Let's meditate, shall we?

(warning: exceptional Language in this post)

After I do a questionable post, I like to do a cleansing post like this - spiritual, uplifting, chaste, pure. Won't you ohm with me? 

Just close your eyes and breathe in and out, concentrate on nature's verdant and really growing splendour - what the fuck, was that a fucking spider?!! - and think fluffy pastel-pink happy thoughts about - kee-ryste, am I sitting on a fucking bug?!! - that glittering rainbow magic of a bountiful She-universe sprinkling Love Pellets over - fucking no way if that's gum on my white tunic - our parched and gagging lives. 

Very good. And now, some uplifting meditation, eyes still closed - no cheaties (giggles) - while tenderly walking with antelope-footed grace in elegant daintily-studded platform shoes - goddamn side of my shoe is chafing my foot. Ahhhh, exhale. That was special, wasn't it? - where's the fucking spider!? There's nothing like pure snowy-whiteouts of the mind and surrender to vegetation, that which is still growing and that which is crumpled under foot, as succour for a wilty life-wand - WTF? Now open your eyes slowly with anticipation - goddamn sun, so fucking bright it'll wreck my photo - to my white outfit. (choir sings, rapture ensues)

Can you believe it? Neutrals. And some of you know how I've been whinging about the colour drainage in store windows lately. The good thing about eating your words is there are no calories.

I'm in a quaint park near my home - very secluded except for hundreds of windows looking down on me and a constant flow of traffic. I'm getting better at ignoring it all but it was challenging having 650,000 people in my yard on the weekend* and I only had canapes and drinks enough for two. What a pickle I was in. I needed some loaves and fishes fast, no, strike that, some pizza, calamari, and Bloody Marys, and, oh yes, fruity flan would have been most welcome as well. The real miracle is I didn't swear in this paragraph, but of course I never swear.

*attending Pride Parade

Details

• white jeggings, rarely worn but inspired by a post by Sylvia at 40+ Style, retail sale bin years ago
• beigy linen tunic with white trim, retail sale bin years ago
• white floaty under-tunic, sample sale years ago
• white blouse thing with collar, Value Village, deconstructed last night
• magic loupe, O made it for me
• studded platform shoes, retail sale

I'm including the shoes for fabulous Bella's Shoe Shine at The Citizen Rosebud, which she hosts on the first Wednesday of every month, but I don't see it yet, probably because she's taking a break. But here are my shoes anyway.

(Above written on Tuesday)

And next is what I'm wearing today (Wed) for Anne's Fruit Salad (Tutti Frutti) theme (peach, orange, lemon, lime) in her 52 Pick-Me-Up link-up at SpyGirl. I'm fruit flowers.

Every step is a new posing challenge. One must be prepared for paparazzi on every landing. But guess what? I was paparazzied (style-eyed) on my inspiration walk today by a handsome young man, Ben, who is a Vancouver street style photographer. So thanks to Anne's inspiration, I may be in his collection. I checked his tumblr when I got home, Flairspotting, and it will be interesting to see if he posts me... Sadly, my own street style blog is somewhat dormant at the moment.

IN CONCLUSION

I hope this little meditation exercise has helped you carry on with your day. I know it has helped me find my centre - and my top and bottom as well, the latter of which is getting easier to find every single day that I meditate on it. What a relief as I'd rather be human than an insect which only has a head, thorax, and abdomen with no bottom but SIX legs. Think of the pantyhose problem!

If you've not guessed, Miz Bagg is back in town. Who knows what's next.

PS: Powder Blue with Polka Dots posted a great photo of Norma Jean before she became MM. She summarizes everything I meant in the last post in one sentence with one photo. (Do you see the resemblance between Bella and Norma Jean like I do?) And I agree with Curtise's recent post about everyone's posts, if that makes sense.

Aqua brows and dizzy tulle spirographing

Jazz Fest Day 2.

Yup, nothing like those crazy spirograph circles to get in the mood. 

And my aqua brows with bright lipstick, no eye products - a face in colourful parentheses.

I met so many great people downtown today. The music was unbelievable! 

This last photo catches my mood best.

Details:

• ballerina dress, thrifted, vintage
• graphic top worn over dress, thrifted
• platform sandals, thrifted
• silky accordion-pleat underskirt, thrifted
• green beret, gift from gorgeous Ariane at Style Sud-Est
• magic loupe and pendant, O made them for me
• whale airship, from friend Monique of little lamp sculptures on Etsy
• mechanical wristwatch (I seldom mention it although I always wear it), vintage, gift from O
• tights, retail

That's all. This is my third post in three days. Extremely unusual. 

I'll be joining Patti at Not Dead Yet Style for Visible Monday with this. See you there.

Don't forget to email Shelley of Forest City Fashionista to get on the Freakish Yellow Skirt travel itinerary. 

Again, thanks, Shelley!

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!!