Once Upon a Time...

On a quiet, tree-lined street in a quaint little village not so far away...

beyond the street-side shadow puppets created by the morning sun on a wrought iron fence...

A favorite clutch from Bodhi Bags with a giant safety pin handle and whimsical shoes from British brand Poetic License with ice cream cones for heels seemed apropos for my first visit to The Cake Bake Shop. 

you'll find a little jewel of a house turned bakery whose fresh white paint and well-manicured lawn provide just the slightest glimpse of the magic that awaits inside.

Stepping through the front door of The Cake Bake Shop in Broadripple Village is like stepping through the looking glass into a living fairy tale.

Midi skirt (Chicwish); Cardigan (Pinup Girl Clothing); Sequin top (Dress Barn)

Cherry blossoms explode from crystal vases on smooth white marble countertops veined in the softest grey; crystal chandeliers twinkle from above, their facets creating tiny prismatic rainbows; a whimsical ferris wheel with an Eiffel Tower base fills the front window with European flair; and bakers dressed crisply in shades of white and pale pink are quick with a smile and friendly greeting even as they go about the business of sprinkling faery dust on every cupcake, cookie, and cobbler.

I'm not kidding about the faery dust - edible glitter adds iridescent sparkle and a finishing touch to signature sweets that are made from scratch each day (using fresh, often local ingredients and not small children like Hansel and Gretel). 

The 18k and plique a jour fairy pendant is more than 100 years old. It's my favorite estate sale piece, and I've worn it with everything from jeans to black tie.

The Cake Bake Shop is not so much a bakery as it is an experience. In addition to pastries both elaborate and simple, you can also enjoy fresh quiches and savory sandwiches for brunch or lunch, and I highly recommend sipping a glass of hibiscus infused pink champagne while you peruse the day's bakery selections and delight in the many small details that create the decadent ambience.

It's not inexpensive, but both the beauty of the setting and the artistry of the chefs make it a worthwhile occasional indulgence - the perfect place to catch up with a friend; celebrate an engagement, a birthday, or a stellar report card; or as a special destination for a mother-daughter outing.

The pie in the bottom right corner of the pastry case is the famous peanut butter cookie banana cream pie. It's a staff favorite.

Unfortunately for me, I have a number of dietary restrictions due to a chronic condition that prevent me from enjoying all that The Cake Bake Shop has to offer. Yet, if I could choose a dessert for a "last meal," it would without question be the bakery's banana cream pie, and I don't even like pie.

In fact, as desserts go, pie isn't even on my radar. Except. This. Pie. Cake Bake banana cream pie is no ordinary pie: the crust is actually a soft peanut butter cookie crust, the filling includes fresh banana slices in every bite; and the top is drizzled in a rich salted caramel. If all pie had a peanut butter cookie crust and a salted caramel drizzle, I'd like pie a lot more. Now if it were just gluten and dairy free, as well....Alas, that's where the fairy tale ends.

The Cake Bake Shop is located at 6515 Carrollton Avenue and is open seven days a week. What are you waiting for?!

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

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Go fly a kite!

Dress (Bernie Dexter); Shoes (Poetic License)

It's hard to believe September is here already, though it's still hot, hot, hot outside so as far as I'm concerned, it's still Summer (which means I'm still wearing favorite sundresses like this one from Bernie Dexter). And technically, Summer still has a few more weeks even though in the Midwest we tend to treat Labor Day as the unofficial start of Fall. 

I am in love with the serene Summer scene on this sundress, and it seems like I've worn it about seventeen times this Summer, just slightly less than I wear the navy blue Jessica Howard cardigan. The bracelet is from Erwin Pearl's Van Gogh collection; The necklace is vintage 1950s.

Reflecting on the past few months, I can definitely say that is has been one busy, crazy Summer. I was at a charity luncheon yesterday, where more than a few friends remarked that I'd been running like the Energizer Bunny since Spring (does Energizer still use the bunny...?) They're not wrong. My calendar has definitely been full. I have been getting better at the art of saying "no" in the last few years, but admittedly I still have a tendency to overcommit. 

The Bodhi Bags safety pin clutch (no longer being made) is one of my all-time favorites, and never fails to prompt conversations with random strangers, as do the Poetic License "Girl About Town" shoes. I like both the bag and shoes so much that I own both in multiple colors.

I know I'm not alone in that tendency, but I've learned the hard way that "downtime" is critical for my health, both mental and physical. As cheesy as it sounds, the serene kite flying scene depicted on this Bernie Dexter sundress reminds me to slow down and breathe. I also feel like singing "Let's Go Fly a Kite" from Mary Poppins every time I wear it, which coincidentally reflects George Banks' own (finally realized) appreciation for downtime.

Reflections on a car show!

Making sure that I reserve a lazy Saturday or Sunday here and there provides much needed time to relax, refresh, and allow for a little spontaneity (or a chance to stay in my pajamas all day napping in the hammock and binge watching Netflix).One of my favorite "free" days this Summer involved a spontaneous solo outing to the Mecum Auction at the State Fairgrounds. It's no secret I'm a car girl, and I particularly love the classics, both European and American. I often watch Mecum on TV, so when I saw the auction was in Indy on a day where I actually had no commitments, I was intrigued. When I researched the auction list and found out it included both my favorite car of all time (the Mercedes SL190 circa 1955-1963) and a (much lower mileage and babied) model of my own recently acquired, limited edition Silver Arrow SL550, I decided to check it out. Not that I had any intention of (or could) bid on anything - I just wanted to see the cars and experience the auction live.

The SL190 is my favorite car, albeit in silver with red interior rather than black. She's a beauty, either way, though.

To say it exceeded my expectations would be an understatement. The opportunity to wander around the show floor at my leisure, chatting with the odd stranger or winning bidder here and there was so much better than watching on television, particularly because I could get up close and personal with the cars and visit my favorites multiple times. It was, for me, like visiting an art museum (because these beauties are definitely art), though the auction added an additional air of excitement and energy that elevated the event beyond the ordinary auto show.

Just a few of my favorite works of automotive art from my day at Mecum

I had intended to be there only an hour or two, but I was so fascinated by the diverse variety of vehicles (more than 400 in total) and the auction process itself that I ended up spending the entire day. I enjoyed it so much I even cancelled the massage and manicure appointments that had been my original plans for a little Saturday afternoon self-indulgence! Viva la lazy day!

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

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Two Hues; Two Shoes: Which to Choose?

It's no secret I have a large collection of shoes. It's not an Imelda Marcos sized collection by any means (nor do I aspire for such) but, still, I'm relatively certain I have more shoes than the average person. I mean, really...one of my favorite Christmas presents a number of years ago was a case of 100 clear plastic shoe boxes from The Container Store, and I've since purchased more, so...yeah. A lot of shoes....And when I really love a particular pair and know I'm going to wear them a lot, I've even been known to buy multiples, lest I be disappointed when the first pair wears out (particularly if a beloved style goes on clearance). 

On the other hand, I try to avoid having six pair of shoes that are remarkably similar and that I like equally well with the same outfit(s). I realize there's something incongruent and somewhat unrealistic about such a concern when I've just admitted to having more than 100 pairs(and perhaps more than 200), but I hate having to choose between them. So, whenever I fall for a new pair, I always consider how similar they are (in style, color, etc) to something already in my closet before I make a purchase. This has, on occasions to numerous to count, resulted in a (smart) decision not to buy. The clear shoe boxes assist with this endeavor, because my "shoeventory" is on display when I'm in my closet. 

Still, sometimes I find myself challenged to choose. Case in point: this navy and off-white Ralph Lauren sheath dress. From the day I bought it, I assumed I'd wear it with classic spectator pumps, but when I spied the Tommy Hilfiger peep-toe booties on the top shelf, I couldn't resist trying them out for an edgier, more modern look. Dilemma! I couldn't decide which ones I liked better (and I'm still not sure now). I ended up wearing the booties, for three reasons: 1) they are more comfortable; 2) I have less things in general that they go well with, so I had to seize another opportunity to wear them; 3) they took me just a little outside my typical "style zone" and I wanted to shake things up a bit. After all, they're just shoes, people - you gotta have fun with it! 

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

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...and if hats are your thing, I'm linked up with Style Crone's Hat Attack this month, Check our her blog for a remarkable collection of haute headwear!

Country Wasn't Cool

I grew up riding, but it's been years since I've spent any serious time on a horse. I've missed it!

Last Sunday was the first time I’ve pulled out a pair of jeans in months. I actually can’t remember the last time I wore them. I like jeans, but I just don’t feel as comfortable, or as confident in them, as I do in dresses, skirts, and trousers. It has nothing to do with the level of formality, either. I live in cargo pants for Fall and Winter weekends. I love cargo pants. I’d love jeans, too, if they were as comfortable as cargo pants. As a general rule, they are not. Finding jeans that fit well has long been a challenge, and dragging new jeans into a dressing room is the surest way to ruin my mood during an otherwise successful shopping excursion. The problem is usually one of proportion – jeans that fit my waist are usually too snug in the hips,butt, and thighs (nothing makes me less comfortable, or more self-conscious, than too tight clothing). When I find jeans that do fit the junk in my trunk and still allow me freedom to move, the waist is often so large that a belt is an inadequate remedy. As a result, I don’t buy a lot of jeans. And when I find a pair that is comfortable and actually looks halfway decent (I’ve yet to find the perfect pair), I keep them forever.

It was fun to introduce my niece to family farmland and the town where I grew up. She's camera shy, though my Aunt took several great photos of her that I've shared with friends and family.

My 12 year old niece, on the other hand, lives in jeans. Skinny jeans, no less. I like them just fine on her. I cringe at the thought of wearing them myself, just as she winces at the thought of having to put on a dress (and if it’s a pink dress, forget about it). She doesn’t hate dresses. I don’t even think she hates pink. She just doesn’t like it for her. Dresses make her feel self-conscious and uncomfortable. I get that. Our wardrobe preferences are at opposite ends of the spectrum, but the primary reason for our choices is the same: we wear what makes us feel comfortable; what makes us feel more confident; what makes us feel most like ourselves. We talked about the importance of feeling comfortable and confident in your wardrobe, regardless of what’s “in style” or what others may think we should wear, on our way home from a Sunday afternoon horseback adventure in the countryside where I grew up.  I love that, even at 12 years old, Abby has identified a personal style beyond a typical preteen preference for the most popular brand names in the same styles that “everyone else is wearing.” I also love that she nevertheless respects other people’s tastes. Wise beyond her years, that girl.

I picked up this RM Williams hat when I was working in Australia in 1998; the last time I got a lot of saddle time. It's still got a bit of Down Under dirt ground into it from where both my horse and I took a tumble during a camping trip in the Blue Mountains. Falling off and getting back on is just part of the deal - the dirt is a badge of honor.

I wish I could say the same about my own 12 year old self. I was, at that age, very concerned that I didn't have the white leather Reeboks that everyone else was wearing, and for a time I wore an unsettling amount of neon yellow (with too tight acid washed jeans) simply because it was "in style," and regardless of the fact that the color made my pale skin look jaundiced. On the other hand, I have always loved hats and I have always loved cowboy boots. Neither were "cool" when I was a preteen or a teenager, but when I wore them that's exactly how I felt, whether I was trail riding; traipsing around the county fair; or hanging out at a Friday night football game. I still feel that way now.

 We may be opposite sides of the same coin when it comes to wardrobe, but when it comes to horseback riding, my niece is more than willing to borrow a pair of my boots, and we’re both likely to be wearing quirky socks underneath. Her newly discovered enthusiasm for riding has also reignited my own love for it. Maybe we’re not so different, after all.

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

Hat, Hat, Hooray for Hats, Hounds & Hooves!

Hat (August Accessories Fine Millinery Collection, with my own custom embellishments); Dress (eShakti); Bag (Brahmin)

Even occasional readers of Red's Shoe Diaries are likely aware that my love for hats is rivaled only by my love for statement making shoes. So, it's no surprise that when asked to organize a charity polo match and develop between-chukker entertainment to engage the crowd, I wanted to celebrate chapeaus of all shapes, sizes, and styles. Thus was born the Hats, Hounds and Hooves Halftime Hat Parade (I do love alliteration), complete with background music (Roy Orbison's Pretty Woman, of course) and a contest with swanky prizes awarded for the fanciest, funniest, and best in show hats.

The halftime hat parade proved popular with men, women, children, and even dogs.

This was the inaugural year for the event, the proceeds of which benefited Dress for Success Indianapolis and Waldo's Muttley Crew (the "hounds" part of Hats, Hounds and Hooves). I wasn't sure whether, or to what extent, attendees would embrace the theme, but men, women, children, and even a few dogs turned up in all manner of headwear: from a cowboy hat carved from solid cherry wood; to Derby-esque feathered pieces; to a child's tiny alpine hat that made its adult male owner look a little like Buddy the Elf (not surprisingly, he won the prize for "funniest" hat). 

One hat, multiple looks: my own hat for last week's polo match was one that I've worn a lot, but I created a new look this time around simply by changing out the ribbon accent.

I've had women tell me time and again they would love to wear hats, but don't do so because they're afraid or think they lack the chutzpah to pull it off. Yet, when encouraged to wear one in an environment where they won't stand out as an anomaly, these same women hold their heads high and revel in the opportunity. As author Martha Sliter observed, "[a] hat is a flag, a shield, a bit of armor, and a badge of femininity. A hat is the difference between wearing clothes and wearing a costume;  it's the difference between being dressed and being dressed up; it's the difference between looking adequate and looking your best...A piece of magic is a hat." Indeed, the hats on parade at last week's polo match added a touch of magic to the evening, though not one of them contained a rabbit.

An acrylic monogram from Etsy shop Thrilled2Design adds a personalized touch to an otherwise basic hat, while monogrammed shoe clips from Initial Perfection enhance my divot-stomping sandals and carry the navy and pink color-scheme from head to toe.

Our sponsors also helped us make a little magic, and I'd be remiss if I didn't give a big shout out to the Grossman Wealth Advisor Group at Morgan Stanley; Still Moon Moonshine; Just Pop In; and Evan Todd Salon & Spa for their support of Hats, Hounds and Hooves. Thanks also to Indianapolis Star reporter Leslie Bailey for serving as a judge for the hat contest. You can check out the Star's coverage of the event here, and you can see my own photo album with full coverage of the evening here.

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

For more hat fun, I'm linked up with Hat Attack!
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Sundaes & Six Shooters

Cowboys and ice cream; that's a thing, right?

If you follow Red's Shoe Diaries, you might know that a tack room and worn saddle leather are my favorite smells on the planet; that I am an eclectic collector of art; and that a favorite piece is one I've affectionately dubbed "The Cowboy Crotch." (read more about it here). It should come as no surprise, then, that I love living in a city that boasts one of the world's preeminent collections of Western and Native American art and cultural objects - this despite its location east of the Mississippi and north of the Mason Dixon line.

A favorite pair of whimsical shoes from Irregular Choice is a fun Summer match for this vintage cowboy print skirt; The silver six-shooter pendant actually comes out of its ornate gold holster.

The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art is a gem in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. Founded to inspire an appreciation and understanding of the art, history and cultures of the American West and the indigenous peoples of North America, the collection includes artists such as T.C. Cannon, N. C. Wyeth, Andy Warhol, Georgia O’Keeffe, Allan Houser, Frederic Remington, Charles Russell and Kay WalkingStick. The museum also regularly offers unique exhibits like the history of pistols and motorcycles, underscoring my personal belief that great art, and artistry, can be found everywhere, in everything. Seriously, people, regardless of how you feel about guns and the Second Amendment, it's hard not to appreciate the beautiful craftsmanship that went into the ornate carving of Old West six-shooters.

As much as I love hats, I find cowboy hats to be the least flattering on me, but this pink straw version is fun, and for just $7 at Gordman's, I couldn't resist. I do own a Stetson, but it's actually a fedora, not a cowboy hat. If you love hats, you might enjoy checking out my friend's Hat Attack blog!

All of that really has very little to do with this vintage, sequined cowboy print skirt in shades of pink and yellow that would have made a cowboy blush (and which I've also hiked up and worn as a dress). But, as coincidence would have it, I was wearing it recently when I got my first reminder of the year about the Eiteljorg's annual fundraising event, the Buckaroo Bash, which takes place on October 10th. The event is a long-standing tradition for the museum, but this year the committee is revamping the format by partnering with a plethora of local restaurants, chefs, caterers, distilleries, wineries and breweries for a juried competition that engages all the senses. Guests will also kick up their heels to a live band and have the chance to bid on one of a kind silent auction items. It's a unique way to experience all the museum has to offer and then some. This year's Buckaroo Bash is themed "How the West Was Won," but you know I'm more about "How the West Was Worn!" Somehow, I doubt shoes with ice cream cones for heels were a wardrobe staple... Get your tickets here and join the posse!

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

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