Shades of Gravender

I backed the camera up in an attempt to avoid the lens flare and backlighting. MISSION FAIL.

I made this outfit for Spygirl's 52 Pick-Me-Up challenge: layers. Also because it is freezing in my room. Man, I look so proportional when sleeves are the correct length. Japanese clothing all the way.

All the dangly pointy bits of cloth made me feel like curtsying.
I hope I did patron saint of masterful layering Shawna proud.

Where to begin?

Purple heattech undershirt: UNIQLO (gift from Mom, Japan)

Grey bamboo dress: Natural Life (Purre at The CAMP)

Double layer vest: MOUTH valley (thrifted, Japan)

Outermost long vest: LUX (clothing swap)

Wide belt: pellemelle (thrifted)

Jodhpurs as leggings: Ariat (thrifted)

Boots: ALDO (thrifted)

Cloisonne necklace and enamel earrings: unknown (thrifted)

If you haven't seen these before, that's right, jodhpurs! (Thanks, Excelsior Goodwill!) They are by the company Ariat and so comfortable and warm. They also have deep front pockets. Rich people really know how to live!

The wide leather belt is one I thrifted a few weeks ago in SF, by pellemelle. The end has a tendency to start slipping out of the buckle, but otherwise I am really happy with it. It's comfortable, the right size, and the soft leather has enough stretch that I don't garrote myself in the midsection when I sit down.

The outfit was so neutral that I tried to add a little color with the cloisonne jewelry, but overall I think it's still pretty "Look, ma! I'm greyscale!" That isn't to say I don't like it; purple and grey is one of my favorite combinations*! I'm just obsessed with trying to up my color game recently and I don't want to feel like I was backsliding.

* In fact, know what I'm gonna call it? Gravender. Shut up. Clever! ᕦ(ಠ_ಠ)ᕤ

Sheer for Sear

Someone left Southern CA on 'parboil' again. This is the second thrift piece I picked up for simmer-I mean, summer.

Amboy Aces dress/tunic: Salvage (thrifted)

Long vest/cardigan: LUX (clothing swap)

Sandals: Clark's (gift from Cathy)

My friend noted with approval that this is summer clothing. I kind of felt like I was wearing underwear all day. It might be the light colors, it might be the thinness of the material, or, as I now realize looking at the photos, it might be because I'm clearly wearing a tunic, not a dress. Dangit. Blog and learn.

On the plus, it's a size up from what I normally wear, and I found out when I went to brunch that I can eat a pound of food and it is not evident. Hooray loose!

The thrifted tunic's brand is Salvage, and it reminds me of the brand Treasure Rock that I also have some pieces from. I looked it up online, and man, this brand is pricey. I like all of the cool details and grommets, but $139 for this thing new? Half the damn thing isn't even opaque!

Speaking of, this light lavender long vest or cardigan or thing by LUX proved its usefulness, even as it continues to defy categorization. The back of the Salvage tunic is actually sheer, leading me to wonder who exactly this garment is meant for. Is this a misguided attempt to be sexy?

If a question is going to form in the mind of the folks I pass on the street, I'd like it to be along the lines of, "Where did she get those clothes?" rather than, "Dear god, are those her underpants visible through the back of that thing?"

Then again, when temperatures are regularly nearing 100F, my brain shorts out and all bets are off. Small wonder I forgot to wear pants.

Investigating Vestments

  Last week I had a question about the ruching on the back of my cardigan that reminded me of an Austrian drape. This week I have another style vocabulary question.  It might even become a regular bit on this blog. I can see it now! The music plays, the camera pans over the stage and you hear the voiceover announce, "You know what time it is, folks! It's time to plaaaaay..."

*studio audience chants* "WHAT... is that thing?"

  And the curtains would part dramatically and I would come out to a burst of applause, wearing the latest weird thing I found at the thrift store.

  I got this thing at a clothing swap some years back, actually. It's a size L, which is probably part of why it is very drapey on me, but I get the impression it's just meant to be super long.  It has a random bit of pintucking and the hem material curves up in the back.
  What *is* it? Is it still technically a vest? I tried adding a wide cinch belt I thrifted in Japan over it. To stay with faded blues and purples and a few pops of black, I added my rhinestone button bracelet (another thing I don't know the correct name for!) I liked the look so much I added my favorite hoodie and a hat later:

  It's the first time I've used the double zipper, and I enjoyed how I could let the layers underneath show. I love this hoodie so much. The impression I get from my friends is they find it underwhelming but know it's my favorite color and they are happy for me. My friends are nothing if not polite lovely people. :D

  The concept of power in names, and that naming something gives you power over it shows up in several cultures throughout history. I don't know what it means that I have things I don't know the names of all over my wardrobe, but I'm not going to let not knowing what something is called stop me from wearing it. (:

Mystery vest thingie: LUX (clothing swap)

Cincher belt: unknown (Japan)

Long cloak hoodie: Prairie Underground blue suede

Rhinestone button cord bracelet: unknown (old, The CAMP)

Women's houndstooth cabbie: San Diego hat company (product link)