Every decade or so large sleeves come back in fashion. I bought this blouse in the late 90's. As I'm not about to hurry out and buy new clothes to be fashionable, I figured it best to seize the opportunity to wear this before the moment passes. It will pass, once people figure out what a pain it is managing daily life with sleeves falling into their coffee,
Being completely sheer, the blouse requires camisole or tank, which unfortunately bunched-up beneath the blouse when we took photos. Being in a public space, I didn't think it would be appropriate to reach beneath my skirt to straighten it out, though in truth, I doubt anyone would have noticed. We went to Walnut Grove Park looking for warblers, and the first thing I spotted was a Greater Fuzzy-Headed Twitcher...
The Twitcher spotted both
Tennessee and
Kentucky warblers,
Clay Colored Sparrow,
yellow warblers, a
gray catbird, and a
red headed woodpecker. Not bad for a morning when the rain kept pouring down. We also saw an out-of-season
hermit thrush, which was exciting. This particular park is a warbler hot-spot in May. In-between the downpours, the park came alive with birds and frolicking squirrels.
Everything is so green after the rain. The park smelled so strange-like a combination of cake and window cleaner. Funny how different parks/woods can smell after rain.
Outfit Particulars:
1990's top-Can't remember
Vintage skirt-Goodwill
Vintage beaded belt with wood buckle-Hand-Me-Ups
World's Heaviest Pendant-Goodwill (I rarely wear it for fear of pulling my neck)
Earrings-K Mart
Bracelet-Goodwill
Vintage handbag by JR-Hand-Me-Ups
Ecco walking shoes-Hand-Me-Ups
Fragrance-vintage formulation Aromatics Elixir (found a full, unopened bottle at Goodwill for $3.99!)
The older I get, the larger the bracelets and rings become. The bracelet is a recent purchase, and I just adore it. It blows my mind the things people will donate to thrift stores.
Here's a closer look at the necklace. The thing is a beast! I love it, but wow, is it ever heavy.
This photo was taken at home so I could show you the large maple tree outside our window. It makes Danny allergic, it drops seed pods all over the garden, and limbs crash terrifyingly close to the house in storms-but look at it! All the birds, squirrels, and woodchucks that call it home make me forget all the misery it can impose. The amount of wildlife we get smack dab in the middle of Omaha is extraordinary. There's birch, cedar, walnut, ash, and a dozen other trees just on our block. We're incredibly lucky to be reaping the benefits of someone's long-ago vision to plant all these trees. I can't open a window when the pollens are doing their thing, but at least I get to enjoy all the birds and animals calling this tree home. You take the good with the bad.
Stay groovy, and keep yer sleeves out of the coffee pot.
I absolutely love those sleeves!
ReplyDeleteI have a bit of a thing for them myself, my wedding dress sleeves touched the floor before they were knotted. Unknotted and without the lace up bodice, I could pass quite happily in an old Hammer Horror film!
I love watching the birds too, though here we don't have quite the mix we had in a recent property, here it's all wood pigeons, blackbirds, sparrows, magpies, crows and jackdaws, with the odd woodpecker thrown in, all of which I love, so I'm very happy. There's also a red kite which is often seen through the kitchen window, so that's a bit of a treat.
Those sleeves are fabulous, and so is that photo of you posing in that lush green park. That skirt is lovely too! How clever to have spotted the Greater Fuzzy-Headed Twitcher ;-) Love the necklace but it sure looks heavy. I always get a crick in my neck whenever I try wearing heavier jewellery. xxx
ReplyDeleteAs Vix would say, those are some bastard massive sleeves! They may mot be practical but they are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteLove that necklace & bracelet.
Are you sure the window cleaner smell wasn't the Aromatics Elixir?
Looks like Spring sprang with all those glorious green trees & critters evrywhere!
Those are some bastard massive sleeves and I love them! We had a 1970s revival in the early 1990s and I wish I'd bought more of it, this time I won't be so foolish, I'm stalking the websites of a couple of trendy fashion chains waiting for the prices to be slashed.
ReplyDeleteI'm dying over the bangle, too. Why bother wearing jewellery if you can't see it from 200 yards away? That's what i always say.
The twitcher did well. He needs to come and assist me, I have to keep googling birds that use our garden feeders as they can't all be tits, can they? xxx
We're flooded here in the Hoosier heartland -- and I think of Danny as the water birds stalk and paddle fearlessly into our yards and fields: Herons, geese, ducks, eagles, and even two disheveled egrets that rode in on a storm. (I've seen only one kingfisher here, but he was gorgeous!) How many birds does he have on his young life list now?
ReplyDeleteThose elegant sleeves are definitely fire hazards, but such perfect frames for the magnificent bracelet. Any ideas on its origin? The cabochon setting for the stones looks Middle Eastern.
I just had to give away a very cool dress with enormous sleeves, as it got too big and the neckline became indecent.
ReplyDeleteEnvious of your wildlife.We get mostly drunks and pit bulls.
Hello Lady Goody!
ReplyDeleteYou're far too trendy in this outfit. The sleeves are fab but what a pain in the arse are big sleeves. I love your skirt, the belt is fab and as for the jewellery accessories - amazeballs.
I'm very envious of the Aromatics Elixir - what a find! It's one of my all time favourites which I'm out of at the moment but will rectify that soon.
The roll call of birds was wonderful - a catbird? My mind boggles but there's always Google. The Danny bird was my favourite though!
Have a lovely weekend.
@Melanie
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a beautiful wedding dress, and of course you were beautiful no matter the dress.
I've never seen a magpie, though we're taking a trip out west where they're more common, so I have something to look forward to.
@Ann
Thank you. I bought the skirt for the pockets, and no other reason.
@Bibi
Ha, ha! No, I think the park just has a funny odour.
@Vix
I knew you'd like the sleeves. I'd offer to send Danny over to you, but he'd never come back. I think he'd really enjoy the festival scene.
In seriousness-if you come across the old Observer birding books from the 60's, they're quite good-and small enough to carry along. Danny carries a Sibley guide, and it is quite a large thing to lug around (and expensive. I couldn't believe how much a bird guide could cost). I typically get stuck carrying the gear and guides as that's all I'm good for ;)
@Beth
I think it is around 200 birds so far, with about 150 spotted just this year. We were out at the DeSoto Wildlife Refuge in Iowa today, which added to his list.
I have no idea where the bracelet is from, the stones seem to be polished rocks rather than gemstones-but it looks good. Probably made in China!
@Propagatrix
Maybe you can start an inaturalist study on drunks and pitbulls of Northern California and have people submit photos for study.
I'm sure the recipient of the dress will love it.
@Veronica
Catbirds are so uninteresting they typically get overlooked. Aromatics is such a polarising scent-love or hate from what I've encountered.
Oh, how I love an impractical sleeve! Whether in fashion or not. Yours is a particularly splendid example.
ReplyDelete@Radostin
ReplyDeleteThank you. If I weren't such a slob I'd wear large sleeves more often but alas-I really am careless.