What I haven't been showing you

this is a MySpace type photo sans visage

Remember the other day when I said I made a necklace out of a vintage chandelier crystal? Well, I wore it out and about, and I absolutely adore the way it looks. Unfortunately, I can't seem to take a decent picture of it to save my life. This one is very nearly NSFW, and it's the only one that seems to capture how I think it looks and feels to me. C'est la vie.

And then there was Saturday. It has been November with a vengeance here, and somehow last winter, I managed to destroy more or less every pair of tights I owned. I am left with four pairs of black fishnets, very warm and slightly itchy merino wool sweater tights, and a pair of hot fuchsia Betsey Johnson stockings that go with NOTHING. I tried to find a pair of warm tights here in town, but there was NOTHING. Spanx, and leggings, and all of them nearly $30... It made me long for an Urban Outfitters, even if that store is run by the Devil and staffed by his brainless minions. Even though I was wearing the softest bits I own, even though I was wearing cashmere knee-highs, even though I was sporting a cloche hand-crocheted out of Scandinavian wool, I was shivery and felt damp all day.

i'm scowling because i need hot cocoa

On Sunday I wore a variation on my cabaret Amelie ensemble except with a royal purple cardigan, an opal glass pendant, and a bright pink rose in my hair. I neglected to take a picture, of course.

I am currently obsessed with mustard/saffron/marigold colorways, and I am trying to scheme a way to add more of it into my life. I love this vintage skirt:

click the image to go to the etsy listing!

And I want a reason to wear this dress:Last year Tulle had a lovely, snuggly mustard colored zippered cardigan that I regret not buying now. Now I am watching for it on eBay.

Since it was a work day, and I woke up even earlier than necessary, I wore a boring t-shirt and jeans today. Well, as boring as my t-shirts and jeans ever are - today was my hand silkscreened Sugar Shakers tee and the skinniest pair of jeans I own, with deep, Levi-E style cuffs on them, because I am rockabilly like that. Until next time, my dumplings!

Snowy day cardigan

It has turned wintry in the seaside town I live in these past few days. Yesterday morning, I could not coax myself out of my cozy cinnamon and coffee scented house because of the flurries of snow. I busied myself fixing up an old cardigan so that I would love it again, instead of relegating it to the pile of things I throw on top of my pajamas.

I hate winter clothes, for the most part. I don't like itchy or bulky; I don't like hats that flatten your hair; I don't like boots that aren't cowboy boots. I do like fluffy, soft, dreamy things, though. This sweater is the color the sky was yesterday, and the lace and pearl buttons and velvet trim are sort of snowy. It was all very coincidental, but then I liked the snow a little better, and I felt tons better about winter clothes. I also wore tiny twinkly crystal earrings, and much later in the day, since I was feeling inspired, I made a necklace out of a chandelier crystal and wore that, too. If I'd been able to find my cream colored tights, I would have changed out of my boring blue jeans and into the vintage, heathery-green wool skirt I have.

I have to clarify something right now, too. I saw a random comment sort of pertaining to this blog wherein the author urged people to simplify and purge. I am NOT advising that, not at all. I am not a fan of those terrible shows where they scrounge in your closet and dump your treasures on a burn pile simply because you can't recall the last time you wore it and then replace it with some vaguely trendy, "versatile" piece that is supposed to be "wearable" and which has all of the art and personality of a red Solo cup at a kegger. No. Don't abandon your things because they aren't being worn; WEAR THEM. Abandon your oatmeal colored t-shirts and your shapeless black slacks and your ancient Old Navy yoga pants. Toss the things that make you blend in, and embrace standing out. I never get compliments on wardrobe staples; the things people love are coral or aquamarine or leopard print. Pooh-pooh to the Trinnys and Susannahs of the world. I prefer to keep my faux-fox orange sweater-coat, thank you.

How on EARTH do I get featured, Miss Stella?

It occurs to me that I was rather vague in my instructions on how exactly you could find your gorgeous picture of you sporting the marvelous things you adore right here in this very space for the rest of us to coo over. Here are your options:

1) Email or Facebook me a picture of yourself and your fabulosity and what you feel we need to know about it (its provenance or its fiber content, whatever) and I will write your post for you using glowing adjectives to properly convey the wonderment I feel.

2) Email or Facebook me and politely request that I add you an author of this blog, and I will sent you a formal invitation through Blogger to be a co-host of this virtual party, and you can pen your own glowing adjectives.

3) Start your own version of this blog, and somehow make me aware of its existence, and I will link to it.

4) Wear your amazing ensemble someplace I am likely to be and have my camera - every other Sunday at the radio station is a good choice, 8:15 a.m. at the Backdoor is not - and I will take your photograph and then refer to step 1).

Please feel free to do my busywork for me and refer your stylish and adorable comrades to this site as well. I don't mind plastering strangers' pictures all over the Interwebz if they don't mind emailing them to me!
And here is my poorly photographed effort for today: a wool flannel skirt in charcoal that I bought on sale from Victoria's Secret last winter for $10, a Joan Holloway-esque navy sweater with 3/4 sleeves and a tie at the neck, black pearl earrings, and a huge burgundy flower that I think was once a pin that I have attached to a headband. I also wore a pair of black lace tights and black ballet slippers.

And now you!