"Behind the Wall of Sleep" and Songful Style Linkup

Songful Style, a fun way to explore your closet, inspired by music.

Brought to you by Suzy - the Grey Brunette, Shelbee On the Edge , Michelle - My Bijou Life, Marsha In the Middle, and me, SpyGirl.

My choice for June was "Behind the Wall of Sleep" by The Smithereens.

Due to a surgery that I'm still recovering from, Severo is standing in for me, "dressed as black as coal":

 Action!

 July's song is When Doves Cry, by Prince. 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

These Boots and Songful Style Linkup

Songful Style gives you lyrics, music, video, and album artwork to inspire your fashion creativity. You may even find inspiration in a memory triggered by the selected song. It is all open to your own personal interpretation and just a fun way to discover new music and get a little bit more creative with your wardrobe. 

Join me and my cohosts Suzy, Shelbee, Michelle, and Marsha in this month's fun linkup party inspired by Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots are Made for Walkin'"

Boots by Fluevog, Tate 8-Eye

POW!

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Next month's inspiration is "Leather and Lace" by Stevie Nicks and Don Henley.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Linking up with 

Rena's Fine-Whatever

The Tired Tie Dye Skirt/ Dress

I think I got this at Old Navy? In the beach coverup area?
Or maybe it was Ross.
One of those, in downtown Santa Monica.
All I remember is, it was super cheap. [Which is why fast fashion can be so hard to resist].

Skirt or Dress?

Yes, I'm cavorting on the back patio almost naked. 

I tried, and failed, to find an old selfie wearing this as a skirt. Not found with the tag "tie dye" here, maybe I never posted it. Then I scoured my Tumblr Archive as far back as 2015. Nada. Gave up. (I use Tumbr to quickly access my old Instagram posts. Though my annembray share link has been broken for months. I need to link manually. Boring, sigh).

Currently, it had been taking an extended stay on Mending Mountain - the elastic smocking on the waistband had died. It will now become a dress. After I tunnel new elastic through the top of the waistband. As you can see, I already installed some straps.

Last year, it took and unexpected turn as art!
This transpired through the conjunction of

• taking some photos of the tie dye stripes for possible use at the day job
• uploading an app called Momento (only iPhone?) that builds videos from stills
• an online art collaboration with Angela Izzo

The first video:

See what happened next here!

Included with Shelbee and Nancy's Good Buy/ Goodbye July feature "Tie Dye"
Linking with
Shelbee's On the Edge
Rena's Fine-Whatever

#thevintagefashionchallenge Day 1: Hello!

The Vintage Fashion Challenge is an Instagram event hosted by
@iliveinmylab, @makethislook, and @tinyangrycrafts.

I'll be investigating individual patches on the Crazy Quilt and telling their stories, both on IG (short form verbiage) and here, longer posts with links.

Here's my intro video that I posted incorrectly on IG:

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For Day 2 (which I combined with Day 1 on the IG post) I actually donned an entire vintage outfit!
See it, next post.

Here is one of the pages I was waving around in the video from my Otis Fashion Textile Class Binder:

I'm going over some of the original pencil in ink, as my instructor suggested in 1985.

Stories

1) The African knockoff print
I still have the top I made out of this! It was hanging behind me in the above video. Lou decided it was a lovely cat napping station after I left it on the bed. (Sorry, no documentation).

I think I bought this yardage at my favorite fabric shop in Poughkeepsie, NY in the '70s.
The top was sewn in 1973.
Here is a post that goes into details.

2) The Vintage Floral
This one I bought at Pilgrim Mills in Providence, RI. There used to be a lot of fabric mills in the Providence area and Pilgrim was an outlet for mill ends. Sewn in 1981, it started as a retro boatneck fit-and-flair dress.
I recently found an old slide with me wearing the dress, but since I'm already so late in posting this, I'll come back and add it later!

Other notes:
Did a full rendering of this print in gouache, plus a colorway for an Otis class. Another thing to hunt for.
I refurbished this into a skirt (currently lives on Mending Mountain).

On the quilt, not sure if any patches have lasted.
This one, in the upper left corner, I covered - look how faded it got!

3) The Couch Fabric
This covered a love seat that my parents gave me when I moved to Manhattan in 1977.
It was my paternal grandmother's, I still have it (in storage in the garage).
Again, a photo search for another day!

#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

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