ALL the Evening Gowns

 When did it start, this enthusiasm for interesting clothes? Unlike many people that develop a taste for fashion over time, I can trace mine to a specific incident. I was about four years old, and was shopping with my mother at Turnstyle-a sort of big box store that we had in the Chicago area. It was a great place with a large toy section, costume jewellery (I bought a Mood Ring there) record department, and clothes. Oh goodness, the clothes!

My toddler self wasn't much different from my menopausal self with respect to magpie qualities. It sparkles? Shiny things? Sold! Except I was shopping with my mother who didn't develop a taste for sequins until the 80s and then only to adorn a tee shirt here and there. Now I ask you, how could a child with such a deep love for the sparkling, twinkling metallic plastic be expected to accept her mother's refusal to purchase a full length, sheath-style evening gown in red white and blue sequins? I knew I couldn';t wear it, of course but I couldn't see any good reason that she would want to pass on it. It was...well, probably horrible in a "Let's copy a Bob Mackie and sell it to housewives" kind of way but that just makes it all the better. She didn't want the gown, so I did what any small child being denied the flashiest thing she'd ever seen would do-I threw myself into a display bin of underwear and screamed bloody murder between sobs, as you do. She still wouldn't buy the dress. She bought me a water-globe instead to shut me up. I never did forget that gown though, and in one way or another I'm still pursuing it. You can be quite certain if a red, white and blue sequin gown ever crosses my path, I'm going to buy it. Meanwhile, I wear what I like and enjoy getting dressed. It might not always be flashy, but it is definitely, me.

Conventional wisdom is that large, middle aged  old women should wear neutrals, in non-bulky fabrics and.../well, no. I'm not wearing a steady rotation of black and beige, and if bulky knits add a few pounds, who cares? I know the fact I have a teenager is misleading, but trust me, I have more years behind me than ahead and I don't intend to spend what's left dressed in a style I'm uncomfortable with because of the number of candles on my birthday cake. And I'm going to eat that birthday cake too, thanks very much. Embrace your inner toddler and wear that which you desired but were denied. You're an adult now-who's going to stop you? By all means, if neutrals are your thing-wear them! But please, please, please, don't let anyone dictate what you should like. 

OK, stepping down off the soapbox now...

Outfit Particulars:

Vintage acrylic polo neck-Goodwill

Vintage acrylic cardigan-Goodwill

Vintage acrylic crochet skirt-New Life Thrift (I think?)

Boots-Goodwill

Vintage Johanssen handbag-Can't remember

Vintage Monet necklace-Thrift World

Earrings-Sears

Scarf on bag-swiped it from Danny's collection

 Have these boots featured on the blog at any point? I can't remember. Bought them ages ago in the sales at Target, and wore the daylights out of them on the farm as they're flat, vinyl and are easy to clean mud off of. Had I known how indestructible they'd turn out to be, I'd have bought them in brown as well. The regret is right up there with the sequined gown, and I keep hoping someday I'll find another pair in a thrift store. Learn from my mistakes-buy in quantity when you find something good. In the 90s I bought 10 pair of black ballerina flats and was on my last pair when Danny was a baby. That's not bad!

I don't always, "Borrow" my kid's scarves-I bought this one for myself. I'm not a Leo, but how could I resist this fantastic print?

 Do I get bonus points for a skirt that matches the colours so well? I don't know what the odds of that happening are, but this seems like a very rare coincidence. I loved how they looked together.

Photos don't accurately show how gorgeous this scarf is.

 Outfit Particulars:
Polo neck-retail, a few years ago
Scarf-Hand-Me-Ups
Vintage skirt-Goodwill
Vintage cha-cha braceletes-both Goodwill
Rings-=all over and gifts
Beret-K Mart
Earrings-Target

 I don't just love flashy clothes though. I appreciate classic, well made items as well, though I do struggle putting together a more quiet, understated look.

 In my experience, throwing a brooch and pearls at most suits will work.

 Matching shoes and handbag to round out the look.

Outfit Particulars:
Vintage suit-a vintage shop about 20 years ago
Shoes-Thrifted
Tights-Walgreen's
Vintage handbag-Goodwill
Liberty scarf-Goodwill
Brooch-Goodwill
Pearls-can't remember, probably Jordan Marsh in the 90s
Vintage earrings-yard sale

 Sometimes I like mixing a conservative looking item like this vintage Pendleton skirt with an unexpected accessory like high heeled clogs. The contrast is there, but not so strange that it feels awkward. I enjoy wearing something that's slightly out of place to lessen the formality of a piece-sort of like wearing a beaded evening jacket with jeans. The bag is also slightly different from the one in the last set of photos, if you look closely.

 Couldn't be bothered to crop the photos-ooops! You can see my hat boxes at the top of the stairs.

Outfit Particulars:

Vintage Pendleton skirt-Goodwill

Vintage ACTIII velvet jacket-Goodwill

Vintage handbag-can't remember

Clogs-retail ages ago

Bangles-antique shop and Goodwill

Vintage Monet pendant necklace-Goodwill, I think

Earrings-Sears

Standing beside the highway in a 50s lace gown. Why not?

The netting on this poor dress shreds a bit more with each wear but isn't terribly obvious so I keep wearing it. Eventually it will fall apart. I don't typically wear a shirt beneath it, but it IS January. 

I'll leave you with a photo of the pillow I didn't buy, even though it matched my coat. Sometimes you just have to say, "No." Hope January is treating everyone well.