Sunday, June 30, 2013

Green and Red Again

LINKS/ PURLOINED/ PURCHASED/ PRESS [sunglasses]/
This week, I dressed in complementary color schemes.
I tried various combos, really I did! But red and green remained my favorites.
Here, I vamp with some dandelion greens,
picked up at the farmers market.
I can't imagine eating the ones from my lawn,
I'm sure those are terribly bitter.
The paisley in that top dominated my week. I used it in an art piece that will go in a 60's themed show at SCA Project Gallery in Pomona, July 13-27. I uploaded it to Society6 and to the show Facebook Event Page. A lively conversation ensued over various garments I could make with the print. Resulting in my ordering SIX pairs of tights (because that was the minimum). It will be the inaugural item in my ASOS Marketplace shop. Insanity!
Here's the print:
60s Crown of Thorns Quilt, digital composite, various sizes, ©2013 Anne M Bray
Tomorrow, the linky for 52 Pick-me-up, Complementary Colors closes.
Come on over and play! Older posts that relate to the theme are welcome.

I'm linking up with Patti's Visible Monday. Another playground to consider.

Crazy Quilt SpyGirl
July Tour Dates: Orlando, Chattanooga, Louisville, Chicago, Portland OR, San Francisco, Santa Barbara

The SpyGirl Crazy Quilt Dossier, 70s Edition is still making its way around the country.
Where is it now?

For my new visitors, here are all the sketchbook pages as a video:

Or clicking on "Crazy Quilt Sketchbook" will show you all the posts here on SpyGirl.

Click here to check out the tour as it travels the US and get detailed information.
[July dates and venues are below -- but be sure to check the link above, as plans may have changed]
This sketchbook can be found on the shelves with a call number of 204.14-5 


July 2- 3

Orlando, FL @ The Gallery at Avalon Island
5:00 - 9:00pm

Jul 8
Chattanooga, TN
@ The Hunter Museum
11:00 - 5:00pm

Jul 9
Chattanooga, TN
@ The Creative Discovery Museum
3:00 - 7:00pm

Jul 10
Louisville, KY
@ Mellwood Art Center
2:00 - 8:00pm

Jul 12
Chicago, IL
@ Chicago Arts District Second Friday
3:00 - 7:00pm

July 13-14
Chicago, IL
@ Hyde Park Art Center
1:00 - 5:00pm

July 19-21
Portland, OR
@ Jupiter Hotel
July 19 | 4:00 - 8:00pm
July 20 | 2:00 - 8:00pm
July 21 | 12:00 - 6:00pm

July 26-28
San Francisco, CA
@ S.F. Center for the Book
July 26 | 4:00 - 8:00pm
July 27 | 2:00 - 8:00pm
July 28 | 12:00 - 6:00pm

Jul 31
Santa Barbara, CA
@ Figueroa Mountain Brewing
5:00 - 9:00pm

August 1
Santa Barbara, CA
@ Santa Barbara Museum of Art
5:00 - 8:00pm

SpyGirl hopes to "see" you on tour!

Friday, June 28, 2013

Foot Fetish Friday: Complementary Color Edition

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The 52 Pick-me-up prompt this week is Complementary Colors.
I woke up this morning with visions of a color wheel of footwear... but I'll spare you [and myself].
Instead, let's get right to this:
Christmas feet!
Disclosure: the green toes are courtesy of Photoshop.
How about a color wheel of my feet in the Chinese sandals?
Ach. Don't get me started!
I've already created a color wheel of paint tube sketches.

Sporting complimentary colors on your nails? Add to the link-up! 
It's not just for your closet... and it doesn't have to be from this week.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

52 Pick-me-up: Complementary Colors

Complementary Colors -- NOT your green shirt saying to your red skirt, "Oh, your hue is so pretty."
That would be a COMPLIMENTARY color.
Complementary colors are color opposites as found on the color wheel.
No, NOT the "rainbow ball of doom" one sees before your Mac crashes, the color wheel from art class!
Remember?
I'm wearing:

Compliments, set next to each other, can cause acute visual stimulation!

You don't have to deploy them at full strength...

Mix with a tint:

Mix with a shade:

Mix a tint and a shade:

Experiment and see if any compliments develop!
Then share!!!








Monday, June 24, 2013

Prison Stripe Stomp

LINKS/ BORROWED/ PURCHASED/ GIFTED
this look is 4/5 menswear:
hat - borrowed from Severo, from 98¢ Depot
tee - gift from Severo, from gig
stripe dress - Old Navy [the only girl item]
leopard socks - Happy Socks, unisex
sneakers - Converse Jack Purcell
This might actually qualify as a tomboy look -- Severo's hat is making me a bit more gamine than usual. I found the tee while I was looking for the Smithereens tee that opened my week of Boyfriend/Girlfriend. Unfortunately, this was "customized" by one of the cats (I blame Lou, but it could have been dear departed Mambo). I soaked it in diluted vinegar for three days, then hung it on the outside line for two, but it still stinks. Boohoo!

It brings back memories of Cavestomp 97, held at Coney Island High on St Mark's Place. Severo flew me out with him to NYC and we stayed with Pat, at his spooky house in Scotch Plains, NJ. The Smithereens must have been a late add, because they're not on the band list on the back of the tee:

Pix from the gig:
Severo and Pat
Severo and Dennis
"I'm with the band"
Today is the last day to link up with Boyfriend/Girlfriend. You have until tonight, 11:55pm pacific.
GO!


Meanwhile, I'm linking up with Patti's Visible Monday. There's some fun to be had over there too!


Sunday, June 23, 2013

My Mildred Pierce Moment

LINKS/ PURCHASED/ GIFTED
When the evenings get balmy, my friends Anita and Russ do movie nights at their home. These are not simple DVDs in the HD-TV affairs. These are old-style 16mm films projected on a screen installed over their pool, with the entire back yard decorated in theme with the film. And we dress the part!

Last night's movie was Mildred Pierce -- the original version starring Joan Crawford.
Burt and Pie-baking Mildred
Bow ties! Burt and Wally [Severo and Stephan]
In Monty's Malibu Beach House [photo by Stephan]
Linda vamps as Glam Mildred
Burt and Veda [Russ and Anita] introducing the films
As the sky grew darker, the viewing started with a few shorts:
Then things took a turn for the noir...
Wally and Mildred [Stephan and Linda]

More over on the Glutton, just because.

Here's a great summary of the plot, plus a photo that inspired my look.

11/29/13 update: linking up with Sacramento's Share In Style: Movies. Go check out everyones interpretations of films past and present.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Tomboy Style and the Older, Larger Woman

LINKS/ PURLOINED/ GIFT/ PURCHASED
The Lucky Community asked us to blog about the Tomboy look.
Hmmm.
Is it possible to be old, overweight, wear mens clothing, and not look like a slob?
A challenge! Let's see what I can come up with!

What do you think of when you hear the word "tomboy"?
This perhaps:
that's me between my brothers, 1962
Not this:
I think to pull off a tomboy look, one needs to have a "boyish" figure: slim, athletic.
And for me, those days are long gone (despite what my mind says).
I certainly wear mens garments, however, as you already know.
And with a little effort, I can wear them out and about and not look too schlubby.

I found the boxers in the sample giveaway box at work and pounced on them. A rare 3-pack of XL [sample size is usually S] -- one even had my print design on it! Score!
details:
Severo's embroidered shirt: Cubavera, Ross [borrowed]
mens boxers: Michael Morgan, Fred Meyer [free sample from work]
leggings: BJ's [bought]
socks: Ross? [bought]
mary jane clogs: White Mountain [gift from Leslie]

Have you worn a tomboy look lately?
Join in on my 52 Pick-me-up -- this week's theme is Boyfriend/Girlfriend

Friday, June 21, 2013

Monsters University at OTIS

The Disney/Pixar animated film Monsters University opens today. The countless billboards and ads in the paper brought to mind one of one of my favorite design groups that I saw at the OTIS Scholarship Benifit Show rehearsal last month, a Monsters U collection for the whole family.
Members of the Junior class took design direction from Disney and created these fanciful, texture-happy ensembles. They were modeled on the catwalk by a talented group of dancers. A teaser clip of film ran at the start of the scene, and it looked like a fun movie to see.

Here are some shots that I captured:
I think I would fit right in with this lot.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

LAFC Le Shoppe -- Alana Hale

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Alana Hale is an LA based design house that offers unique dresses and separates with couture details.
Here are outfits that I sketched at the photoshoot for Los Angeles Fashion Council's Le Shoppe on ASOS in March on Kiara and Annette.
top here
shorts here

sketch here
dress here

sketch here

52 Pick-me-up: Boyfriend/ Girlfriend

LINKS/ PURCHASED/ GIFTED 
The Boyfriend or Tomboy look is very popular right now, The idea is to wear masculine ("Boyfriend") clothing, maybe mix it up with feminine touches. This is nothing new, it's a style chestnut. Chanel took men's sailor jerseys and pants and built her empire from those. Madonna donned men's boxers as outerwear in Desperately Seeking Susan and a trend was born. I've been wearing men's jeans since the 70s, as discussed in this old post. And think of all the women we've seen in a crisp white classic men's buttondown shirt.

For my look today, I thought I'd wear a band tee. The band that my boyfriend is in!
ooooh, nice bedhead, SpyGirl!
This required some scavenging. The shirt was not in the active "small tee" drawer. So I looked in the "too small but I still like it" box. In the process, I found the Mexican tourist skirt (in the "to fix" box). [I was wondering where I'd put that!] Note that all these boxes are in the middle of the livingroom and have been for months. I got distracted from my massive closet sorting, and, frankly, it's not all that much fun. The drawback (aside from having to navigate around them) is that I can't complain about Severo's heaps in the kitchen until I put them away. No, I'm not going to share a visual. You can only imagine!

Do share your interpretation of Boyfriend/Girlfriend below. You can even post more than once if you have a few versions. Please no more than six! And no repeats of the same outfit!
And, dudes, it's not just for the ladies --  I'd love to see you men out there try some girlfriend stuff!




Tuesday, June 18, 2013

52 Pick-me-up: 52 Ways to Remix Your Closet

LINKS/
my closet, captured in a candid moment
A closet full of clothes and nothing to wear? In a style rut?

In case you hadn't noticed, I approach my wardrobe like an artist does her palette -- my garments are my "paints" and I mix them up in all sorts of ways.

So I made a list of closet remixing prompts from an artist's point of view: 

  1. Boyfriend/girlfriend
  2. Complementary colors
  3. Red/white/blue/black
  4. Floral bouquet: mix your florals with…
  5. Go with the flow: long, loose, and drapey
  6. Choose your shoes first. Then get dressed.
  7. 70s
  8. Fruit salad: peach/orange/lemon/lime
  9. Wear the same garment 3 ways during the week. Will anyone notice?
10. Stripes
11. 80s
12. White it out
13. Fill your favorite mug (or tea cup) with your morning brew. Now dress to coordinate.
14. International relations: wear garments from two different countries
15. 90s
16. Texture salad
17. Tone poem: mix a bright and a berry tone
18. Put your accessories on first. Now get dressed.
19. MROW! Leopard/cheetah/tiger
20. [Paint it] black
21. Graphic tee and girly bottom
22. Analogous colors
23. Trend salad*-- wear as many trends as you can IN ONE OUTFIT.
24. Blue hues
25. Dance of the seven veils – how many layers can you pile on?
26. Plaids -- two or three or... 27. Royal purple flush
28. Mixed metallics
29. You have not worn it for a year. Now is the time.
30. Pantone color of the year [any year]
31. 10s – 1910s or 2010s
32. Choose a scarf. Wear those colors.
33. Short over long
34. Lots of dots
35. In the pink
36. Dress like your favorite cocktail
37. 20s
38. Locate your craziest socks. Now build an outfit.
39. Get green
40. Geometrics
41. 30s
42. I pity the [April] fool: Mr T is your fashion muse
43. Yellow fever
44. Woodland creature – dress like a tree
45. 40s
46. Wear something back to front
47. Something that was your Mom’s
48. 50s
49. Long over short
50. Uptight/alright: wear that thing that’s a little too small
51. Pattern max -- how many can you wear at the same time?
52. 60s

And then I thought, wouldn't it be fun to see what others do with the same prompt? As a weekly theme with a linky for sharing? Starting tomorrow, this will become a regular Wednesday gathering. I'll post the prompt for the week on Wednesday morning and you'll have through the following Monday at 11:55 Pacific time to add your link.
I'll sketch and post my favorite look on Tuesdays.

Tomorrow, the fun begins with "Boyfriend/Girlfriend"

This post was initially inspired by IFB Project #100: "Write a List Post"
*I got the term "trend salad" from GOMI.

I'll format the above list into some handy PDFs tomorrow. Do we want a special badge? SpyGirl, what a silly question. OF COURSE we want a badge!

Sunday, June 16, 2013

VOGOFF Hits the Digital Newstand!

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Melanie, of Bag and Beret, is the force behind a zany spoof on fashion magazines called VOGOFF.
She put out a call for submissions in April, which you really need to read -- so hysterical!

Here is my VOGOFF spread:
[image © Melanie Kobayashi 2013] 
I was working out my inner Nagel. I love how Melanie dropped me amidst the pansies.
[Side note: the landlady DREAMS that our lawn looks like that!]

Here are some more photos from my session, which was done with the camera placed high on a ladder set on a ten second delay self-timer. EXTREME pain resulted from the multiple times I ran back and forth from the camera to the set.
Oh, how I suffer for you!
I did lots of Fashion Victim poses
Close, but realized that I need my 80s sunglasses
Nothing like a good hand selfie
This one made the cut.
As did this. That rose is from my garden and I probably turned it into jam.
Here are my notes-to-self I typed here in a draft before I did my thing in the back yard. My photo shoot didn't quite go this way, but it makes for a fun fashion poem:

Me, the back yard, covered with the guest quilt, which will be PSed with all the +40 sketches
or printouts?
leopard pillows?
naked?
reading VOGOFF w/Mel's sketch?

victim of the 80s
fashion sketches from OTIS
spewed about back yard 

That last bit is almost a hiaku!
Let's make it a proper one (3 lines/ 5-7-5 syllables):

Victim of eighties
Crinoline and school sketches
Spewed about back yard

Thank you Melanie, for inspiring me to go even crazier than usual!
Joining up with Patti's Visible Monday -- click on over and join the party!

*disclosure note: I used Aloxxi Flexible Hairspray to get my 80s inspired updo, gifted at a LuckyFABB event. Everything else I purchased in the 80s and 90s, except for the currently available Cover Girl #305 Hot Passion lipstick. I'm still trying to remember where I got that crinoline...

Details:
Black nylon/spandex bubble knit tube dress -- Trash and Vaudeville, NYC 80s
Pink petticoat -- Cowboys and Poodles on Melrose, LA? Screaming Mimi's, NYC? 80s
Red/black stripe cotton/spandex leggings -- Betsey Johnson 79(?)
Booties -- Norma Kamali 85
African bracelets + necklaces -- Jone Pasha, Providence RI, 80s
Jumbo Chain necklace -- Patucci, The Front Porch, Providence RI, 80s
Sunglasses -- vintage from optician Providence, RI 80s
Gingham yardage -- Guess sample yardage sale, 86

Sneak Peek: Josey Girl

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I was invited to a blogger preview of the Josey Girl line of pinup inspired active wear.

Being far from model size myself, I appreciated the fact that one of the models was a "normal" sized girl.

Beth Clarke, the designer, was on hand to help present her line:
She explained how she developed the concept from her own needs. Balancing her training for competitive body building with being a mom running errands and trying to find fitness wear appropriate for both worlds was difficult. She craved items that were more modest (covered her butt) and had more fashion flair than basic active wear.
This is Beth's first foray into the fashion industry. I will be interviewing her in early July, when Josey Girl will officially launch. Meanwhile you can follow Josey Girl on Instagram and Twitter @JoseyGirlFit and Facebook at Josey Girl Fit.

The event was hosted by Sylvie de Gil of Jomsy, who helped Beth develop her line, and held at the Seven Times Seven showroom. We were fêted with snacks and live music. I thank everyone for a fun evening!

Note: I was invited to this preview because I'm a member of Two Point Oh! LA
I received no compensation -- monetary or garments. All opinions are my own.