An Over the Top Outfit, Deconstructed

I'm going to a Zandra Rhodes book signing on Wednesday.
On Friday I road tested an outfit.

Let's study what's going on.

The pink fluffiness is a rectangle of Mongolian Lamb. Maybe originally intended as a rug?
It was displayed on the floor at the Flitterman Collection studio sale:

It was love at first sight, but it took me several circuits of the room to commit.
No regrets!

Next layer is the pink mystery fiber sequinned ombre scarf that I got at a Tibetan shop in Williamsburg, NY in January 2012. That MIGHT have been the moment I was finally comfortable wearing Barbie Pink.

On my extremities:
chenille armlettes cut from socks,
striped socks from Uniqlo (obtained at a store opening on deep discount).

Neon Yellow Fluevog Aimees on my feet.

Base layers: royal blue cheap Chinese high-low dress:

And last but not least, the Crazy Legs Leggings from Society6!

Somebody (on Facebook? on Instagram?) wanted to see a closeup of the print on the leggings:

It's a digital composite of three 60's prints which I insterted into the Crown of Thorns quilting pattern.

Let's continue deconstructing!
I couldn't find the red ground paisley vest (in a box somewhere), here are the other two sources:

Pink, mustard, and white smock that is "in work" (I cut off the yoke).

You've seen this neon shirt before!

All three garments came from my friend Larry's stash. Thanks Larry!

Linking up with
Patti's Visible Monday
Catherine's #iwillwearwhatilike
Ageless Style

Crazy Pants Debut at Otis

Did you see my Crazy Pants on Instagram yesterday?

I've had these since 1997 and have never worn them.
Unbelievable, right?
They've been hiding in plain sight in one of my closets for a while.

Scarves on the left, a quasi "repair and sell" assortment on the right, fabric stash in the back.

I "saw" them every day, but didn't see them on me, if you know what I mean.

Yesterday, I tried them on (for the first time -- I kid you not!).

Wowza!
Aside from the abhorrent fiber content (OG 60's nylon tricot) they are GROOVY, man.
That print is going places!

Curious about my lovely pendant?
Since I lost a very important thumb drive (had all my latest course handouts from my Digital Design for Fashion class, not backed up, of course), I attached another one to the polkadot lanyard that Sue made for our Vancouver Blogger meetup.

(Sorry for the "exposed" USB plug. Kids, avert your eyes).

I managed to not leave this one behind in the classroom. At least for this week.

After class, the Crazy Pants went to Whittier to see Stan Ridgway in concert.
But that's another post for another blog.
"Seems like a pretty good idea to me".

Linking up with Patti's Visible Monday, Catherine's #iwillwearwhatilike, and Shelbee's On the Edge of the Week.

#tbt Suede Mini Skirt, 8th Grade

Somewhere in the house (or garage) are my school yearbooks from 5th-8th grades.
My 8th grade school portrait comprised of this look:
[insert photo when I find it] 

These photos, shot by my mom, will have to do as a stand in -- I don't have time right now to find the yearbook to take a photo of the portrait.

That's our summer house behind us. In the 90s, Mom built an all-year house on the same piece of property, closer to the highway. These were shot for a potential Christmas card image. That's why we're all dressed up and posing with the dog. I can't remember if that's Honey or Ginger -- I grew up with Golden Retrievers.

What makes this outfit so special?

I got the suede mini and leather wrap belt in Poughkeepsie (which was "the big city" for me then) at a hep boutique.
The tee with many buttons? Can't remember. Sears? Can't see and can't remember the shoes, so I made them up. 

I felt comfortable in my skin.
I was full of badass girl power!

Funny, it's not how my 8th grade instructors saw me.
While at my mom's last week, I came across a pile of paperwork set aside for me that included all my elementary through high school report cards. Apparently in eighth grade I was a distracted student, not doing my work, a bored malcontent. Ha! Maybe I was! I was ready for bigger horizons!

The suede mini (all 15 x 30 inches of it) is my Fashion Rosebud for the week.
Is there a story lurking in your closet? Link and tell!

TARDIS Tuesday X Crazy Legs

PURCHASED/ CREATED/

It's Maricel's ::My Closet Catalog:: TARDIS Tuesday today.
Yesterday, I put this very LOUD pattern mix together and since there is a bunch of TARDIS blue in the mix, I'm linking up.

The very special aspect of this ensemble is, it's a newer brighter better interation of the Crazy Legs!
Remember the custom tights from two years ago?

They just weren't bright enough.

When Society6 started offering leggings, I knew exactly which prints I'd utilize.
(You can see the initial three choices here on my Pattern blog or the current array here on my Society6 pattern shop).

I ordered XL, because of my waist size, and they aren't super tight.
From the knees down, they fit more like the bottom of Indian Churidar pants.

I adore them! Now I'm pondering what prints to do next.
Probably some sort of mosaic-looking pattern in a rainbow of colors that I can use to color match.
Like this:

Design by Heather Dutton [source]

FULL DISCLOSURE: Society6 compensates me about $5 per pair of tights sold. Thanks for your support!

52 Pick-me-up at the Movies

I didn't find these girls, they found me:

I believe they came from Planet Claire.

I did not see their Plymouth Satellite, perhaps it was in the offsite parking lot. 

They handed me this document: 

It lead me to this:

Beware of Pink, that is all I can say.

It's Movie Week on 52 Pick-me-up. Is there a movie inspiring you to mix things up in your closet?
Link and tell!

SpyCam. Palm Springs

52 Pick-me-up: 60s

PURCHASED/ PURLOINED/ PRESS SAMPLE*/

It's 60's week on 52 Pick-me-up. Get your groove thing on!

*sunglasses frames c/o Ditto

Linking up with Patti's Visible Monday
Link and tell!

Check it Out

AFFILIATE LINKS*/ PURCHASED/ PURLOINED/

There's this for $488:

Max Mara Studio

Disegno Houndstooth Check Longline Cardigan

Source: *Lyst.com (affiliate link)

But lucky me, I found this vintage Montgomery Ward raincoat for $12 on the sale rack at Foreign Affair in Providence, RI.

No, I'm not in prison. This is the view outside my motel today.

This is part of the "Splurge vs. Save" Campaign hosted by Credit Card Insider. Maybe it will appear on their blog!

Since I was so "thrifty", I'm adding this to Bella's Secondhand First linkup.

Crazy Legs Hit the Town!

CREATED/ PURCHASED/ LINKS/

I'm happy to announce that I finally opened my ASOS Marketplace shop.
[No longer available on ASOS. Contact me directly]
Two pairs of the Crazy Legs tights are now available worldwide.
There may be another printing in more sizes, if popularity demands it. Not sure yet.

Here they are, packaged next to the art that inspired them

I took them out for a spin to the closing party at SCA Gallery in Pomona, where the above print was on exhibit.
There, I met up with Leslie, who came in full mod:

Leslie vamps in front of Vibrate by Stevie Love

Put us together posing in front of art and hilarity ensues:

This morning, the torture clogs had to butt in and get the last word:

Do they match the outfit? They don't care. They just want to inflict pain.

You still have time to dress Feet First! Feel like plunging in? Add your link below!

Meanwhile, I'm linking up with Patti's Visible Monday.

Purple Haze

The jacarandas are blooming late this year, so I was enveloped in a cloud of purple for my birthday, which was last Tuesday. Today, I'm eating my last piece of ube birthday cake, which is also purple, and I'm enjoying every delicious bite. To make things more festive, I donned my trippy daisy/houndstooth shirtwaist dress.

"As the daisy is rising, the houndstooth peels away..." [intoned through a mic with lots of reverb]

The dress can no longer be worn out in public -- too many random holes (perhaps nylon DOES disintegrate!). It's a treasure that I picked up from Larry, back in the 90s. I'm thinking its vintage is late 60s?
The cake, which Severo got me hooked on, is a Filipino concoction from Red Ribbon Bakery. Ube is purple yam, better known as taro. The cake also has macapuno (baby coconut) and is topped with Asian-style whipped cream frosting.

I will now float over to Patti's Visible Monday. Wanna join me?
Patti is celebrating her 100th Visible Monday post. What a grand achievement!