Greetings wallabies! Anyone out there from down under? I’d like some first hand information on wallabies. In return I can assure you that the black bears of the northern U.S. will run like the dickens if you holler and they’ll eat your garbage if you don’t get it down to the dump before sundown. Also, the burros in South Dakota have no manners, giant teeth and the one that stuck his head in our car during our honeymoon is now proudly displayed on Mr. Bug’s new personalized debit card from Wells Fargo. A picture of him is displayed. We left Bob the burro in Custer State Park. He totally pigged out on our peas and I had to snack on icky powerbars instead.
As much as I’d love to regale you with other tidbits of wildlife lore, we’ll save that for another day to get on to today’s post. I planned to FINALLY unveil my April dress, but I will admit that although the dress was constructed on the very last day of April, it wasn’t hemmed until today. And then I ran out of time for a photoshoot. Instead, I took pictures of me getting dressed. Ooooo…la la, right? I thought it was sort of fun – so lets start out with me in my simple shift glory, shall we?
Hm. Not quite as foxy as Gertie’s recent el-awesome-o lingerie shoot, but it’ll do! I’m wearing a chemise I found at a B-Squad Vintage which is pretty close to where I live here in Minneapolis. The tag said it was from the early 1900’s and the embroidery on the yoke appears to be done by hand, although I think some of the french seams are machine stitched. I’m not entirely sure what this would have been in the early 1900’s. It seems awful short for a nightie or any sort of unmentionable. Thoughts, fashion historians? In any case, I thought it’d be cute for layering and it had been marked down.
A nightie from the the twilight of the Victorian era will be a great dress for me today! (And if this is the winter underwear for a young man, don’t bother teasing me. I’m still wearing it on the hunting trip. Gold star for anyone who gets the reference…)
Next up, my feet are cold. Although spring is sort of here, the high today won’t be all that high. It’ll be boots, then. Better find some socks.
I have to admit – almost all of my socks are argyles and I have TWICE had to block Flickr users who favorite me or add pictures to argyle fetish sites. That’s so hot, isn’t it? Hmmmm… what to add next? Perhaps a bit of shape to this flouncy whiteness I have going on?
My white bow sweater! Yay! Now I look a bit more street-ready rather than cold-cream on the face and hair in curlers-ready. I particularly like how the sweater frames the yoke of the chemise…
I still need a bit more shape, though. Don’t you think? And all this white is a little waiting to be baptized in the river Jordan. OK, a belt.
That works. OK. Black belt, black boots. Hmmm… I’m teaching a class tonight, so no heels. Over the knee boots? Nah – too Laura Ingalls meets catwoman. Riding boots or Frye wannabes? Definitely the boots with hardware to tone down the nightie and a sweater with a bow…
Better! Now the black seems a little unbalanced. Plus I like things in threes and the boots only count as one. I wish I didn’t look ridonkulous in a hat. Hmmmm… OK, jewelry it is…
That’s better! Now. Am I done? It seems like something is missing. Also, this nightie-now-a-dress is drafty! Wait, didn’t she give me a… ah yes! The purple vintage slip from ebay that didn’t fit friend-heather-and-has-been-hanging-out-in-my-bustier-and-frilly-nightie-drawer! What? You don’t have one of those drawers?
Perfect! Goodby drafts! Hello lavender tulle! We’re done. Oh wait – my class isn’t over ‘till 9. I better grab a jacket…
OK. NOW we’re done!
See you later, joeys! Don’t forget your marsupial reports are due tomorrow!
The Labadors, Peri Naughty and Lorelai Gilmore, would like to let you know that they keep a personal eye on all the wallabies when we go on our usual walk at the dam. Gilly is sure she can catch one, but they are far too speedy for her, even though she's fast!!! My friend has a house just out of town and there are lots of wallabies that she feeds and they even have names. You can't own a wallaby, but they can visit your yard. That's the state of wallabies here in The Apple Isle.
I love your getting dressed pictures today!!!
My one tip about wallabies is that they look like hairless freaky little aliens when they are babies, lol. My Aunty is a certified native animal rehabilitator and everytime we see her she has a baby wombat/wallaby/possum in a little sewn pouch that she bottlefeeds.
Anyway, I love your style, you make layering look so effortless!
I wish when I got dressed that the result was as awesome as when you do it! The tulle is a touch of brilliance.
PERFECT!
I love the lace peeking out!
Patty: I love you! Awesome post.
this is hysterical. but how do you avoid any mistakes? you always picked the right thing! my how-i-got-dressed involves flinging everything out of the closet, 5 outfit changes, and telling ruggy i'll clean it up when i get home.
This is awesome! I wish I could combine layers and accessories like that–I usually stick to a bottom and a top because I just fail at putting together outfits.
I stumbled on your blog and flickr stream while looking for pics of the sewaholic crescent skirt, and I was blown away by your pink version and the rest of your photos. You have incredible style and look gorgeous!
@2paw! I would trade our rampant grey squirrel population for free ranging wallabies any day. Lucy the hound would be terrified. She's scared of kittens. And leaves. And snow shovels. You get an A+ on your marsupial report!
@Suzy – you have the coolest aunt EVER!! Do you get to pet them??
@Donna, P. Sue and Cindy – thanks wallabies!
@ K.Line – I love you too.
@0ona – I should've taken outtakes – the highlight of which was trying to stuff the voluminous shift into a not-voluminous denim skirt! I just posted the pics of what I wore out the door! And I totally do the same thing leaving clothes and telling Mr. Bug I'll get'em later. I've developed the method of assigning the ironing board as my 'safe' spot – if it's on that, it's part of a project….
@firstmute – I just play around – some stuff works, some stuff doesn't. Accessories are SO helpful! Sometimes I look like I got dressed in the dark. In my mom's clothes… thanks for the compliments! The crescent skirt is awesome, isn't it?
Haha! You are so funny! Next time, I want outtakes! 😉
(also, my guess for the slip is it's the layer that went over the bloomers but under the corset and petticoats. Unless it's 20s, in which case the length is just right.)
You look fab! My "style" is a lot like the one firstmute describes…a top and a bottom and that's it. I need to take a page out of your book!
Your posts are cracking me up lately! Thanks for the giggles…..and the getting dressed inspiration! (I admit it – 9:43 & I'm still in my robe….)
Your posts just get better and better! I love the evolution of this outfit, and especially the additions of lilac and black. Although it was all the layers with the special touches on each (the lace neckline of the chemise with the bow of the sweater..sigh) that makes this outfit so stylish, I think it was the surprise of working black into it right down to your necklace that made it genius to me. Of course the final version including the jean jacket and polkadot scarf had me imagining WNTW Stacy squealing "Get out of town!" for the ultimate icing on the cake effect…
Greatest post ever.
I wouldn't mind to see more of these. Seriously.
Patty, you are so awesome!
Cat
Patty – yep she lets us hold them and bottlefeed them. My daughter loves it even though she has been wee'ed on once, lol. My favourites are the ring tail possum's, very cute, big eyes and fur like a soft toy.
I was going to say what Tanit-Isis did. It's the chemise that went under the corset. Great Canadian minds think alike! I am v. envious of your genuine antique undies. I have some that have been in my drawer long enough to be antiques but they qualify more as rags. Love the layering, esp. in the last photo with the jacket and scarf – totally fun!
Love your blog! Just found it via Summer of Dresses. This outfit is perfection!