Call of the Wild

 

I'll soon be setting off on quite a big adventure. I haven't left town, or my house, much in the last couple of years (of course), and for a couple of years before that either. Once upon a time I had a goal to visit the grand canyon before I turned 30. Well I turned 30 this month, and in September...I am driving to see the grand canyon.

Is it a safe time to be traveling? No. There is this terrible balance between feeling like I should stay put, that it's safer to, that it's the "right" thing to do, and of course it is, but no one knows which day is their last, and I'd like to see the grand canyon before I go. So I am going to be driving west for several weeks this fall. I am fully vaccinated of course, and this will be a mostly solo trip in my car with a lot of social distancing and most of my non-driving time spent outside, but I still know it will seem irresponsible to many. I had already put my life on hold before the world stopped turning. I spent a lot of time in my twenties telling myself I didn't deserve to live fully, not just yet. That I hadn't proven myself worthy, of adventure, of companionship, of love, of life. I can't stay stuck forever, so I'm gambling a little, on a trip to see more of this planet before it's gone, or I am.

Like many I expect, I do fear I won't get to see and do (and write, create) all I'd like to in the small spark of time I will be allotted. There are so many things I cannot change.

But I can at least drive to see the grand canyon. May it be grand indeed.

Dress: Made by me

Shoes: Bait Footwear

Hat, Bracelet, Belt, & Clutch: Vintage

Earrings: Old Navy (and quite old)

Cicadoidea

The ball gown version of my ongoing Victorian project is finished!

Which means the entire project is finished as well! One underskirt, two overskirts, and 3 bodices. Many, many yards of silk, a dozen yards of black muslin, hours and hours (and hours) of hand sewing, and uh...no place to wear it all. One day I can hold a Halloween ball, but until then, the Cicada gown will sleep.

Halloween In March

You can keep your Christmas in July, as long as I can have some Halloween in March. And every other month of the year. I finished the day bodice for my green silk 1880's bustle gown! 

Wish Listed

 

A Lilli Ann suit is on many a vintage loving gal's wish list. I found one for a bargain years ago and have cherished that fleck navy number since. Of course as a devotee of black clothing, a black Lilli Ann suit had always remained another vintage collecting dream (or as they are sometimes called "unicorn") find for me and my wardrobe.

Which was when I spotted this Black velvet trimmed Lilli Ann from 1952 for sale on Etsy at the end of truly terrifically terrible twenty twenty, I pounced. How often do vintage suits in my measurements pop up at all, but a black Lilli Ann? It's an investment, and they aren't making anymore suits from 1952, so I'll try not to feel too bad about adding this to my closet. Here is the original ad for this suit as shot by Richard Avedon for Vogue in 1952. 

And it does fit quite perfectly. I've paired it with pale mint gloves, a velvet belt (I've got the original belt too but it's pretty fragile), my suede heels from Remix vintage shoes, and a flocked vintage clutch handbag. Wish I could get a hold of more of these back seam fishnets but I have no clue when or where I picked them up!

Stay safe out there.