Crimson rose petal coat and the big red bag dress

I can't stop wearing red. Bright SCREEAMING red. A young, well-dressed man downtown said to me today, "That's a really red outfit." I said, "Why, yes, it is." Man: You really stand out. Me: I suppose I do. Man: That looks great! Me: Thank you. And then he resumed talking to his imaginary friend.

This dress is size 4, designed to be baggy, which I ADORE. I love the really long sleeves and how the neckline plunges to the waist. As sneer guard, I wore a black camisole with a lacy red slip on top of it. And those are my combat boots, designed to combat boredom and anchor big dresses. They tromp most satisfactorily.

The vintage, crimson rose petal opera coat is from my fairy vintage mother, Su. Mwah!! And Sam, manager of My Sister's Closet, directed me to this dress, which at the time was a crumpled red ball of fabric but she knew I'd love the colour. Oh so right! (The dress was wrinkled because it had just come in and not been steamed yet.)

That's all I have for you this week. Better than nuthin' I hope. Of course I'll link up to Patti at Not Dead Yet Style for Visible Monday and Catherine at Not Dressed as Lamb for #iwillwearwhatilike. I hope my business cards come this week so I can finally be real.

PS - My Sister's Closet is throwing a fundraiser comedy night in Vancouver on Sep. 20 at VanCity Theatre, featuring Mike MacDonald and Melanie Rose. Proceeds go to Battered Women's Shelter Services. Details are here. 

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Edit: A huge smooch to Shelley of Forest City Fashionista for including me in her list:

"8 of the Coolest Outfits Worn by 40+ Bloggers this Month" 

She wrote it to balance out the lists on Bloglovin' where only young mainstream women count. It's an honour to be included among these creative, independent-minded women. 

Getting fizzy wrapped in PET bottles

Oh, the sweet ecstasy of well-resurrected garbage.

This dress is comprised of PET bottles, textile waste and/or other organic materials. It debuted in H&M's first sustainable line, the Garden Collection, in 2010. I found it at the thrift shop for $5, repeating the trash-to-treasure cycle yet again, recycling at its best. I call it the garbage that keeps on giving.

The dress is so feminine it cried out for a little edge - after all, it's been around the block a time or two, despite its excellent condition, like myself, heh - so I added a black scarf choker, black tights, Steve Madden combat boots, a satin obi belt, and an essential bouquet holster from a big old belt, which also made me feel a bit like a little VW bug with a vase on my  dashboard.

Wouldn't you agree that a bouquet creates a friendlier image in a holster than a gun? "Halt or I'll kill you with kindness!" - or face-slap you with flowers, which would in fact hurt. The plastic is hard and wretched. I bit the stems, like one of those women who bites stems and makes it look sexy, and kind of gagged. Another flower defense would be to hold them like garlic or a cross, as above, to keep away vampires.

And the rear view of the garment. You can see the little sparklies on my scarf choker and the obi ties, as well as the massive kimono-inspired sleeves. I couldn't believe this dress was on the $5 rack! My hair at the back is not as grey as the front. I call the shade souris (su'-ri, French for mouse, which sounds better than rodent).

Note how I've hooked my thumb conveniently in the bouquet holster. Clearly it's a multipurpose accessory, like a pocket that doesn't hold a damned thing.

The bottom half of the necklace is from H&M and the top half chain from Tokyu Hands craft supply store in Tokyo. The flower pin  (used for modesty) was a gift made by Suzanne Carillo for the +40 Blogger Meetup last summer in Vancouver, and the earrings were thrifted.

Putting things in perspective - mulched flower in a concrete jungle.

I'll be linking this to Patti at Not Dead Yet Style for Visible Monday, Catherine at Not Dressed as Lamb for #iwillwearwhatilike, and Anne at SpyGirl for 52 Pick-me-up: Silver/Confusion/Clarity (my necklace).

And this last photo is my favourite of the day. The air exhaust system that vents into the alley kicked into major effect after the delivery trucks had all left, leaving me free to play in the stale air. I'm glad I wore a slip because the wind often blew the dress up to my dashboard! Too bad this dress isn't scratch 'n' sniff to freshen things up, but then it would probably smell like Coca Cola and I'd just start to fizz.

Yup, I felt like a million bucks in this outfit. Right after buying it I found out about the H&M/Bloglovin' "Breakthrough Fashion Blogger of the Year" Contest which required styling an H&M piece. The winner gets to be mentored by Man Repeller Leandra Medine for a year. I linked my Instagram photo of this outfit to the contest and this post as well.

I just looked at some of the other entries - oh, why did I do that?! Serious twenty-somethings wearing pressed neutral outfits professionally photographed, compared to my lightweight photographer, Tripod, a remote I call Dick, and my middle-aged-tween antics in piss alley.

Well, if I don't enter I definitely lose, and I must remember: comparison is the thief of joy. I had a blast doing this shoot with this stellar dress and would have done it regardless of any contest. Why? Because -

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You can't keep good garbage down!
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Recycling and feeling fabulous, how cool is that? I hope more big fashion retailers and manufacturers get on board that sustainability train and make good on their promises. Have you worn any good garbage lately? Do tell. Do they even make scratch 'n' sniff clothing?

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Thanks for joining me all you new followers! And thank you to Jessica at Warning: Curves Ahead 24 Things Women Over 30 Should Wear for linking to my post with Shelley's awesome photo here, which has turned into a too-good-to-be-true ending to her stellar visit to Vancouver, 2.5 million views and counting. Bwhahaha! Hurrah for freedom of choice !!

Shelley's post on our get-together is HERE.

My VOGOFF magazine guidelines page is almost ready. Can you believe it's taken me this long? Don't answer that! Heh.

Dumpy to punky tartan jacket

BEFORE

(If you believe in the sanctity of a traditional vintage tartan jacket, leave this post right now!)

I bought this vintage wool jacket by Skirtmaker of Canada for only $5 at My Sister's Closet a few months ago. As I walked by, it poked me and said: PUNK! Never mind that it was much too huge on me - to close it, the front flaps overlapped the pockets - I had to have it. We'll just see who's the punk here.

O took these photos. The green stripes are painter's tape which I used during the ideas phase.
Turnip Head kept jumping on O's back and laughing.

The wool fabric was beautiful, except for there being so much of it, and I loved the padded linebacker shoulders, cuffed sleeves, stiff interfacing, silky red lining, and matched seams. But as is, all this jacket was good for was taunting me. I couldn't ignore its punk pulse!

Then finally I had an idea; rather, I had a bout of bravado with scissors.

AFTER 

Much better...aaah. I ran straight to the alley. And I didn't use my camp stool this time.

Love this camera angle.

This isn't your cup of tea? Perhaps you'd like something shaken and stirred. Like my Everest-best hair.

Details: This whole outfit was probably less than $30. Bwahaha.

• origami tartan wool jacket, upcycled, thrifted for $5
• thrifted black jeans, $5
• thrifted Steve Madden army boots, I don't remember, $15?
• thrifted white GAP large T-shirt, $5
• gifted magic loupe

I've got my late-seventies/early-eighties Vivienne Westwood groove on, especially with the peaky hair, which gave a stellar performance for my shoot, even in the wind - a woman asked me how I keep it so vertical so she could tell her son. Heh. 

Probably I couldn't replicate the jacket design again if I tried. There was serious origami work going on to achieve the asymmetrical design.

Rear belt flaps as front straps, buttons near shoulders, reconfigured lapel on left, asymmetrical closure.

The original rear belt was transformed into two front straps and I sewed the pocket flaps onto the back of the jacket as embellishment. I didn't reduce the width, merely sewed two button just under the shoulder and folded and darted and hacked as needed.

I also transferred an existing buttonhole from the cut-off fabric to the end of one of the front straps (left side in photo); it was easier than making a brand new matching buttonhole, at least for me. What a slacker! 

Decorative pocket flaps.

Below the collar is down, but I think I prefer it up.  

I thought of making the profile more body-hugging, then decided, nah, I like that bag effect. And I thought of hanging chains from the hem, but, no, that would be too prosaic. But I did feel like doing the pogo.

The alley here was busy. I wanted to say, in a very ladylike voice: Excuse me, sir, can you not FRIGGIN' SEE I'M PHOTOGRAPHING MY NEW JACKET HERE!!?? Nyunh, puh.

Accidental snap when a van had the audacity to photo bomb my set.

I'm so happy I could share this with you. That's one of the great things about blogging that keeps me going.

I'm hooking this Jacket-I-Love-So-Much to Patti's Visible Monday. It didn't have much of a pulse, but it was certainly "not dead yet style". I need to see what you're wearing! 

And below, one final styling I wore today.

Breakdancing? Doh, wrong era. (photo was rotated, floor removed)

This outfit cost $15, minus the shoes: thrifted t-shirt $5, thrifted mod-ish wool maxi vintage skirt (with a new zipper) $5, jacket $5, magic loupe gift, thrifted shoes maybe $15.

Okay, that's all. It was a big post. It was a big jacket. I'm working hard at the moment and had to resort to the concrete box. Better than nothing I guess.

Have you got clothes taunting you? How do you shut them up!!?

Hat Attack, Mega Blogger Meetup, Turnip Head

HAT ATTACK 18, graciously hosted by Judith at Style Crone. My humble submission: the red beret.

The bulb is out, not the one in my head, the one on the ceiling in my concrete-box-of-a-photo studio, which made for some interesting shots today. My head bulb is flickering as well from power surges which creates a rather distinctive disco ball luminescence.

Everything I am wearing is thrifted, from the Steve Madden army boots to the red wool beret. And look, there's my fake smile up there! [Edit: I have just joined Sacramento's fabulous Share-in-Style: Masculine Look at Mis Papelicos. I figured the army boots would fit. See you there!] 

Yesterday I saw the Advanced Style documentary by Lina Plioplyte and Ari Cohen when I scored one of the last tickets of a sold-out screening. The audience, mainly women over 50, clapped enthusiastically at the end of the movie, then, after casting more than a few side-eyes at my highly suspicious attire, trundled home in their winter parkas and jeans. I loved the movie but the lobby ambiance was a shock.

TURNIP HEAD NEWS:

Shelley of Forest City Fashionista wore the Turnip Head in her recent post HERE. The Vegetable was thrilled to be part of such a stupendous outfit.

And...

...this Turnip Head on a Banksy image was in fact the first email submission I received on the Turnip Head Tour, sent from my friend TT, whom you may remember from his provocative comment which sparked the Travelling Yellow Skirt Freak Show. I didn't put this image up until now because I didn't realize Banksy artwork was copyright-free.

And MEGA BLOGGER MEETUP!

Yes, it's true. This summer in Vancouver, July 24~26. Suzanne of Suzanne Carillo: Style, Smiles and Stories, made this awesome poster. Go to her page HERE and read more about it, and make sure you grab a sidebar image too. We hatched the plan during the meetup with Sue of A Colourful Canvas: Stitch, Style, Smile. I know that you will bring more style to Vancouver than this city has EVER seen, than CANADA has ever seen. More details will be available as the date nears. Suzanne is our Official Liaison Executive.

Whew. That's all. Greetings to everyone! Life resumes to normal or what passes as normal for most of us. Let's get on with it, shall we?

Silky and Jacquardy

This is what I wore.
I liked it very much.
The patterns are splendid.
Silky and jacquardy.

Olive Oyl boots
Not a toe box but a toe cave
Aaah.

I capped the patterns with my dark beret, gloves, and shoes.

Otherwise, these patterns would have been leaking down my limbs.

Inspired by Megan Mae and her Mori Girl styling.

Details:

silky dress, thrifted, homemade (that neon lime at the hem is the dress lining)
jacquard jacket, thrifted
beret, thrifted
Olive Oyl boots, thrifted
tights and socks, retail
gloves, retail
seafoam underskirt, thrifted
dark brown turtleneck, thrifted

Going to Visible Monday. Thanks, Patti. Hostess with the mostest.
Going to check out the lay-deez.



My Olive Oyl army boots

This is what I wore on Monday, an outfit that made me feel oh so Pepe Le Pew, the animated romanticizing French skunk, although the footwear was decidedly more Olive Oyl from the Popeye cartoons. That's a whole lot of Looney Tunes for someone wearing just, um, black.

The pieces:

- quilted cotton biker jacket with anti-cold turned-up collar, sample sale

- wool wraparound skirt, thrifted

- black riding pant jeggings, sample sale

- black army boots, thrifted, a score for $10

- lurex diamond-patterned thigh-high socks, Hue brand, retail

- fingerless gloves, upcycled from the Canadian Tire automotive store

- wool indigo beret, thrifted

The photo came out a bit dark so I had to boost the brightness, but it turned out okay because now you can see all the colourful scuffmarks on the wood rail behind me from the grating of the garbage bins. Oh, the romantic life...

And...

Hit Us With Your Floral Stick! Floral Week Update

This is what I wore TODAY pictured with my new friends, a couple of raucous, fabulously attired dames out on the town for the day. They've been pals for 40 years and their smiles and laughter were contagious. This is one of my favourite filmy dresses, last worn here.

This photo is doing double-duty: it's here and over at my street style blog, which is a first. When I see me in the photo it looks like I'm wearing a brown bra over my blouse because the blouse colour is so similar to the dress bodice. Bwa-ha-ha. That makes me love it even more.

Sarah at Misfits Vintage said it's arbitrary Floral Week, so I naturally joined in, see last post.
Other bloggers that of know of who have worn florals this week include:

Ariane at Style Sud-Est

Dylan at Dylan's Dress
Lynne at Practical Paralegalism
Krista at Petee's Palace
Helga at Helga von Trollop for a mighty double whammy!

And keep your eyes open for Jean's flower power at Dross Into Gold

If I've missed anyone, my apologies. Do let me know.