No More Mauve!

Skirt and Cardigan (H&M); Turtleneck (Target); Belt (Amazon.com); Boots (Butterfly Consignment); Floral Necklace (The Limited); Pocket Watch Necklace (For Love 21)

A grocery store clerk recently complimented my skirt/sweater combo and told me that mauve was her favorite color. I wasn't sure what one had to do with the other, but I thanked her politely, took my 40 foot long receipt (seriously, the length of grocery receipts is ridiculous), and went on my way. I'm not exactly sure what to call the prominent pinkish hue in this ensemble. "Salmon pink" is my best description, though Pantone probably calls it something else. But of this I am sure - it is NOT mauve. 

Bracelet (Lenny & Eva)

And believe me, I know mauve. We are not friends. In fact, mauve makes me sick (or at least it makes me look sick, much like that ubiquitous 2014 Pantone Color of the Year, "Radiant Orchid." I am no radiant orchid, and I don't do mauve.

When we moved into our current home, it was a mecca of mauve. Mauve tiles on the great room fireplace; metallic mauve flowers on the wall; mauve stained glass in the ceiling fan; mauve stripes in the puffy 1980s balloon valances; mauve blinds on every window; even the felt on the pool table was mauve (seriously, a mauve pool table). Bet you can guess the first thing I changed about the house...No.More.Mauve! 

Watch (Fossil); Bag (Brahmin)

I don't mean to disparage mauve (or the grocery store clerk who loves it). My mother looks great in mauve. My grandmother looks great in mauve. Maybe you look great in mauve, too. How mauvelous for you! Mauve power to you (I know, I know, that's a really bad one. I should just mauve on...)

Fashion is what you buy; Style is what you do with it!

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Viva Vintage!

Dress (INC, Macys); faux fur topper (Yaprak Designs, Indianapolis); Boots (Shoedazzle.com)

Last month, I had the good fortune to travel to Chicago with the Indianapolis Museum of Art's Fashion Arts Society for a two day excursion that included an art studio tour; a private reception and presentation at Burberry's flagship store on the Magnificent Mile; and a visit to a vintage clothing showroom; along with plenty of supping, sipping, and sharing stories with an incredibly diverse group of women who share a kindred fondness for fashion. 

I had never seen a hat like this before my visit to the Viva Vintage showroom, and it caught my eye as soon as I stepped inside.

I'm a solo shopper - I like to browse at my own pace, and rarely feel the need for input from others when making decisions. If I don't love a garment the minute I try it on, I'm probably not going to buy it, regardless of the opinions of any shopping companion or salesclerk (this philosophy dramatically decreases the chance that the item will still have the tags on it two years later!) And yet, exploring vintage styles and trying on one of a kind items with my FAS companions was was a highly enjoyable exception to my typical one-woman shopping show. I think it was a combination of the women themselves and the festive party atmosphere created by the owner and hostess of Viva Vintage Clothing, who opened her showroom especially for us on a Monday afternoon. 

I paired the hat with onyx earrings and a simple black beaded necklace that belonged to my grandmother. Classic pearls would also coordinate well, but I wanted to a splash of black to add balance to knee high black boots and black tights.

And WOW, what a showroom it was! Viva Vintage Clothing has a large yet well curated collection, and its owner (a fellow "ginger") is extremely knowledgeable about the garments, hats, handbags, and assorted accessories she sells. Like me, she knows there is a place for vintage clothing in the modern world. With a little thought, vintage pieces can add panache to your personal style without making you look like you're wearing a period costume.

I'd never worn a tilt hat before, and wasn't sure how to keep it on, but the boutique owner provided a hat pin, and showed me how to use one to secure it!

I discovered both of these hats at Viva Vintage. In fact, in a wall of elegantly displayed chapeaus, these two were the first to catch my eye and the first that I tried on. The black hat is a wool felt "tilt hat" from the 1940s. When I wore it last weekend for an elegant formal dinner party, I added a crystal brooch to the back for a little sparkle (see botton photo), and paired it with a modern lace dress by Byron Lars (my favorite contemporary designer). 

The ivory hat is straight out of the 50s. It bears the label "Alfreda, New York and Paris." Its condition is remarkable given the light color and hundreds of seed pearls and crystals that make up the intricate design. It's actually a "pillbox" style, originally intended to be worn more on the back of the head (think Jackie O). But, as I played with it, I discovered I liked it even more tilted forward - it's more flattering for my face shape and also allows me to better appreciate the fine bead and crystal work. It was the perfect statement piece for a cocktail reception in the Stutz Building, a historic downtown landmark filled with collector cars and art galleries, and accentuated the beaded embroidery work on a modern LBD.

These two beautiful women are friends, colleagues, and fellow FAS members; This lace Byron Lars dress is one of my favorites and I've worn it several times, but it felt like a completely new outfit when I added the hat.

 Viva Vintage Clothing's Chicago Showroom is open by appointment only, but you can shop there without leaving the comfort of your own home. The boutique's website if user friendly and fun to browse. You can also keep abreast of new acquisitions on Facebook. And for more fabulous hat ideas, check out the Style Crone's monthly Hat Attack! Viva vintage!

Fashion is what you buy; Style is what you do with it!

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Cat-like Reflexes

Dress (Boston Proper); Velvet Jacket (Alex Evenings, Nordstrom); Boots (Shoedazzle.com)

One of my dearest friends recently married the love of his life, and the wedding celebration was the perfect opportunity to wear this leopard and lace dress from Boston Proper. I like animal prints, but I typically limit them to accessories (like a belt, scarf, pair of shoes, or a bag). I've admired bolder splashes of leopard on others (and last year I couldn't resist this dramatic spotted cape from a "style swap"), but every time I've tried on a top or dress with an all-over animal print, it's felt too "busy" for my own comfort level.

The copper keshi pearl and smoky topaz torsade is from a market in Shanghai, China, picked up on a business trip.

I felt completely different about this particular dress. The scale of the spots is quite large, which makes the print seem more subdued and abstract, while the full skirt and ombre effect that fades into a lace design add unique interest and cocktail party flair. 

Smoky Quartz and Diamond Ring (David Yurman, G. Thrapp Jewelers); Ametrine and Diamond Ring (Master Jewelers, St. Maarten; Watch (Charriol); Filigree Cuff (Stella and Dot); Belt (eBay)

I actually hadn't planned to wear knee-high suede boots with the dress, though, and I'm still not sure how I feel about the combination. But a swollen, angry toe wanted nothing to do with the strappy little heels I really wanted to wear. Just three days before the wedding, a mishap involving a kicked kitchen cabinet, a dropped iPad, and a marble floor resulted in a broken toe on my left foot (the incident was of the accidental variety and NOT due to bad temper). The boots were my only option outside of flip flops or tennis shoes.

The way the leopard print melts into the lace design at the bottom of the dress is my favorite part of the design.

As luck would have it (or my luck, anyway), the very next day I also crushed the tip of my finger in a friend's manual garage door. Luckily, I didn't break anything else, but I'm fairly certain I'm going to lose the fingernail (and it wouldn't be the first time I've lost a nail due to a smashed finger). Too bad wearing leopard doesn't also give me cat-like reflexes!

Celebrating with my dear friend (I swapped out the keshi pearl necklace for a lacy filigree collar my Mom surpirsed me with when we stopped at her house on our way to the celebration)

Fashion is what you buy; Style is what you do with it!

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Vampire Killer Chili (and the reason vampires hiss...)

Have you ever noticed that vampires in old movies make an evil hissing sound every time they talk? I'm not talking about the Cullens in all their sparkly skinned glory, but old-school Count Dracula types who can be repelled by garlic, killed with a stake through the heart, and just "vant to suck your blood." 

The theatrical contact lenses are from Vision Direct; Other than the fangs, contacts, spiderweb eyelashes and nail tattoos, everything else is part of my normal wardrobe mixed together and repurposed for Halloween: Necklace and earrings (Givenchy, Nordstrom); Crystal ring (Macy's); The hat is my favorite, and while it looks spooky here, it's actually a modern take on Dior's new look of the 1950s and looks elegant worn in other, non-costume settings (Loreta Corsetti Millinery). 

Well, last weekend I found out why that is...It has nothing to do with sounding spookier, and everything to do with the fangs. As it turns out, when you have fangs, you can't close your mouth all the way and saliva tends to pool up (kind of like sitting in the dentist's chair with your mouth open). So when you start to speak, you have to sort of suck up the saliva to avoid drooling. It makes an evil hissing sound. Kind of gross, I know, but there you have it. 

Spiderweb eyelashes and Halloween themed nail tattoos picked up at Walgreens for a few dollars add small but bold details.

Even so, wearing the prosthetic canines did make me feel spooky, and I felt compelled to make scary faces all night (or at least what I hope were scary faces). I was also really impressed with how realistic those suckers looked and how well they stayed in. After a bit of online research, I ended up using these fangs because they were smaller and had a more realistic shape, but I used the molding kit from this set to customize the fit because it seemed easier to use and had better reviews. Molding them to my own teeth took less than 15 minutes and was far less disgusting than I anticipated. I was able to slip them in and out with ease throughout the evening to eat and drink (because accidentally swallowing, and then passing, a nylon fang would not be a pleasant experience), but they never fell off when I didn't want them to.
Beyond the obvious desire to avoid swallowing and pooping out a fang, I also removed them to eat because the online reviews warned that dark colored foods and beverages would stain them (I guess movie vamps must need a new set every time they bite a victim). The alternative would have been to not eat, and since the evening's main event was a chili cook-off, that certainly was NOT an option!

I wanted my own chili entry to coordinate with my costume, so I decided it needed to include a healthy dose of fresh garlic and that I'd call it "Vampire Killer Chili." In a stroke of genius, KDef suggested that I also use steak tips in it, as in killing vampires with a "stake." You know I'm a (blood)sucker for a good pun, and 15 minutes later I'd created the description below.

I used a photograph of halloween decorations from a few years ago as the background for my chili description/poem. It's printed on a normal sheet of paper and "modpodged" onto a small resin tombstone-shaped sign from Michael's.

The recipe itself, which I share below, was actually the last detail I nailed down, and I tweaked it as I cooked right up until it was time to leave for the party. The presentation, however, was a no-brainer. I found this coffin guitar case on eBay a number of years ago, and it's been the perfect serving platform for a multitude of delicious but deadly-looking dishes over the years. It's also remarkably travel friendly - everything other than the blood red crockpot full of chili itself fit easily inside the closed case.

The modpodged chili sign hangs from one of the clasps on the guitar case (and is lit from below with a battery-operated LCD light); Metal Skeleton hands from Pottery Barn (purchased a few years ago) hold aloft small dishes of oyster crackers, sour cream, and chopped green onion; Fritos and shredded cheese are also on hand to amp up the chili, while whole garlic adds ambience to the theme.

Some may view display as as afterthought, less important than the actual food, but it's creating the aesthetic that really gets my juices flowing. Lest you think I'm overstating my focus on the visual, I'll sheepishly admit that in 2009, I was sorely disappointed when my sombrero and cactus-accented Mexican serape-draped table received second place for "presentation" in a neighborhood chili cook-off, even though my southwest chili recipe itself took home first prize! 

This year, I put a lot of effort into developing my Vampire Killer Chili recipe (and marinated the meat and vegetables for 12 hours prior to cooking), so I had high hopes for another victory. Well, it was a huge hit and there were no leftovers at the end of the night, but when the votes were tallied I didn't come up the winner (that's ok - I voted for the chili that actually won, too!) But, our dear host did give me a ribbon for the "killer" display, which warmed the cockles of my undead heart and put a huge grin on my drooling, be-fanged face!

If you want to feed a crowd and kill off some vamps at the same time with a pot of hearty chili, you'll need:

• Two large jars or cans of crushed tomatoes (I used 2 jars of home-canned Indiana tomatoes plus one can of finely chopped tomatoes flavored with lime juice and cilantro);
• One small can of tomato paste
• One 15.5 oz can of Brooks Chili Beans
• 1 Green Bell Pepper (finely chopped)
• 1 Orange Habanero Pepper (finely chopped)
• 6 to 8 cloves of fresh garlic, pressed
• 1 large sweet onion, chopped
• 3/4 lb of zesty hot sausage
• 2 lb steak, cut into approx. 1/2 inch cubes (the butcher gave me a SWEET deal on filet, otherwise I'd have used sirloin tips)
• 6 slices of bacon, fried crisp
• 2 cups tri-color rotini pasta
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Liquid Smoke (I used both Hickory and Mesquite)
• Chili Powder (I used Pampered Chef "Wahoo Chili")
• Ground Cayenne Pepper
• Ground Coriander
• Ground Cumin
• Salt and Pepper 

The night before cooking the chili, combine the chopped peppers, onion, garlic, sausage (broken up into pieces), and steak in a large container. Add to this a few large pinches of salt and pepper, and approx. 4 to 5 TB of Worcestershire, and 2 to 3 TB of liquid smoke. Mix thoroughly (I put on sterile gloves and used my hands). You want to be sure everything is completely covered and that the mixture is very wet, but not soupy. You can adjust the liquids accordingly. Cover and refrigerate overnight to let the flavors really marinate and meld.

The "Round the Way Girl" on my right was a chili cook-off winner - hers was so good I needed seconds and thirds!; The lighted sombrero of my friend Mark's Dia de los Muertos get-up is genius; Mario's costume was inspired - he even set his cell phone with sounds from the game.

After the mixture has marinated for several hours, brown it in a large skillet (or two). I used two skillets and it took about 10 minutes on medium-high heat. To this mixture I also crumbled up and added a few strips of crispy bacon (that just happend to be left over from breakfast. Not essential, but a tasty addition). Don't drain the meat after you're done browning it. Add the entire mixture, liquid and all, to the crockpot.

Really, is there anything scarier than a clown?

Next, add the chili beans, tomatoes, and tomato paste to the crockpot. I only added about half of the tomatoes to start with, until I had the consistency I wanted. I added more after the chili had simmered for a few hours and cooked down. I like chili on the thick and chunky side, but you can adjust to whatever consistency you prefer. Once all of the these ingredients are in the crockpot, add the chili powder, coriander, cayenne pepper and cumin. I also threw a few garlic cloves in for good measure. This is the least precise part of the recipe, and is truly a matter of personal taste. I'd suggest using a light hand to start, and add more periodically as needed while the pot simmers. 

LL Cool J and his Round the Way Girl and Mary Poppins and Burt were two of my favorite "couples" costumes; KDef continued his "too soon dead" costume tradition with a Patch Adams tribute.

After about two hours, add two cups of cooked rotini pasta to the pot and mix thoroughly (you'll likely also need to add more tomatoes at this point, and more spices). You could also add uncooked pasta to the pot from the beginning, and it will cook as the soup simmers. That's what I do with my traditional chili recipe, but sometimes the pasta ends up pretty mushy, so this time I cooked it separately and added it later. In total, you'll want to allow the pot to simmer on low for 4 to 6 hours. Enjoy!

Fashion is what you buy; Style is what you do with it!

You can also check out other fun hats at Style Crone's Hat Attack.
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Hello Moto

Leather and Lace Moto Jacket (INC, Macy's); Pants (Joseph Ribkoff, The Secret Ingredient)

My Freshman year of high school, I was selected to take my science project to a Purdue University Science Fair. To be honest, I don't remember much about the experiment itself, except to say that it involved about 50 smelly, bacteria-laden petri dishes of agar that I let linger in an upstairs closet long after the assignment was over and grades were in, much to my mom's dismay and frustration.

What I do remember about the science fair, however, is wearing my dad's studded, black leather motorcycle jacket with a slim black pencil skirt and a cognac colored sweater that matched my hair. The jacket was ridiculously big on me, and I kept it on for my interview with the judges despite the fact that the exhibition hall was incredibly hot. I didn't win anything, but I felt like a grown up, sophisticated tough girl in that jacket - who ever said girls can't be smart and cool at the same time?! (Looking back and remembering the enormity of that jacket, not to mention my super-sized permed hair and stiff as a board "mall bangs," I now realize I was not nearly as cool as I thought I was). 

I paired the sheer lace jacket with a pale, flesh-colored tank here, but I also like it with a pop of color underneath for an entirely different look.

I'm guessing my dad felt pretty cool in that jacket, too. But he wore it while riding his Honda Goldwing, and it probably looked a little more apropos on him than it did on a 15 year old girl at a science fair. I have a lot of memories of that Goldwing my dad was so proud of. We had more than a few adventures on it, the earliest of which was a grade school father-daughter date night to my very first concert (a Kenny Rogers, Dottie West, and Oakridge Boys concert at the Hulman Center in Terre Haute). I think taking the bike was my favorite part of the excursion (or possibly the McDonald's fish sandwiches we ate for dinner).

Our longest motorcycle trip was to visit my great aunt Carol and uncle Jim for a long weekend at their cottage on Dale Hollow Lake in Tennessee (nearly 800 miles round trip). I didn't have a moto jacket of my own at the time, though, and when it poured down rain most of the way home, a big black Hefty bag and duct tape bought at a truck stop along the route (sort of) saved the day. Of course, there is absolutely nothing about the sheer, leather and lace version of a moto jacket that I own today that would protect me from even the mildest elements, but it still makes me feel like a tough girl, so who cares! 

Leopard print, calf-hair ankle boots (Talbots); Clutch (Ann Taylor)

I don't know what ever became of my dad's old jacket. When he passed away 10 years ago, he had transitioned from a Goldwing to a Harley and upgraded to a soft black lambskin coat. I never learned to drive a bike myself (though I did manage to crash my Yamaha Razz scooter and a friend's moped more than once in my reckless youth), so I let the Harley go to his dear friend Ken Toney and the buttery soft leather jacket I gave to my Uncle Gary. I know they both honor his memory and share his love of the open road.  

Fashion is what you buy; Style is what you do with it!

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Dia de Los Muertos

Sugar skull sundress (ModCloth)

I was cut from my 5th grade choir in elementary school. I've been told that I should lip-sync in church. If I was a waitress at one of those restaurants where the staff embarrass guests on their birthdays with a raucous serenade and a free dessert, I'm quite certain I'd be asked NOT to participate. Even so, I love music and I love to sing. When I'm alone in my car, I'm a diva, singing along to the radio in full-voice with facial expressions and steering wheel drums to match. Sure, I get plenty of strange looks and a few laughs from people who catch my private stoplight concerts, but it's never bothered me a bit. 

When I drove down the road in full sugar skull makeup in broad daylight, however, I have to admit I felt a little self-conscious. It still didn't stop me from singing, but when the police officer who pulled alongside me on the north side of town did a triple take, I realized I just might look a little crazy in my patchwork special effects contacts and painted face as I belted out The Freaks Come Out At Night (remember that old chestnut?)!  

The kitty cat is my beautiful niece; Cosmetic contact lenses will add unparalleled drama, but your eyes will need time to get used to them. This pair can be found at VisionDirect.com, and could also be used in a Nightmare Before Christmas look.

Even so, it was such a fun look that I'm already planning a fiesta to celebrate next year's Dia de los Muertos! If you're thinking a Dia de los Muertos sugar skull look, I'll offer a few tips: 

     1) Unless you have lots of practice or an artistic friend, you'll get the best results if you engage a professional makeup artist to help you. Creating symmetrical designs on your own face in the mirror is challenging (kind of like painting your finernails with your non-dominant hand). A professional will also likely have higher quality face paints than you'll find in the Halloween aisle of your local drugstore; 

     2) If you do plan to do it yourself, skip the overpriced yet cheap stuff at your local pop-up Halloween superstore and check out Silly Farm for high quality online supplies. Michaels also carries good face paints now;

     3) Plan on a couple of hours for a really detailed design that will last through the night. Intricate embellishments take time, though stencils can help speed the process. Even with simpler designs, though, it's critical to give each layer and color time to "set" before adding more. Otherwise you'll end up with a smeared, muddy looking mess; 

     4) Temporary tattoos don't work very well - so save your money. Prior to going the makeup route, I discovered sugar skull temporary tattos online. I loved the look, but the quality ended up being about in line with a prize from the bottom of a box of Count Chocula. More importantly, they have to be applied on clean, makeup free skin, which means you can't put on the critical white "skull face" base first.

     5) Theatrical cosmetic contact lenses will add unparalleled drama to the look. If you don't need corrective lenses, you can find a wide variety of fun lenses online for less than $50. If, like me, you need prescription lenses, your options will be a little narrower and more expensive. However, when well cared for, they can be worn on multiple occasions. I have a few different designs (and will use another pair for a completely different look at a costume party tonight). My primary resource is VisionDirect.

     6) If you're going to try cosmetic lenses, put them on and spend some time wearing them before you go into the makeup chair. Even if you're used to contacts, theatrical or novelty lenses are generally larger in diameter and take some getting used to. Until your eyes get accustomed to them, they are likely to water more than normal, causing the sugar skull makeup to run (I learned this the hard way); 

     7) Finally, don't hug anyone taller than you, or they will end up wearing your face on their shoulder! 

The flowers in my hair came from an old Christmas decoration (I repurpose items whenever I can); Thanks to Kelly Oswalt for the makeup (and for reapplying my right eye more than once when it wouldn't stop watering!)

Fashion is what you buy; Style is what you do with it!

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and for some great style tips, check out Style Crone's Hat Attack!