All posts tagged: featured

“Mic drop” gown

What you can become is the miracle you were born to be through the work that you do. –Kurt Vonnegut I dropped a mic a month ago. Over the past 7 years, I built a magical life from scratch, using the medium of mere words. Self employment. Stage popularity. Community figurehead-ism. Yet somehow, I ended up utterly caged inside my own creations. Lonely. Broke. Trapped. When at my depressive lowest, I would often stare at photos of deep space taken by the Hubble Telescope. The infinite release of a profoundly glorious and indifferent universe. So I quit it all. Though it took an act of God, I quit it all. And quitting my “dream life” has been nothing short of an ecstatic freedom. Dropping the mic on stage felt like dropping a world of weight off my shoulders. Boom.1960s Helen Bass California deep space print gown – $45, In Retrospect vintage/consignment  | Cindy Says green-gold hells – $I can’t remember but they were half off, Piece Unique | Feather earrings – $14 Record Exchange | Busted mic, gift from my rockstar friend Ned Evett (because I’m not an asshole who would drop a live …

“Lois Lane’s alter ego” outfit

I’ll bet Lois Lane was also secretly a superhero, and both she and Clark Kent/superman were just using each other as norm-core beards. Shazam! This outfit’s like she’s plugging away at her day job as an award-winning journalist but left her superhero belt on. A fashion wink to alter egos everywhere. Kapow! no brand tag, possibly home-made coral, black & cream striped dress -$15 (I think), Super Fantastic Triple Yard Sale – previously sported by Boise artist Erin Cunningham, I think, but maybe Danielle Hurd, because things got a bit frenzied as I tried things on in the yard |  Banana Republic twisted black and tan leather slip-on heels, $4, Gold Mine thrift store (Ketchum, ID) | Black & gold arrow banded belt – $0.94, ReStyle thrift store Cheep!

“Day at the Regatta” outfit

Outfit names just come to me like saintly voices to Joan of Arc. I have no choice. I do my duty—and take the designations as they come. Day at the regatta.* It sounded so yachting. So seaside seersucker East Coast-y. So gimlets** on the dock, bwah-haw-haw-ty. So then I googled it, and the image spread was somewhere between the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue and Girls Gone Wild. I guess regattas aren’t as classy as they used to be. vintage I. Magnin & Co. buttoned up striped dress – $20, Super Fantastic Triple Yard Sale – previously sported by Boise artist Erin Cunningham (I fashion blogged about her!) | Enamel blue flame earrings – Gift, Cuba via my smuggler/friend Jeff Cramer | Steiger navy leather blue heels with brass eyelets – $7, ReStyle On side table: vintage navy leather clutch – $8, Super Fantastic Triple Yard Sale – previously sported by Danielle Hurd | Nine West cream sunglasses – Free, In Retrospect b/c they were in the lost & found bin for more than a month and I’m crafty as fuck Word guide for non-classy types: * Regatta: a sporting …

“Luxe at the Lux” outfit

I rarely feel overdressed, but last night at the Neurolux, it occurred to me that maybe this silk wonder is a bit much. And then, I draped myself over their pool table. I’ll do anything for fashion. Especially risk being too luxe. Exquisite photographs by the multi-dimensional, multi-talented Kim Philley. Pool-table guest appearance by Xtopher Web. vintage Doreen: Handtailored in Thailand The Royal Orchid Hotel, Bangkok (I wrote that exactly as presented on tag. Now that’s fancy.) multi-dimensional pink & orange silk print dress  – $24 @ 25% off sale = $18, Antique World Mall | Steiger navy leather blue heels with brass eyelets – $7, ReStyle Cheep!

“Tenenbaum Tennis, Anyone?” outfit

In honor of the Olympics, I wear the outfit most closely resembling any sort of sporting thing. Apparently, my only reference point seems to be the tennis scenes from The Royal Tenenbaums. Suffice it to say, perhaps I am not an athlete. But I know how to sport a look. Buttons orange & black striped white tennis dress – $5, Idaho Youth Ranch | Recycled rubber, cable & wood black studded biker bag – $7, Idaho Youth Ranch thrift store | Guess black patent leather with gold buckle stilettos – $11, Idaho Youth Ranch thrift store Cheep it up, Olympians.

“Becky with the Good Hair” outfit

Kinky hair, don’t care. I found this Rachel Roy dress at a thrift store this Sunday, and all I could think of was that buzz when Beyonce’s affair-anthem “Lemonade” came out—circling around the sexy fashion designer, an ill-fated Instagram, and an onslaught of bee and lemon emojis. Then, for the following 3 days, the line “Better call Becky with the good hair” has been playing on repeat in my subconscious. It’s like mental water torture. Juicy dress, though. Rachel Roy coral & black banded dress – $8, Idaho Youth Ranch thrift store | Kate Spade nude wedges with gold studded bow – $70, ROSS Dress for Less in Portland (originally $300) Free bonus Opal sighting. Cheep it up.

“Cosmic Connections” outfit

If I made a dating app, I would call it Cosmic Connections. It would be designed with vintage 1992 graphics and the spokesperson would be Aunt Cleo. If you swipe up, she’d pop up like a soothsayer Carl Sagan with a shot from outer space, as if to say, “the universe is infinite and we all be stardust, so don’t you worry man.” Dating reality check. Thanks Aunt Cleo. Anyway, I realized when I joined Tinder for a brief spell (review: You feel like the Bachelorette for several weeks, until, after several elimination rose ceremonies, you realize most of the guys there are just as douchey as most of the guys on the Bachelorette), that I had no actual outfits to wear on dates that didn’t send up immediate weirdo red flags. So this is my version of a date dress. It’s like, so cosmic man. (And like “normal,” right? Right? Riiiiight…). Jonathan Martin cosmic stripes on black print wrap dress – $8, Idaho Youth Ranch thrift store | Damiani (made in Italy) bronze & gold sandals, $5, Idaho Youth Ranch …

“Bicycle Race!” outfit

Better hold on to your handlebars. Tonight, I co-hosted/creative directed—alongside the inimitable Boise Bicycle Project rock-star Jimmy Hallyburton—”I want to ride my bicycle! Stories on two pedals“—a special storytelling show inspired by Queen, Boise’s elite Car for Bike traders, and the freedom of free-wheeling stories that come from putting the pedal to the mettle. Time after time. Ambiance Apparel sheer black & rose print tank – $3.75, ReStyle thrift story | Step In Style pink & black art deco-ish dress – $35, Eyes of the World | Black & gold arrow banded belt – $0.94, ReStyle thrift store, DKNY platform wedges – $20, Idaho Youth Ranch thrift store | 1920’s Afghanistani silver and colored glass necklace – $350, Armor Bijoux vintage jewelry dealer Vinyl of the Day: “A Day at the Races” by Queen Cheep!

“Rust Belt” outfit

Down in the shadow of the penitentiary Out by the gas fires of the refinery I’m ten years burning down the road Nowhere to run; ain’t got nowhere to go Born in the U.S.A., I was born in the U.S.A. Born in the U.S.A., I’m a long gone daddy in the U.S.A. Born in the U.S.A., born in the U.S.A. Born in the U.S.A., I’m a cool rocking daddy in the U.S.A. – Bruce Springsteen [Brief programmatic pause to wave a red handkerchief for Bruce Springsteen’s backside.] Sami New York purple silk camisole – $3, ReStyle thrift store | hand-knitted (the word “hand-knitted” is the only extant label) turquoise vest, $3, ReStyle thrift store | Rampage woven brown leather belt – $2, Idaho Youth Ranch thrift store | Jones New York rust silk skirt – $4, Idaho Youth Ranch thrift store | Kate Spade nude wedges with gold studded bow – $70, ROSS Dress for Less in Portland (originally $300) | Gold leaf earrings – gift to the girls from the bride, Linnae, at her beautiful wedding this weekend | Green agate stone three strand necklace, 8,000,000 Turkish …

“Tropic Heat” outfit

I was just lying in bed—nearly extinguished from a a real scorcher of a day—mulling over that burning eternal question. Should I take off my prickling bra, or bust out a fashion blog? Hot topic. (But not the one at the mall.) vintage Paradise Style Hawaii, $5, Restyle thrift store | Red belt with leather and brass cross section, $2, Idaho Youth Ranch thrift store | Steve Madden red leather kitten heels, $7, ReStyle thrift store Cheep it up. (PS: The bra went up in flames, metaphorically, seconds after this picture was taken.)