Photo by Neva. The Style Crone loves to hear bangles making a sharp ringing sound almost as much as she likes movement in her accessories. Is that shameless audacity????
Photo by The Style Crone The Style Crone went to a book signing for Traci Jones at Tattered Cover, an independent book store just blocks from our home. Traci read passages from and signed copies of her new book, Finding My Place. She was awarded the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award for her first novel, Standing Against the Wind. Traci is also my Jazzercise instructor on Tuesday mornings, so she's a multitalented, beautiful, and accomplished member of my "enhancement team." My definition of personal enhancement team is people in my life who teach classes that I attend; provide
Photo by Sarah Y. Hat by Eugenia Kim, jacket-consignment store, pearls-college graduation gift 1966. I continue to have a pedicured toe in the health care field, working twice a month as a nurse case manager at an acute rehabilitation facility. Recently I was required to update a rehab certification, and this process included studying for and taking a test to maintain my job qualifications. For the occasion I chose to wear a fedora with pearls. The Style Crone prefers to cover her head when using her brain. In reality, The Style Crone prefers to cover her head continuously!
Photo by Daniel N. No outfit is complete without the shoes. I know. I know. I know. This is the third photo in this series. But the vintage burgundy heeled sandals finish off this ensemble and The SC could not resist a grand finale under a garden trellis.
Photo by Daniel N. Dress by Fabric Lab, accessories as per previous post. Usually by the fifth day after chemo, Nelson's energy is on the upswing into the "new normal" space that exists until the next infusion. Every chemo is the same and every chemo is different; a paradox that presents itself every two weeks without fail. But today, I feel the fog has lifted, and I am in a field of zinnias gazing up at the sun! And The Style Crone wouldn't be in the sun or any other place without a hat!
Photo by Daniel N. Hat by Urban Jungle at The Black Arts Festival, bracelets-Gypsies Collection, clutch-Shalkey Design. I have something to say. And an outfit to portray.
Photo by Nelson. The orange patent leather open toe pumps were the feature of the day. They provided distraction for me and several women in the infusion center. Conversations were initiated because of these shoes, and they had nothing to do with cancer. Nelson and The Style Crone were good with that!
Photo by Nelson. Vintage 60's dress-estate sale, jacket-consignment store, hat-The Hat Shop, shoes-Nordtrom's sale. Even though it's warm outside, it's cold in the infusion center, so I always wear a jacket. There's a runway in every space, and I featured orange today, which is one of my favorite colors. The shapes and colors on this vintage 60's dress provided the perfect opportunity to wear orange shoes and earrings. Discussions on chemo day are usually intense, and I chose a strong/deep color to mirror the interactions that took place.
Photo by The Style Crone. The scarf manikin has been a resident of The Style Crone's summer garden for many years. She greets us every morning as her skirt billows in the breeze, and can be seen from the back door window. Her colorful presence makes me smile. Could a smile be considered an accessory? If so, it would be deemed a neutral as it would go with any outfit, similar to animal print.
Photo by Mimi. The Style Crone sends a virtual rose delivery to all. May you day be filled with many pleasures!!!!
Photo by Mimi. Hat by Debra Rapoport from Advanced Style, tunic- estate sale, capris-yard sale, W Steiger shoes- consignment store. During the days of Les Chapeaux, the hat shop, The SC and her business partner created a rose delivery service. The service consisted of the delivery of a single long stemmed red rose by one of us dressed to the nines in a hat, gloves, and the chosen outfit of the day. At the moment of delivery we recited the message that was desired by our client, presented the rose and a card with the inscribed message, and made a
Photo by The Style Crone. The goddess of the front porch greets all who enter our home. I plant a 'very small garden' around her every summer and she gives me much pleasure whenever I return home, climbing the steps to the porch. Note interesting headwear! It could provide inspiration for an outfit.
Photo by Sarah. Vintage mustard quilted jacket - NYC flea market, gold/black paisley scarf - estate sale. I love scarves almost as much as I adore hats. Scarves are more versatile and when they're wrapped as headwear I'm enthralled. I have a very deep inventory of scarves in every imaginable color, shape and size. They can be draped around the neck, wrapped around the waist, tied on a bag, used as a skirt, wrapped around the crown of a hat, wrapped around a gift. The possibilities are endless. And if I can wear a scarf or any adornment once in 20
Photo by Randy V. This photo represents how I feel when Nelson is receiving chemo: surreal, unearthly, hollow. Only The Style Crone's hat remains familiar. All spaces in our home feel somber. And then he bounces back from the chemo assault and the "new normal" that we inhabit returns. Today he was talking about early life experiences and I learned something new about this man that I met in 1977. I love it when that happens.
Photo by The Style Crone. My garden is one of my sanctuaries. In the evening close to dusk I like to sit on the bench in the rose garden and spend time admiring the goddess who watches over this colorful area in our back yard and reflect on my day. Every year the rose garden looks different; this year the woolly thyme between the bricks that make up the path to the goddess didn't grow back. My garden is a metaphor for life and it's constant changes. And today I noticed that almost all of the many entities in my
Photo by Nelson. Vintage silk multicolored wrap skirt - estate sale, bolero jacket - yard sale, teal headwrap - flea market. Nelson is practicing his photography skills in the oncology exam room again. I think this is becoming a ritual.
Photo by The Style Crone Shoes - consignment store. Nelson has chemo every two weeks; after his infusion in the clinic he leaves with a chemo pump which he wears for two days at home. The pump delivers a chemo drug continually during that period of time. Yesterday, as his infusion was nearing completion in the clinic he was given a 'spill kit' and handout with instructions as to how to handle a leak from the pump, which included the following: Do not touch the chemo spill with unprotected hands. Wear the provided gloves, gown, face shield and mask. YIKES!
Photo by Scott. Wearing hat by GUY. Yard sale hat, day two. Hats provide protection from the sun and they also initiate conversations which lead to more yard sale transactions. Hats are facilitators!
Photo by The Style Crone Several years ago our mailbox deteriorated, so I replaced it with a vintage straw purse. I thought it would be a temporary fix, but years later it remains in place and accepts our mail daily. Our mailman appears to accept this mail collection substitute without complaints, but the interim mail people are sometimes confused. But it's really just thinking outside the mailbox.
Photo by The Style Crone Wearing vintage Troylings shoes - Estate Sale. I discovered that taking photos of my shoes in the oncology department exam room has a more positive outcome in dealing with anxiety than taking anti anxiety medication. Perhaps I should suggest a double blind study to investigate and compare the results!
