High Society

Goodness, I'm crazy for the styling in this Margot Tenenbaum inspired editorial - the over-sized costume jewelry, the abundance of pastel (those lavender gloves!), the emerald tones, and the incredible  layering (I especially love all the turtlenecks peeking out from underneath).  I also enjoy the juvenile take on high society.  In fact, I think I'll avoid any productive activity this morning and instead create myself an outfit inspired by these looks. Happy Saturday!

Found via Fashion Gone Rogue.

desert winter wander.

This could be the start of a new blog series: Spying on Vintage Trailers

Julian, CA.

with my best gal, Des

This may be the best food photo I've ever taken.

Hiya gang! I spent a peaceful New Year’s in Julian and Anza Borrego State Park (my second trip to the desert this holiday season!) with my best friend and her husband.  In Julian, famous for its apple pies, we  strolled in a pioneer cemetery where two beautiful white horses were just kicking it, an image that only added to the winter charm of this historic mountain town. There was even some snow. Vintage trailers and cars dotted the town of Julian, which made me feel all cozy inside. I think I could live in a 50s trailer, as long as it’s pastel colored. After eating some tasty pie (though not heated up enough, in my expert opinion), we made our way via winding desert roads to Anza Borrego State Park, where cute thumb cacti gave us the thumbs up from every hill side, and the ocotillos waved to us in the breeze.  We stayed at the Palms Inn at Indian Head, where Pete and I have lodged once before.  We amused ourselves by playing games in our hotel room, including Apples to Apples, Yatzee, and a newly wed game where I pretty much made up all the questions. Man, Pete and I know each other so well - it’s awesome. For some reason, our hotel t.v. was set to Arizona time (an hour ahead), so we missed the ball drop, which was kind of funny, but also symbolizes how time just kind of stops existing in the desert.  On New Year's morning, our friends had to get home to their 8 month old baby, so Pete and I just leisurely made our way home. We took photos of my 1930s dress (worn last New Year’s as well), which looks just stunning against the desert backdrop. As is usually the case when I play in delicate vintage garments, my dress ripped a little, as did my heart. But I cheered up after eating a most delicious cinnamon roll at the Ramona Café, another small historical town in Ramona, CA.  Pete and I then hit up several thrift stores on the way home with NO SUCCESS.  I swear I have a sense of entitlement when it comes to thrift store shopping, like if there’s not some dream item waiting for me, I just get all riled up (for like10 mins). After this trip to the desert, I feel  relaxed and rejuvenated and ready to make 2013 a special year.

Outfit # 1: vintage olive green Levi’s stay press pants, striped vintage turtleneck, Carven turtleneck, 70s plaid purse (thrifted), 60s mohair cape (Vets Flea Market, Long Beach), snake boots (Pour La Victoire), pink sunnies (Linda Farrow for Dries Van Noten via Gilt).

Outfit # 2: 1930s velvet gown (Vets Flea Market, Long Beach).

I contain multitudes.

Hiyeee. I've been cleaning out my computer and have tons of never before seen outfit (and some lifestyle)photos to show you that showcase my Sybil-esque personal style. I've never been able to commit to one genre of clothing, and have no desire to obtain a distinct personal style. I suppose the only constant in my style is that I don't really wear too many new clothing items and most of my clothes are thrifted.  Friends, I hope you enjoy scrolling through, and thanks a bunch for reading my blog.

vintage gold dress and monkey boots (thrifted) worn to Mark Lanegan concert

40s pale pink slip (thrifted)

a self-portrait for my portrait photography class

50s off the shoulder top, 50s cut shorts, Bass loafers (thrifted).

vintage turtleneck dress, motorcycle boots, wild hearts biker belt (thrifted) worn when I want to feel bad ass. Desert Hot Springs, CA.

matchy matchy in Catalina, CA.

50s floral topper, 50s dress, 60s corduroy coat, bass loafers (thrifted)

vintage bathing suit (thrifted) worn for kayaking in Long Beach.

80s striped cap, vintage mustard tshirt, vintage tennis skirt, Keds (thrifted) worn in Point Pelee National Park, Ontario, Canada.

50s teal wool shirt, vintage fuschia skirt (thrifted), JCrew ballet flats worn for selling vintage at Veteran's Flea Market, Long Beach. 

vintage sweater, 70s purse (thrifted), Theyskens theory skirt (Gilt), Vintage Vision St. Wear shoes (Ebay)

60s dress (Elsewhere Vintage, Orange, CA.)

awesome hat I found in Morro Bay, CA. I didn't buy it however.

joyous over foggy summer beach days.

in my own mind. The End.

Happy New Year! Lots of love,

Crystal Lee

clear night for love

With Pete's hilarious little nephew, Nicolas

my first pair of comfort shoes, purchased impulsively after a long day of wearing high heels. Though I'm somewhat embarrassed to be wearing made for comfort shoes, at least these one here are pretty cute.  And gee whiz, they are shockingly comfortable.

Roky Erickson should come out with a Christmas album filled with his usual cast of characters: zombies, aliens, a two-headed dog. That would be a real hoot and a nice change.  In the meantime, I guess I'll just have to be content with wearing Roky's red and green mug around during the holidays. So, this is what I wore on a recent  trip to visit Pete's family: a rather casual get up sprinkled with festive bits - a green purse, patent leather shoes.
 
 This holiday season and my time off of work have been flying by, and everyday I feel like I'm having a race against the sun since the days are so short in winter.  Even still, I've been having a most enjoyable time. The highlights have been spending time with my family, doing some volunteer work on Christmas Eve, and meeting up with a darling gal and blogging buddy, Dakota from Sweetheart of the Rodeo, who has been staying in California for the holidays. I'll post more about our romp through the desert soon. Also, you probably have noticed my new blog header.  A while back, this image flashed through my head, and my talented friend Jenny Yuen brought it to life. I am so super stoked on it! You can check out more of Jenny's awesome work here.

I hope ya'll hard a warm and memorable Christmas. I leave you with my favorite Roky Erikson song.
g.

Outfit: Roky Erickson shirt (purchased at his concert a few Halloweens ago), vintage tweed skirt and vintage cheetah coat (thrifted a long ass time ago), pink sunnies (Linda Farrow for Dries Van Noten via Gilt), patent leather mary janes (Born comfort shoes, Nordstroms Rack).

dress in style, go hog wild.

          Heya buckaroos!  I don't know bout you but I like to dress up for any and all occasions.  Sometimes, I'll wear an outfit that suits the occasion, other times I just wear what I please.  In either situation, I always have fun and feel confident in my outfit choice.  How one wears an outfit is more important than what is worn.

          The first outfit, I wear nearly every Fourth of July.  Even though I’m not a terribly festive gal, I am really fond of Independence Day because 1) I get to wear this bandana print halter dress 2) I love fried chicken and pie, traditional American fare.  In fact, every year I bring Albertson’s fried chicken to whatever bbq I’m attending or hosting, and trick the folks that don’t know me into thinking that I made the fried chicken from an old family recipe.  Of course, I can never fib for long and always end up coming clean by the end of the party.  Last 4th of July, I made myself a new funny gal pal with this silly little trick.
      
         The pink 60s lace dress, I wore while riding my bicycle all over downtown Los Angeles one summer evening after work. We (Ellliott and I) ended the night at the Standard Hotel, where I pretended to play the keyboard in the lobby.
      
          The last outfit, usually my “square-dancing dress,” was worn for some twirling and two-steppin’ at Cowboy Country, one of the only remaining honky tonks in Southern California.  Cowboy Country was also the filming location for “Thelma and Louise,” where the crime scene that set the girls on the run was shot.  I was a whirling dervish on the dance floor, spun around by a Willie Nelson look a like with black hair.  The only thing that would have made Cowboy Country better would be if classic country music was played.  Then I’d go absolutely nuts!  My date for the night was Kerstin, a lovely lass that I met the weekend before at my friend Jesse’s monthly soul club.  At Cowboy Country, we shared the dance floor and a pork chop, and it was a most memorable evening.

         I think it’s probably pretty obvious from the crappy quality of the images that these photos were shot with a point and shoot film camera, which just confirms how unserious I am in the presentation of what I wear.  Fun over function forever.

hugs,

Crystal Lee

Outfit # 1: everything thrifted, Outfit # 2: 60s pink dress (Rose Bowl Flea Market), cowboy boots (thrifted), Outfit # 3: everything thrifted. 

i got stripes.

Hiya folks!
   
      Yesterday, I spent the day trying to get a decent self-portrait for the portrait class I’m taking. I guess the photos turned out ok, but for my sour face, which I always end up wearing in an attempt to ward off lurkers when I’m out shooting on my lonesome. At least I got some clear shots of my outfit. The weather has been brisk but not too cold this winter, allowing me to wear a shorts and coat combo. I’m wearing my favorite red 50s shorts with a cream 50s coat that I recently thrifted, and just a week after thrifting an identical black one! It’s been lucky days at the thrift store. To complete this 50s flavored outfit, I’ve topped my head with a pink beret of the same era.

    I’ve been having some nostalgic fun times lately, perhaps in an effort to resurrect my usual sunny self.  Recently, I dined at Sizzler’s restaurant in the town of Orange, where I spent my teenage years.  With every bite of cheesy toast, fried shrimp, chocolate mousse, my memories were revived. Most vividly, I recalled my mother’s insatiable appetite - always trying to get her money’s worth, she piled her plate precariously high each trip to the salad bar, which I never quite understood since it was all you can eat.  Though I expected the trip to Sizzler’s to be simply for nostalgia sake, I found myself raving about my meal in the same embarrassing way my mother would have - for too long and with too much enthusiasm. That same weekend, Pete and I went to Disneyland! It was a rainy day and I accidently wore slippery soled shoes, literally sliding into Tomorrowland, taking Pete along with me. It was funny, but it hurt.  Disneyland looms large in my memory, not just because I am a southern California native, but because I grew up down the street. Before going to Dland, I took Pete on a tour of the apartment complex that I grew up in, where my brothers and I used to jump the fence to pick strawberries from the strawberry field, to the annoyance of the field workers who would sometimes throw stink bombs at us.  Even though I lived just a few minutes from the Happiest Place on Earth, my neighborhood was pretty rough. Never wanting to be taken for a coward, it seemed I was always having to fight off some bully. At Disneyland, my favorite ride is Big Thunder Mountain. I’m a roller coaster lightweight, so Big Thunder Mountain is about my limit. I even think it has gotten faster, but it could just be that I’m becoming more of a wuss.
 
Outfit: chambray Keds, Ralph Lauren striped shirt, 50s cream coat (thrifted), 50s red shorts (Etsy), 50s pink beret (vintage store in Toronto).

Atlantis park - a vintage playground

Growing up in Orange County, I’m surprised that I never played at Atlantis Park in Garden Grove, a vintage playground built in the early 1960s. In fact, I just recently found out about it from my good pal Jesse. Good thing I have tons of kiddos in my life because adults are not allowed in the park without children, and I really wanted to check this place out. So two weekends ago when it was fairly sunny outside, I took my niece, Anna, and my nephew, Nicolas, to Atlantis park, and we played for hours. If you are an Orange Country resident, I definitely recommend you get yourself some kids and pay a visit to Atlantis.