Getting Layered Again

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I had to work the reception at TAG Gallery on Saturday night, so I tried out a new combination of garments.

Sue Keane and I color coordinated.
Behind us is the work of Ernie Marjoram.

You can barely see it, but I'm wearing my stripe Old Navy sweater dress under the velour dalmatian print tunic.

I tried taking some photos when I got home and failed.
On Sunday, I put everything on again to shoot in daylight.
(Sue made me remove the yellow scarf for our photo above. So bossy!)

Jean, of Dross into Gold gifted me the red cowl scarf on my head and the armlets. She upcycled them from a wool sweater. So clever! I've been wearing them a lot this past week -- thanks Jean!

I designed and made the dalmatian tunic back in the 90s. The fabric is some horrible synthetic (polyester I think) and has major static cling issues. The stripe dress almost solves the problem, but I wish more stripes showed at the hem.
Sadly, this look is not yet ready to wear to work. With wall-to-wall carpeting, the A-line tunic would go body-con.
Nonononono.

I'm linking up with Searching the Inner Me's Très Chic Style Bits -- click on over!

Did you get layered over the weekend?
You still have time to add your link:

A Bolt Out of the [Cobalt] Blue

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Here is my second blue outfit for 52 Pick-me-up: Blue Hues. I added red to the mix and I couldn't have been happier.
What surprised me was, in the midst of a project at work, I looked at the printouts on my desk and noticed that I was dressed in the same color story as the project!

I'm linking up with Patti's Visible Monday. Patti is having a Cobalt Moment as well, which she writes about here.

It's not too late to add your 52 Pick-me-up link below, if you happen to be wearing some blues.
You just might end up on the Digital Catwalk!

52 Pick-me-up: Red/White/Blue/Black

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Welcome to a new week of 52 Pick-me-up!
This week, we're focusing on various combinations of red, white, blue, and/or black.

Remember this muumuu from last year? Click on over to see the print up close!
I wedged myself into it, but won't be wearing this to work!
I got it from Larry last year. I got a lot of great stuff from Larry and will be offering some of it soon, to help him pay extensive medical bills...

It's starting to make me crazy that I can't remember the name for that sleeve style.

It's the 4th of July tomorrow, and I built this week's prompt from the colors of the US flag. Rah!
I added black just to mix it up a little.
I performed interwebal investigations and discovered that there are 70 countries with flags that utilize only combinations of the colors red, white, blue, or black. Who knew?
Here they are:

[Image repurposed from this site with all the flags]

Do share your combinations of red, white, blue, or black. Outfits, designs, snacks, whatever!
If you miss the deadline, it's OK to add your link in the comments.

Blame the Canadians

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Oh Canada Day!
I wasn't planning to post today, but then I saw all you Canadians in your red + white finery and I JUST HAD TO join in. Because a red and white outfit is the perfect thing on the cusp between last week's 52 Pick-me-up Complementary Colors and the Red/white/blue/black theme coming up on Wednesday.

So here ya go, eh?

See how I worked in the green? Sly SpyGirl, sly.

V-Day Shenanigans

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Remember how I was kvetching about not getting comments on my outfits at work?
It took this! I snagged THREE!
Some thought it was for Chinese New Year.
Some guessed correctly that it was for Valentine's.

I wore this on Wednesday (2/13) because I don't go into the office on Thursday,so the confusion is understandable.
The Lucky tee is very old and getting faded.
I got the Chinese jacket in San Francisco's Chinatown.
I have not seen this style jacket in either LA or Hong Kong (circa 2004). Believe me, I have looked!

Here I am, sitting in my car at lunch.
Like my smiley blankie in the background? That's my sun shade.
Oh yes, FCC guidelines require that I say my sunglasses frames are c/o DITTO.
The prescription certainly wasn't c/o -- it cost me $650!!!

A close up that I Instagrammed. The necklace was made from a Slinky!
I got it at the Santa Monica Art Museum gift shop - they no longer carry them.
It didn't last on my neck all day. It started to drive me crazy.
The skirt was a dress in the morning. I hacked off the top as I put my ensemble together.
So much better as a skirt.

WOW! You get a close-up of the "torture" clogs and the pom pom socks.
The clogs I bought in a shopper's frenzy to wear to the Lucky FABB West last April.
They are too tight. This is the second time that I've worn them.
I deliberately sat at my desk all day and didn't fetch any color printouts.
Vickie gave me the socks from her church resale shop in Providence, RI.
I think they go great with the clogs. I was hoping they'd help stretch them out.

How about that? Head to toe info! I was a proper Fashun Blogger today!
All I'm missing are RED LIPS!

Don't miss the action over on Patti's Visible Monday!
How much red and/or pink will we see this week?

Speaking of Patti, she had a contest and I was the winner!
OMG!

I let you know what I think of it after I try it out.

Highly Visible @Guess x @MarieClaire Event, part 2

Guess and Marie Claire hosted an event at South Coast Plaza that included
a live DJ, free manis, mini makeovers by NYX, and sweets and libations.

I showed you my sketches, here are the photos.

First, my outfit:

haha -- you weren't expecting Elvis, were you!

We won't say anything about the drive from West LA to the South Coast Plaza
except that it was the height of rush hour and took 1.75 hours to go 46 miles.

upon entering Guess, I was offered some water -- much needed!

we were also given a key, with the chance of unlocking a $200 gift card!

consolation prize

handsome gent with libations

handsome gent with cake pops

DJ

the mani station

the NYX makeover station

the products that Gabriel used on me

"I feel pretty, oh so pretty..."
with Gabriel

NOW WHAT? All dolled up with no place to go!

Bloomingdale's Missoni window was a good photo opp
(I like those dotted purses!)

I gassed up at Costco -- and coordinated too!

Finally, I took loads of selfies at home on the back porch under the florescent light.
This is my favorite of the bunch.

Once again, I'm an inept reporter and completely missed the Marie Claire promotion.
I think Guess was also launching a new perfume and I overlooked that too. Oh well.
I loved my NYX makeover! Thanks Guess, Marie Claire, NYX and Gabriel!

Linking up with Patti's Visible Monday
Go see what the gals are up to over there!

Hello there!

Long time no see!

A Date With the Bangles

Our good friend Derrick Anderson [WARNING this link has sound] plays bass with The Bangles. They headlined a free show in Pershing Square, in downtown LA on Saturday night. Time for another date night out on the town!

Derrick put us on "the list" so we were able to sit in VIP chairs.
We sat in the second row!

Derrick, the man Bangle, or, Mangle

Debbi, Vicki, Susanna, and part of Derrick

They are awed by my brilliance!
photo by Patria, who is a wonderful singer/songwriter

We then all went over to see Derrick's room that he was given at the Biltmore.

Patria styled an impromptu photo session with Derrick and his bass

The next album cover?

Thanks, Derrick, for a fun, fun night!

My outfit, one more time:

Neon yellow, red, and paisley -- can't get more Visible than this!
See my Visible pals here...

Red Nails In the Sunset

I've painted my toes red since the summer of 1971.

I was visiting Wendy, at her family's summer place in Grafton, NY. She was applying bright red polish to her nails and I thought it was a great idea.

It quickly disappeared from my fingers, but has lingered on my toes. Yes, I've tried other colors. A very lurid burgundy from Mary Quant the following year (courtesy of Kim). Hard Candy ice blue the summer of 95, because it looked so good on Susan. A brief fling with black glitter in 2000, because it was on sale at Pic N Save. Orange, a couple of summers ago.

But I always return to a warm red. No, not cherry red. Tomato red. Preferably by Revlon.

It's the only maquillage I don on a regular basis.

This post is part of Fashion Beauty Friend Friday, hosted by Katy of Modly Chic.
See what others have to say on the subject of their nails here.

On the Bright Side of Stripes and Dots #OOTD

New Style Mint Tee. Happiness prevails. Soft, comfortable, FITS (I got a size 5).

On the Bright Side

What better way to start out the week than in pink + red?
Leslie Lazzard of 10thirteen's look over here inspired me. I mixed my "new" thrifted dip dye skirt from Savers that perfectly matches my ombre shawl and threw some red pieces into the mix (including the c/o Lulus top that I snagged at the TxSC swap).
Now that's visibility!
See more eye-popping Monday looks here on Not Dead Yet Style

In the Red

In the course of prepping my office for a Verizon tech visit, I found my red jeans! I have been trying to find these for a few months, ever since I started seeing lots of red jeans on my fellow bloggers. Of course, mine are "retro"

they are pegged!
made by an OTIS student in the 80s

"ya dig?"

Big RED

Here I am, twirling in my big red coat:

and here's the shortest twirl ever, even with slo-mo:

I designed, draped, and sewed this coat in 1987. Read more about the it here.
I'm also wearing some Norma Kamali tights from the 80s. They are 100% nylon with no spandex. They are very uncomfortable. I removed them post-haste after the twirl.

This is part of the Bloggers Do It Better series, hosted by Kristina of Pretty Shiny Sparkly. Check out some more ladies in RED here.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!