Photo by Nelson Nelson is participating in a chemo eve photo shoot with The Style Crone wearing a vintage orange structured beret, mirroring the leaves ablaze with color. This chapeau spent crisp fall days with the SC at work in the past, and today is brisk and chilled, indicating the Colorado winter is imminent. Today Nelson's energy is at its highest level as he has recovered from the effects of the drugs he received two weeks ago. Tomorrow looms on the horizon as we prepare for our early morning journey to the facility where he will again receive the substances
Photo by Nelson In the spirit of the season and in honor of Halloween, The Style Crone has decided to do a "revue" of orange hats over the next few days. This piece of orange Xeino handmade head wear was purchased at Roslyn in NYC several years ago. As I've mentioned before, I love movement in my accessories and this adornment certainly meets that criteria. Movement is a reminder that the accessory is my companion for the day and it's as though it's gently speaking to me as I go about my activities.
Photo by The Style Crone The Style Crone found this pale pink "fluffy" 60's Shiaparelli hat at Frock, a vintage store in NYC. I haven't found the perfect outfit to wear with it yet, but I know it will appear sometime in the future. Mostly, I like to look at it every time I enter the hat room for pure entertainment! It looks like cherry vanilla hat ice cream or a luxurious miniature tuffet.
Photo by Scott Nelson and The Style Crone had an entire evening planned, but we didn't get out the door. We were going to go to the museum and out to dinner, but instead we watched a movie at home. Sometimes that's the energy we have! I had my outfit planned and you may think that it's a repeat. That would violate my self imposed rule, so the hoop earrings replaced the vintage clip on numbers of yesterday. This is the outfit that I had built for the evening, so it's in my mind's eye for the next time we
Photo by Scott Vintage off-white felt hat with leopard trim-Buffalo Exchange, earrings-gifted, vintage camel leather jacket-vintage shop. This evening The Style Crone went with a friend to The Lamented Last Dance at the Rainbow Ballroom performed at Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center. Vibrant theatre, fantastic music, interesting crowd, and the perfect space for a leopard trimmed hat! I have as yet to find a spot that isn't ideal for such a hat, except for yoga.
Photo by Mimi The sun shines brightly on this purple/black/fuschia feather cocktail hat that has been part of the Style Crone's hat collection since 1980. Everything eventually becomes vintage! I wore this hat to the lingerie shower given by friends a month before Nelson and I were married. I adore how the purple feathers frame the face in a loving embrace. This head piece has a special place in the hat room, holding a place of status amongst its companions.
Photo by The Style Crone The Style Crone had a little gift for Nelson and it needed a quick wrap. So putting on another hat, The Wrap Artist took over and dipped into the scarf inventory for a the perfect present presentation. The versatility of accessories is endless!
Photo by Nelson Multicolored blue silk chiffon scarf wrapped-estate sale, silk chiffon powder blue camisole top-Buffalo Exchange, yoga pants, blue/gold Fioni kitten heels-gifted. The sadness has lifted and my roots are no longer bound. So out to the garden with Nelson for tree pose with kitten heels, just for fun. We were enthusiastically greeted by one of the last roses of the season! So I guess its true that feelings can flow through us if we accept them.
Photo by The Style Crone Sometimes Nelson's disease has great pull - sucking me down into its vortex as I watch him struggle with lethargy, which is so unlike his nonchemo self. The Style Crone is still blooming, but her roots are bound with sadness as the cumulative effects of the powerful drugs infuse his every cell. I let the sorrow take me over for now until I feel its release. Tears fall for the life we had hoped for during this time; travel to far distant shores, exploring the world and our love of differences. I want to grab
Photo by The Style Crone " The journey is the destination." Yoga class post chemo.
Photo by Nelson Diane von Furstenberg spotted cat ruby/fuschia wrap top and Espace red shoes-Wardrobe Works consignment shop, Michael Kors black tuxedo pants and black soft beret-estate sales. Reporting from the "crazy carousel" of the chemo lounge, that ever present subculture that we inhabit every two weeks. We can exhale - no cancer in Nelson's liver. PET scan results indicate that Nelson's disease remains unchanged; however, a tumor marker is rising, so a chemo change is recommended for his next infusion. The Style Crone has become aware of a certain self protective numbness that pervades which allows us to swim
Photo by Nelson Vintage fringe dress-yard sale, sequin/knit hat-NYC vintage shop, long black gloves-estate sale, rhinestone earrings-flea market, heels-consignment store. Another chemo eve and anxiety around PET scan results. So, photo shoot seemed like the most rational approach to the day. Nelson and the SC participated in a little laughter in the afternoon. We may be living on the fringe but we can still have fun! I decided to dedicate my outfit to a celebration of Sharon Jones with fringe galore. Whatever works!
Photo by Camille In the spirit of "day to evening" The Style crone took her outfit from "PET scan to lunch." This change in venue required a few ensemble revisions. Adding a jacket, black sheer socks with faint fishnet, and a different drape of the scarf took The Style Crone out the door with Camille, who floats beside me with elegance and grace. The color transformation on the "leaf wall" in the garden provided the perfect back drop for portraying this adaptation.
Photo by Camille Olive drab (found that name on a 'green color chart') faux pashmina-NYC street vendor, vintage olive drab knit hat-estate sale, azure (color chart again) sweater-Banana Republic sale, black DKNY pumps-random NYC sample sale, yoga leggings. As we entered the PET scan facility very early on a wind chilled morning, Nelson recognized a familiar technician and playfully bantered, "Hey buddy, hope you don't take this personally, but I'm not that happy to see you." Laughter abounds in the most unusual spaces. When you become a regular at the PET scan center you know something is up and I
Photo by Nelson Coral vintage hat, coral beads with tassels and blue shirt-estate sales. The Style Crone went to a book signing and had a great time with friends. Sometimes fetal position sounds like a good idea, but as I get dressed up and ready to go I feel uplifted. And this coral hat, newly released from it's hat box confinement, was really ready to "hit the streets." So how could I say no?
Photo by Mimi Meyer of AW' 10 Inspirations The hat room transition to fall/winter is complete and the Style Crone is happily surrounded by the many beauties of the season. It took nearly a month to accomplish, but there have been distractions. When I sit in the pink fringed chair and gaze about, I feel inspired to wear each and every chapeau over the next six months. The fall hats are ready to roll!
Photo by The Style Crone The Style Crone attended the spectacular performance of "Rituals" by the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, and was honored to photograph Cleo, the visionary Founder, Artistic Director and Choreographer of CPRD. Cleo is a Denver treasure, a national presence in the dance world, and an international cultural ambassador. Her honors and awards would take pages to list and describe, but her influence on our lives and the life of our daughter Camille are also too numerous to chronicle. Camille was a student at the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance School from the ages of three through
Photo by Mimi Meyer of AW 10 Inspirations Peacock feather hat by Jack McConnell- gifted. Peacock feathers take flight amidst fall berries.
Photo by The Style Crone Black leather Kangol newsboy cap purchased around the corner from the chihuahua dogsitting gig in the West Village NYC December '09, black Banana Republic long sleeved T bought in the Washington Square area NYC for Camille's Alvin Ailey student performance June '01, black Stacy Adams shoes which carry memories of dancing many the night away at some R&B club. Nelson can make any outfit shine! I look upon Nelson and his beauty, inside and out, and I can't believe or accept that we are in the midst of this medical crisis. With grace and elegance
Photo by The Style Crone A hat collection would not be complete without a multitude of hat pins!