I can't hear me. The Big Interview.

I painted my eyebrows white, well, very light blue, before I went out in the morning, and in this photo, taken when I got home, you can't even tell. So what happened to my makeup? Was it sucked into my body?! 

It's a pancake type from MAC, which means it's not tested on animals, a plus, unless you count myself. At least it washes off very easily, the part that your body hasn't lapped up already. 

My Big Interview was recorded a while ago for a podcast that went live a few days ago. The show is MaturePreneurial, hosted by Elaine Benoit. If you ask how it went, I would say it was kind of like snapdragons growing out of rocks, like these, which I photographed recently. I felt nervous but I pushed through it - I won't go so far as to say I bloomed madly, but I conquered another fear, and that's worth celebrating.

I arrived at the sound recording booth early, having decided to use the pro studios at Vancouver Public Library's Innovation Lab. A Skype interview. The facilities are free with a library card - computer, mic, mixer. The tech promised to set me up, but when I couldn't hear my own voice through the headphones, only the interviewer's, the tech said, "It's supposed to be like that." ?! NOT.

As a result, I was not only nervous but also flustered from the outset and didn't have a chance to review my notes. But I survived. Maybe it was better not to hear what I was saying. Heh. At least I could hear Elaine.

When the interview was over, I noticed something weird. My pant legs had been hiked as high as they would go, and when you're wearing palazzo pants, which I was, that's pretty high. Yes, I had subconsciously been raising my pant legs throughout the interview, a nervous tick I suppose. Hahaha! Thank goodness I wasn't wearing a dress! - there was a tinted window in the booth where anyone could look in.

So if you want to know more about me, have a listen HERE. Elaine has interviewed lots of interesting people, including Lyn Slater, who gave a detailed account of how her social media presence was born. The mysterious rising pants are in the bio photo there. A big thank you to Elaine for having me on her show!

That's a Desigual T-shirt that Shelley of blog Forest City Fashionista gave me, with "RAINBOW" splashed across the front in sequins, and butterflies, so I farked it. Shelley suspected I would. Nobody tells me happy words and gits away with it! Heh.

I added the phrase "Existential Angst" to balance things out a bit and wore it the first time with my tuxedo pants and a jacket I got from Sylvia of blog 40 Plus Style during the clothing swap at the big blogger meetup a couple of years ago. This outfit made me think of Tom Waits. And I'm wearing a couple of rings that O made me, also available in his Etsy store here.

And I'm wearing BROWN. Whaaa?! It was nippy and this dress is a stretchy wool blend. If I hadn't had the striped tights, I wouldn't have put it on. And I'm wearing my watch choker. It's easy to tell time because it's broken and time stands still. Of course you see my magic loupe too, also available in O's shop here, a handmade piece. He even shaves the lens to a custom size.

I don't know what I'm doing in that pose down there.

And one more outfit for the road. My huuuuge pants that will definitely fall down without my unisuspender or that chain belt I'm wearing. They are so cottony soft, double ply, by the Vancouver label Babs. And on top is my silk Donna Karan pyjama shirt. 

On my feet are my Velveteen Rabbit D&G shoes.

Ahhhh, summer is here. I like it. Not too hot, not too cold. For now. 

That's all for this week. I had a whole post written and scrapped it at the last minute. I took time to write it too. That often happens when I think too much. Sigh. 

In my last post I wrote how I just got a cart. Pffft. I keep forgetting to take it out, or don't take it out on purpose thinking, oh, I'm not going to buy anything this morning, and then what?! All-natural peanut butter, $3 off per jar?!! Heh. Must. take. cart. And fan.

I'll link up to Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style and Catherine's #iwillwearwhatilike at Not Dressed as Lamb.

I hope youse guys are in your groove, making the most of each day. As always, thanks for dropping by!!

Parisian men gone wild?

By the look on my face you'd think I'm reading Parisian Men Gone Wild.* But no - this is a slightly classier, weightier book, which can also double as a doorstop or lethal weapon. It's called The Parisian Gentleman, by Hugo Jacomet. The men here aren't doffing their duds but rather donning studs and cravats, pocket squares and socks, and cologne and suits - all of the very finest accoutrements of style respectability. (There's a glossary at the end of this post just in case.)

Jacomet wrote the book to address the short shrift he felt is given to French men's style compared to their female counterparts, by highlighting the makers and connoisseurs of Parisian gentlemen's fashion through the years. A friend loaned it to me.

It took Herculean effort to keep this heavy book upright while pressing the remote control and maintaining an expression of calm sophistication. 

This book was a quiet respite of beautiful existence. 

I couldn't help thinking that while a wealthy man can buy any of the exquisite items in this book, there's no guarantee he won't still come out an emperor with no clothes. As you know, the politesse, respect, and kindness that define a gentleman, or any civilized being for that matter, can't be bought at any price. 

It's summer and I'm too lazy to actually stand up for outfit photos. You'll have to imagine these outfits in a frontal full-vertical position. 

Speaking of wealth and style, I'm wearing a men's tuxedo shirt, discarded I suspect by a billionaire type gauging by the heavy fine cotton, monogram, labels, and removable buttons. I don't think it had been worn even once - it was still so chemically white I had to squint. Of course this garment required immediate farking.

I reduced the sides by about 8 inches and overlapped the collar and back of the shirt, as you see in the bottom right photo. I put a slit up the back as well and kept the edges raw. For the sleeves, I slip my hand through the opening above the cuff; no adjustment necessary.

The silhouette and back view are my favourite; the front is just your basic startling-white tuxedo shirt with long sleeves. I love the contrasting black thread. I chose it not because I was too lazy to change the colour on my machine - although that can happen - but because each stark stitch made the shirt visibly more and more my own. 

I've taken this shirt out for a test drive once on my morning walk, worn with my sneakers and tux pants, and with my hair down and aqua brows, as seen in the first photo, but when I wear wear this shirt next time, styling it to the max, oooh, I am going to enjoy it so much. Although I'm not sure I'm done farking just yet.

I'm linking up to Patti at Not Dead Yet Style for Visible Monday and Catherine at Not Dressed as Lamb for #iwillwearwhatilike. 

Also, I was interviewed a short while ago by REglam here. The article is called "Evolution of the Fashion Industry with Melanie." Do I even know what I'm talking about? Hwahaha. I appreciated the questions.

This has been a slightly cool summer, which I don't mind in the least. We've had a couple of hot days where I've had to resort to hiding in the shadows of light poles at each intersection like a bungling Inspector Clouseau to avoid the sun, as I may have mentioned before. I just wish downtown was a little quieter in the summer - but it is what it is.

Thanks for dropping by! Have a great week, all. 

-----------------------------------------------------------

*Girls Gone Wild was a wildly popular candid-camera-style video series which featured young drunken women baring their boobs on beaches while partying hard during spring break. The maker of these revolting movies became a multimillionaire, although he is now living in Mexico to evade US authorities.

Glossary just in case

doffing duds: taking off clothes; donning duds: putting clothes on

accoutrements: clothing and accessories

short shrift: not enough credit

politesse: politeness, etiquette

farking: upcycling, refashioning, and/or screwing up existing clothing or other things

Inspector Clouseau: fictional comic detective, most famously played by Peter Sellers