Where have your clothes taken you?

I can't believe it - I'm in Europe! Or is it Asia? I can't even remember. Everything is such a whirlwind.

Texas?!

No, no, no. It's France, maybe Italy, both of which are in Europe.

Val of @muse.fondue and @constancesnow on Instagram mused that this is an Italian beatnik look, Daddy O, and that I should be riding my scooter backwards behind a ciggie-smoking boyfriend, then taking a dip in Trevi Fountain. I think I should drive the scooter backwards myself. I'd definitely end up in Trevi Fountain.

Others saw hints of Agent 99, @suzannecarillo, and Jean Seberg, @fcfashionista. Sigh. What would I do without my friends?!

And check it out: I'm so good at posing now that I look almost identical in those two previous photos. It's uncanny.

Now, just so you don't get the wrong impression - I'd never go scootering all over Europe (Asia and the US) with just this one outfit. And my life is not all fun. As you'll see in the next snapshots, there were games involved as well. Who needs yoga!?

Healthy Body - Healthy Mind

I'm not sure if I'm playing rugby or soccer.  Does it matter? The point is to chase a ball, kick, tackle, and run for your life. And throw in some happy dances when you do good, preferably facing the camera. It's almost like social media.

I like the huddles most though (maybe that's in football, details) because while we're all bent over in that loving circle of friendship, I whip out my porta tea set and lace tablecloth for a hot cuppa on the field - so welcome during this cold weather, isn't it? Sometimes I bring cookies too, or Pop Tarts (TM).

I have to thank the brilliant photographers at unsplash.com for sharing these great background shots. Top to bottom: tao-xanh kim, sapan patel, jeremy bishop, marian trizuliak, and quino al.

And Margaret Manning of Sixty and Me fame has opened two articles based on previous interviews I had with her. They are HERE and HERE.

Finally, there I am for realsie below, in the stairwell dressed in used clothing - but damned fine used clothing. "Secondhand" always sounds better than used, but it is what it is.

This turtleneck and these sailor pants are from Talize Thrift in Delta, BC. Talize has a mind-boggling array of unique clothing appropriate for any style adventure. And shopping thrift is one small way I can help ease the burden on our distressed planet.

I've been wearing my hair down a bit more recently. Why not? And doing winged eyes. There are so many unexplored possibilities.

Happy travels, friends! Words of the week are hope and optimism - yeah! Or maybe you'd like to join my football team, the Mel Destroyers, for a huddle and a cuppa?

When it's time, I'll be linking up with Patti at Not Dead Yet Style, Visible Monday, and Catherine at Not Dressed as Lamb, #iwillwearwhatilike. A big thanks to Catherine for including me in her post "Celebrating 9 Fabulous Women Who Wear What They Like."

Happy maxi skirt with attitude

Hello, everyone! I'm on my way to Visible Monday at Patti's place, Not Dead Yet Style. It's a new week, full of possibilities... I'm ready. Nothing like a zesty lemon maxi skirt to sproing me up. I bought it at - gulp - Joe Fresh...new. (I hang my head in shame.) This skirt very boldly screamed at me as I gawped at it in the window about a month ago. I didn't flinch though - I knew the price would drop. And drop it did. I waltzed in and rescued it late last week for half price. I don't think the store had sold even one; every size was still on the rack. So sad but not surprising. (Where do unwanted skirts go?)

Here it is, the look that says, Don't get in my way or I'll flatten you in my happy skirt. O calls it The Willow Monster with Two Shadows. In fact, I can imagine silently levitating down the sidewalk in this upright position, frighteningly calm and zesty, very Japanime.

This is the best spinnaker sail in my closet! Today was breezy and I just couldn't resist gently holding out the folds to catch the wind. Whenever I'd stop at a walk signal, it would take seconds for the billowing fabric behind me to catch up. I wore the turtleneck to protect my neck from the sun but the fabric is light and breathes. And there was plenty of air-conditioning down below...

Details of the outfit:

• yellow maxi skirt (with pockets!), Joe Fresh, new, $30
• fuchsia silk top and teal silk top, hand-me-overs
• turtleneck, thrifted
• Michael Kors platform sandals, thrifted, Value Village
• sunglasses, new about 15 years ago, Sunglasses Hut?

I also had a kick in my walk because I was feeling energized and to prevent falling flat on my face by tripping over that hem. Did I also say this the longest maxi I own? Tip: People are friendly to women in lemon skirts.

Other News

I took down my art pieces tonight; the Baron Gallery exhibit closed yesterday. What a ride that was!! The people who attended my action painting workshop will be exhibiting their works for a week and the opening is Sunday, July 22, 2-4 p.m. Free refreshments. I'll definitely be there. Everyone is so incredibly talented, I wouldn't miss it. Thanks for your support during this exhibition!! I really appreciated it. 

Dizzy is the new neutral

It's Patti's Visible Monday again over at Not Dead Yet Style, her 50th Visible Monday. Congratulations, Patti! Great forum. Today's outfit, to celebrate, had me seeing double, triple, quipple.

Am I dancing or riding an imaginary scooter in that photo up there? I had a lot of positive feedback from people on the street in this Soul Train meets Spirograph apparel. Everyone's head was turned...and turned and turned until none of us could see straight - which was a refreshing way of viewing the world.

Oh no! I put my top on wrong - thank goodness. Wearing this top as a skirt is the ONLY way you'll get me in it. The cut-out on the front, or back if I twirl the top around, is cool, and the armholes are tucked up out or sight or I can wear them lower as pockets. This skirt, formerly top, also can be worn inside out.

I could have sworn I had a couple of hundred dollars in my pocket!

Details of the outfit:

• groovy stretch turtleneck, thrifted, Wildlife Thrift Store, $8
• skirt (originally a top), sample sale, Metallicus, $10
• stretch ankle boots, new years ago
• fingerless gloves, Canadian Tire, new (but with fingers when I bought them)

I also cut the foot part off a couple of black knee-socks and wore the tops of them over the tops of my ankle boots. I like the ankle knit with the knit of the fingerless gloves together.

That's all. I hope you have a fantastic week! See you at Patti's place.