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!
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!