Hat Attack 9, Stepford style, and Shop Secondhand First

I've been on the computer so much lately that my satin bow has become pixelated and I have turned into an animatronic Stepford wife! Thank goodness I could photoshop-out the power cable plugged into my head, which means I had better write this post for Judith's Hat Attack 9 (at Style Crone) quickly - who knows how long my brain's backup batteries will last.

"Gee, those moistened Q-tips work a dream at cleaning the venetian blinds. O will be so pleased. 

I can't wait to dust the lightbulbs and polish the bathtub drain."

Actually, being a Stepford wife would mean that I cook and clean and mend without batting an eye, when in fact I bat my eyes with great fury wearing these false eyelashes. It's the first time I've dressed up in fake lashes since I was about 12. I remember them clearly, Date Mates. Judging by my second photo, I don't think my gluing technique has improved since then.  

"Build me a pyramid and make it snappy"
Shocking non-Stepford behaviour! Clearly I am channelling strange energy from my green barrette.

This barrette was crafted by Kayla Gibbens, who gave it to Shelley of Forest City Fashionista for her giveaway, which is how I got it. Thanks, Shelley and Kayla. Shelley wore the same barrette in black and white for an earlier Hat Attack, here. I think this is one of my favourite head attachments - it's small, it's unique, and it's green; plus, it stays in place, unlike my hair which I teased into a stellar beehive that quickly fell flat, my fault for sparing the hairspray. I don't have a website for Kayla but if I get one, I'll let you know. (Edit: Kayla now has a Facebook page, Pxl Punk, so now you can contact her.)

Below is one my Stepford tricks for efficient housekeeping. I'm sure you can benefit from this tutorial on shirt-folding as well.

Oops, there's the timer for the roast and I still have to harvest my vegetables for the salad. Where's my extension cord? I'll never make it to the garden on battery power.

Thanks, Judith, for your hat meet-up. I'll activate the link when you go live on Tuesday.

PS - If I started acting Stepford, O would immediately take me to the doctor.

And this is what I wore today (Mon). This is for Bella's Shop Secondhand First link-up party at The Citizen Rosebud. 

My skirt is an oversized silk blouse with a scoop neck which sits quite nicely buttoned up below my waist. My hands are in my sleeves turned to the inside to form pockets, which creates a draping effect reminiscent of an Issey Miyake design. Everything here, except the shoes and tights, is thrifted. The short, heavyweight linen berry jacket is is short-sleeved. Flowing, flitty outfit, perfect for the springlike weather we are having today, 12C (54F). Flowers bloom on my legs.

Some of you may have seen this post without Bella's link. Horrors! I stand 100 percent behind her credo to Shop Secondhand First. Her featured blogger, Pao, is definitely a style and art icon for me too.

Visibling in the city - calm us down

Me on right, feeling vampirish. Ah, poor Jean. She comes to Vancouver a mere mortal and leaves as, well...

"Cut it out, Mel, or I'm throwing you overboard!" 

This photo shoot went something like this: "Did we get it?" "I don't know, I can't see." "Let's do it again." "Yeah, okay!" And again, and again. With lots of laughter in between, counting to ten with the camera timer like kids watching Sesame Street in the middle of a crowded thoroughfare.

Note the caution tape around us.

TOO MUCH FUN WITH JEAN of Dross into Gold, blabbing, shopping, power walking. And I broke a dish, oompah! What a privilege to hang out with Jean on her visit to Vancouver, and to meet her son and grandson. More photos of her trip are on her blog HERE. We were like a big ball of light illuminating the city, such a grand simpatico. Seriously, she is such a warm, smart, artist friend. I can see we're going places.

And secrets revealed - Jean is a real schtar. For REAL. Did you see her in this music video? You've got to watch it. Stunning! And she made that red top. Hold on to your hats, it's 1984.

!!JEAN STAR ALERT HERE!!

And if that weren't enough, the day before my Big Jean Adventure I got to hang out with Sheila of Ephemera and her Studly Man L for brunch, a wee thrift, and a preview of some serious shoe shopping during their anniversary pilgrimage to Vancouver. Sheila rather shamefully lied on her blog when she said there was no bum-pinching going on during this trip... Naughty. But no one is complaining. In fact, I feel rather left out! I had the honours last time here.

Happy anniversary to these two gobsmackingly smart, stylish, fun people. As soon as we walked into the Fluevog store another dapper gent asked them where they're from, he clocked them as out-of-towners by their sheer fabulosity. Sheila posted lost of excellent photos of their trip HERE, including the one below taken by L.

Oops, can't jump in those shoes. I look forward to future meet-ups - it'll be BYOWB (bring your own wild boar, insider joke inspired by a famous writer I know). 

Blogger meet-ups. Sheesh! From my computer into my meat life. It's surreal but oh so WONDERFUL!

Thanks to the inspiration from Jean and Sheila and L, my street style blog has groaned back into action. You can see them HERE.

Party of one, '30s style

Spy Girl Anne's 52-Pick-me-up '30s theme, bias cut and slinky.

Ooo, biatch face. Well, can you blame me after flying off to Paris for breakfast every morning for the past week on my personal Concorde? (It's the only one that was not decommissioned - parking is a challenge.) It's exhaaaausting, even with my flight steward Ferdinand to keep me entertained. Maybe I'll have sausages in Italy next week.

I made a post for these pics on Dec. 30 this year but couldn't bear to publish it, I don't know why. 

This maxi dress was $20 (or less? can't remember) marked down from akazillion dollars. Given its hideousness I can understand the need for the retailer to get it off their premises as quickly as possible. Heaven forbid anybody would actually don said hideous dress for swanning about their home for an evening of eating barbecue potato chips. Were I to dine on vanilla pudding, I'd have put on my white mink and diiiamonds as well.

My secret is out - I live on a cardboard stand which is rather inconvenient in a rain storm. This also explains why I am so two-dimensional. Clearly I was still doing Mel-in-a-box. 

I shall wear this dress outside for my morning inspiration walk when the weather warms up, maybe with a denim jacket or a kimono-type thingy and my black glitter platform shoes, also from said retailer's reject rack. In these photos I'm wearing my clear plastic-strappy sandals with clear acrylic heels - sorry no pics, I was concentrating on the dress, the MAN BROWS, and just enough makeup overall to make this an appropriate potato chip Occasion, oh, and it was New Year's Eve.

So I got to use these photos after all. Thanks, Anne.

Do you ever trash your posts? I've done it once before too, a post called My Worse Blog Post Ever Contest. I opened it but took it down about 15 minutes later. Miz Bagg wanted to see your worst. I decided I wasn't in the mood after all. But hey, feel free to join even if it's not official.