Dirt Chic

Post-Christmas Thrift Fun & Some Resolutions

I have a cold.  I'm not complaining; dem's just the facts.  It's not a big deal - it's not a bad cold (not a good one, either, but you know what I mean).  It does not mess up my deadline.  In fact, reading about 19th-century oratory and Aristotelian rhetoric has been comforting and enjoyable.  My normal position for research, study, and writing, is in a comfortable spot, including stuffed partially under the covers of my bed.  So.  Nothing has really changed.  Except I need Kleenex.

Ashley - yes, the one and only, my personal shopper, personal photographer, dear friend, owner of the fabulous Dingaling Vintage - came to see me yesterday.  (Or should I say, she came home to the mother land of Illinois and happily, we were both in the right place at the right time.)

So what did we do?  Eat SNACKS and get our THRIFT on. :) :) :)  The results:

80's dyeable "Emerald City" orchid-purple satin pumps: $?, as she paid for them (I had no cash).  Then we went to an antique mall and she spied these insanely-huge and awesome green 60's clip-ons: $10.

Perhaps you have noted my style morphing.  It doesn't really change drastically, in that I stop dressing one way - I just add new ways.  A kind of southwestern/native theme is making its way in.  Arwen-style.

Yes.  I bought a grey cowboy hat.  A real one.  $20.  It will see use this winter, for sure - but also next summer.  Wyoming or bust.  (Or New Mexico.  Or both!  Or more!)

(I'm not really rocking it just yet, hence, small picture)

And this.  Oh, this:

Gold scale-hinge belt with goddess belt buckle: $3.  Glory.  My Versace love is never-ending, and this reminds me of it.

I don't often do New Year's resolutions but I'm going to, this year - going to write them out, tack them on my wall.  Going to make them reasonable, doable - but also a bit challenging.  Vaguely-formed goals only get me somewhere if they are steeped in vision.  Goals require daily awareness and action.  (This pep talk is for me, I promise.)  I'm still chewing on what they are, but here are a few:
-Wear all jewelry
-Purge closet of all superfluity (not frippery, mind you - just the usual suspects of semi-lame clothing that I don't really consider fantastic enough to have around)
-Wear cuffed black pants more (nice goal, huh)
-Be in better shape, so as to wear black pants more
-Curl hair more

These are just sartorial goals.  I have others - book publishing, play production, novel-writing, teaching, travel, research, grant proposals, and on.  But if it's not clear by now that style and thrift are a needed and wanted outlet for me - I'll just state it. :) In the midst of all my other beloved creative endeavors, it is very fun and good to take a break from the more demanding things, and stare at sequins and feathers, and put them on.

Cheers to a new year of goals and frippery.  :)  And cheers to Ashley coming to visit!!! 

Interlude: Berries in the Snow

Scary.

But delicious.

Nonpareil Stress

Gotta get in 80-100 pages by the 1st.  I'll get there.  It's just a marathon week of drafting and revising.

Am procrastinating.  Am hungry.  Am still kind of tired.  Want to use my gift cards.  

Must.

Stay.

The.

Course.

(Must find the course again, first.  Holidays kind of threw me off, but in a good way.)

But, as I find the course and stay it, I will be wearing this deeply enjoyable item:

I finally splurged and bought it from this Etsy seller.  I've wanted it for 4 years.  I'm not kidding.  I love candy - I love eating it, decorating with it, using it as sartorial inspiration.  Now, I can actually wear it.  

Resin nonpareil sprinkle ring, $13.

Christmas and Costuming and Thrifting and Dressing

Glitz and glam.  

Picture doesn't do this shirt justice.  Big, yes; multi-layered, yes; cool back, yes.

I went to the salon to have my excellent stylist (and sister) cut my hair, and she was so awesome and kind as to curl it, too.  Someone asked if I was going to a Christmas party. :)  It occurred to me that my normal style includes "ugly Christmas sweaters" and like apparel.  (I was going to rehearsal for my upcoming play.)  80's "big" shirt: $16.  (I need to iron it, but the material is a pain, so I went for the calculated-messy look.)

I have been given the task of also costuming my play, which is great thrifting fun.  I've got at least a first round of possibilities - but of course, I also found a few items for myself as I was searching.

Ugly, misshapen, bad-poly 80's dress yielded this incredible silver mesh bib.  I will carefully detach it and make it into a necklace.  I think it'll look cool with my gold mesh bib - and it will also look cool solo.

Heh heh.  It's like those nail thingies.  I enjoy.  $5.

I also got what I consider to be an opera coat.  Perfect black velvet, fitted at the wrists, with pockets.  Loose, but in a structured way.  No belt.  Astounding garment.  $13.

Glam and glitz (though not in this pic - not an outfit, just a try-on).  I think I'm ready anything festivity can throw at me.

Yearly Ornament Crafting: Check

I didn't know if I would get them done this year.

I started with Owl, and despaired.  And then I picked Roo, because he's so tiny and seemed so easy.  I tried to make the first one, and despaired - just 'cuz I'm rusty at my handcrafting skillz, and his little ears posed the only challenge.

I got over it.

Roo x 8.  It is truly Christmas.  

(Older ornaments here and here :)

Glamorous Embodiment and Inspiration

I found this large matted portrait today at an antique mall, for $5.  There were 3 others - same woman, same pose, different qualities of print - which always makes me kind of sad, to find real, large portraits of individuals or families.  It makes me think.  Too hard.  It makes me wonder what happened to them.  It's pretty rare, though - I don't often come across such things.  Posters, magazine ads, and mass-produced photos of stars, sure.  But non-famous, non-model people?  

She just jumped out at me, 100%, as the spitting image of the heroine of my novel-in-progress.  I hadn't really imagined a spitting image.  (What is a spitting image, when you really think about it?)  But I just had to get it.  It was like coming across a great, young photo of my biographical subject, after looking at a bunch of really bad, old photos of her (she really looks bad.  I'm not being mean).  

Anyway.  I just love this.  Whoever she was, she's managed to speak through time, and I'm glad I went to the antique store today.  Thanks, Mom. :)

Production News; Peter, Paul & Mary; Deadlines

My play RPM (Revolutions per Minute) is going up in Chicago at Rhinofest 2012.  Click here for info and tickets.

I am beyond pumped.  Rehearsals are going amazingly - the director, Kaitlen, is a brilliant gem, and the cast are phenomenal.  It promises to be a very entertaining run.

If you did not know of my great love for American cultural mythology, especially regarding, hm, Peter, Paul, & Mary, you will - after you see the play. :)

The cast:

And, uh, me, with Peter:

And in deadline news, I am getting closer to one.  January 1st - New Year, new challenges, 1 deadline over, a few more to go (until, well, I get new ones).  Will post more about that later.  

Getting Dressed: Casual Uniform

Went Christmas shopping with my dad yesterday.  Wore this hat.  

I LOVE HATS.  I do not have a solid winter hat, though - at least, one that's black.  I have a pink poly knit beret, and a red one.  I have a regular black wool beret.  And you know what?  I can't really wear it that much.  Too itchy.  The poly ones itch after awhile, too - but not as bad as the wool one.

So I had my little sister pick this one up at Kohl's the other day - my mom gave me a gift card awhile ago, and I didn't have it when I first spied this hat.  $16 (on sale from $42, sheesh).  It is wool, but it is not itchy.  I should know.  I wore it ALL DAY. :)  Along with a long-sleeved 80's shirt ($3) that I picked up recently (and black pants, black boots, black sweatshirt)... my daily uniform, when I'm being casual.

Still on deadline.  But so glad to be on break, too.

Getting Dressed: Christmas Sneak Peek

Incense, peppermints, the color of thyme....

Getting Dressed: Research Chic

I started using Photoshop Express on my phone.  Yes?  No?  Better?  Not?

But anyways, here I am in research-ready garb.  How is it research-ready?  Well, it's more cold-weather ready.  But I didn't want to wear pants.  And I also didn't want to wear heels.  So, knit dress ($6), red coat ($0), read beaded necklaces ($10), heart ring ($0) black tights, Fluevogs ($gift).