Dressing for a rainy day

A Lowcountry Love Affair

Just because it's raining, doesn't mean you can't have fun with your wardrobe. A dreary day calls for bold color.

Celebrate the rain in red.

I attended the Lowcountry Love Affair event today on the grounds of The Magnolia Plantation. And look! More red.

What could be more atmospheric than fog and Spanish moss?

That darling bag on the floor is holding my high heels. On my feet, are Danskos for trekking the muddy grounds.

Having cocktails with these 2 lovelies. Hats & Hunter boots. They know how to dress for the weather.

Stunning floral arrangements by Seasonal Stems

They used the good china. Cru Catering. Delicious.

They served warm white chocolate cocoa with peppermint.

Two more colorful fellows spotted.

Original 1930s Art Deco necklace

Wardrobe

Raincoat: Chapter One, Reinvented Upscale Resale, $20

Leopard scarf: my mother's, 1980s

Shoes: Nina, Community Thrift $1.99

Dress: Ross, altered to remove corsetted neckline, $7

Quilted bag: Community Thrift $4

Watch: 1980s Lucien Piccard, homage to Cartier, gift from my parents

Political Style

The clothes we choose can make a statement. They can say, "I'm feeling bold and sassy." Or they can say, "I don't care what you think; I'm wearing my sweat pants to the store." Our clothing can project confidence or help us blend into the background.

Our clothing choices can also make a political statement – the term I just read in Vogue – Protest Fashion.

Photo from https://www.pussyhatproject.com/

I was fortunate enough to attend The Women's March on Washington in Charleston, SC last year, and wouldn't dream of missing the one year anniversary. As I walked through the crowd in Brittlebank Park today, with my friend Kelly, I was moved to tears. To be in the midst of a grassroots political movement is energizing and humbling. 

Yes, the world is turned upside down; morals and courtesy are considered an inconvenience and making a profit is more important than caring for the planet. Yet walking through a sea of pink pussy hats and handmade banners lifted my spirits, and I left today's event convinced that society is headed to a greater awareness for caring and compassion. 

Fashion, which can be superficial and potentially divisive, is playing a major political role right now. From the pink pussy hats to raise awareness for women's issues and human rights – to wearing black to bring attention to #TimesUp legal defense fund. I saw it all today.

Smashing skirt

The wall behind us is covered entirely in buttons.

Metallic herringbone? I'd never heard of it, let alone seen it before. So, of course it came home with me. Never mind it was more than 2 sizes too big. A pencil skirt is the easiest type of skirt to alter.

Start by putting your skirt on inside outwards. Then pin to the desired fit. This skirt was reduced by almost 4 inches.

Way too much wiggle room in this skirt.

Invest in a good pair of sewing scissors. Never let anyone else use them
and only use them for fabric and thread. This pair is 30 years old.

You will need to snip the thread that attaches the lining to the skirt.

Sew the waistband first, then flip up the lining, and start stitching from waistband to hem.

Try the skirt on again. This skirt needed to be taken in even more.

Trim excess fabric outside of new stitching.

Iron the seams flat to prevent bunching.

The occasion: Restaurant Week in Charleston, 492 on King Street

The outfit: 

faux sheepskin jacket: $10 Goodwill

black turtleneck: $3.99 Salvation Army

skirt: Alex Marie, shopped my friend's closet

shoes: Madden Girl, $3.99 Community Thrift

Fuzzy sweater kinda night

One of the stunning back staircases at the Gaillard.
Do you think they would let me come in to take selfies when I'm not attending a show?

My Man About Town invited me to join him at the Gaillard to see Riverdance. The weather has been crazy here in Charleston. Five inches of snow. Seven days of below freezing weather. Then daytime highs are back up to 70. How does one dress for a night at the theatre? Layers. 

The most energetic cast I've ever watched perform. Amazing talent.

Layer a tank under a sweater for rapidly changing temps.

The sweater, trousers and shoes are all from shopping my friend's closet. Not only do we wear the same dress size, but we wear the same shoe size, too. We both have Barbie-size feet.

"Get the shoes in the picture. Can you see the shoes? Are you sure?

Sure I was watching the fabulous production, but I couldn't help but notice this wonderful photo op on the low wall. The Man About Town was gracious enough to wait until the seats emptied after the performance to act as my personal photographer. I think he secretly enjoys hamming it up with me.

Sequins! 

I walked around all evening looking for just the right floor covering to photograph these shoes. The ladies room at Halls was perfect. I checked to make sure no one was waiting to get in before I whipped out my phone.

Sweater: Lisa International, friend's closet
Tank top with silver trim: New York and Co. $3.99
Trousers: White House Black Market, friend's closet
Shoes: Nina, friends closet

Thank you Man About Town for a great evening and your photographic skills. 

Sizing a blouse

Who could resist the dramatic collar on this blouse? 

Certainly not I, which is why I snatched it up when shopping my friend's closet. The detail is outstanding. Look at the ruching, the zipper, and the 5-button cuffs. Alas, it is too large. But does that ever stop me?

You too can alter a blouse with these simple directions. 

Start by turning your blouse inside out, and putting it on.
Pinch in the sides where you feel the blouse would fit best, then pin.

Begin at the top seam, and sew down to the hem in an arc. A sewing machine makes quick work of this, but hand-stitching achieves the same result. 

(I've seen many nice sewing machines recently in the Goodwill and thrift stores for quite reasonable prices. Joann's has in-store classes, and there is always YouTube for learning a new skill. That machine will pay for itself in a matter of weeks.)

Trim excess fabric, so the sides aren't bulky.

Press open the seams.

Let's bring back evening gloves

They are elegant. They are functional. They're stylish and fun.

Grace Kelly, 1954 Rear Window

Where is one likely to wear gloves, you may ask? Weddings, lunch, theatre, a coronation, an inauguration, and of course the opera.

As a general rule, the more formal the event, the longer the glove.

Wrist-length  8"– 9" day wear
Above the wrist 10" – 11" day wear

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Mid forearm, or gauntlet, for wearing over sleeves

Doris Day

Three quarter length, over the elbow 14" – 15" 

Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's

Opera gloves: mid bicep 

Today, I received five pair of stunning vintage gloves as a gift from my friend Joelle. They belonged to her Aunt Val, a spunky lady with impeccable taste. I was over the moon when I opened the box to find this lovely surprise. It is an honor to have these family heirlooms passed along to me.

Each pair of gloves is still in the original bag.

They fit my tiny hands.

To read more about glove etiquette …

https://www.inesgloves.com/pages/gloves-etiquette

The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt

Every vintage lover finds inspiration in classic movies. 

My holiday movie binge includes The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt I found on YouTube. Released in 1939, just months before the U.S. entered World War II, the action surrounds a plot to steal the plans for an anti-aircraft gun.

Well that's one way to make sure your date doesn't leave with another woman. Handcuff him. 
Warren William, Rita Hayworth, and Ida Lupino.

Rita Hayworth in a gold lame gown. Or was it silver?
Impossible to tell in black and white, but timeless nevertheless.

Not only are the clothes to die for, the women play very strong roles in this film. They might be dressed in furs and evening gowns, but they drive the plot as: a femme fatale spy, a Senator's daughter who climbs through a second story window to save her man, and a little girl who calls herself G 7. When her father, whom she calls by his first name, arrives home with a gift, she opens the box to exclaim, "Oh boy a regular G man's outfit and real handcuffs!"

Virginia Weidler and Ida Lupino

Furs and fedoras abound. All the men's suits are three-piece.

Filled with lots of fun vernacular of the time, including:
"That slinky dame." 
"You Cassanova."
"That dame's dizzy."
"I'll eat my hat."
"OK, you smart guy; this is the end of the line. I'm going to rub you out."

There's even a Surrealist party.

Did you ever feel like you could just climb right in a movie and live there?