Almost All Black and White

This is what I didn't wear on Saturday:

Here are the bracelets that I photographed and also didn't wear:

Technically, the studded item is an old belt from the 80s that no longer fits around my waist.

This part DID make it beyond the patio to Otis for my Digital Design class then to Whittier to see Dave and Phil Alvin:

Starring the new-to-me zebra clogs! I love them! They are so VISIBLE!

The meeting of the dot socks and the checkered leggings was a bit unresolved. Which to layer on top?
In this photo, that I took during break at Otis, it looks like I popped my ankle and it became swollen:

No injury, just extra fabric in a wad.

About the wardrobe change: all the black and white elements remained on my person. I realized the Todd Oldham mosaic jacket wouldn't keep me warm enough after sundown, so I donned something warmer. Then, just as I was getting in the car for school, while removing my heavier jacket, I realized that there was a large highly visible expanse of my torso that I wasn't feeling like sharing with my students. Back inside I went, finding the perfect torso camo: the Duro Olowu top that Jan gave me four years ago. Ahhhh. Outfit zen achieved.
Today's reenactment of outfit:

Umbrella and goofy hat added for current weather conditions.

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

Summer Sunday in Malibu

Fun in the shade at the Malibu Pier! Selfie with Anita, the mastermind of our get together.
[My sunglasses frames are c/o Ditto.] 

It was a Sunday Funday in Malibu with Anita, Elle, Gina, and Laura. We had lunch at the Malibu Pier Farm Cafe, lounged around on the pier's upper deck, and walked the grounds of the Adamson House (which overlooks the Malibu Lagoon). 

Elle and me inside at the Malibu Pier Farm Cafe.

Beauty shot of Anita in Ranch at the Pier, a cute shop on the upper deck.
She got her Marni purse at a sample sale for only $5!!!

Laura caught me catching her.

Gina, Laura, Anita

Random wedding reception. Nice location, right?

Selfies can be hard work! Photo by Laura.

Anita caught me capturing the scene.

Love how the colors of this doorway at the Adamson House mirror the colors of my Malibu surf shot above it.

Gina views the Malibu Lagoon scene

Laura and me on the terrace of the Adamson House, photo by Anita.
In a hat for Style Crone's Hat Attack!
Also linking with Patti's Visible Monday,
Catherine's I Will Wear What I Like,
My Refined Style,
Shelbee's On the Edge of the Week,
(and maybe more)

It was a fun-filled day with lots of laughs. Next time, we won't do it on a Sunday at the peak of the summer season. OMG, the traffic and the parking were a nightmare!

52 Pick-me-up: Geranium / Renewal / Regeneration

•••  

Fuad Al Ansari "Geranium" from Flickr

Geraniums come in an array of colors. I'm concentrating on the warm coral pink - to - orangey red spectrum for this week's 52 Pick-me-up.
Wearing a favorite tunic, made from antique rayon kimono fabric:

A closie:

sunglasses frames c/o Ditto

Renewal: 
The bracelets originate from Burkina Faso and the plastic cording is recycled from prayer mats (see more here).
I'm selling the Sketchers sandals on Poshmark for $5. They are too uncomfortable for my tender feet.

Regeneration: The print on the tunic is now will soon be available on leggings!

Something red, something DIY, something upcycled -- link and tell!

52 Pick-me-up: Surfin' Safari

PURCHASED/ CREATED/ 

In the Northern Hemisphere, school's out and summer is here. Time to hit the beach!
Grab your Hawaiian shirt and a large brimmed hat and go on a "surfin' safari"!

Unless you live in Southern California, that is.
Where almost every morning this month has looked like this:

It's called "June Gloom"

If you are craving sun and heat, you will have to take your safari inland:

It was 106º in Joshua Tree yesterday morning

Yes, you'll have sand. A beach? No.

Where will your surfin' safari take you? Link and tell!

52 Pick-me-up: On Broadway

PURCHASED/ 

We had a stellar Stripes Week last week! Thank you everyone for linking.
This week is more of a challenge. Create an outfit inspired by the theater or Broadway.
(Oh, what was I thinking last June?)

I'm choosing Cats. I've never seen Cats, though I certainly know about it!
So while Googling to get more intel, I discover "Memory":

Today I'm having a "Yart" (yard + art) sale and while rummaging for stuff to sell, I found all sorts of old treasures.

I was ready to settle on just posting the photo above, but, inspired by the costume in the video, I thought "What if I turn the jacket inside out?" And there were my VERY WIDE jeans (which fit!) in another pile, and the brown Sketchers platforms, and something to "rave" about developed.

"Hello 90s!"

The furry hat is going in the $5 box, the rest I think I'll keep!

Where will exploring the limelight take you? Link and tell!
Visible Monday is on this week, I'll be strutting my visible stuff on over later today. Here's the link.
Also linking with Maricel's TARDIS Tuesday, because Kezzie says I'm a Cheetah Person.

52 Pick-me-up: Hat Trick

PURCHASED/ PURLOINED/ GIFTED 

This week is all about hats. Judith, the Style Crone, hosts "Hat Attack" on the first of every month.
She asks us to "...display your hat, headwrap, headpiece, fascinator, hair flower, headband or other adornment for your head..." This time the linky parties shall align, despite the fact that Mercury is still in retrograde.

I'm featuring my collection of ribbon hats.
They are made in China, I think with leftovers from apparel manufacturers. I bought them all at the 99 Cent Depot in Culver City, for $1.99!

[Screen capture from my Tumblr]

Here's the first one that I bought:

The ribbon is printed with this: "get wrapped in the fabric of MIMCO...........for frolicking"
What does that mean?

I played "match the hat" with a tee and scarf:

And:

And:

And:

And:

This last look has further permutations yet to occur. When they happen, you'll be the first to know.

My personal ribbon hat stack:

That's a drawing by Cidney Hochman behind the hats, not that you can see it.

What's your hat trick? Link and tell!

Flashback Friday and some hats

PURCHASED/ PURLOINED/ LINKS/ 

I'm in central upstate New York at my mom's. That's our old summer house behind me. It's still closed for the winter. Mom built an all-year house on the same property, closer to the state highway.

I deliberately tried to position myself to mimic this family photo from 1970:

I'm wearing my then favorite button embellished tee and very short suede miniskirt.

"glamor" shot

I've been wearing this outfit a lot lately.

Trying to be a human sundial in Burlington VT. Hard with no sun.
(photo by Persis Worrall)

I found the hat in a Tibetan shop on the Haight in SF a few years ago
Got the #secondhandfirst scarf from Citizen Rosebud's Etsy shop
Got the #secondhandfirst quilted corduroy shirt at Foreign Affair in Providence, RI

Cavorting on the great lawn at the Inn at Shelburne Farms with Annie and Persis

Hats x 3!

Linking up with Style Crone's Hat Attack.
You MUST click over to see her glorious Dior floral chapeau. Puts all those festival floral crowns to shame.
Also linking with Citizen Rosebud's Secondhand First party, since I'm wearing two secondhand items that are first rate!

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!

Wearing a Tiny Bustier

Do YOU know any adult woman with an 18" bust? I think this is more kid sized, but what mom would let her little princess run around in this? OK, don't answer that.
This is what happens when samples are made offsite and it goes very very wrong. I think this one was made in Thailand. There were a bunch in the sample giveaway box at work. I took a few home.

How about as a headband? It gives off a Amish vibe almost. Or medieval.

It perhaps gets dangerously close to chemo cap...

I'm Miss Conservative today! Well, for me.

A Blogger Picnic!

I donned one of my favorite tunics...

Loaded up my arm with blogger bracelets...

And made my way to Griffith Park, for the 3rd Annual Two Point Oh LA picnic.

Upon arrival, I spied a table laden with British tea treats (I especially liked the scones):

There were myriad tents with goodies and services:

Hairroin Salon was braiding hair
(I did not have enough... hair, that is)

Sole Society offered shoes

Très chic!
Gigi and I chose the same sunglasses from Ditto (see below)

Ditto had a very popular tent. They were giving out sunglasses to Style Visionaries.
Stay tuned for more on that!

It being a blogger picnic, there was posing:

Elizabeth of A Keene Sense of Style

and photography:

Our hostess, Kelsi of Dedicated Follower of Fashion, is on the far right in the cupcake dress.

And it being the park, we had the paleta guy!

It was a lovely afternoon. I had a long chat with Amy of A Sunny Day in L.A., did some quick sketching (next post), and snagged fabulous sunglasses (next next post). Thank you Kelsi, for a wonderful event!

Oh no! It's Monday already! May I have another day of weekend? Please?
Visit with the Visible Monday flock here.