Photo by The Style Crone The Style Crone wore these shoes out to dinner last evening. I found these vintage 40's black suede platform sling back heels with blue/fuschia/gold beads at an estate sale years ago. They fit like a glove (and yes, I do have an extensive glove inventory as well) and they have a very special place in my shoe collection. Graceful, wearable, historical art!
Photo by Nelson Vintage hat, shoes and earrings-estate sales, vintage pin-gifted, Raniero Gattinoni dress-estate sale. The Style Crone and Nelson went out to dinner this evening and the celebration included a hat with veil. He continues to recover from his surgical procedure, but as always, remains the most handsome man in the room with a spirit larger than any space I've ever occupied.
Photo by The Style Crone Every year around Labor Day The Style Crone pulls the fall hats out of their hat box hibernation, cleans the spring/summer line, and puts them to sleep in their tissue paper and boxes to rest until the next seasonal transition in April. This is a twice yearly ritual and it's a delight to reacquaint myself with each and every "sleeping beauty." Today I'm finishing up this changeover while dancing in the hat room to the new Mavis Staples CD that Nelson just brought home for me and perfecting the animal print corner. As I've
Photo by Douglas This Prada bag flew into my hands at an estate sale this summer. It was half price day and the estate sale staff continued to come down on the price until I was embarrassed to say "no." So I was obligated to buy it and here it is hanging off The Style Crone's shoulder in front of a brilliant bed of flowers. Fall is in the air!
I first saw Tziporah Salamon on Advanced Style, a blog by Ari Seth Cohen about stylish and creative older people. I was taken with the observation that she always wore hats, and when I saw this video I was thrilled with her description of how hats are an element of every outfit for her. She also talks about dressing as art and that she is "creating a painting" as she puts the details of an ensemble together. The Style Crone was in heaven as she spoke. This beautiful and fascinating woman's website Tziporah Salamon goes into more detail about her
Photo by Nelson Coach fedora and boots-consignment stores, leather jacket-vintage shop, silk chiffon leopard print scarf-estate sale, jeans-Buffalo Exchange. Time to bring out the boots and leather jacket for the uncomfortably cold surgical suite. Nelson's procedure went well, but I never grow accustomed to the helpless feeling that I experience as I walk out the door of the pre-surgical area and he becomes the responsibility of the anesthesiologist, surgeon, and nurses who have his life in their hands. The Style Crone's anxiety is evidenced by the soy latte "delicately?" spilled across the waiting room floor. How classy!
Photo by Nelson Vintage Claire McCardell by Townley dress-gifted, hat-Diane Harty, shoes-Boston Consignment store, clutch bag and jewelry-estate sales. Nelson's friend of 38 years got married today. This is a friend that Nelson knew before he met The Style Crone. It was a wonderful celebration! Let's hear it for love and happiness (as only Al Green can express) and long term friendships! And new friendships too! And then on to another celebration for a couple from Kinetic Fitness Studio who are about to have a baby. This is the studio where Nelson works out and teaches a rowing class. The
Photo by Neva. Pink hat and sweater, earrings, bracelets-estate sale finds over the years. Nelson had his chemo pump removed today and laughter returns to the forefront. Everything is looking up! Time to drink in the warmth of the sun, the beautiful Colorado skies, and the abundance of life until the chill returns.
Photo by The Style Crone. We were very anxious before this chemo because of Nelson's elevated tumor markers. Again, taking photos of the Style Crone's shoes was the perfect antidote. The lab results indicate one marker up and one marker down. Which probably means a chemo drug change for the next infusion. Emotional turmoil surrounds the change. What new side effects will manifest? What is the meaning of all of this? Where's the antidote for this disease? It's a roller coaster and a marathon!
Photo by Nelson. Norma Kamali 80's long cotton leopard print shirt-gifted, hat-long term hat room resident, shoes and earrings-consignment stores, belt-estate sale, pants-Beyond Yoga. And again, Nelson is revealing a portion of his shoe and his jeans in the mirror as he takes my photo! The mystery man in action. Reporting from the front line! The SC doesn't usually like military or sports analogies, but somehow I can't come up with a better description for today's position. Sitting here beside Nelson as he receives his chemo, I look around at our fellow travelers. The most recently diagnosed have a look
Photo by Nelson. Vintage cocktail hat-Fashion Alley at Pier Antiques Show NYC, dress/jacket-Wardrobe Works consignment shop, rhinestone earrings-flea market. The summer was filled with memories and one of my favorite evenings was our date at Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret. Lannie Garrett is a spectacular singer and performer, and she is special to us because we went to see her show on the night that we met. That was in 1977! The evening deserved a hat with a full face veil; The Style Crone loves to wear hats with veils at any possible opportunity.
Photo by Daniel N. The Style Crone is enjoying the final days of summer and attempting to provide outings for the hats that haven't made it out the door. This hat by the San Diego Hat Company made it "under the wire" and is perfect for errands and spontaneous visits with friends.
Photos by The Style Crone. Nelson's wrap job for the T-shirt that he designed was exquisite. He chose two scarves from the SC's inventory of hundreds and he mixed patterns, which I believe to be highly complex. The addition of the "bloom" was brilliant and I love the color combinations. What a way to wake up on a Friday morning!
Photo by Nelson. Nonchemo Friday morning presented another romantic moment. When I got up to get ready for yoga, Nelson was at the gym. Perched on the kitchen counter was a gift wrapped in scarves with one of my 60's flower pins attached. I opened the display before me to find a T-shirt with the message, "sc dictates....bloom where you are planted - jmkdesignstudio.com/stylecrone." I burst into tears with the awareness of Nelson's expression of love! The Style Crone is a lucky woman! Of course the tee accompanied us on date night, along with a 60's white/orange/purple silk beret which
Photo by Nelson. Went to tea at the home of a friend and experienced a Runes reading, which has had a significant impact on my thoughts today. I have many new and interesting concepts to meditate upon. I wore this long 70's sheer green Neusteters (a famous Denver department store no longer in existence I'm sad to say ) dress that I purchased at an estate sale last week for $1.75. Other outfit elements are from previous estate sales except the yoga wear beneath the dress. When I go to estate sales I put together clothing combos in my mind as
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.