On a cool but sunny Colorado afternoon, The SC and Diana took a stroll around the block. For the occasion I wore a piece that caught my eye at an estate sale this past summer. Made in Israel, it was a sleeper until I tried it on; the unique sleeves are what made me fall in love. And the round piece of blue glass hanging from the zipper.
The tree in front of the neighbor’s home to the north is always one of my fall favorites. It’s leaves turn a brilliant shade of red in October, and the tree produced shade that created shadows on the multicolored kaftan (and The SC’s face).
Obsessing about where and when to debut the unique character of this garment, one of my friends suggested that it could be worn as a maxi coat and my perceptions immediately took flight. It’s the perfect weight for comfort on a beautiful fall day such as this. And when the hat room revealed this consignment shop vintage Francois fedora, the pleasure zone in my brain surely lit up with about the same color as the leaves on the tree.
I love the feeling of “seeing” a garment or accessory in a new way. That instant when my mind opens to the idea. Or any idea that provides a new way of thinking or challenges a belief that is self-limiting. The rush, the excitement, the moment of discovery. To be curious and flexible is at the heart of life.
As one of my yoga teachers stated this week, “To live is to be slowly born.”
As we sauntered around the block and into the alley, multiple backgrounds exploded on the scene. Exploring the alley could have continued for the rest of the day! From dumpster divers to neighbors walking their dogs, it is a subculture of diversity.
The mountain mural was a personal favorite. Beauty exists in unexpected places and this glorious example of alley art has inspired me to get creative in the space behind my back garden gate.
Photos By Diana
A vintage car parked in back of a neighbor’s garage was another found object which screamed “photo shoot.” I hadn’t noticed it today. I’ve observed that looking for backgrounds for photos brings with it a new set of eyes and opens up the world around me. Even in the alley!
To accompany the fall coat and fedora: purple Everybody booties – retail sale, vintage purple leather gloves and vintage yellow/olive-green dangle earrings – estate sales, and green turtleneck – Target.
HAT ATTACK #4 will be featured on Friday, November 1st! THAT’S JUST FOUR DAYS FROM TODAY!
Whoever wants to can join in! Just compose a post that includes any hat, headwrap, headpiece, fascinator, hair flower, headband or other adornment for your head that you love on Friday, November 1st. Participation will be open for one week, or until November 7th. Follow the directions HERE provided on Style Crone to post your photo and hope to see you there!
I love the re-claiming of the sleeper as a fall coat. And the purple accents of gloves and boots were perfect. You are so together. Would love to peak into your Hat Room, Boot Room, and so on just for the thrill of the look.
That coat is gorgeous – love the colors, and the sleeves!
What a stunning piece and I love it that you have turned it into a coat, Judith. The hat and coat look as though they were made by the same people. Another beautiful, artistic post!
Unbelievable how that hat is so perfect for the coat! Fabulous! And the booties…{sigh}…I think they’re beautiful. Well done as always!
ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS. The yoke and sleeves on that “coat” are, as you said, fantastic, and the purple boots and gloves were an INSPIRED choice. And how about that hat, eh? I am limp with envy (in a good way!) at your coordinating talents and the amazing pieces that come your way! I completely AGREE about ‘seeing in a new way” and coming up with an idea that is INSPIRED, and being “born slowly” Thank you for the uplift!
I can’t tell you how much I love that maxi coat, Judith! It’s beyond gorgeous. xxx
Absolutely stunning!! The hat and coat are perfection together, and the purple gloves and shoes an inspired accent. Your backgrounds are wonderful, and are inspiring me to get out and explore my neighborhood a bit more for interesting panoramas.
Wow what a stunning find!! it is PERFECTION as a maxi-coat. The hat, booties and gloves just set it off!! I love all of your fantastic backdrops for photo’s!!
My oh my. You have outdone yourself. The fact that you have the perfect hat, gloves and booties is kismet.
Why don’t I score items like that at estate sales?
bisous
Suzanne
OH MY GOSH!!! ZOWIE WOWIE!!!! What a Fabulous Outfit!!
You have truly outdone yourself this time; Everything is perfect. LOVE it!!!
how on earth did you find a hat to match that amazing piece of clothing? Way cool.
Can I just hit “like” for every single comment above?!!
That is a stunning, one of a kind garment and only you could make it even more fabulous. Love the alley-art too!
Kismet – serendipity – karma – all the best forces in the universe plotted to get you to buy that wonderful caftan coat (coatan?). How do you do it? Not only did you have the perfect hat, but the perfect purple accent in the gloves and boots. Those colors together are a knock-out!
Boots in purple! I may be drooling on the keyboard here…
Ah Judith you are making me smile again! I like Val’s word coatan is fitting. It’s the sleeves and back plus the color that make this coatan so much fun. Plus your hat and purple accessories add just the right spark of fire!
I know great backgrounds for pictures are everywhere once you open your eyes to this thought. Fun to think of you strolling your neighborhood getting excited about a new location to take your wonderful pictures.
blue hue wonderland
Judith!!!! This piece is overwhelmingly gorgeous. And your hat goes so well with it. However did you find something so matching. Beautiful boots.
And the pictures…. The mountain mural is my favourite too.
Very well done.
Greetje
Another amazing outfit Judith. I love the colors. Isn’t that just the greatest feeling when you find a new purpose for a garment and change your perception. Such a great idea to wear this as a coat!
Oh, Judith, only you would have the perfect hat in your collection to match that spectacular kaftan-turned-coat! The sleeves are much too glorious to be confined to indoors. I have been inspired by you, and my NYC friends to think outside of the box when it comes to how to wear different items.
I returned from my week in NY on Sunday, and have lots of stories to tell. I will be in touch!
Gosh what an incredible sleeper turned coat. You wear it as only you could my dear, with amazing injection of colour and vitality and joy! It’s a fabulous outfit with the hat and gloves. p.s. what a wonderful quote from your yoga teacher, it will stay with me.
Oh the coat is an amazing piece, Judith. The colours! The sleeves! Just stunning. The hat is the perfect accompaniment, of course, and the purple boots and gloves add a lovely alternative note. Elegant and beautiful as ever! xxx
Breathtaking. You know I love a maxi!! The colors are fabulous and the hat puts it over the top. The purple gloves and boots are making me lightheaded, too. Just gorgeous. I completely understand the rush you describe when seeing something in a new light for the first time. You’re positively glowing here. XXOO
This cost is magnificently colorful. The hat is a perfect choice. It always amazes me that you have the shoes and the gloves to complete the outfit.
That is one ultra groovy maxi thingy and that hat and other purply accessories couldn’t be more perfect with it! I love that photo with the mountain backdrop.
I just love this outfit, the colours, the patterns – everything.
Judith, you just kicked my creative juices back into motion. I’m not at all surprised you had the perfect hat to accompany this newly mad maxicoat. In fact, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if you set out to grab a piece of article to match one of your splended hats (haha). I must thank you for always giving us the inspiration to see objects in new and wonderful ways. The new life you gave this maxicoat is breathtaking and just that, full of life.
Those sleeves are soooo dramatic! Ab fab, I would say. I love the detail on the boots- the little golden orbs hanging from them are just adorable! I just love details like that 🙂
Hi Judith!
Perfect idea to wear this exquisite piece as a coat –
My back alleys are interesting too, i should venture more, but kind of shy to do so, especially alone, you have Diana to take the pics, lucky you!
I have a hat that looks a lot like yours but different colors –
I will join hat attack tomorrow so you will see it
Happy Halloween!
Ariane
What a fabulous maxi coat it makes! The gloves, booties and hat are perfect. Absolutely lovely, as always, Judith! I will be joining you for Hat Attack tomorrow!
Yes! Like everybody else, we think you are the only person on the planet who could possibly have in her wardrobe the perfect hat to exactly match the coat. Kudos to you!
Oh that coat! I was instantly reminded of Joseph’s technicoloured coat – that musical which I loved as child. And you have a matching hat! Incredible!
I daresay not many people could get away with wearing that coat, but you are working the *heck* out of it! Stunning!