when work is play

some lo-fi photos taken with my point & shoot camera from two weekends selling at the Flea Markets. First up, Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena. I wore my knit 2-piece alphabet Courier print skirt and sweater thinking it'd be cool out, but turns out it was the hottest day of the year. Ok, I know I say this about a lot of my wardrobe pieces, but seriously, this 80s set is one of my favorites and it's such a shame the print is so hard to capture in a photograph. I found the skirt first and then like a year later I found the matching sweater; both items hailed from different times and different thrift stores. Talk about luck. God is on my side when it comes to thrift store shopping.

Underneath my sweater, I wore a shirt by teenage millionaire featuring a vato and a hina chillin' in front of a motorcycle.

Stace passes the time by playing dress-up.

We entertain (and horrify) the patrons with a serious art piece: piranha boobs (which is for sale by the way in Stacy's store, Fancy Disaster, if you're interested). Piranha Boobs, it's also the name of our band. Hee-Hee. j/k

At the Veteran's Stadium Flea Market in Long Beach, I bought two vintage dresses from the vendor across the way (before even selling one item). Both of the dresses I bought are green, a color I seem to be drawn to these days. One of the green dresses is a 1950s Girl Scout's leader's dress. I never was in Girl Scout's and I don't think I would have made a very good leader, so it was a thrill to find this dress in my size, where at least I can pretend.

Don't worry, I'll dedicate another post to these dresses.

At the Veteran's Flea Market,I was smart & wore a bikini top and my Jimmy Z skirt(with attached bloomers).

Selling at flea markets can be hard work, but the time passes quickly when working and hanging with my good friend, Stacy. Later that day, I went bicycling with Pete and then to Fingerprints, our local record store.

I highly suggest ya'll come visit me when I'm selling at the Flea Markets cause I am a ridiculous push-over. At one point, I had to delegate pricing to Stacy because I was ripping myself off. I just can't resist cute doe-eyed Japanese girls chanting in unison "ten, ten, ten, ten, ten'. and I just love people and I like to make them happy when I can. I'm not much of a business woman, but I think my humanistic approach will pay off in the end.

wishing you happiness in all your endeavors,

Crystal Lee

Playing Dress Up with my BFF

By no means is my childhood best friend, Desiree, interested in playing dress-up as much as I am. But, she indulged me last weekend when we were in the Sequoias, and we had ourselves a time. Her husband, Keenan, took the pictures. The outfits we are wearing are just a small sampling of my 80s collection. Though I was not hip enough or old enough to wear Vision Street Wear or Jimmy Z during the 80s, in my adult years, I have had a steady crush. When I found these Jimmy Z shorts w/attached undies at the thrift store, I squealed so hard under my breath, I nearly burst a forehead vein. Finding either of these labels at the thrift store is rare. Once upon a time, I had a connection in Costa Mesa where I could load up on deadstock Vision Street Wear, but those days are long gone. Now I spend many evenings using the power of thought to bring these items into reality & into my wardrobe.

“Are we not all of us fanatics? I say only what you of the U.S.A. pretend you do not know. Attachments are of great seriousness. Choose your attachments carefully. Choose your temple of fanaticism with great care.”
David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest

All clothes are 80s vintage & found at the thrift store. (except the Vision Street wear fanny packs & shoes).
All photos taken by Keenan at Crooked Keenan Photography.