Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Teal, Tees, and Memories

I still remember the first time I beat my dad on a hole of golf. I was in the fifth grade. We were on Spring Break in Myrtle Beach. I was wearing khaki knickers and an argyle shirt. I was not a good winner.
Breton Stripe top (Cable & Guage); Skrt (Nicole Miller)
And by that, I mean that I danced around the green celebrating my par 3 bogie and taunting him for his (very unusual) double bogie, thanks to an unfortunate roll into a water hazard.
My celebration was more than a little out of proportion to the caliber of my play. In fact, I was playing on a ball I borrowed from his bag because I'd already lost all of my own in water hazards on earlier holes. (This course had water On. Every. Hole.) 
Hat (Kate Lord for the BMW Championships); Heart-shaped sunglasses (Amazon)
Nevertheless, taunt him I did. Dance a jig I did. Remind him repeatedly the rest of the week of my small victory I did. It was fair turnabout for his own relentless teasing. Because that's what he did.
Shoes (Callaway Golf with custom kilties by yours truly); Socks (Club Med, Vittel, France)
Though I continued to play with him periodically throughout my childhood, and even a few times as an adult, the 15th hole of that Myrtle Beach golf course is my favorite golf memory with my dad.  I still smile when I think about it.
My handmade, blown glass putter (PGA legal) is my favorite club, discovered at the Penrod Art Fair a few years ago - leave it to me to go to an art fair and buy a golf club!
I also still sometimes dance a little jig when I have a particularly good hole (though I never taunt anyone actually patient enough to play with me). I didn't find many reasons to dance in my actual play last weekend. But, the weather was great; I only lost one ball in a water hazard; and my self-customized golf shoes were just my style... I call that a good day on the course. I'm still smiling as I think about it.
Fashion is what you buy; Style is what you do with it!
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Wednesday, July 6, 2016

The Buck Stops Here


One of the highlights of my Fourth of July weekend was helping a friend feed these darling little bucks.
The four little white-tailed bucks being rehabilitated by a friend of mine are so cute I can hardly stand it. Photographs do not do justice to how truly sweet they are. Last week, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to help feed them on two separate occasions. I'm pretty sure I had a permanent smile on my face the entire time.
The clothes are superfluous compared to the undeniable sweetness of the baby deer, but since Red's Shoe Diaries is, at its core, a style blog... Navy maxi dress (Amazon); Red maxi dress (Meijer); American Flag aviators (Steinmart); flag earrings (Gordmans); the hat was a $10 find at some little vintage store on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles whose name I'm not sure I ever registered.
Getting up close and personal with Carmine, Lazarus, Sampson, and Elvis was an experience I'll never forget, but I wish it was an opportunity I didn't have. Deer are wild animals. They are not pets (however sweet and cuddly they may be). These little guys are being bottle fed on my friend's farm out of necessity because they were separated from their mothers too soon.
The babies all have unique personalities, as well as markings, which make them easy to distinguish from one another.
It takes a special kind of person to rehab deer and other injured or abandoned wildlife. A big heart and a willingness to get dirty are key; but it also requires a permit or license from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. In other words, don't try this at home. Sadly, well meaning citizens are a primary reason that young wild animals require rehabilitation, as people often remove the babies from their natural habitat under the mistaken belief they've been abandoned by their mothers or are otherwise in distress. Fortunately, rehabbers like my friend are there to help, caring for the juveniles until they are strong enough to fend for themselves.  
I wore these American flag boots by Roper a few times last week in honor of the Fourth of July holiday. You can find them on sale here.
If you come across a wild animal that you believe is in need of human intervention to survive, you can find information and resources on wildlife rehabilitation and licensed rehabilitators on the DNR's website. As tempting as it may be, it's a mistake to try to care for the animals on your own; it takes expertise to feed these babies the right foods (NO cow's milk) in the right amounts and to ensure they retain their wild instincts and don't remain dependent on humans as they mature. You can always ask the rehabber if you can help out, though. It's an experience you won't forget!
These babies are being nourished by goat's milk, and they're also learning to forage for fruit.
Fashion is what you buy; Style is what you do with it!
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I'm also linked up with Style Crone's Hat Attack today!

Monday, July 4, 2016

Puppies, Ponies & Patriots

It may be the "sport of Kings" across the Pond, but Friday night's Hats, Hounds & Hooves was polo "American style" as we kicked off Independence Day weekend at the Hickory Hall Polo Club. 
Thank you to Marion Superior Court Judge Gary Miller (left) for helping me choose the winners of the Hats, Hounds & Hooves Halftime Hat Parade contest. This little guy, Miles (center), was excited to win a big tin of popcorn courtesy of local company Just Pop In for his dapper patriotic garb. Photo courtesy of Pics by Lesa.
The red, white, and blue was on display on the sidelines and in the halftime hat parade, with several dogs in attendance sporting the stars and stripes, too.
Dress (eShakti); Cardigan (Jessica Howard; Macy's); Shoes (Chelsea Crew; Zulilly - embellished with patriotic hair clips); Hat (Steinmart, with custom monogram and ribbon accents)
You knew I'd embrace the opportunity to join the patriotic fashion fray, and this red and white striped dress from eShakti was my first choice.
I was honored to help organize this event and to host the Halftime Hat Parade. Photo courtesy of Pics by Lesa.
Navy accessories and a pair of star spangled hair clips turned shoe ornaments take the dress out of "Where's Waldo" territory, leaving no question the evening celebrated the beginning of the holiday weekend.
Halftime Hat Parade prizes were awarded for the fanciest, funniest, and most patriotic ensembles (clockwise from right). Photos courtesy of Pics by Lesa.
But the country's independence wasn't the only reason for revelry. The event was actually the second annual charity polo match to raise funds for Dress for Success Indianapolis and Waldo's Muttley Crew
Humans and canines alike made spirited style choices for the festive evening celebrating hats, hounds, and hooves.
The money raised from the evening's festivities will help both organizations further their missions: Dress for Success to help disadvantaged women achieve economic self-sufficiency; and Waldo's Muttley Crew to find forever homes for local strays. 
From the littlest fans to the players themselves, the sport of kings is a stylish game. Photos courtesy of Pics by Lesa.
The nights was an unqualified success, and I was honored to be part it. I'm already looking forward to next year, and I hope you'll join me!
The weather was perfect for tailgating on the sidelines in style. Photo courtesy of Pics by Lesa.
If you're curious to see what polo in Indiana is all about, you don't have to wait for the next Hats, Hounds & Hooves, though. Hickory Hall Polo Club hosts matches nearly every weekend - you can check out the schedule and learn more here
Photos courtesy of Pics by Lesa.
Fashion is what you buy; Style is what you do with it!
Thanks to the Kish family for letting me love on their lovely labradoodles for a bit!
I'm also linked up with Hat Attack!

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Baby, You're the Bomb (pop)!

I can't put on this maxi dress from Charming Charlie without craving a popsicle. A Bomb Pop to be exact (or a "Firecracker pop" depending on your brand of choice). I may or may not have bought three boxes last week for this weekend's Independence Day festivities at the lake. I can neither confirm nor deny that there are now only two boxes in my freezer even though it's only July 1st. Why, no, I have no idea why my tongue is blue...
The dress also has the chorus of Katy Perry's "Firework" playing on an endless loop in my head... You just gotta ignite your light and let it shine. Just own the night like the Fourth of July. 'Cause Baby, you're a fiiirework, come on show 'em what you're worth. Make 'em go "ahh, ahh, ahh" as you shoot across the sky! Is it stuck in your head now, too? You're welcome, and here's hoping your weekend is truly the bomb!
Fashion is what you buy; Style is what you do with it!
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This post is also linked with Hat Attack!