Bring on the hounds, and Hat Attack 29

Did I the mention the post-gala party? (what gala? see here) The wild frickin' partying all frickin' night long?!! Boozing on dregs, semi-nude prancing on linen-topped tables, catwalk histrionics with dirty cutlery aids, drunken Chicken Dance-ing down gold-foiled halls hung with dour portraits of past presidents, Carol Burnett-style yodelling in the men's bathroom, giggly Hide & Seek with security, and boisterous kitchen raids for more dessert. Did I mention that?

No? Maybe because in reality I staggered home early in exhaustion and slept, collated my photos, and got a cold three days later like a respectable middle-aged tween. Such a wuss!! One tablespoon of wine these days and I'm out. But I can dream, can't I? - if that kind of drunken debauchery still counts as a dream...

I was feeling better today so it was time to call in the hounds. Yes, nothing like double-dose houndsteeth for extra bite and snarl - that's good medicine. But no more muzzling with my facemask - that phase of my cold is past, thank goodness. I try to mask up to keep my germs to myself, plus the mask is like a little security blankie for my face. I put a photo of me in one of my masks on Instagram here. 

And it's time to join Judith's 29th Hat Attack at Style Crone - I can't miss it. I made sure to wear this lovely thrifted indigo felt beret. I used to wear it all the time and it felt good jamming it down over my ears again today. It still fits! - I was worried because of the massive head bloat I got from all your generous comments about the fashion show. (Thank you, by the way!)

I don't like the gloves with this, but, hey, it was cold. And the belt is sticking out - drats. My PA is fired!! The coat is a high-end cashmere-wool blend from My Sister's Closet, $5 rack; the Italian slip-on leather booties are from there too, so pointy the toes turn up. And thrifted houndstooth Steve Madden stretch ankle-zip pants, O's real rockstar button down from Tokyo days, and my magic loupe from O.

I'm linking these hungry hounds up to Patti's fabulous Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style, where she's serving up ice cream cake. Woo-hoo!! That's something to party about.

Speaking of O, he made me another ruby and stainless steel ring with a tension mount. It's the third in a set of three rings made from chunks of stainless steel, each with increasing difficulty to make. The first one is here, the second is here, and this one.

This beauty really, really glows like an LED when the light hits it, there is so little contact between the stone and the mount with a very narrow band, which lets in even more light. Also, because the stone has such an elevated setting, sometimes I get an intense red reflection on my finger underneath. Again, he has polished the steel to a black finish.

I was excited so I had to show you. You'll see this ring frequently in my photos in the future.

I'm still coming down from the high of the fashion show. I obsess about all the things I could have done better. Live and learn. But I found out that I love styling other people, which I wasn't sure I would enjoy. Good to know.

______________________________________________________

Finally,
I must mention my great thanks to Still Weird Zine for featuring me in "10 Fashion Bloggers Who are Keeping it Weird." Yesss. I am honoured to wear the weirdness banner, especially in such august company. Cool blog full of music, arts, and weirdness. Hurrah! Have a look.

And Sally at Already Pretty gave me a fantastic shout-out on her Lovely Links on Nov. 20 for my patterny outfit that refused to go wrong, here. Thank you, Sally!

I hope you are all well and dressing every day like you're on the catwalk. Yee haw!!

Hat Attack 4

Ack ack, HAT ATTACK! Hello, Judith and fellow hat-wearers over at Style Crone.

'Tis I in an elfie shot with my lovely beret, one of my signature hats, this one in dark indigo wool, thrifted. I used to wear my berets firmly planted over my ears which I considered startling appendages best hidden. Now that I am more comfortable with berets and ears, I simply perch my beret like zat, jauntily on my head.

The simple beret is a tidy little lid that keeps your brains fresh and seals in your goodness. Plus, people in Vancouver at least always think you're from France if you wear one. (If I wore a green helmet would they think I'm from Mars? Um, that's a rhetorical question...)

This photo makes me look like an insect. But you know what they say - it's always better to look like an arthropod than a gastropod, such as a snail. My hair is slightly blue from the shampoo I use (on purpose). The platinum is barely holding on but my natural silver is proving good backup.

I'm also wearing my: patterned coat, thrifted; pink scarf, a hand-me-over gift from lovely Sharron, and; out-of-frame black tights and frump shoes. I've previously posted a very similar look here: My Familiar Outdoor Wear. This was the perfect snappy outfit for dodging the usual cast of ghouls, zombies, witches and pirates on my sojourn downtown for a mightily satisfying chin wag with Sandra (Lens is More) over a steaming cup of freshly brewed coffee and sneaky eats from the counter treat bowl.

Let's embrace noble November as a very special month satisfyingly wedged between October and December and third among the Magnificent Four "ber" months. Why isn't it Januber, Februmber, Marmber, Apber, etc.? So much easier don't you think? Have you got special plans this month, I wonder? DO TELL!

Gowning in the alley with a hat condition

Boing. I'm back.

That's my beret in my hand. It's not really a hat attack, more like a chronic hat condition. See my hat in action below. (I think the frame is bigger over at YouTube.) Hello, Style Crone, I'm so happy to join your hat celebration, Hat Attack No. 2. Although this shoot from Aug 30 wasn't planned for the occasion, how happy I am that it works. Raw footage, style parkouring with Sandra.

A hard rain scoured the ground in the dark. When the sun came out, the back lanes were not pristine, not putrid either - I couldn't say the same for the previous day Sandra and I filmed there. This is the perfect location to capture our kwalidy and crassmanship on film. Despite the breezeless day we stumbled upon a mighty wind blowing eau de fries and fish from the ventilation shaft directly behind and above me. It was for Art, ladies and gentlemen.

Wearing: thrifted black satin opera gown with thrifted black T underneath, magic loupe O made me, beaded lucky charm bag, D&G thrifted shoes, thrifted indigo wool beret.

This dress is by Deborah Davenport who specializes in couture clothing, $12 from my local thrift, worn yesterday, Aug 31. Apparently Ms Davenport is now buddies with Dr. Phil (big Hollywood pop-psychologist person) and this dress was probably made to measure for someone Important (yeah, me) with hand-stitched lining, etc. The dress fits like a glove. It's so tight at the knees, in fact, that I had use the cut curbs at crosswalks because I wasn't sure I could climb onto the sidewalk on the other side (not kidding). Sandra guided me on my walk home. Again, for Art. 

We're filming for VOGOFF. Hilarity and Serious Fashion ensue. Drahma, dahlings. Miz Bagg is practising her krumping and twerking but is not quite ready for prime time. 

I hope you are all well. I flit about, here, there, here, there. Hugs to you!! You are all extraordinary inspiration. Have you got your groove on? See you soon. I'm also invisibly connecting to Patti's Visible Monday, which is on holiday this week.

Question: So what happens when you find your mind?

Lurex in the alley

As the bouncer of this back-alley speak-easy I should practise looking more formidable. I'm afraid this look says, "Um, don't come in here, okay? You're so tall and your brass knuckles are making me anxious. Don't make me step outside my comfort zone, please? You'll regret it? Grrr." I was loathe to brace myself against the walls because I had not brought any handiwipes and I'm simply not getting paid enough to do so.

Details

• powder-blue lurex dress, thrifted
• powder-blue beret, thrifted
• ivory bamboo tights, retail
• long-sleeved white T, sample sale
• patterned socks, retail
• falling-apart booties, retail
• magic pendant, made for me by O
• other neck stuff, thrifted

After my 18-hour shift and time out for good behaviour, my boss gave me ten minutes for a lovely lunch of day-old peanut butter and jelly on white bread at the abandoned car lot across the way.

After my long shift, it's no wonder I had to punch up these photos with photo editing, which I don't normally do for my outfit posts other than contrast adjustments to compensate for poor indoor lighting.

My booties are almost done and I wear them with the attitude, "Hey, I LIKE them like this." The stretchy coating is peeling off the uppers, the seams are coming unsewn at the back, and I've had the heel taps replaced several times. There's nothing left to do but paint these suckers. I tried marker on the right boot just before I went out, but paint will work best.

I'm hooking this outfit up to Patti's Visible Mmmmonday at Not Dead Yet Style. Yeeeeah. I'm tired after my long shift so if you wouldn't mind just strapping that backpack of Long Island Iced Tea to my back and sticking the straw in my mouth I would be much obliged. See you there through bleary eyes. (Okay, not really. I'm fine, although recovering from a weekend photo safari, Sandra's term.)

Photo Editing Details if you're interested:

Junkyard photo:

• blurred and de-coloured some of the background which creates depth and focus on the foreground
• saturated colour on me and the foliage, especially on my socks, necklace, and lipstick
• adjusted the brightness and contrast

Bouncer photo:

• same as above except for I didn't blur and desaturate the background

I never "fix" my wrinkles or play with my eyes unless it's part of an overall filter - it feels too cheaty. These changes may not be easily detectable at first glance, but what you see is unnatural in real life, for example, the fence is very blurry and it's less than a foot behind me, not to mention the nearly black-and-white world in the background, but sometimes that's more real-feeling than I can stand. Depending on the time spent, any mediocre photo can be elevated with tweaking. So don't sweat your VOGOFF photos; editors here are standing by.

I decided to do this shoot outdoors by myself with my tripod, which I have only done a couple of times, but I see so many of you braving the public alone I decided to go for it. Except for the eyes of several highrises upon me, I was alone. I was safe, I liked the challenge, and I like the results. What can be better than that?

My familiar outdoor look

This is what I often look like when I go out in the mornings - patterned coat over whatever I have on underneath, bright tights, the most fabulous footwear I can find that my feet and the weather agree with, my of-the-moment favourite pink scarf, and a beret in whatever colour I am in the mood for. In this particular outfit I added the wide black elastic belt with patent leather near the buckle.

Under the coat you can just glimpse a wavy-patterned stretch tank-style dress which I wore on top of a black long-sleeved T.

This winter sheath feels fun and somewhat chic - or am I delusional? I think the dark belt with the beret is what makes this more grounded. The rang-y cat expression is compliments of my past week. I do know that when I've had the chance to slip away on my selfish/self-care inspiration walks last week I felt very swingy and bouncy in pattern and colour, yet polished and so-fist-icated with that subtle hat/belt containment. "Good morning, good morning, good morning...!" was my silly birdsong to the world. And guess what? It responded with a Good Morning back. How cool is that?! 

Details

• thrifted coat
• thrifted D&G shoes
• thrifted beret
• mustard tights, retail
• scarf, gift from Sharron
• thrifted belt
• thrifted stretch tank dress
• thrifted black T

Are you happy with your outerwear or do you see it as a necessary evil cloaking all the fabulousness you're wearing inside?

I am linking up to Patti's Visible Monday. I look forward to seeing everyone there! It's been a while since I joined the party.

PS - I put up a VOGOFF sidebar image. Feel free to grab as you like or not. Doesn't Desiree look awesome on the cover?! This is the link: http://bagandaberet.blogspot.ca/2012/12/vogoff-december-2012-issue.html

Vintage wool dress for mystery

Today I wore one of my favourite odd dresses, a heavy wool garment with little gold studlettes, graduated in size, on the sleeves and front pocket, and a flared skirt. The dress was three or four sizes too big when I thrifted it, so in standard slacker fashion I simply sewed up the side seams to fit and lowered the shoulder seams at the top. Although this is a frequent go-to item for evening music recitals, I also enjoy it for daytime wear as well. There is a mysterious air about this garment which brings to mind the classic holiday-season movie Bell, Book and Candle in which Kim Novak, a witch, falls for a mortal, James Stewart.

Walking down the sidewalk I felt so deliciously witchy in the rain shadows that I was sure that if I turned around quickly, boo!, I would catch a dozen black cats (named Pyewacket) frozen in stride, amber eyes blazing. I always liked Kim Novak far better as a witch than as a mortal. I wonder if the street lights flared and burned out in a trail behind me.

Details of this ensemble:

• vintage dress, thrifted
• black tights, retail
• medium-heeled shoes (aka frump shoes), retail
• magic loupe, O made it for me
• magic pendant, O made it for me
• fingerless gloves, upcycled from Canadian Tire automotive store
• beret, thrifted
• seafoam cotton skirt underneath as a petticoat, thrifted

Below is a closeup of the dress fabric with the studs, and this is the tool-box bag I carried today, which came with a tool O ordered. Isn't it divine? I shall customize it at some point but I was content with the plain exterior today.

Happy Visible Monday! This week I'm able to make it over to Patti's place at Not Dead Yet Style. I missed you all last week... Time to catch up. Do your clothes put you in a mood or does your mood put you in your clothes?

Also, regarding my last post for Vogoff magazine, I greatly dislike ageism, and yet I defined this faux magazine's audience as women +40. Big mistake! I know so many wonderful bloggers who are under 40 and the world would not be complete without you. So if any of you want to contribute to Vogoff, I heartily welcome your suggestions.

PS

AND - I am very excited and flattered to be featured in an interview (here) posted by 

Sylvia on her amazing blog, 40+ Style (TM). 

The piece is called: 

"How to be more creative with your outfits: Style lessons from Melanie." 

Thank you! 

Sylvia is the kind of woman who could put on a scratchy potato sack and make it look cool and breezy in Singapore heat. If you haven't see Sylvia's style yet, do go have a look!

Oh dahlings, meet my little wittle Pucci jumpsuit

Oh dahlings, why, oh why, did I buy this $2,000 Pucci jumpsuit? Am I, as they say, fou?

But is my jumpsuit not jolie? Especially with my Miu Miu boots? In the above photo I am Puccicking in my foyer. And below I am Puccicking again at my back door. As you can see, I simply cannot let you inside - the mess is, as they say at my chateau in France, horrible.

Yes, jolly frigging right this piece is jolie. I paid 19 bucks for it at House of Vintage Fashion. Bwa-ha-ha! And it's not Pucci. Frankly, lacking a label I have no idea WHAT it is, and I don't caaaare. But I can tell you this: this polyester jumpsuit madness made me feel like far more than a paltry $2,000, especially on a rainy day.

Details of the outfit:

• vintage floral polyester jumpsuit, thrifted, House of Vintage Fashion, $19
• brown crackle leather Miu Miu boots, thrifted, Wildlife Thrift Store, $9
• quilted cotton biker jacket, sample sale, Metallicus, $20?
• indigo beret, thrifted, Community Thrift Store, $10?
• magic loupe pendant, O made it for me
• black wool turtleneck, thrifted, Value Village
• fingerless knit gloves, retail ($5?), Canadian Tire automotive store

The room above is in fact dark grey, but as soon as I walked in it turned white and multicoloured tongues unfurled from the walls to blow happy raspberries at me. I swear it's true. I was drenched in fruity wall spit! 

The couple on the balcony, overwhelmed by delirious contentment gazing at my Pucciesque explosion of floral goodness as I leapt past, immediately turned to stone. Even distracted birds were flying into the walls. That's the power of style, my friends. Yup, the power of style.

Sandra, bandmate and blogger of Lens is More, and I were at it again, combing downtown for photo ops and behaving rather badly. But we have no shame... 

Pay no attention to my moustache. Whatever you do, don't look at my moustache. That black thing, don't look at it - it's not there, the black moustache thing. Kidding aside, the bronze arm under my nose makes me feel like a true artiste like Dali and ready for a sneeze at a moment's notice. See Sandra's blog for a photo of her with a moustache - if she posted it... It was her idea.

Nyuck, nyuck, nyuck. 

So much architecture to climb, so little time today. We really ought to bring a step ladder on our next outing. 

I shall be linking this post to Patti's fantastic Visible Monday at her blog Not Dead Yet Style. I missed last week - bu hao. I look forward to seeing everyone there. I hope you've all had shameless weekends. 

Have you ever had someone mistake your vintage finds for designer label apparel? I'm sure many of you have, and I admit getting a laugh when the two are confused. If I really HAD paid $2,000 for this "Pucci" jumpsuit, most of you would think I'm mad. I considered trying to fool you but in the context of this blog, that would be almost impossible! But what if all my blog's "thrifted" finds were really new designer labels in disguise? Would you think less of me?

Finally, I have been LOOOVING everyone's twee-free tulle photos! Huge hugs to Sarah at Misfits Vintage for setting off this tulletarianism! See her Tutu and a Teacup Challenge if you want to join. Liberate your inner bitch ballerina. You'll feel better. Really.

Good outfit posts require a neutral background...

I used this neutral backdrop to bring out the subtle patterns and muted palette of this outfit. Bwa-ha-ha.

This is my Breakfast in the Himalayas look. In this outfit I can also imagine sharing hot apple cider and chocolate croissants with Indy Jones in an alpine chalet. I don't know why exactly but this ultra-polyester paisley vest turned inside-out and worn with my beret always elicits references to the Himalayas and Tibet. Last I checked these were not fashion staples there. Maybe it has something to do with the soft leather belt strapped around my upper torso or the capris?

You'll note the double-bagging, courtesy of a reminder from the magnificent Desiree about the joys of doubling your bag pleasure. My love affair with the heart bag continues...

Details of this outfit

• silk blouse, several sizes too big, hand-me-over
• leather belt, thrifted from Value Village
• vest, inside-out, several sizes too big, thrifted from True Value Vintage for pennies
• capri pants, side zip, consignment shop Turnabout
• patent leather shoes, thrifted from True Value Vintage for pennies
• heart bag, thrifted from Wildlife Thrift store
• brocade bag, gift for plant-sitting

The secret to this outfit is my shoes, which have invisible hydrofoils on the bottom so I don't actually have to walk, I just skim the top of the sidewalk. And I didn't have to pay extra for that!

The backdrop is courtesy of some mischievous elves who broke into my studio the other night intent on creating me a decent neutral backdrop for some professional-quality studio photos. Weren't they sweet? I don't think they're finished yet - a little more neutrality is definitely required. (Aren't elves that visit in the night supposed to make me new shoes!?)

I'll be prancing about in this outfit at Patti's stupendous Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style. I must see you there. Hugs, everyone.

Rose-petal-soft red pants, mmm

Hello, all. Rain here - and that can only mean one thing: more colour. I wore my patterned coat today too, one of my fave pieces.

Details of my outfit today:
red-rose, thrifted D&G velvet pants that even feel soft as rose petals
vintage patterned coat made in Tokyo
gifted teal silk XXL blouse
zipper tie (!) and O's vest
scarf from Mykonos and reading glasses I bought at Vancouver Art Gallery

I had to use my street style camera today because my other one is out of commission for a while, so the settings were different. I took down a white curtain backdrop, but forgot to use it. Oh well, next time. Hope you all had a great style adventure today.

If I photoshop out the background it would look like I'm flying.

Colour on Warp Factor 4

I love when colours clash (sometimes) - and today was one of those days!

Details of what I'm wearing:
gifted Cirque du Soleil sleeveless T
Fiorucci patterned jeans bought in Tokyo over 20 years ago
Miu Miu boots thrifted for $10 (and the next day I saw them in Vanity Fair, score!)
maxi cardigan with very useful pockets by Metallicus
ultra lucky life pendant hand-made by O for me, stainless steel

Apart from the pendant, my favourite thing here is my matryoshka teacup holder, which I made with the help of O who custom-made the brass fittings, as you can see in the photo below. Nothing like drinking my favourite coffee at my favourite coffee shop from my favourite teacup from my great great great grandmother, which my mother sent to me. Mmm. I have a couple other teacup holders that you'll see sometime here.

I'm excited to take part in Visibility Monday for the first time, although I've been following Patti's blog, Not Dead Yet Style, for quite a while. In fact, her blog was the first style blog I ever stumbled across. Thank you, Patti!

Sorry, I've had to photoshop here because I have yet to fix my lighting problem, but the colours are pretty accurate.

You can see the brass fittings in the far right photo, and O made the slits in the top for the strap to go through.

Rain means colour

My colour quotient usually rises with the inclemency of the weather Sometimes I have to force myself - but perseverance ALWAYS pays off. Overall, I'd say knits are my friend today. I like the flirty way the colour peeps out from my coat.

Details:
blue stretch skirt, long-sleeved T by Metallicus
gifted pink silk top, gold metallic bag
voodoo magic pendant & coloured beads, bought in Tokyo 20 years ago
gloves from Winners
thrifted beret, coat, striped stretch dress, shoes (Hush Puppies!)
mustard tights: changed my life

QUESTION: Do you have a particular piece of clothing that changed your life? For me, these mustard tights I bought a few years ago are the foundation of my style bravery - I had to wear clothes to match the glee I felt wearing them. I started small and who knows now where it will go?

Oof!

Military Bearing?

My favourite thing about this outfit is the brown socks over the black tights so I'm not too matchy and all the men's pieces. I'm getting pretty good at knotting men's ties.

Details:
thrifted white shirt made in France with 26 tiny front snaps
thrifted pinstriped skirt, boots, tie, beret
men's cashmere overcoat and vest: belong to O, custom made for him so I must be careful!

This is one of those outfits I wear and people ask me if I'm from Paris, although I get that fairly often anyway. Put on a hat in a sea of yoga pants and immediately you're an out-of-towner.

I've included another B&W photo. It looks like I'm a general looking for enemy troops cresting a distant hill. I'm hoping the dork factor may diminish the more I get used to posing but better lighting would be good.

My First Post

This is frightening. I started an outfit blog before featuring DRAWINGS of my outfits but never me in them: 1) I was scairt; 2) I felt like a dork; 3) I live a Japanese lifestyle, no shoes allowed indoors, so when I DID try to take pics, I had to run back and forth to the camera without shoes, then put my shoes on real fast standing on a paper towel, then pose before the self-timer went off - lots of photos of me bent over. Not a good look! After posting a month's worth of illustrations, I took the blog down anyway. It was freaking me out.

Now I've decided to take photos where I CAN take them - in my art studio. No shoe worries and my art is like a security blanket. I'll try to mix up my backdrops a bit so you don't get bored.

I want to thank you, outfit bloggers, for your posts You have given me courage and inspiration. I LOOOVE checking you out in your fabulous looks. There is so much ugliness in the world, so your efforts are greatly appreciated!!

Details of this outfit:
vintage patterned shirt in a torture fabric (love it)
vintage gold upholstery fabric pants (what's with the torture fabrics today?)
thrifted shoes, beret, embroidered leather belt
vintage sunglasses
vintage cape - I LOVE this cape!! 

QUESTION: Am I weird or does anyone else like the feeling of odd fabrics on your skin?

This look has an old-world feel to it so I thought I'd try something black and white. If you were to see just this photo you would probably never guess I took it in 2012. Sometimes I'm blurry because I still have the problem of running back and forth to the camera.