ONE JACKET, TWO WAYS

If someone ever told me that I'd get a faux leather jacket from a chain store maternity department, I'd have laughed till I snorted. But that's exactly what happened recently, on a trip to Target with my husband. We both spotted an eye-catching jacket hanging from the Liz Lange display, and I thought: I just have to try this.

I've never bought anything from a maternity section before, but there was something about the very simple, fitted lines of this jacket that caught my eye. I tried it on, and it looked really nice and flattering ... not what usually happens when it comes to leather jackets I try on. My husband really liked it too, which sealed the deal for me. What's better -- I had to go down two sizes. Can't beat that! ^__^

I've worn this jacket two ways, so far. First, with a denim skirt and suede boots for a polished look:


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Jacket: Target
Knit top: given by my mother
Skirt: 7 For All Mankind "gypsy"
Tights: Calvin Klein (TJ Maxx)
Boots: Bronx

Next, with a printed skirt (my second Thakoon-for-Target skirt, which I adore and can be worn in any season) and leather boots for a more bohemian look. This look is my favorite:


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Top: given by a friend
Skirt: Thakoon for Target
Belt: Nine West
Tights: TJ Maxx
Boots: Miz Mooz

I find myself reaching for this jacket almost all the time. I'm going to try it with my funky printed Free People skirt next. I think it will work well! It's very comfortable and keeps me warm without adding a lot of bulk, which I really appreciate. All in all, one of my best buys this season!

MORE VINTAGE FINDS!

We've been visiting our local thrift and charity shops a lot, lately. Mainly because the bad economy and my husband's still active job search have us penny-pinching like never before, but also because there's a lot of great new stuff in our thrift stores, which makes me feel like St. Vincent de Paul's is the new Macy's, lol!

Here are our most recent fabulous finds. First, I got this beauuuuutiful vintage '60s faux fur coat at the Cancer Society store! It's in near-perfect condition, which made me really appreciate the care and attention that went into making clothes 40 years ago. The brand-name label is "Grandella", and you can find faux furs by this brand on both eBay and Etsy, though they tend to be a bit pricey. However, mine cost just $19, so I think the best places to look for these kinds of coats are your local thrift/charity stores. This one makes me feel like I'm in Mad Men!


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Next up, I found these glorious forest green cowgirl boots at the same Cancer Society store! They're authentic leather boots, and tooled in an intricate design that caught my eye. They too are in really good condition. I've never bought shoes secondhand, but I couldn't resist these. I think they're so unique -- a bit rugged yet ladylike!


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I also found my husband a beautiful pure lambswool sweater from England when I found the boots! I loved the creamy pale yellow shade and the perfect condition it was in, which was kind of unbelievable since thrift store sweaters often have small holes, tears, stains, etc. Someone really took care of this sweater, which is perfect for the weather. Its brand name is "Sporting Choice", a British label.


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I've always wanted a leather jacket, and never found one until I went to our local Hospice thrift store last week. I can't really afford a new leather jacket, and faux leather always looks kind of "off" to me. But then I found it: a black Gap leather styled just like a denim jacket, in my size, for $19!! I just couldn't believe it, but there it was. I adore it!


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I can never go to a thrift store without searching for vintage handbags, and at the Hospice Thrift I got these. First, a rich teal leather bag from the '80s, for only $1.50! Another double-take, for me. I need a handbag this color badly too:


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I have been looking for a dainty black evening bag for years now, and I finally found one at Hospice Thrift. I loved the elegant crepe fabric with just a hint of sheen, and the ladylike vintage shape that was just a trademark of the era. They just don't make evening bags like this anymore:


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Right next to the above bag was this little beaded number. I went crazy over it! It's in mint condition too:


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A close-up of the intricate beadwork:


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I'm so over-the-moon with my thrift store treasures! It's wonderful to find such beautiful pieces for next-to-nothing prices, especially in this grim economy. It makes shopping fun again! Though I did spend hours conditioning and shining all the leather clothes and accessories with a special leather lube conditioner (which you can find anywhere). Lots of elbow grease but so worth it! Made my retro beauties look new again. ^__^

KATINA PINKAMA

A few weeks ago, my husband, mother and I attended the "Katina Pinkama" at our local Sri Lankan Buddhist temple. A "Katina" ceremony is a very special occasion in the Buddhist calendar in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand; it marks the end of the rainy season in ancient India, where Buddha and his disciples would retreat into caves and temples to wait out the huge storms. You can read more on the fascinating history of this ancient rite here, on the Lanka Library website -- this excellent article on the Vas ceremony was written by Sumana Saparamadu, who is one of my husband's relatives and also one of my mother's teachers at her school in Sri Lanka!

In our temple, this is a day for chanting prayers and getting together with everyone after the monks have been served their noon meal. People come from all over northern California to our temple for the "Katina" ceremony. This year, there were folks from Thai, Cambodian, Chinese and Bangaladeshi temples! I loved the diversity and color all around.

In Sri Lanka, you have to wear white or light colors to go to the temple, and that's what we all did. Jeans are acceptable in temples here in America, due to the colder weather, but if I were in Sri Lanka I would opt for a long white dress or skirt, or maybe even a white sari.

My husband wore a white dress shirt and light "sand" color trousers, which were the same colors he wore for the first temple rite we did together, just before our marriage registration! It was a perfect ensemble for this year's temple service, as well:


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My mother wore a soft white crepe sari with sky-blue embroidery at the edge. She was the only Sri Lankan woman there in a sari. Here she is, serving lunch to the monks:


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I wore light-colored jeans as I didn't have any light-colored pants, and the weather was too cold for my skirts. I also wore a soft white cotton blouse with pintucks down the front, one of my favorites:


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Blouse: Macy's
Jeans: Paige Premium "Canon" flare-leg
Shoes (not shown above): Charles David "Hottie" t-strap sandals

The photo doesn't show my favorite part of the blouse: little silver-threadwork embroidered dots:


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They shimmered in the sunlight! To match, I wore silver sandals (which I had to remove at the temple door, unfortunately!). I think silver shoes are a must for white clothes, as the two colors complement each other so well.


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Here's a shot of me wearing them:



My wardrobe was perfect for the occasion. I deliberately bought some white blouses last year; didn't have any in my wardrobe, but I knew they'd be perfect for the temple. I'm so glad I did that!

All in all, it was a memorable and beautiful day! It felt really good to be back at the temple again, and I'm looking forward to future temple ceremonies.

COSTUMES, GORGEOUS COSTUMES!

Since it's the Halloween season, I thought it particularly appropriate to post about the beautiful costumes we saw at the Ren Faire. So many of them (both men's and women's outfits) were just breathtaking. I found them truly inspirational. Here are some of my favorites:

I loved the glowing Fall colors of this brocade Renaissance-style dress:


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And I loved this young woman's Elizabethan-era dress and parasol!


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This rich black Tudor/Elizabethan-era dress was just stunning:


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Not only women wore beautiful costumes. The men held their own, I think. Here's an example, a Jacobean-era outfit with a supremely elegant hat and sword:


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Colorful, lively patterned dress was favored among young men in the late Medieval to Tudor/Elizabethan-eras, and I thought this costume was a good approximation:


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I really think it proves how then, as now, only the young could pull off such out-there looks! A teenagers' dress sense never really changes, does it? ^__^

Not everyone wore noblemen's and women's dress. Many folks also wore costumes typical of lower and poorer classes. Here's a group of minstrels in plainer (but just-as-charming) outfits:


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I just love how the simple, fitted lines of women's everyday gowns of those days were so flattering to many different figure types:


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So there you have it, a small taste of the many different and gorgeous costumes found at a typical Renaissance Faire! I wish I could have taken more photos and asked some of the people to pose for the camera, but I felt odd about doing that. I'm grateful for the pictures I did get, however. I think you can pick up many good ideas on how to put clothes together, even today, from the clothes of the past!

REN FAIRE!

My husband Asoka and I went to the annual Folsom Renaissance Faire on Saturday! We had a grand time taking in the wonderful sights and the joyous atmosphere! That's how I've always felt at Renaissance fairs in general, and although our local one isn't as big as the San Francisco bay area fairs, it was still fascinating and fun.

I was eager to take Asoka to a Ren fair, as he's never been to one. Since they are typically American festivals, I loved being able to introduce him to this unique experience. He had a great time, so that made the whole day perfect. ^__^

Oddly enough, I always have a hard time deciding what to wear to a Ren fair. Since so many people are dressed in elaborate Renaissance and Jacobean-era costumes (sorry, I studied History in college so accuracy is a pet peeve), I wanted to wear something a bit unique and true to the spirit of the festival, especially since I don't own a full costume. It's my dream to own a beautiful Tudor dress one day, though!

Till that day comes, however, I figured something like this would work too:


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I thought this simple, warm-weather outfit would be enhanced by the very Renaissance-style belt and boots!

Top: Merona (Target)
Skirt: 7 For all Mankind "Roxy"
Belt: Lucky Brand
Boots: Kohls

Here's a close-up of the boots, which were perfect for the day! They were very comfortable too:


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I also carried this wonderful suede patchwork bag, by The Sak, which fit in perfectly with the festive costumes all around us:


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And here I am at the Faire! The boots made me feel right at home:


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And here's the Hubz, who doesn't own anything even remotely fancy or costume-like when it comes to clothing! He chose to wear his usual smart-casual attire of pleated slacks and a collared shirt. Perfect for the weather. And for sitting on the bleachers waiting for the Jousting to start! ^__^


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I'll post more photos of the costumes from the Renaissance Faire soon. They were so beautiful and inspirational! Made me wish we could dress more in fanciful and elaborate clothes, even in our day-to-day lives.

VINTAGE BAG LADY

I've been a fan of vintage style for many years now, ever since high school. Probably because I'm a history buff in general (I studied History in college), but also I think because I just appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of things made in years past.

Most of my furniture is vintage, including my beautiful '50s bedroom set, with its spare, simple "Atomic Age" lines, which I bought on sight at our local hospice thrift store. This wonderful charity shop is also where I found quite a few of my cherished vintage handbags.

I have quite a little collection of these bags, which I've bought over the years and which are from different decades in the latter half of the twentieth century. I thought I'd share them here!

This beautiful leather bag is so highly polished it glows! It's from the 1950s. I found it at the hospice thrift store:


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Another hospice thrift find. This is one of my favorites, a darling little tapestry bag which, by its pattern, I'd say is from the 1950s. I used to carry this everywhere, but decided to use it more sparingly as I was afraid it might wear out if I didn't:


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This cutie-pie plastic handbag, which I found at our local cancer society thrift store, dates from either the late '50s or early '60s, when such styles were popular. So fabulous for those rainy days!


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I recently found this elegant little bag at our hospice thrift store. From the ruching detail in front, I'd date it to the early 1980s, one of my all-time favorite style periods.


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Here's The Hubz, modeling the bag!


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This next bag is of unknown vintage, and made by an American company named HideCraft. On Etsy, I found another bag by the same company, sold as a vintage item, so I know it's a piece with some history. I'd guess it to be from the 1980s, when messenger-style bags like these were popular. I found it in my mother's garage!


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I found this ladylike leather bag at the cancer society thrift store. From its gathered opening, I'd date it to the early '80s, when such details could be found in so many women's clothes and accessories. To me, it epitomizes the singular style of that time, which I love! The navy color matches most of my clothes. They just don't make bags like this anymore.


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Another of my favorite bags, this burgundy leather one was made in Italy, and my mother found it for me at a local thrift store. I love its tiny size, and would say it's from around the mid-to-late '80s:


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This is probably the most unabashedly '80s bag in my whole collection! It's from the hospice thrift store, and I pounced on it as soon as I saw it. I love the jewel-tone leather ruffles down the front. It's a great bag for the colder months, because it goes with many of my cold-weather clothes and makes even the simplest outfits rather special:


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So there you have it, my beloved vintage handbags! I wish I had nice vintage clothes to go with them, but unfortunately I've seldom found any that I really like. I do own some pieces, however, and I'll post photos in the near future. Stay tuned! ^__^

I wanted to thank everyone who has left comments of care, concern and good wishes in this little space of mine. I don't have words to describe how helpful you all have been to me, and how thankful I am for your thoughts.

I can't go into details about the massive changes that have occurred in my life this past month ... maybe one day I will be able to write about them here or elsewhere, or maybe not. Some have been good things (the renewed friendship and bond between me and my husband) and some have been horrific (rifts with family members that I suspect are irreparable). But I guess that's just life.

I think one day soon I'll be able to resume blogging here about cheerful, silly, fun things. I'll definitely be back! But till then, I'm still reading and following all your blogs, and grateful for the glimpse into your world. :o) It makes me realize that life can be happy and fulfilling, which is something I've needed to be reminded of sometimes, these past weeks.