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Showing posts with label striped dress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label striped dress. Show all posts

Monday, 31 July 2017

Never too much colour

This dress is originally from the bastion of fast fashion, H&M, one of their eco-recycled-garbage (ERG) collection, but I bought it pre-loved. Of course there is a real feel-good, corporate-speak name for it but I can't be bothered to check - I like ERG.


I blogged about it the first time HERE as my entry in an H&M contest, a completely different styling with an alley shoot - lots of fun. But I didn't win - my fizz was apparently too flat (or maybe too fizzy) to refill these recycled PET bottles. Judging by the women who became finalists, my contents were decidedly past their best-before date. All I can say about that is - old food can be good. 

Cases in point. Have you ever experienced the dry chewiness of an old marshmallow? Bliss. Or the ecstasy of eating a chocolate bar you'd lost in the glove compartment for over a year? (Question: Did anyone ever really put gloves in a glove compartment?) And what about grapes? Old grapes taste great in wine, although some of my old ones are just sour. Well, semi-sweet.

The bell bottoms are by Rip Curl, thrifted. The booties are thrifted too, not my first choice for this outfit but I needed a heel. Many of my shoes are in sick bay right now with heel ailments. Seriously, footwear should come with insurance or a Dr. "Bones" McCoy fix-it wand from Star Trek.

You can see all the extra stuff below: magic loupe pendant and ring by O, available HERE, handmade ghost-on-a-swing necklace by friend Monique, a hoity-toity brand leather wrist wrap (gift), leather belt with silver buckle by Josef (say it like it's French), booties, DIY T-shirt, and my favourite DIY praying mantis pendant made from an on-sale Liz Claiborne Christmas ornament. Those insects are amazing creatures. Did you know that the female often devours the male after coupling?


A woman wrote the following comment in response to an article about praying mantises in Entomology Today, which I stumbled across while doing research.

WARNING: This paragraph deals with the animal kingdom. Don't read it if you are squeamish.
I followed a female mantis that took up eye-level residence on a pepper plant last summer near my door, and she eventually mated with at least four different males, and for several days had two on her back at the same time with more males standing around expectantly. The female nibbled an eyeball of each mate, then finished the other eyeball, then eventually ate the whole head. Each male stayed attached to her for several days, ending up as discarded wings on the surface of the flowerpot a foot below after a new male took up position.
Moving right along... With a cart.


I dug this neon lemon robe and red, white, and blue hooded garment out of the alien pod vault a few days ago. Static, just hanging there, this outfit looks like almost nuthin', but in motion it flies. The robe gently laps at the legs of unsuspecting passersby with the slightest breezy provocation. I wasn't sued for it either. Or devoured.


These weakling pixels - they just can't seem to capture this neon colour. I bumped the saturation on the photo below but it didn't help much.


I got those Zara shoes out of the vault too. The dress thingy is sleeveless and has a front slit and zip. The Chanel sunglasses are also a gift. The loupe and ring, O made me. And that's a mechanical Tissot watch, which, if you've forgotten, means you have to wind it up by hand. And it has 17 jewels! It's old too. O reconditioned it and machines custom parts if it gets stuck in the past.



I posted about another outfit this week on Instagram if you're interested, HERE.

That's all for now. I had a wonderful meetup with some fellow bloggers this week, but that will have to wait.

I'll link up to Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style, hosted by Patti, and #iwillwearwhatIlike at Not Dressed as Lamb, hosted by Catherine. See you there.

I wish a company would sell old marshmallows so I don't have to age them myself. They seldom survive to old age in my home. What about marshmallow wine?


Monday, 7 May 2012

Cafe Peignoir Cocktail Dress

After yesterday's activity - the art opening, which I shall write about soon - my whole body felt like jello with relief today in the vein of "It doesn't matter what I do today because yesterday is behind me." This is a liberating state of mind with which to approach one's closet! I thrifted a satiny bubble skirt with a wide elastic waist for the opening and decided at the last minute not to wear it, as often happens when I shop for occasion-specific attire, so I decided to wear the skirt today with my black tights and pickle-stabber shoes. Despite their fierceness the shoes are ultra-comfortable because they are elasticized around the opening.

Colour was desperately needed so I called upon my rainbow stretch dress, last worn here and here. But something was still missing... My fabulous peach peignoir! I thrifted it several weeks ago and was dissatisfied with it's tent-like hang, so today when I threw it on I belted it.


The photo does not do justice to the fullness and filminess of the peignoir or the satiny sheen of the skirt underneath. I can only say that walking down the sidewalk felt absolutely heavenly. Swish, swish, sashay. I saw a woman's jaw drop - it was a first! And that made me swish even more wildly with a ridiculous grin. Why not? Yesterday is behind me (even though it was one of my best days ever!). With the coat on, this outfit made me feel like I was going to an evening cocktail party along the Seine; I made do with the next best thing - my favourite coffee shop. (That black lump in the photo is my camera for street style spotting.)

Details of the outfit
  • peach peignoir, thrifted, Community Thrift Shop, $18
  • bubble skirt, thrifted, Wildlife Thrift Shop, $10
  • shoes, new a couple of years ago
  • rainbow stretch dress, thrifted, Value Village
  • spring coat, new, Winners last spring
  • white T-shirt, new a few years ago, Athlete's Foot!



What I love is how the cinched waist makes the peignoir flare. The fullness of the skirt also accentuated the coat's A-line created with the top button done up. I like this look much better with the coat. I think next time I might wear a different coloured T underneath. What do you think?

At the coffee shop I was oblivious to everyone around me as I scribbled about the opening and drew my little picture, then on the way home I ran into a wonderful gentleman I had style-eyed several months ago. Now I have lots and lots and lots of work to do...

This peignoir is perfect for Visible Monday! Here I come, Patti! Bonjour, everyone.
Big hugs and thank you's for your well wishes on the opening. They really worked! You guys are the BEST. Hugs again.

Friday, 23 March 2012

Rainbow-striped flamenco sausage

Surprise - me again, dorkily smiling into nowhere... dum-dee-dum-dee-dum. I should have done The Clean Line! I love how this skirt flares out flamenco-style under the rainbow-striped, alien-fabric sausage dress on top. The purple heels again got nixed at the last moment in favour of my boots - my feet said demurely, "TODAY?! Are you out of your Freaking MIND?!!!..."


And here I am outside. My friend took these. Look how I am breathing! My expression is a bit demented in the second one - I did a little tap-dancy thing and had just landed, plus I don't have a clue how to tap dance. 


The look:
  • circle wrap-around cotton skirt reminiscent of a table cloth, about $15 a couple of years ago
  • rainbow-striped, alien-fabric sausage dress, Value Village, an "I-dare-you-to-buy that" purchase (or maybe it was more like "If you buy that, I'll buy this..." I wear this baby by itself in the summer when I'm feeling daring, but I tug it down more so it's not so short and often wear tights with it.
  • long-sleeved black T under the dress, purchased new from an athletic store
  • beret, coat, bag, all thrifted, all loved
  • booties, thrifted, $6
  • cashmere gloves, gift
Happy weekend, everyone!





Saturday, 28 January 2012

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!





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