Photo by Nelson. Splashing into fall with color!
Last week at chemo when we learned that Nelson's tumor markers were going up instead of down I felt sad, fearful, and heartbroken. We received this news at about 10am and these feelings persisted throughout the time of his infusion; we returned home at 3pm. Upon checking my email I learned that Susan Froyd, Westword's Arts and Culture Editor, had posted a blog about The Style Crone on "Show and Tell" in the Arts section on Westword's website. This warm and interesting woman, who has the ability to create instant rapport, had interviewed me at the Modernism Show a few
Photo by The Style Crone. The Style Crone considers nail polish an accessory and every season is worthy of a new color. I read somewhere that older women should only use neutral colors on their fingernails. It's so much fun to break the rule if that is indeed a rule. I think we should do what brings us pleasure and the process of choosing a new color is highly entertaining. I do my research on the blog sites Refinery 29 and All Lacquered Up. The winner for Fall 2010 is a purple/grey combo by the name "paradoxal." Love the name.
Photo by Camille. Orange has been my constant companion this summer! The SC found this delicious 60's straw hat with scarf trim at the Denver Modernism Show and couldn't resist. I immediately favored her over all other choices in the hat room for Sunday brunch with my family. Only a few days of summer remaining and some of the spring/summer hats have missed outings, so there is much competition before the season change. "Wear me, wear me" is the persistent refrain.
Photo by The Style Crone. The SC needed a higher dose of shoe xanax for chemo yesterday. I took 18 photos of my shoes to come up with the correct representation of these teal and black sneaker/pumps. These shoes are very versatile and have the ability to go from day to evening, from a walk in City Park to evening cocktails without a hitch.
Photo by Nelson. I think this photo is a little blurry, but it mirrors our day. Nelson's tumor markers are going up, and that has never happened before during the time that he's been receiving chemo. The plan is to wait for two weeks when he has his next treatment, and evaluate at that time. Hopefully the numbers will move downward again. Needless to say, "concern" is the word of the day. My "chemo outfit" includes a teal 60's silk jacket that I found at an estate sale two weeks ago for a grand total of four dollars; the 60's
Photos by Camille. The Style Crone found this scarf at an estate sale last week. Actually, someone else found this scarf from the 20's and I was immediately in love with its beauty. For the first time, in many years of estate sales, I bought an item from another person during the sale and then paid the original price as I checked out. I REALLY wanted this silk chiffon "pale pink with flowers" piece of history to drip from my shoulders and it was destined to leave with me. I wore it to my friend's party the following evening with
Photo by The Style Crone. Recently on a Sunday Mr. Garden Intervention and The SC played in the garden and improved on a few dioramas. I found this distressed stained glass window at a yard sale for $12 and we found the perfect spot for it behind the Buddha of the Patio. The glass behind the Buddha appears to form a halo behind its head wear. I became aware that I see a subtle halo behind most head wear, or is that just in my head?
Photo by Camille. Date Night most Friday evenings since 1978 has been a ritual for Nelson and The Style Crone. It's a time to dress up and "hit the streets." I've never been a fan of "casual Friday." We used to go out dancing, but that's fallen by the wayside unless you know of a place that plays great R&B early on a Friday night. It was important for us to connect and have fun after a busy week of working and parenting and always something to look forward to. Romance is the spice of life and we continue to
Photo by Mimi. I found this long black Versace dress at a yard sale last summer for THREE dollars. You never know what treasure lies just around the corner! I love wearing this dress with my silver metallic head wrap by Maeve Carr, which was part of my hat shop's inventory in the mid 80's. Somehow this head wrap ended up in The Style Crone's hat room amidst several other companions that didn't make it to a hat shop customer's head!
Photo by The Style Crone. How do we love our aging skin? Is not fall as beautiful as spring?
Photo by Mimi. The Style Crone appreciates the mix of vintage with contemporary, but with this outfit every item is from an estate sale and everything is vintage except for the Dooney & Bourke bag. The floaty Easter egg print silk dress is from the 30's, which is one of my favorite eras. The shoes and the fabric beret are from the 40's. The belt and the earrings are a toss up and I could probably "nail it" with some investigation. I wore elements of this outfit to lunch with a friend on a very hot day, and the breeze
Photo by The Style Crone. It takes perseverance, effort, and focus to put together an outfit. It also involves a great deal of pleasure and fun. Finding the perfect hat, pair of shoes, piece of jewelry or bag, or any other item hidden deep within an inventory category uses my brain in ways that are similar to completing a crossword puzzle or sudoku. The Style Crone believes that assembling an ensemble is really putting together a puzzle just like any other dementia prevention strategy. It is the manifestation of a visualization and it contributes to my health. The process can
Photo by Mimi. Vintage silk flower cocktail hat-estate sale. Several months ago a friend sent Nelson a card and her enclosed message read, "Bloom where you're planted." That phrase resonated with The Style Crone and the card immediately went up on the refrigerator as a daily reminder to live in the moment. Since cocktail hats are my favorite, it seems as though wearing them as many moments as possible, even if it's in the garden on a Wednesday afternoon, fits into the "blooming" category!
Photo by The Style Crone. The 40's green suede peep toe sandals with ruffles accompanied us to chemo and they "stepped" right through the experience with "flying colors." I purchased these unique shoes at an estate sale over a decade ago and they are about my age. And they are NOT for sale!
Photo by Nelson. Hat, necklace, shoes, bag-estate sale; jacket & pants-consignment stores. Just as we left no stone unturned in search for what Nelson needed in terms of life saving treatments after his initial diagnosis over five years ago, I prefer to leave no accessory undocumented. I realize that the two issues have a VERY different level of urgency and are not appropriately compared, but I do like to be thorough. The first photo of my outfit did not reveal the chosen necklace and the second photo eliminated the shoes. Therefore, two photos are necessary to bring this "What to
Photo by Aneta Genova of Bobbin Talk. When I first saw Debra Rapoport on Advanced Style, a blog by Ari Seth Cohen about stylish and creative older people, I was immediately inspired, intrigued, and enthralled. Her self expression reflects her apparent love of life and adventure. Debra now has her own page on Advanced Style, and her description states, "she is a working artist within the visual and healing arts." She has also been featured in New York Magazine and Bust Magazine, the magazine for women with something to get off their chests. Aneta Genova, the "fashion blogstress" of Bobbin
Photo by The Style Crone. Nelson shared with me that Bob Marley is speaking to him "across the divide." It began as he was playing a Bob Marley CD in the car on his way to the gym one morning, and suddenly the lyrics were a direct communication to him. If he presented to the psych ER (and I worked in the psych ER in the 80's) with such a statement he would be labeled delusional, but I think it's believable. Call me crazy, but it makes sense to me and I don't think it's "chemo brain." I told our
Photo by Linda. Hat-Filene's Basement NYC, red shoes-consignment store, red accessories-estate sales, yoga wear-lululemon. Tea after yoga is soooo delicious. Yoga has given me a shelter from the angry tumultuous sea. And equally luscious is what follows - tea, toast, bilberry jam, and the intermittent possibility of meeting up with friends.
Photo by Neva. Capris and shoes-consignment store, tank-lululemon, orange bracelets-NYC flea market, hat-pulled from the hat room. Met a friend at high noon for lunch, and she described my outfit as "Palm Beach meets Carnaby Street." I love it when friends describe SC attire in such a creative and clever manner. Many years ago at work someone characterized my outfit as "The Jetsons Do Hawaii." Maybe I'll pull that ensemble out from deep within my inventory and give it another whirl!