#SecondHandSeptember Vintage Clothing

I'm lucky to live in Los Angeles, I have one of the best vintage clothing boutiques within (not too painful) driving distance: The Way We Wore, 334 S. La Brea Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90036 Instagram link

The Smithsonian Channel aired two seasons about the shop in 2013 and 2015.
In 2015, I sketched from the second season. Below are links to each post:

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

The Way We Wore YouTube channel!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

SpyGirl Does the Beverly Hills Art Show

I exhibited my #dailytruck series at the Beverly Hills Art Show. 

Mostly I watched the world roll by.

Here I am in my truck camo.

I did some stealth sketching.
[see more here]

Oh, the peacocks of BH! They have no problem wearing what they like!
(no judgement -- pure wonder)

Many dogs took their people to the event.
On Sunday morning it was raining, so there were fun canine fashions.

OMG, the dino dog!

I won Honorable Mention in Digital Art and got a ginormous ribbon!

Here's the truck banner wafting:

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

Meeting With Ostriches

After our poppy gazing at the Antelope Poppy Reserve (story here),
Anita, Nancy, and I visited Quail Run Ostrich Ranch in Lake Hughes.

photo by Anita

This guy in the foreground is very feisty and is used as a "guard" against predators.
Did you know that ostriches can easily kill coyotes, bobcats, and such? No, neither did I!

Check out their feet! If I remember correctly, they kick/claw their victims.

Kinda gives you that Jurrasic Park vibe, right?

The owners gave us a great talk about ostriches "from egg to table", explaining their evolution, physiology, temperament, and their amazing immune system. [I didn't take notes, and don't remember much. Sigh.]

Why is there a wing in the dirt in the photo above?
That ostrich is doing her sexy lady dance!

Shake it!

Here's the male. He's still a teen and a bit awkward. His moves need some work. video by Anita

Photobombed by four birds -- strike a pose! photo by Anita

We all got bottles of the Pure Ostrich Oil.
It's amazing. I've been slathering it on my neck, face, and hands.

Available at the ranch's Gift Shop or from Natures Edge Ostrich Oils

Have you seen an ostrich up close?

Linking with
Shelbee's Spread the Kindness
Catherine's #sharealllinkup

What to Wear To an Art Show

If you are the artist, instead of tried and true black, how about matching the art?

[in-phone collage with screen capture from video] 

This is me, "wafting":

This is the art, wafting:

#mycommute
July 11 - August 5, 2017

TAG Gallery
5458 Wilshire Blvd, LA, CA 90036

Reception: Saturday, July 15, 5-8pm
Artist Panel Discussion: Saturday, August 5, 4pm
Closing Reception: Saturday, August 5, 6-9pm

Linking up with
Patti's Visible Monday
Catherine's #iwillwearwhatilike
Shelbee's On the Edge of the Week
Rena's In Real Life

#tbt What Is Your Fashion Rosebud?

[Inspired by The Rosebud Project, a photo project by Hugh Hamilton]

"Rosebud..."

Your assignment:
1) Go watch Citizen Kane. No, not just the clip above -- the whole dang movie!
     available on NetflixDVD or iTunes
2) Consider a powerful memory from your youth, one that shaped your core, one in which fashion was involved.

3) Write blog post.

4) Link!

As Hugh says in his IG project's tagline "...everyone has a Rosebud".

52 Pick-me-up: Wine / Creation

••• 

We are on our last week of neutral colors for 52 Pick-me-up -- let's celebrate with wine!

Did you know that you can exercise with wine? (No, I do not mean "bending your elbow").

Um, yeah. Lizzy IS a bit perky.
I see from her YouTube channel, she also does workouts on the couch.
Or combine the two -- workouts on the couch with wine.
Or omit the "workout" part and have wine on the couch.
Cheers!

I wore wine twice this week, here are the outfits depicted in #selfiesketch style:

Linking up with Shelbee's On the Edge of the Week linkup

See the ongoing series here on Tumblr.

It's the final week to link any neutral, including those not mentioned like brown.
Wine / Creation -- Link and tell!

52 Pick-me-up: Topaz / Enlightenment / Courage

••• 

Today, a rainbow vomited all over me:

I had pulled the leggings for TOPAZ week, but was having trouble styling them.
Why not go full pattern on pattern?
Time will tell if this look leaves the back patio.
Courage, right?

How about the shoes????

I have been bragging on Pinterest and Facebook about these treasures.
Snagged Friday at a local charity shop (Silver Lining on Washington Blvd in Culver City) for $60.
They are the most beautifully made pair of footwear I have ever handled.

Handmade in El Paso by Tres Outlaws, they are still available new online for $2500!!!!!
Yes, they are alligator and yes, they are slightly creepy. And they have extra long pointy toes.
This video came to mind when I tried them on:

I'll be linking with Patti's Visible Monday.

Topaz / Enlightenment / Courage: link and tell!

China: Through the Looking Glass at The Met, Part 7 -- Wuxia

"For many Western designers, some of the most compelling fantasies of China are in wuxia, a literary genre that is more than two thousand years old. Wuxia, which roughly translates as 'martial hero,' relates the adventures of wandering swordsmen whose martial-arts skills are so highly developed that they can internalize their qi (life force) and unleash such superhuman powers as 'thunder palms,' 'shout weapons,' and 'weightless leaps.'"  -- from The Met's website

[no information on any of these, not in catalogue]

Can you sense my frustration? Usually, if allowed, I will take photos of the information when I take a photo of an art piece. This time I didn't -- I knew I was going to purchase the catalogue. I was hoping that EVERYTHING in the exhibition would be at least listed, if not photographed. Oh well. Perhaps I'll have the energy to track down the details at a later date.

On The Met's Pinterest board for China:Through the Looking Glass I found this nicely edited video about the exhibition.
It gives a good sense of the experience.

SpyGirl Watches: L.A. Frock Stars -- Quest for that Special Dress

CREATED/ LINKS/ 

Tonight the final episode of Season 2 of L.A. Frock Star airs on the Smithsonian Channel at 9pm.
Where did the time go? This past week has been super crazy and I posted my One to Watch on social media via Instagram but never got the time to write up a blog post.

Here is my One to Watch from episode five, Quest for that Special Dress, Lauren Thompson, the director of L.A. Frock Stars.

Link for the video clip.

I'll post the sketch from tonight's episode as soon as I get it done on Instagram like I did with the above. I can't predict WHEN that will happen. I've got a lot of last minute stuff to do for my art exhibition that went up last Sunday. The opening reception is this Saturday, 5-8pm at TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station, Santa Monica (details here). What on earth will I wear?

I was given access to screeners of all six episodes of Season 2 back in February. 
The above verbiage is all mine.

SpyGirl Watches: L.A. Frock Stars -- The Frock Market

CREATED/ LINKS/  

This week, my one to watch is Mara Hruby, a singer/songwriter from Oakland, CA.
Mara needed a dress for her gig at The Mint. I sketched the second dress that she tried.
You can see her perform in the dress that she chose in this video:

I also found this interview on YouTube:

A highlight of Episode 4 was Doris and Sarah traveling to Chicago to a most amazing estate sale.
I still can't get over how the whole second floor of the house was packed full of things to wear.

Here's the link to a clip.

Only two more new episodes will air on the Smithsonian Channel on Thursdays at 9pm.

They are rebroadcasted, check this link, then click on the specific episode for air times.
The same link will also lead you to streams of all six episodes of Season 1 (for now).

Who will I sketch next? Come back next Friday to find out!

I was given access to screeners of all six episodes of Season 2 back in February. 
The above verbiage is all mine.

Breaking news! 
Doris will be doing a live Facebook Chat on the L. A. Frock Stars page next Monday, April 13 at 11am PST.

The Way We Wore asked me to join in to ask a question. Alas, I'll be at the day job (making plaids, no doubt) so will one of you attend in my stead? Thanks, dolls!

SpyGirl Watches: L.A. Frock Stars -- Golden Age of Hollywood

CREATED/ LINKS/ 

Rai Alexandra is my muse from L.A. Frock Stars, Episode 3. There were many many great moments in this episode, including Shelly and Sarah visiting Damon Devine, Yma Sumac's former personal assistant. (Link to video clip).

This week, Rai is the one who lit up the screen for me*. When she emerged from the dressing room in this Christian Dior-inspired pouf dress -- GODDESS ALERT! She absolutely glowed!

(screen grab from L.A. Frock Stars)

New episodes will air on the Smithsonian Channel every Thursday at 9pm.
They are rebroadcasted, check this link, then click on the specific episode for air times.
The same link will also lead you to streams of all six episodes of Season 1 (for now).

Who will I sketch next? Come back next Friday to find out!

I was given access to screeners of all six episodes of Season 2 back in February. 
The above verbiage is all mine.

*I can't sketch Shelly every episode -- or can I?

[added 4/11]

This post was selected for IFB's Links à la Mode, Thursday 4/9 edition.
Check out these other posts sharing the spotlight, including my blogging buddy Suzanne Carillo:

• A Handful of Stories: Shooting Outfit Posts With the Olympus OMD-EM10
• Attire Club: The Men’s Guide to Wearing Pastel Colors
• Bibi Shelter: Jeremy Scott for Adidas Original Fragrance Launch
• Charlotte Lucy: Alexander McQueen/Nick Waplington: Working Process at The Tate
• Flip Flops and Furs: A Benefit for Scotty’s House
• Funky Jungle: 5 Fashion ‘Must Haves’ I Don’t Own
• A Glamorous Revelation: To Write Love on Her Arms
• Jodie’s Touch of Style: Leggings With a Tunic After 50
• Ms. Fabulous: Winners of the 6th Annual Fashion 2.0 Awards
• Prime Butterfly: 5 Magazine Trends That Need to Die in 2015
• Purushu Arie: Celebrating the Spirit of the Seventies
• Riva la Diva: Easy DIY Valentino-Inspired Dress Tutorial
• Ri(t)ch Styles: How to Pick the Right T-Shirt for a Guy
• Sly on the Wall: A Hair Story
• Spy Girl: L.A. Frock Stars—Golden Age of Hollywood
• Storybook Apothecary: Swimwear Looks for Every Style
• Suzanne Carillo: 10 Important Life Lessons I Learned From Watching Mad Men
• That Paki Blog: Illustrating Pakistan Fashion Week by Mahoor Jamal
• TLV Birdie: Watch Your Mouth
• Wear It Fair: Vintage Styles for Work, Rest and Play

SPONSOR: Shopbop Coupons: Theperfext, Katin, and Black Wedges,
Sperry Men’s, French Trotters, Red Heels, Nude wedges, Plaid Dresses,Leather & Lace Dresses

Want to be featured in Links à la Mode?
Read the clarified rules and submit your links on this page: Links à la Mode.

52 Pick-me-up: Baroque and LAFC

CREATED/ PURLOINED/ PURCHASED/ PRESS SAMPLE/ LINKS/

This week's theme is Baroque. I am WAY more interested in posting about the two days I spent at the Fall 15 presentations staged by the Los Angeles Fashion Council last Tuesday and Wednesday. Let's see how I can get this to work.
Vocabulary.com defines baroque as:
"Something baroque is overly ornate, like a paisley red velvet jacket with tassels, or music that has a lot going on and might include a harpsichord. Anything with a complicated design can be baroque but it also refers to a style of art, music, and architecture from 17th Century Italy (and is then sometimes capitalized). Although it has roots in the Portuguese word barroco meaning "imperfect pearl" not everything baroque is imperfect. Caravaggio and Rubens are considered baroque painters, and baroque composers include Vivaldi, Bach, and Handel. Although rococo and baroque both describe something over-the-top, sticklers will save baroque for something with heft and use rococo for lighter designs, like that velvet jacket. Historically, Rococo comes after the Baroque period."

One of the first people that I ran into when I arrived was Glenda, from So What to Twenty.

My hair (by Nancy) and makeup (by Christopher) c/o Glam Squad
photo by Freddy Harrison

Even though we had only met online, I knew it was her immediately!
Over the two days, we had some lovely chats while waiting for shows to start.
I think an Inland Empire blogger meet-up (including Maricel) is in our future!

That golden prism wall piece made an excellent backdrop for many a portrait those two days.

That's Paris Hatcher of Where Sexy Meets Classy and Traci Mari Smith of Just Mariklo.
Still trying to ID the guys.

Baroque is a good adjective for Michael Ngo's presentation entitled Shinobi Ballroom

Ngo was inspired by Willi Ninja and the LGBT Ballroom scene of the late 80s.

Johnny Rice and Anthony Garza aka The Kiss Boyz

A quote lifted from Michael:

"I envisioned the lovechild of strength & elegance and the battle between reality & fantasy—who you are and who chose to be. Finding strength, beauty and bravery by channeling your inner warrior is my mission. I want to empower the wearers of my collection with contrasting worlds of smooth and textured; evening and street; and elegant and edginess. These ideals will be conveyed through my relentless addiction to structure and eye for detail.
With the beauty & grace of a geisha and the strength & stealth of a ninja, you can triumph over struggle & opposition and defiantly dance into the moonlight.
You own the night.
You are your own SHINOBI."

Check out Michael's video:

Did I go baroque enough?
Add your own baroque-inspired links!

BTW, I'm linking this up with Sacramento and Rosie's Share-In-Style on Monday.

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!

Sock It To Me, Geometrically

PURCHASED/ PURLOINED/ PRESS SAMPLE*/ LINKS/

This post was prompted (harhar) by Maricel asking about "Geometric" prints and my own confusion over the order of the 52 Pick-me-up prompts. I messed up on the graphic calendar (that gave me mild bursitis, btw) and "Go Green" HAD to be during the week with St. Patrick's Day and it wasn't. I shuffled around the order of the challenges but was still looking at the old calendar. Are you more confused now? Yeah, me too.

Moving along, here are some geometric socks that inspired my look:

Happy Socks. Some of the greatest graphic socks around.
(not sponsored by them but I should be)
And aren't the pansies sweet? They really liked the deluge of rain that we got last week.

*c/o Capwell & Co. necklace, which you can hardly see
just doing my FTC due diligence here, folks

It's still Sock Inspiration week on 52 Pick-me-up.
If you don't have any weird socks or tights, click here for some inspiration.
You don't have to PURCHASE anything.
Just drag the image of your choice to your desktop (or make a screen capture) and use it to compile your outfit.

I'm taking my crazy legs over to Patti's Visible Monday. Can't miss me in this CMYK ensemble.
You have until very early Wednesday morning (PDT -- did you remember to change your clocks forward today?) to link up here.

An InLinkz Link-up

Peaches on the Digital Catwalk and Shining Stars

CREATED/ LINKS/

Shining Star, by Earth, Wind & Fire, came up on my iPod the other day, during my morning commute. After replaying it about five times (or maybe more -- it got me from the 405 @ LAX to the 605 x 60), I thought about the SHINY 52 Pick-me-up sketch still in need of completion. I was also listening carefully to the lyrics (see below) and thought about all the Shining Stars in my universe.
Then I arrived at the day job, got slammed with a load of work, and was "forced" off the internet for days.
"What? You want me to WORK at work????"

Anyway.

Meet Peaches, the Queen of Diamonds!

Peaches of Peaches McGinty

I have SO many sketches in need of coloring. And instead, I'm in the midst of completing my Sketchbook Project 2014, which changed course and is now of maps of all my US road trips. That's due postmarked 1/15. Why do I always do this to myself? Ah well, pedal to the metal.

Wanted you all to know you're my shining stars!



Lyrics:

Yeah, hey
When you wish upon a star
Dreams will take you very far, yeah
When you wish upon a dream
Life ain't always what it seems, oh yeah
Once you see your light so clear
In the sky so very dear

You're a shining star, no matter who you are
Shining bright to see what you can truly be
That you can truly be

Shining star come into view
Shine is watchful light on you, yeah
Gives you strength to carry on
Make your body big and strong
Future roads for you to pass
Love to watch your mug past

The shining star, lucky you
The sinful redeeming shall be true
On an adventure of the sun, yeah
Yeah it's all awake and just begun
Yeah, thought I had to stir the mood
That's it now I got my own oh yeah

So if you find yourself in need
Why don't you listen to his words of heat
Be a child free of sin
Be some place, yes I can
Words of Wisdom: Yes I can

You're a shinig star, no matter who you are
Shining bright to see what you can truly be
You're a shinig star, no matter who you are
Shining bright to see what you can truly be

Shining star for you to see, what your life can truly be
Shining star for you to see, what your life can truly be
Shining star for you to see, what your life can truly be

[source: above YouTube video]

52 Pick-me-up: Closet Orphans | Ending 2013 at the Beach

PURCHASED/ PURLOINED/ GIFTED/ PRESS SAMPLES*/

Happy 2014, everyone!
Start the new year with a 52 Pick-me-up challenge. It's a weekly series that I started last June.
You can see all the prompts if you click on the menu bar tab up top.

This week, it's time to wear something old, something that you haven't worn for a year (also known as a closet orphan). You know you have such items. I do, in spades. I've got the "too small but still like" box.
I've got the "needs repair or revamp it" boxes.
I KNOW those boxes are full of things I haven't worn for a while, if ever.
Here's the one I dug around in:

I threw the contenders in a pile (yes, on the floor):

Hmmmm, that floral-paisley skirt might work

I bought this skirt at Savers in Austin in March 2012.
It was too small, but I got it anyway for the print, which I adore.

Look! If I wear it under my extremely huge turtleneck, no one can tell that it's riding up on my ribs!
(Please ignore the fact that I didn't press it and it's a wrinkled mess.)

All ready for work.
*little pink tuft necklace c/o Capwell & Co.

Ah, work on New Year's Eve. We were let out early.
Co-workers rejoice. Me, on the time clock, not so happy.
2.5 days of working will NOT pay the rent. So I didn't clock out. Maybe they'll pay me for a full day.

ANYWAY

Through forces beyond my control (OK, in the wrong lane on the 605),
I ended up going a different way home (105 vs 60/10 through dtLA).
So I thought, why not go to the beach and do some sort of end-of-year ritual?

GOOD IDEA!

I always gravitate to the Playa Del Rey beach. Easy to park is reason #1.

I wanted to find a rock, write 2013 in Sharpie, and hurl it into the Pacific.
No rocks, but this piece of "beach plastic" served well:

My one-take video:


Beachy glamor shot:

*sunglasses frames c/o Ditto

Do you perform any year end rituals? (Aside from NYE parties) Do tell!

Now, back to my challenge. What can you find that you haven't worn for a year?

52 Pick-me-up: 70's Flashback

Are you ready to Shake Your Groove Thing? It's 70s week at 52 Pick-me-up!

My 50's ranch home was remodeled in the 70s. It has lots of "mighty fine" touches, like wood paneling in my office, a weird welcome liquor bar built into what used to be an entry coat closet, and the kitchen -- ALL of the kitchen. Showcasing these areas would require some cleaning -- maybe I'll do it tomorrow... or Sunday...

Meanwhile, I donned my most "awesome" 70s-looking clothing and posed before the banana yellow 70 VW Squareback sculpture. [No, I still haven't put that thing on Craigslist.]

Can any of you ID the LP I'm holding?

Shake it!


ps: Since I'm wearing a hat, I'll be linking up with The Style Crone's new Hat Attack party. The first of the month, every month!

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!

The Crazy Quilt Dossier: 70's Edition in Brooklyn 3/1-3/2013

Here are all the sketchbook pages as a video:

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

The Sketchbook Tour 2013 starts TODAY! First stop: Brooklyn

Click here to check out the tour as it travels to Brooklyn, Austin, Atlanta, Toronto, Chicago, Portland, SF and LA.

SpyGirl hopes to "see" you on tour!
This sketchbook can be found on the shelves with a call number of 204.14-5 

My Dream Suitcase

When you read this, I will be far far away from home and on vacation. Woohoo!

As I prepared for my trip, I envisioned my dream suitcase:

• It had those modern roll-in-all-directions wheels.

• It had a telescoping handle that operated as smooth as silk.

• It was hard, and exactly the shape and size of my mom's fifties train case from her honeymoon suitcase set that I took on sleepovers with my cousin. (It was ideal for storing the Barbies).

Source

How about taking said case and frankensteining on the other two parts? THAT is my dream suitcase: small enough to fit under the plane seat and sturdy enough to rest my feet on.

These daydreams transpired because last January, during a harried "Amazing Race" type sprint between gates, I gave myself bursitis in my left shoulder from carrying an overloaded tote and clutching my laptop with a death grip. My right side isn't allowed to carry anything (thanks lymphedema). In March, I experimented with using a small rollaboard for the electronics. It worked OK, but I had my boyfriend along to do the heavy lifting, and the handle does not retract well.

So I daydreamed... and in passing, mentioned my pipe dream to my co-worker. She said "There's a rolling suitcase the skater girls use that they can sit on to put on their skates." (Her son plays hockey). OMG! How genius! A roll-aboard that can be sat on during all that standing around and waiting. THIS I had to track down!

Meet the Züca!

Source

Here is a video of the Züca in action:

I tried to get 18 days of outfits into mine, but was thwarted by the beach towel and, well, a few other things.