The Muse: Genetic Drift

 Developing your own sense of fashion is not linear, in fact in my experience it has been anything but. In some cases you take big leaps forward, taking bold chances and recreating your image, starting with a clean slate. In others you wander back to thinks you had forgotten or believed you no longer like. Best of all sometimes you can combine the experience and successfully marry the two, literally experiencing the best of both worlds. This outfit felt a little like that. The weather has warmed up sufficiently to go out sans overcoat, however the mornings are still nippy enough to require stockings. I was so proud of these stockings when I bought them last year on sale, my mother took one look at me and said, "they look exactly like the tights you had to wear with your uniform in school." And they do. Remembering now how much I hated those tights (which were much poorer quality, and dyed with a foul smelling dye that stunk up anything unfortunate enough to share a washing machine with them) it seems crazy that I would enjoy these so much. If that's not regression for you I don't know what is, you can take the girl out of the Catholic school but.... As for the rest I think I've branched out and become bolder, I never would have worn a skirt this short, but learning how to work it is all part of the process. Also I like to think that so many of the rules that people set to fit fashion have gone by the wayside, like wearing open toed shoes with tights. I was doing a biology study guide with a student today and explaining genetic drift, how sometimes evolution occurs without natural selection, an natural differences in allele frequency can spontaneously manifest because of a small population or other environmental factors. I think fashion is a little like that. Seldom is it natural selection, its not just survival of the fittest in our wardrobes, the strong survive and the weak get weeded out. Its more like genetic drift, just when you think you know how your style will develop, unexpected anomalies can lead to unexpected surprises.

Sweater: no label, via Walmart (old)

Dress: Pins and Needles via Urban Outfitters

Stockings: Target

Necklace: Anthropologie (still available here!)

Bracelet: J.C. Penny

Ring: vintage, my grandmother's

Shoes: Predictions thrifted via Salvation Army Family Store

Purse: antique camera case

The Muse: Close Call

I sort of pride myself on the utter uniqueness of my outfits, in all my clothing in fact. Its a rare day that I wear even a single item that I've seen on someone else. In many cases its because I've either thrifted a piece of because its vintage, in others its just that I tend to have a bit different taste than most. Today this came to mine because one of my students, Dave said to me as I walked by, "Phew Miss Clappin, that was a close call."
"What was a close call Dave?" I asked. "Well you see I almost wore that exact same outfit this morning, but really that's more of a Thursday look for me." Given that Dave is 6' 4" and weights about 260, this seems unlikely. Though he was really just being a smart ass and poking fun at my clothes (I admit I can be a little much for some people who prefer the safer, more mundane looks) it caught me so off guard that I couldn't help but laugh. In reality it didn't even occur to me that my outfit was anything unusual, in fact I thought the colors all coordinated rather nicely, though in retrospect perhaps four different patterns even in the same color family is a lot. Close call indeed.

 

Wrap: brand??? via Target

Dress: Leifnotes via Anthropologie

Stockings: no brand, via Building 19

Shoes: Bandolino via DSW

Purse: Monsoon (UK)

The Muse: Double the Fun

It may just be that its spring, but it seems like everyone is wearing double floral prints this week. And why not? 'Tis the season. I must confess I've only ever worn this dress with solid colored cardigan  before and I actually like the floral cardigan better. At the very least I had just about every color of the rainbow covered! 

On another note a special shout-out to my coworker Laurie Blake, who is home sick. Blakey, as she is affectionately known, is one of our English department queens and never fails to make me laugh when she calls on the phone. Everyone is missing her, but I was glad to find out she's keeping up with what I'm wearing from home. 

We miss you Blakey!

 Sweater: Merona thrifted via Salvation Army Family Store
Dress: American Living via J.C. Penny
Earrings: vintage, gift from my grandmother
Shoes: Nine West via DSW
Purse: DeDe via Anthropologie

The Muse: Spring has Sprung!

 Well we knew it had to happen eventually, spring has finally, reluctantly arrived in New England. it was lovely to be able to go out in the morning without a legitimate coat, just a light blazer thrown on. White pants, florals, summer flats fashion-wise we're right on target with the weather. Once the sun starts to set however its still chilly and the nights are still down in the forties so we're not totally free of winter yet. Nonetheless it was nice to take some outfit photos next to a little bed of crocuses rather than a pile of snow. The weather has seemed to shine on my outfit photos as well, they've been conspicuously easy to take and the light and exposure has been perfect every day this week. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. For now I'll soak up some sunshine and enjoy.

 Jacket: vintage, Angelica thrifted via Savers
Blouse: Merona via Target
Brooch: vintage, gift from my grandmother
Bracelet: vintage watch fob chain
Pants: New York & Co. via Building 19
Shoes: Not Rated, gift
Purse: no label, thrifited via The Bargain Box
Headband: Forever 21

Tiki at Tazza

 These photos of the Tiki at Tazza event have been languishing for a while (since March 16th to be exact) which is not so bad except that I gave someone at this party my blog address and promised I would post on the event the next day. Hope she wasn't holding her breath. I stopped by on a whim, while I was out making my annual St. Patrick's Day runs all over the state delivering Irish soda bread. I had seen that Chifferobe was hosting, and though I had passed it many times (its right behind the Providence campus of URI), I had never actually been to Tazza. It was a small crowd but fun with great retro hits on the turntable, lots of tropical attire on display, and the fabulous Kristen Minsky dancing attendance of all. On a chilly march night it was lovely to be transported, if only for a few hours.

 Dress: vintage, Hukilau Fashions, via Goodwill
Necklace: vintage, via Twice the Diva
Purse: vintage, handmade, bought from a girl selling her wardrobe out of a suitcase on the street (true story)
Shoes: Cynthia Vincent via J. Marcel

You can read more about the event on Chifferobe's blog and make sure you check out some of their upcoming events. Their website has a full listing and more info but their big Cirque de Ville show is this weekend (not sure if I'll make it or not) and their Flapper 101 series of classes is coming up (I'll be at 101 and 104!). I f you're anywhere near Providence there is no one who throws a better show and I feel strongly that we should try as hard as we can to support local artists like these talented ad unique people.

photo courtesy of Kristen Minsky and Chifferobe

photo courtesy of Kristen Minsky and Chifferobe

photo courtesy of Kristen Minsky and Chifferobe

photo courtesy of Kristen Minsky and Chifferobe

photo courtesy of Kristen Minsky and Chifferobe

photo courtesy of Kristen Minsky and Chifferobe

 I have to also issue my mea culpas, the lady in this fabulous vintage hibiscus print dress is Erin, and the lovely lady with her is her partner Maia (my apologies if that's misspelled). I had seen them at the Chifferobe Boudoir event back in September and they struck me as an extremely beautiful and very striking couple. So I relished the opportunity to meet them properly and we spent an enjoyable evening chatting about the fabulous fashion, vintage in particular. Which only made me feel more guilty about my delay in posting. However it turns out it was fortuitous because a tikki party seems an appropriate farewell for Lily Pulitzer who died yesterday at the age of 81. Her flair for the tropics inspired a generation, and still sets us longing for pastels and exotic prints today.