shines twice as brightly, and it was always a let-down to come home after a spectacular inspiration walk with nobody to share my own style with. The blogger community is full of smart, funny, amazing women who provide that outlet and feed back into that positive cycle. 
3. What type of blogs do you like to follow/read? Answer: Many kinds, but mostly blogs by strong, witty women who appreciate the good vibes that echo through their homes, their communities, and the the world at large through the simple act of wearing things they love and sharing their life stories. 
4. What is the one thing you'd like to improve on as a blogger? Answer: My photos are mostly indoors; I'd like to get more outdoor photos. I'd like to integrate other stories into my posts...

NEW AWARDEES:

It has been a difficult decision, but in the way of the samurai (treat serious things lightly, light things seriously) I have decided to treat this serious thing lightly - I stress out thinking of my blog favourites.

1. Ariane at Style Montreal Sud-Est
2. Jean at dross into gold
3. Rosemary at Forever on the Catwalk of Life
4. Anne at The Frump Factor
5. Shelley at Forest City Fashionista

Some of my awardees have probably already won this award? I wouldn't be surprised. If you have, let me know and I'll pass it to another  - so many to choose from!!

__________________________________________________

Now -What I Wore

I missed Patti's Visible Monday, which was very disappointing, so here's what I wore Sunday.

And another shot mannequin style below to show the fitted bodice, which I love.

Details of the outfit:

• vintage cotton day dress, home-made, the colour of faded tea towels or curtains; it brings to mind the scent and sound of spray-starch or the shush of the hot iron over finger-flicked water.
• refashioned blouse, puff inserts sewn into the sleeves, many, many darts sewn into the bodice in reverse-Sharpei style
• bamboo fibre tights
• thrifted Dorothy red shoes

Ms Bagg has invited me to the Sahara for the 2020 autumn/winter collection shoot so I shall be indisposed until the end of the month. (Seriously, I am burning my candles in the middle now...all good, though.) So, I am sorry I have not commented on your posts lately, and my posting has been irregular too. I'll be back by the end of the month with quick peeks to everyone in between. 

Until then, dress fabulously! Live fabulously! Shine with your high beams on! (okay, you can interpret that last one however you like...)