Dystopia Style

I don't go to many parties much,and Mark really doesn't but we are quite excited about Jada's Salvation party on January 30.

Some inspirations:


No really.........before the Bible and uh, Noah and his ark.......




As I was outside on Thursday afternoon, burning holes in my camo pants, soon to be skirt......of course anyone who walked by was darn curious about what I was doing.
Picute this: a lady (me) sitting in the driveway in front of my shop burning her laid-out pants, lighting wooden matches and holding the flame to folds of fabric.

I simply explained I was working on my costume...I was doing an art project...
Ron said: "hot pants!" Which honestly, I hadn't thought of! Others said "Burning Man Pants"..."Burning pants not bras"......I have some funny neighbors !

While I'm sure folks don't see this sort of activity everyday, I like to think that I'm doing my part to Keep It Weird.
Mark was watching me, and asking why I didn't use his propane torch. I explained that I wanted to use a flame-making device that I was familiar with, since I didn't know how quickly the fabric might flame up. Standing off to the side was a young man, tossing a football between his left hand and his right. He was nervous, as he watched me make holes, & pat out the small fires.



He finally asked me what I was doing. I explained. He told me that seeing camo pants being burned was very upsetting to him, since he was recently discharged from the military and he had buddies that died in the muck, in the war.

I was surprised that my art project, my afternoon fun, had caused such a strong reaction. I told the man that I understood his feelings..that seeing camo being burned would have an emotional effect on him.

We chatted some more about camo, burning, why was I using camo.
I said that I'm making a costume for an Apocalypse-theme party here on Broadway on Saturday night.
My thinking, I told him, was that after the war or devastation that might happen to plunge us into a post-apocalyptic world....that there would be lots of camo and military clothes around, and if I was to make clothes, which is what I do with my real life, I might use what is most plentiful and just keep on creating. And since I'm going to a party, I was going to make a party dress. Post-Apocalyptic Finery from bits of whatever is left ..........



I think he thought I was nuts and disprespectful to the military.
He told me so. (that last part, anyway)
I've heard this line of thinking many many times before. I am, after all, a flower child that grew up in the SF Bay Area, and was a war protester. I also spent my childhood growing up next to the Veterans Home in Yountville. I know veterans. I know the cost of war.


I told him I wasn't disrespecting the military. I don't know if he believed me. I do know he was quite emotional about watching me.
It struck me that ......here was a young man who had received military training. He is capable of many brave acts. And, I saw that he was somewhat afraid, apprehensive at least, to talk to a tiny middle-age woman who was sitting on the concrete burning her camo pants.

Mark asked him what he does in the office next to us. He replied "We help people refinance their mortgage rates down."
Well,neighbor, that's a good thing, I told him. Helping people stay in their homes.

Here's what I didn't tell him, because he had used up all his bravery and now just wanted to get back to his office, with the amazing view of the Tideflats and Tacoma industriousness, and the Cascades........

I know from decades of living with America's military presence all around me that I know exactly how to love the veteran, the soldier, the men and women who think they are protecting me from the Bad People. I love the military people, but I hate war.
I think the best way to show respect to those who pay the ultimate price, who sign up to give the ultimate if asked to do so.... is to work for a world that has a smaller chance of creating wars.

To oppose war is to honor the military. I would love for the world to train soldiers, for Generals, and Admirals and Presidents and Captains of Industry, on whose behalf we fight war, to look at young, oh so very very young men right straight in the eye, and tell them that our most fondest wish is to equip them with what they need in battle and to work harder to make sure they never really have to use it.



I also learned that cotton camo pants require about 6 seconds of direct flame before catching fire, and one or 2 pats will extinguish a 3 inch high flame. This information made me feel better for the soldiers who had to wear these pants in the year they were made, 2001.

Why Not Me?

some days....
I wonder why my mom didn't give me cheekbones instead of her chins?
Huh?
Damn.
I used to watch the Country Music Channel on the boobtube back in the 80s....that's where I first heard the Judds (The Juggs)
Randy Travis, Dwight Yoakam, Ricky Scaggs..o\post Emmylou....
The Forrester Sisters...


and this one......well, values like honesty, fairness, empathy...where did they go?

So What's Up with That?

well I am almost always in black......gray.....dark green.....navy....purple.......The Jewel Tones......The Dark Jewel Tones....
I know I'll always feel dark.....still.
So what's at work here....it's been brewing for a year or so....
is a slight shift in color and texture.
I always loved velvet, velvet, velvet and lace. And Leather.

and, being of A Dame of a Certain Age, I know I want to wear things that are simpler in style and fabric, and color.
and sepia, gray, cream, oyster, ivory.......
and black...

Some women want to keep with the multicolors....
the big prints...
the ooky pastels.....
And that's fine for them.

A closer look. The owl pin was a xmas gift. I love the autumn colors, the sparkly, and the fact that it has worn paint....Patina.

And I'm tired of looking at my burlap jacket that I thrifted in the 80s from the Salvation Army store on 6th (back in the olde days), and never wearing it ....there's a liquor store there now...so that's a pretty good trade.
So, my burlap jacket from the 70s. It has the Campus Casuals label. That's what I wore the other day. and a linen skirt, Espirit label from the 80s. And these chocolate leather otk boots from Ginchybaby on etsy.
Underneath...a simple gray cardigan and gray stripe mitts. Oh yeah, argyle tights in the same brown tones.
a color scheme faded as an old field in late winter......instead of shocks of separate color, my scheme flows neatly into each other........and the texture has spark and interest.
just about, but not quite sophisticated. More fun.



The jacket came with the holes.......and I love that.
I love the contrast between the fact it is a fairly structured jacket with holes..made of burlap. I love the shell buttons. I love the color of the lining. Faded. and torn.
It's the color of junk.







What possessed the Campus Casuals line to make a jacket of burlap? Were they trying to reach the college gal that was hearing the call of social justice, of ending the Vietnam War?
Was she listening to Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell instead of Van Halen and Kiss? A college girl......or a college age girl....she must have had more on her mind that matching her shoes and handbag.

Murder.

In a mild departure from my usual rantings

about Tacoma and neat stuff to wear and neat stuff to do, blah blah blah.......
I just have to say:
I know this isn't a new subject......and that's it. Why oh why are people still doing this? further proof that Idiocracy Is a Documentary.
wtf is wrong with these parents? Turning your child into a Plastic Pageant Monster is a sign of a major distortion of parenting, lack of boundries, self-esteem.....Just the obsession with some weird beauty Ideal.....is bad enough, but doing this to your own child, and thinking this is a good thing?

Enjoy!
Want More?



soooo.......this is the way it should be I guess.....just Mock them...

Thinkin' Pinkin'

hot pink 50s Vanity Fair slip....on etsy.


I'm winkin'
'cause I know Spring is gonna be here soon because Valentines Day is sooooon......
a selection of things of pink......
on etsy, and in the shop.......
Saturday and Sunday, or available by mail.......


handmade Key to my Heart.....necklace on etsy, or in the shop.....
if it's on etsy...it's at the shop....just ask to see...



Amazing....40s rayon crepe WWII dress......Capri ! side zip, novelty print and full of pink...
on etsy now.


I Heart this dress ! simple babydoll dress has a huge heart applique on the front skirt....
now on etsy....






Felted llama wool purse lined in very very hot pink....in the shop



70s hand made, handstamped and carved and hand painted........sweet little boots....

etsy....
Deceptively sweet...curve-hugging knit suit in pink and white........on etsy




50s silky soft nightgown....on etsy


Soft pink 50s/60s Kayser slip.....with tag still attached......on etsy.





well, this is red.......but I bet it will make someone Blush pink........
glorious Lip Service red vinyl corset dress....M....in the shop.

I Kissed Patti Smith

her show had better come to the nw...or else....road trip.....

Yoko Ono, the Maysles, fashion

threeASFOUR from threeASFOUR on Vimeo.

From the reedickylus to the Sublime.....

that about sums up funkomavintage......
mostly I look for stuff that's ....
fun...
classy.....
groovy...
smoooth.......
hip (but not hipster)......

Here's 2 things at the shop for your perusal.....
Saturday and Sunday...

I'm loving this acid wash 80s jacket right now...
because it's fun.....
because it has a bad ass lining.....
I'm a real sucker...for a kick-ass lining.....
Chanel and Schiaparelli always put fun linings in their things.....

Ta Da....a Michael Sloane jacket from the 80s...
In Glorious not-dead-yet Brilliant Acid Wash Blue...

I think I see some suburbanites with their 3D glasses on......now making a big comeback in the 2000's......Look, it's granny with her harlequin eyeglasses.....Is that Frieda Kahlo with Trotsky? nah, that's Lenin.....what's he doing in there?
Well dude we just don't know......
There's a lot more going on in there.....
and now the Sublime........

60s portable Reel to Reel player with its own detachable speakers......
you can move this from the Living room to the Rumpus Room......
Play Mantovanni for the 'rents.......
and then later when your cool cat friends drop by for a cocktail......
slip on the Miles Davis, Bitches Brew.

there's a smaller unit here also........




Also, the gals will love the background music of Martin Denny while having a gab session and tossing back some Gin Rickeys and Cosmopolitans.....or a bit of peach mimosa.....

Garnet, Amethyst and tea for you...

not only do I score some sweet vintage stuff...I also buy retro styled new...fabulous quality wonderful things, or something from quirky label....and I love linen, soft leather, and classics.
 I  sell vintage on etsy, I'm gonna load up my own website (coming real soooon)
....so you can buy funkoma goodness without ever leaving your home, or office or car......or planet!


Margaret O'Leary boutiques offer the most adorable sweaters in luxurious yarns...Here's a mohair blend garnet turtleneck pullover from M. O'Leary in a size s/m.....



next to it is a sweet pair of amethyst velvet pants from J Jill... size 12....
and on the other side is a halter-tie black cotton knit jumpsuit, s/m......really!

Here's a pale amethyst mohair jacket, about a modern 10 -12 size....with a never-been-worn ivory leather studded cut-out belt from the 70s....
next to that is a pair of ivory leather boots in a 6 - 6.5 size.
The 70s geo print lavender silk dress is a s/m...


Vintage china tea set for the little girls and little boys....
serve your crumpets on a Washington state tourist tray!




The middle of winter is the time to get cozy, posey!
Here's a soft wool blanket with chunky stripes of red and black on cream. It has a cotton flannel sheet sewn to the bottom hem to keep it tucked in......I love Grandma and Grandpa practical homemade solutions...

The red telephone, the red and camel stripe thermos with a metal box...
and an old milk can with real bullet holes!



A corner of wardrobe goodness....
60s leopard coat...faux fur....
Red plaid 60s wool jacket shown with a red and black leather skirt
...a 70s red print silk dress from Nordy's...and that granny chic ensemble from my last post....
a linen jumper, a red check jumper and some silver tossed in for winter sparkle to chase the Dullsvilles away....a black 50s silk faille dress too with some Miss Brooks secretary prim and proper-thing going on with that.......

and a pair of vintage roller skates and vintage bicycles ......to remind you to Keep On Rollin'...

It's Curtains...and some Olsen twins...

now with more pink party dresses !

I hung a long white moire curtain along the width of the shop because I need the ability to close off my end of the shop when I am not there........
I shall be devoting more time to making things and restoring furniture...


The new hours are Saturday 11 ish to 6 ish...Sunday noon ish to 5 ish. But you can make an appointment also if something catches your eye ...just email...for more info.





Pink ! because love is in the air ! 2 dresses that are in a size larger than Paris Hilton...
One is a 70s mini with round ball buttons and loop trim.....with a pretty braid trim that says LOVE......LOVE ....LOVE.....LOVE...... in a swirly pattern....
and the other is a Pink retro Issac Mizrahi dress (with tags, never worn!)....


In a steampunk mood? Oyster jacket with hooks and loops with an Edwardian air......over a silk Nicole Miller corset top in pink and green floral - paisley pattern. Both of these pieces are recent. I show it with a navy wrap skirt trimmed in ivory braid, by Nipon Boutique...one of my favorite just-barely-vintage brands from the 70s thru the early 90s.


The ever-popular corset in a stretch black velour...with lace trim and bones for structure. It laces up the back.......
It's paired with a simple black crinoline...
Sure you can wear it just like this......but about a hundred years ago, this was only The Underwear! You'd put 3 slips on over it and then a dress that weighed 45 pounds.



and finally some Old Lady Chic.....which is a style dear to my heart.
I'm desperately really trying to avoid the poofy tops with sad pastel flower prints....and droopy-poopy polyester pants....
It's Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen....who are often described these days as "boho hobo chic" or "old lady chic"....click the linky for a cute timeline where we see the Olsen twins morph.....



I'm thinking a lot these days about what "mature" ladies wear....perhaps this....
I put this vintage mink tails collar together with a cut out strapless stripper top, and 2 skirts....one a mini fishnet frou-frou arrangement & the other a floral sheer broomstick boho skirt...
I think all this needs for the final touch..... is a huge LV bag and a tiara......

Boots and Flakey Sellers

I buy a lot of boots. I like boots. I am very particular about the insides of my boots...and you should be too. This can also happen with shoes, but it is pretty prevalent with boots, tho.
I ask sellers, when buying on line, if the lining is :
a/ Sticky.
b/ Flakey.
c/ Dusty.
If any of these things are going on, TOSS THE BOOTS IN THE GARBAGE.
Yes, Online boot sellers on etsy and ebay and in general in the big interwebs.
If a sellers knows their boots are ikk inside and sells them anyway....BAD NEWS. I encourage ya'll to file a complaint with Paypal to get your money back.

That "dusty" "flakey" "sticky" shit is TOXIC chemical glue that's breaking down. It is tiny microscopic particles of death that is breathed in to your lungs.
Eww. Bad. Toxic. Crap.

I have had to toss out a few pairs of boots from online sellers because they didn't know shit from shinola. If a vintage clothing seller has been doing online selling for a year or so, I'd say they sure as hell better tell me the truth about the inside damaged lining or they'll be facing A Big Fat SNAD complaint thru Paypal.
I just bought these black boots from this etsy seller and they are wonderful! The boots and the seller! funkyfrugalfashions



2 brands that are the worst, tho it can happen with any boot that is lined in that foamy shiny knit, are Cobbies, and Joyce, but I have a wonderful pair of feather-trimmed tall 70s cowboy boots from Dingo....same problem. I'm gonna cut them apart and remove the lining and remodel them for me.

The best boots in the world, if you can find them...are leather lined ones from Italy. Or unlined boots from Brazil run a close second in the quality scheme of things. Real work boots, real cowboy boots and real designer boots are great finds too....

Right now I only have about 22 pairs of boots....I've really pared down my pairs...ha ha...from my high water mark of 46 boots.
Not a huge number in the celebutant world of shopping-craziness, but then, I'm not rich or a celeb, so I thought that was a big number. This is just my personal boots collection......I'm not counting my boots for sale....at any given time.

I hate getting ripped off...ignorance is not bliss in this case!

Feeling very Marianne...again

His Cabin in Transylvania

just a few sneak peaks at......Drac's cabin where he vacations when the Holidays are over.......even shiny plastic vampires need a rest from time to time......

The Vintage Fashion Rules but Bonnie Cashin

Bonnie Cashin vintage jacket

I bought a vintage fashion book a month or so ago...It has Fashion Rules. Vintage Fashion Rules. Wear this but not that.I read about fashion, vintage and contemporary, all the time but I rarely follow any rules. I look at myself as a canvas...and my whole life is one big art project...

Elegance by Dariaux has kept my interest ....obsessively so....because it was written in 1964 and man, Do I remember the Rules!

City ensemble.
Country ensemble.
Day dress.
Afternoon dress.
Dinner dress.
Ball gown.
Matchy matchy.
Hat.
Gloves.
Handbag.
Stockings.

Let me give you an example of the terror of dressing with elegance...

"GLOVES" "Even women who never wear a hat should always wear gloves whenever they go out. Gloves are one of the most unobtrusive accessories when you are wearing them, but their absence is glaringly apparent when you have left them at home! You should train your daughter to wear gloves as soon as she is old enough to walk."
p.99.



this is from a Vogue '68 summer issue (I also have that white bowler hat on etsy too!)

And of course we can all remember the uproar Mrs. O caused when wearing a sleeveless dress........I hope you notice how much it is like that red dress from 1968!



the rule was : "A matching coat and dress that is called a "cocktail ensemble" in Paris, but in reality is often far too dressy for such an occassion, although perfect for theater openings and very elegant black-tie dinner parties." p.123
and "In order to attain the height of discreet elegance, which is the summum of the art of dressing, a woman must be either particularly gifted if she has not passed all her life in that atmosphere, or else she must give a great deal of thought to the question. And don't think for a moment that you will automatically reach this perfection by paying an enormous amount of money to some famous couturier! The truth is that the contrary is more often true, because a successful designer is obliged to seek striking effects by inventing a spectactular silhouette or unusual color harmonies." p.56.

The big Up In Arms controversy for Mrs. O was that her clothes were not elegant, were too casual, too eye-catchy and rather flip about the role of First Lady.

Dariaux lists the most famous of the Parisian couturiers and states the speciality of each one. She believed in the early 60s that there were few designers worth paying any attention to if they were not European.
She does allow that some American designers are worthy of the dollars of an elegantly dressed woman. The very first American woman on her list is Bonnie Cashin.
"Bonnie Cashin, who creates extremely chic and original sportswear."
p.54.

I adore all Bonnie Cashin!
She was born in 1915 in Oakland, California. Her father, Carl, wore coveralls that later inspired her to design the first woman's jumpsuit. Her mother, Eunice, was a dressmaker and major influence on her life.

Bonnie designed simple clothes and used leather in imaginative ways.
She often said "Chic is where you find it."

She designed quirky touches for Coach in the early 60s...things we take for granted now were her ideas: Big hardware on purses like brass toggles used to close handbags and also coats. She also used hardware to decorate gloves. The story goes that she was inspired by the ones that latched her convertible's top.

I have a Bonnie Cashin jacket that is a classic Bonnie in many ways. Superior wool cloth is soft, warm and sturdy. It is edged with a tiny strip of butter-soft leather.
The shape of the jacket is deceptively simple. It appears to be just a few a squares and rectangles sewn together...but her talent shines in the chic cut of the fabric. It molds to the body in a most attractive manner rather than hanging like a bag.


If you love Bonnie Cashin as much as me, you can spend some inspirational time at this website, The Bonnie Cashin Foundation, and this one also, at UCLA.






Bonnie in a Sears ad in the 70s.
Well, I hope the only rules you follow with fashion, vintage and otherwise, is to wear what is flattering to you, and to wear what makes you happy.