Off-Duty Superhero

  Well, this is definitely one way this blog has affected me: when faced with the choice of just wearing my workout clothes all morning before practice or dressing up as an off-duty superhero, the choice is clear.

  I didn't have anything in mind other than the weather (not cold but overcast with a strong damp wind) when I started getting dressed, I just thought I looked like an off-duty Asian superhero when I was done, and decided to stick with it because there are few enough of us. Oh Psylocke, thou who art literally a white woman Orientalized for exotic sex appeal. *sigh*

  It's probably the arm socks that make the whole superhero look. I love covered arms and bared shoulders. I find it sexy in a less-is-more way, and not the "I am bashing you over the head with the bat of my sexuality! MY LADY PARTS, LOOK AT THEM." way that makes me leery of some clothing.

  Speaking of the arm socks, these are actually leg warmers. It's just they are leg warmers from *Asia* which means I tore stitching the two times I tried to get them over my calves, so now they are arm warmers. Sometimes I wish they would make a separate category of martial arts clothes. They would be just like regular clothes, only with much bigger leg holes.

  I can't take credit for coming up with putting them on my arms. The salesgirl somehow managed to convey this clever second use to me, despite the two of us not having any languages in common. I think she took one glance at the ol' stancemakers and knew the primary function wasn't going to work out.

  I've had this shirt since I was a teenager. It was one of the first things I bought when I went to University (the first time) and it sat, cherished, in my closet for a decade and a half because I didn't know what I'd wear it for. The answer, as I know now, is for kicks and giggles.

  The trousers are dri-fit yoga pants from Nike, also well over a decade old. I thought they looked kind of Japanese, with the wrap-around tie waist and extra flaps hanging in front.  I've worn them as work trousers countless times. The shoes are Candie's platform booties that I wrote about (and shoved a rock into) last month. The rock worked! The insteps stretched the heck out and I now stride unhobbled to protect humankind. The rock is staying on in my apartment as my personal low-cost shoe stretcher.

Jacket: Laundry by Shelli Segal (Last Call by Neiman Marcus, old)

Shirt: Mimoa (very old)

Arm/Leg warmers: Owl Woman (Taiwan)

Pants: Nike Dri-fit (very old)

Shoes: Candie's (thrifted)