For Erskine

What do you do when you find out that a high school friend is dying?

Erskine now

I cried. A lot.

[I still am.]

And then I made some art.

Because the best thing that I can do in the face of death is be defiantly alive and create.

And if ever someone lived life defiantly, it's Jane.

I love you Jane. Raise some hell up there.

Erskine 1975(?)

Neon Preppy -- #OOTD

OK, OK, it's neon tropical. This loud shirt from the Larry archives makes it's sartorial debut today.

Hot pink and green always remind me of Lilly Pulitzer and Lilly Pulitzer reminds me of my preppy school-mates (I went to Emma Willard, a girls' prep school).
Oh! I just remembered that I also grabbed a Lilly from Larry with the intention of selling it!
Here it is:

Yep, monkeys are in those coconut palm trees

It will appear on Threadflip soon, after I press it and take enticing photos. It's tagged a size 6.

Meanwhile, I'm certainly visible today...
Visible Monday over here, do click and partake!

The Spirit of 74" - A Red, White, and Blue Muumuu

That's what it says - 74"! 

When I first pulled this out of Larry's bag of treasure, all I could focus on was the muumuu-sized portion of
red, white and blue in, yes, a fairly hideous tropical print on stiff cotton.

We made jokes about it.
That's what Larry and I do.
I figured it was some sort of Class of 74 school spirit dress. Hey, I'm from the class of 74, I'll take it...

Now there's an "interesting" sleeve...
might have worked better in rayon...

Here is the prize that I didn't find until I shot these photos:

"Compliments of
Marshall J. Wilkings
potentate"

WHAT???

I googled hawaii matadors:

a lot of sports stuff -- no surprise

Then I tried "hawaii matadors"
sometimes adding quotes makes all the difference:

Look! The exact same verbiage as my label!

Here's a screen grab of the link:

I couldn't believe it...
IT'S A SHRINERS SHIRT!!!
Look at the price he has on it!

My muumuu was made for the shriners' wives!
Cause for celebration, SpyGirl style:

Happy 4th of July, whichever day you take to celebrate.

Linking up to IFB Project #54

[Update -- 7/2013: That $485 Shriner shirt is still available. Big surprise, no?]

[Update #2 -- 7/2017: Yes! Still available!]

[Update #3 -- 5/2021: Yes! REDUCED to $225!!!]