Off-Stage Style Story

It may be a challenge to recycle the average bridesmaid's dress, but I'll happily wear hand me downs from the Indiana Repertory Theatre's costume and prop warehouse. This taffeta, velvet and tulle skirt that once graced the production stage is the best black skirt I've ever owned. Even better, it cost me a whopping...wait for it...five dollars!

The dramatic, wire-collared paisley top is from a small independent boutique in Bedford Indiana called Pretty Woman; I added marcasite and pearl brooches from Premier Designs jewelry Five Diamond Designer Sherrell Bundy Smith on each turned back sleeve to create a French cuff look. The Nina crystal shoes are from Amazon (find them here, on sale).

Wondering who let me loose in the IRT's warehouse and what other treasures I unearthed while there? Read more here. I was surprised to learn while scouring the several thousand square foot storage space that theatre "costumes" were more often than not high quality garments that could easily have a life beyond the stage. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for another back stage shopportunity soon! 

This versatile cocktail hat was an inexpensive Amazon find; The earrings are from Gordman's and were $2 on clearance, yet I have worn them to more black tie events in the last two years than my diamond and pearl fine jewelry earrings, demonstrating once again that cost that how much you spend on something is not particularly relevant to the "style" you embody.

In the meantime, a few weeks ago I wore the skirt to the IRT's Celebrity Radio Show fundraiser, giving it a theatrical comeback in the same historical venue where it made its debut. Though not on-stage this time around, the skirt still brought plenty of off-stage drama paired with an iridescent paisley top; crystal encrusted heels; and, of course, a cocktail hat. This is exactly how I prefer my drama: ONLY in my wardrobe and on the stage!

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

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I'm also linked up with Hat Attack!

Be Your Own Superhero

Cape (Ginger & Spice Boutique); Glen plaid trousers (Kohls); Quilted purse (Kate Spade); Booties (J.Lo from eBay)

Throwing on a cape reminds me that I have an inner Superhero. We all do, and we should unleash them as often as possible, whether we wear a cape or not. (Cape or no cape, though, my inner Superhero is still a klutz; I presently have two broken toes to prove it).

The hat is from Amazon, but I jazzed it up with a vintage Art Deco brooch.

My inner Superhero is out in full force right now. I had to call on her because, lately, I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed by a heaping plate full of self-imposed obligations. I've also been a little under the weather (not to mention the broken toes), making my "to do" list loom even larger. 

The fur "collar" on the cape is a vintage piece from the 1960s gifted to me by a friend. The ivory belt is from Amazon and replaced a brown belt that came with the cape.

And when I start to get overwhelmed, my evil twin and inner Superhero's arch nemesis starts to pick on me. That bitch - how dare she keep me awake at night, filling my head with negative thoughts. How dare she criticize me every time I look in the mirror. 

My inner Superhero prefers ivory framed Dior sunglasses to a mask.

So the cape is on. The inner Superhero is out, and she is going to keep her evil twin out of my face and out of my head. If you're battling your own evil twin, remember you have an inner Superhero, too. Let that powerhouse out (even if you don't wear a cape)!

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Kiss & (can't) Tell!

Happy Valentine's Day from Red's Shoe Diaries!

Lipstick Print Dress (Bernie Dexter); Cardigan (ModCloth); Shoes (Isabel Toledo for PayLess).

Whether you're locking lips in the back seat of your Lyft on the way home from a romantic rendezvous or simply kissing your kiddos goodbye as they head off for school, the last thing you want to do is leave telltale lipstick tattoos on foreheads, collars, and anywhere else you might imagine... like your wineglass. I'm talking about your wineglass.

Sunglasses (Kate Spade); Pendant is a custom Red's Shoe Diaries' design.

I love a red lip, but I loathe leaving traces of lipstick on ANYTHING (including Diet Coke cans and the dog... yes, I kiss my dog). I also hate reapplying during the day. I want to put it on in the morning and forget about it until I wash my face before bed. Thankfully, I've developed my own little formula for lips that last, and so many friends have asked how my lipstick looks the same at the end of the day as it does in the morning that I'd thought I'd share my secrets here.

It's a four step process, which sounds like a lot, but it's really pretty simple. What's more, the products are inexpensive and readily found at your local drug store or Ulta. And, like I said, I do it once in the morning and almost NEVER touch up.

• Rub a tiny amount of Prescriptives 24 Hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer on clean, dry lips. Yes - it's eyeshadow primer, but it works wonders for lipstick. And when I say tiny, I mean it - about a quarter of a pea.
• Line lips and fill in completely with lip liner close to the color of your lipstick. (Revlon Colorstay in Sienna is my go to liner). 
• Apply one coat of Maybelline Superstay 24 Hour Color and let it "dry" for about 30 seconds. (I like All Day Cherry and Keep Up the Flame). This long last formula is a two step process - color followed by a clear sealant, but I skip the sealant.
• Lightly mist lips (and the rest of your face) with Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray.

That's it. You're done. Lips that last. And last. And last.

Lipstick Purse (Amazon)

When I follow the above process, I know I can eat, drink, and even kiss with abandon. But, a few caveats...if you're a serial "lip licker," your results may differ. You'll also lose your color more quickly when you eat particularly oily or greasy foods. Finally, this process will result in a fairly "matte" finish, so if you're a gloss girl, it's probably not for you. Though in my experience, gloss girls like to reapply throughout the day anyway - to each their own! 

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

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E Plaidibus Unum

E pluribus unum. You recognize the ubiquitous slogan printed on the money in your pocket. Translated from Latin, it means, "out of many, one."  

Blackwatch plaid, the particular pattern/color scheme in this dress, originated in Scotland in the 1800s, but its appeal is univeral.

An offical part of the Great Seal of the United States, the phrase is representative of the foundation on which this country was built. We are all in this together, regardless of our different beliefs, backgrounds and circumstances. And, at the end of the day, it is my sincere hope that our common humanity will always unite us.

The vintage1960s hatbox demonstrates the timelessness of classic plaid, still popular today. It never goes out of style.

As challenging as that may be to believe in our current, politically divisive environment, we must remember to focus on those things we have in common, however small. Not to trivailize the challenges ahead, let's take plaid as an example. Surely, we can all agree on plaid. 

Hat (Betmar, Nordstrom Rack); Jacket (Joseph Ribkoff, eBay); Leopard haircalf belt (Ralph Lauren); Pear and crystal statement necklace (Etsy); Dress (British Retro)

Perhaps no pattern has more universal appeal and longevity. Think about it. Hipsters wear plaid. Prepsters wear plaid. Farmers wear plaid. Catholic school kids wear plaid. Babies wear plaid. My Grandpa wears plaid.

Monogrammed shoe clips in blackwatch plaid are uniquely preppy accents (from Etsy) that spice up leopard haircalf Ralph Lauren shoes.

Plaid crosses generational, racial, educational, and economic boundaries. Plaid is timeless. In plaid we trust. All for plaid and plaid for all. E plaidibus unum. 

I've been wearing plaid my whole life, and this dress in particular, styled differently, for three years.

Though it originated in Scotland, plaid is as much an integral part of American culture today as pizza. Or French fries. Note that neither of these originated in the US, either, and yet they are quintessentially American. Because that's who we are. A nation of many, united as one. Wearing plaid.

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

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Patented Style

My maternal grandmother, Dorothy Coy, has always been a source of inspiration when it comes to my own style. My Mom often says I remind her of my Grandma. Like me, she loved to entertain and always paid special attention to even the smallest details of a dinner party or holiday celebration; she had shoes and purses to match every dress; and she loved to get gussied up (usually for an evening at the Moose Lodge). We even shared similar taste in clothes - despite the generation gap, the brown leather jacket she wore in the 1940s is the most treasured item in my closet.

The gold satin throw pillow is actually a clever storage solution that was patented by my grandmother and her sister-in-law in the 1950s. I still find it useful today.

My grandmother was also immensely talented. She sewed; she crocheted; she made intricately detailed and complex jewelry and holiday ornaments. Thankfully, I have a number of her creations that I still use and enjoy today, keeping her with me in spirit though it's been more than 20 years since she passed. And yet, I learned only recently that her skill and creativity were actually patented... In 1955, Grandma and her British ex-pat sister-in-law, Mary, developed the Coy Pak-a-Pillo, for which the two women were issued a United States Patent! 

Confession: my pajamas don't always match the decor, but this satin paisley set is one of my faves. They were a gift from my youngest sister and I've had them for more than a decade.

The Indianapolis Star covered the story on December 14, 1953, reporting on the then patent-pending "gadget which simply is a fancy pillow in which you can fold your pajamas or nightgown and leave on the bed." Their collaboration came about shortly after Mary immigrated to the US and observed that Americans were simply too rushed to put their bed clothes tidily away each morning. Rather, as the Star reported, it was customary to fold them under a pillow when making the bed, "hang [them] on a nail some place or chuck [them] into a drawer. Children, she noticed, preferred tossing [them] on the floor." 

I love the Headline for the Indianapolis Star's coverage of the Coy Pack-a-Pillo on December 14, 1953. My Grandma Coy is on the left and my Great Aunt Mary is on the right.

The Pak-a-Pillo offered a stylish alternative, and "the two Mrs. Coys" hoped it would catch on when people discovered they could simply stuff nightgowns and pajamas into the pillows (no need to fold) and enjoy a decorative accent at the same time. The original was made entirely by hand, but to facilitate mass marketing, they tweaked the design so that it could be machine produced; applied for a patent; and sold production rights to a Chicago firm on a royalty basis.

"Look, Ma, no makeup"... I don't devote much of this blog to beauty and skin-care regimens, but I am a firm believer of taking off makeup before I go to bed. My Grandma Coy always had beautiful skin even as she aged; I hope I inherited that from her.

My Aunt Linda, who recently gifted me with the original patent certificate and related paperwork, remembers going with my Grandma to a meeting about the product, which she describes as eloquently as I might. She recalls: "When I was 11 or 12 years old I went with my mother to a meeting with someone about the patent that Mom and Aunt Mary were applying for. It was for what they called the Pak-a-Pillo. It was a satin bag with a wire and a ruffle at the top that twisted down into a fancy pillow that went on the bed and held night clothes during the day. Mom told the interviewer how handy it was. He turned to me and asked what I thought of it. I told him the truth. I said it was a lot easier to just put my pajamas under the pillow. I suppose I remember it so well all these years later because Mom wasn't very happy about my answer."

It was fascinating to read through all of the paperwork for my grandmother's patent, and I treasure this bit of family history.

I don't disagree with Aunt Linda - it is a bit simpler to just stuff your nightgown under a pillow, but lacks the panache of the Pak-a-Pillo. I've never seen one of the originals, which were sold at boutiques and department stores, but my Mom used the pattern to make me one as a Christmas gift. I don't store my pajamas in it, but I do use it on a chair in my bedroom. It holds hosiery and is far more useful than an ordinary throw pillow. I love it! As for my pjs, I'm ashamed to admit they usually end up on the floor of my closet. Great Aunt Mary would be appalled.

The Pack-a-Pillo that my Mom made for me using the original pattern is one of my favorite Christmas gifts.

For demonstration purposes, however, I recorded a very short video that shows how the Pak-a-Pillow actually transforms from a fancy looking laundry bag into a chic but practical decorative accent. You can see the video here. It may not have made her rich and famous, but I am beyond proud of my grandmother's accomplishments. She will forever be my own personal style icon.

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

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There's no place like home...

The photo above was an accident...one of several recent photobombs by an eager 5 month old puppy yet to master the "down,stay" commands. Yet, as I was about to delete it, I was reminded of a recent Wizard of Oz Meme sent to me by a friend that featured the above quote, and it made me smile. 

Boots (Lauren Lorraine)

Welcoming a puppy back into my life has brought me joy every single day. Far more joy, even, than these sparkly boots that called to me from a store window in Vegas over the holidays (which I then ordered online for 1/2 the price!) Not to say that these boots don't bring me joy, too...they really do. I practically giggle every time I look down at my feet.

Hat (Betmar with custom embellishments by yours truly); embroidered soutache jacket (Damee; The Secret Ingredient).

You may see a bit (or a lot) more of fur baby Tim Riggins in the coming months, even if it's just a blur of red fur in the corner of a photograph as he runs by...have I mentioned fast-growing little guy has a lot of energy? So. Much. Energy.

The embroidered soutache detail in red and burgundy adds texture to the sheer mesh fabric of the Damee jacket, but I still added a black tank underneath for modesty.

I'm no Dorothy and the Hoosier Heartland is about as far from Oz as you can get, but I'll take my red boots over the ruby slippers and Tim Riggins over Toto every day of the week. There's just no place like home with my dog after a night out in great shoes!

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

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I'm linked up with Shoe and Tell!