New favourite handbag alert!

It's not possible! No way! My lunchbag handbag has been usurped by a sneaky handbag interloper?! Oh yes, yes, and yes!!

Introducing my new absolute favouritist new handbag. I didn't know it was possible to have such a handbag crush. I'd sponsor myself if I weren't already doing it. But, really, I should ask for more - I egregiously undervalue my services. Heh.

This is a vintage shiny handbag, vinyl I'm pretty sure, "A handcrafted Bernard Original, Made in Canada, Montreal," probably late '50s/early '60s. That's handcrafted vinyl, everyone. I've had this bag in my collection for several decades (yes, you read that right, from Value Village back in the day), but it never really sang to me until now. Until I wrote on it. Yesss.

One side says: "I'm not the accessory - she is!" And the other side says: "Handbag attitude." Indeed.

Below is the genuine handcrafted vinyl interior, which features two sleeve pockets, one on each side, and a zippered pocket in which to squirrel away flat, totally top-secret stuff.

I have to say, this bag was the most fun bag I've ever carried around town, and I've carried a few. I couldn't get more than a couple of blocks without someone smiling and stopping and asking about my bag. Of course, one might expect that reaction when carrying one's bag out front like a cross against a vampire or a stiff-armed Frankenstein with a dribbling baby, in a happy way of course, not a horror show way, to show it off.

No, I just swung my bag at my side, all lah-ti-dah, going about my business, but the bag cried out for attention even when I shushed her. She made me feel like a million bucks.

Speaking of a million bucks, I adore the co-star of this shoot, the Jacqueline Conoir suit - she is a local designer. It's a shame I didn't get better photos of it - I was obsessed with the bag. The black fabric has a circle motif, which you can only see in certain light.

I bought the suit a couple of years ago at My Sister's Closet and only wore it once. In fact, it was in my donate pile, but by taking in the pantlegs by about 3 inches on each side, and adding buttons, one black, one blue, a couple of inches over on the front, I've decided I love it. You can see it pre-upcycled here. It was definitely a more feminine styling.

But now guess what? I'm selling this bag! Gaaaa!!! It freaks me out! You must all know that saying: if you love something, set it free, if it comes back, it was obviously preprogrammed. Heh.

No, what I mean is, I'm ready to set this free for real. I am not kidding when I say this is my most favourite bag ever. The bag itself has been with me for decades, not an easy feat, and the upcycle has made it come alive, but letting it go will be part of a letting-go process in general in terms of my closet.

AND, I want a new camera, one that will do bokeh backgrounds. I adore my point-and-shoot, but I'm ready for something new, not a replacement, but a DSLR with a super-fast lens, which makes this purchase an extravagance I'm willing to sell things for. If I didn't want a new camera, I might not sell this, but letting-go is a good thing, right? I keep telling myself that.

I may undervalue my other services, but the bag, non! I am selling it for US$150. If you are interested in being an Accessory to my plans, heh, please email me and we can work out the details.

As my friend Mr. Wonder says, Signed, Sealed, Delivered, it's yours. Own a piece of Bag! Heh.

I'll link up with Patti at Not Dead Yet Style for her Visible Monday, thanks, Patti, and Catherine at Not Dressed as Lamb for her #iwillwearwhatilike. Thanks to you as well for hosting. See you there!

Pantsuits, white hair gel, and chest coolers

I should be singing. Something '80s.

It feels like autumn and I am enamoured with suits, jacket/trousers, with a tie or huge plastic flowers pinned to the lapel.  And stark white shirts, spray starched - you can almost hear the fabric crack with each elbow bend. Maybe this fixation comes from the back-to-school air, the words uniforms, regimentation, thinking caps, and pencils. 

This suit is an indulgence. An Emporio Armani vintage set, made in Italy, thrifted. I watched it for weeks in the shop without much interest. And then one day I tried it on. By happenstance, there was a new white men's shirt in the change room at the same time. I bought them both. And the next week I found the tie. I'm in grey.

A season of lines - straight, crooked - and unpredictability. A woman in a suit also zigzags definitions. Not blurred lines so much as smudged and messy, peskily impure for slotting pegs in boxes. Of all the clothes I have ever worn, nothing has elicited more hostility from men than the pantsuit. To that I say, with a jaunty flip of my coat flap - kiss my pantsuit ass. 

In my hair I've put Manic Panic white hair gel. Seriously, it coats your hands - and hair - like paint, but it washes out. I love the subtle effect on my grey. What's great about this gel is it allows me to play with colour without the commitment of a dye. Today I bought a small tube of blue - about $12 Cdn. I'll let you know how it goes. (Not sponsored)

And below, another farking project.

My alien/marshmallow/panda/anime/ghosty/crow shirt. And boob cooler. And just-in-case-I-suddenly-get-implants shirt. And instead of white hair, I did white eyebrows (slightly blue) and nude lipstick. So pale, so pale, waiting for the ship to beam me up and away to the jelly planet.

I've heard it's a thing to pose like you've just taken your finger out of your mouth. Uh, I won't do it again. I met up with Sue of A Colourful Canvas this week and she taught me another trending pose where you just droop open one side of your mouth. Oooh, sexay! Hahaha!!! We both laughed trying that one out. Sorry, no photos! But people in the cafe may have been alarmed. 

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

So what's up with you? Think you'll try that gel? Or the sexy droopy mouth pose? Show us! Hahaha.