Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Happy Halloween



I didn't dress up for Halloween.  In fact, this is what I wore:



MIA "Roam," Image via Piperlime

I know it’s not very Halloween-y, being neither sexy (my sexy Bert and Ernie costume is at the cleaners) nor scary.  Well, not scary as long as you’re not chromophobic.  If you are, you’re probably terrified of my bright cobalt dress (Target).  Of course, if you’re chromophobic, you probably don’t read my blog.  But, in case you are and you do, maybe as a form of immersion therapy or something, I did tone the look down a bit with the blazer (J. Crew, swapped), the tights (Target), the scarf (c/o FRAAS) and the boots (MIA “Roam” via Piperlime).  Let it never be said that I’m not looking out for my chromophobic peeps.

Happy Wednesday, All.  And, yes, Happy Halloween.

Gracey

P.S. Chromophobia is a fear of bright colors.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Sunshine Award



A couple of weeks ago, the gorgeous Catherine at Not Dressed as Lamb nominated me for a Sunshine Award:


 The rules for the award are:

  1. Include the award logo in a post and/or on your blog sidebar.  Done. 
  2.  Link to the blogger who nominated you.  Done. 
  3.  Answer 10 questions about yourself.  See below. 
  4.  Nominate 10 other fabulous bloggers and ask them 10 questions.  See even lower. 
  5.  Link to your nominees in your post and let them know about the reward.  See # 4

Unfortunately, I couldn’t get to it before now, what with my sinus infection and bike accident, but I’ve finally put together a post.

Here are my answers to Catherine’s questions:

If you had to choose a totally different stage name for yourself, what would it be?
I actually have two; Barbarella and Velvet Camouflage.  I use them for pole dancing class.  Of course.

Barbarella Poster via imdb.com

Excluding loved ones or pets, what one material possession would you save if your house was on fire?
Family photos; especially of my sisters and I when we were young and my nieces and nephews when they were young.

My sister Rosey

Who's the first celebrity you can remember having a crush on?
I don’t know.  Maybe Buck Rogers?  

Buck Rogers poster via imdb.com

What's the best compliment you've ever had?
The other day someone guessed my age at 20.  Being as I’m a LOT closer to 40 than I am to 20, I was pretty flattered.

If you could only ever listen to one band/artist for the rest of your life, who would it be?
Nooooo.  This is too hard.  I really don’t think I can answer this one.  I want to say Adele, or Florence and the Machine, or City and Colour but I really can’t just pick one.

Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life?
Hah!  There is no one even remotely tall enough in Hollywood to play me.

What is your favourite part of your body or appearance?
My smile.  I honestly like smiling and I think it’s because I like my smile; gap and all.

If you were to win an Olympic gold medal in any sport, skill or pastime, what would it be (e.g. spoon playing, procrastinating, ironing, party planning, etc.)? 
Reading.  I am a world-champion reader for sure.  I'm currently reading Tunneling to the Center of the Earth, by Kevin Wilson and you should see how well I'm doing.  I'm reading the heck out of this book:

Image via amazon.com

If you haven't read it, I'd definitely suggest it.  I'm kind of in love with the author and I'm not even halfway through.

What is your favourite all-time TV show?
It’s a cross between Mad Men and The Walking Dead.  I love Mad Men because it’s smart and gorgeous.  I love The Walking Dead because I like to think I’m learning invaluable skills for the impending zombie apocalypse; it’s entertaining and educational.

Which celebrity's wardrobe would you most like to own?
Diane Kruger.  She has great style, whether she’s dressed up or down.  I think her style is accessible, but not boring, so, in a word; perfect.

Diane Kruger, image via snarkerati.com


Here are my questions:

  1. Tea or coffee? 
  2.  What would the name of your autobiography be? 
  3.  Reality TV; guilty pleasure or sheer idiocy?  
  4.  Favorite James Bond actor? 
  5.  Ocean or mountains? 
  6. Favorite author? 
  7.  Thanksgiving pie; pumpkin, pecan or something else? 
  8.  What are your thoughts on techno music? 
  9.  What is the last movie you saw in a theater? 
  10. And, finally, because Halloween is tomorrow, what is your favorite scary movie?



And here are the nominees:


And with that, I have finally spread the sunshine entrusted to me by Catherine. 

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

Monday, October 29, 2012

PSA: Rise of the Merkins



I am here today to talk about what I’m afraid is becoming an increasingly real threat to the fashion world.  I am here to talk about the rise of the merkins.

What, you ask, is a merkin?

This is a merkin:

Image via pincurlmag.com

Still not sure what you’re looking at?  Well, it’s a wig for your nethers.  

And why would one need a nethers wig?  

Historically, it was worn by women who had shaved down there to combat lice, because Brazillians weren’t in style then and it was cold.  Merkins were also used by prostitutes to disguise the presence of a disease like syphilis.  Back in the day, prostitutes used to attract johns by flashing their lady parts at passersby.  Of course, they didn’t want those potential johns knowing they were diseased, so they put on their merkins and, et voila, Sally Streetwalker no longer looks like her lady bits are starring in The Walking Dead.

But, Gracey, all of that was so long ago, why are you bringing it up now?  

You’re right, merkins were used back in the 15thcentury, but they are actually still used today; albeit for a different purpose.  Nowadays, merkins are used mostly by actors and actresses who adhere to today’s no-hair-anywhere grooming standards and need some hair for a period piece.  But, that is not the threat I’m speaking of.

No, I’m talking about the rise of merkin-looking bits attached to so-called high-fashion garments.

For example, designer Stephane Rolland sent this down the runway earlier this year:

Image NewBerry.ru via Pinterest

I don’t know about you, but to me, that looks like nothing so much as a fancy, two-tone merkin attached to a dress.  With a chest merkin added for good measure.

And, then, during last week’s Project Runway All-Stars, Wendy Pepper created this:

Image via Lifetime

Image via Lifetime

Yes, you are looking at a little black dress embellished with a little lace merkin.


Marchesa also loves the addition of a lace merkin to a gown:

Image via mbfashionweek.com

Although, in their defense, I guess this could be considered a lady-bit-mustache instead of a merkin, but, is that really better?

For S/S 2013 Marchesa continued their merkin additions to their gowns.  This time around they tried a little can’t-see-the-forest-for-the-trees misdirection, but I think we all know what we’re looking at here:

Image via mbfashionweek.com

Yep, a dress covered in Santa-merkins.

Now, if you, my Dear Reader Friends, are as appalled by this merkin-wear as I am, I beg you, be vigilant.  Don’t buy skirts, dresses, or God forbid, pants with bits of fluff, lace or fringe attached to the pelvis.  Designers will continue to send their merkin-wear down the runway, and if there is anything I learned from The Devil Wear Prada (aside from Chanel = multiple necklaces), it’s that what starts in high-fashion, inevitably ends up on the streets.  So, when you see merkin-embellished clothes creeping into the next H&M collaboration, be strong and resist.  I mean, really, do you want to look like you and your lady bits are hiding something?

 Gracey

Friday, October 26, 2012

I Like Bright Pants and I Cannot Lie



Like these:



These cords (Merona, Target) come in other, less insanely bright colors, but as soon as I saw them, I knew I was going to get the flame orange pair.  My head tried to argue that a navy or tan pair would be more versatile and therefore more practical, but my heart yelled ‘practical clothes are for sissies’ and grabbed this pair.

And, really, they’ve turned out to be more versatile than I’d first thought.  So far, I’ve worn them with bright blue and houndstooth (here) and today I’m wearing them with peach (thrifted sweater) and black (thrifted Brooks Brothers silk tie and Hive and Honey flats).  If that’s not versatility, I don’t know what is.  Of course, the best part is not that I am able to wear these pants with multiple outfits, but that they’re outfits I love.  Which is why, Dearest Reader Friends, I like bright pants and don’t bother to lie about it.

Happy Friday, All!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Gracey