jeanofalltrades

February 7, 2014 · 9:32 pm

Color-blocked Eco Dress

When I went to Snohomish, WA a few months ago, hubby and I wandered the old town, grabbed drinks, and window shopped. My window shopping turned into the real deal when I found the Natural Clothing Company.

The store features a diverse range of styles and sizes (men’s and kids’ stuff too) with a common theme: organic, chemical-free clothing. The footprint of making the clothes is smaller, and the clothes themselves are healthier to wear. Not everything is vegan (wool was among the natural fibers), but I found lots of great pieces in cotton, hemp, linen, bamboo and even soy!

Dress: Natural Clothing Company
Pleather boots: MIA
Cardigan: Thrifted
Necklace: Shop in Ft. Lauderdale

As usual, I thought I’d just “try on” this wonderful organic cotton dress, but it fit so well and was really comfortable. It’s lined and has pockets! So I did the economy a favor and picked it up.

I love the pop of red the sash provides, and the three neutrals give me lots of options for shoes and accessories. If I turn from left to right, you’ll think it’s a completely different dress!

If you’re ever meandering through Snohomish (it’s the type of town that you really need to meander through), take in the sights, grab a bite to eat, and check out the Natural Clothing Company. If you don’t get to Snohomish, don’t worry–they have an online shop too!

I’ve joined Lena B Actually and Rachel the Hat for Passion for Fashion. Check out what they (and everyone else) is wearing!

An Owl Sweater is a Real Hoot

When I bought my fox sweater, I also picked up this owl sweater. It’s just so cute! The fox has glasses and this guy has a bow tie. Aww.

Sweater: Old Navy
Skirt: Forever 21
Tights: Roots Canada
Booties: Old Navy
Ring: Roberta Oakes

I will be able to wear this with everything but, creature of habit that I am, I wore it with a pencil skirt–just like I did the first time I wore my fox sweater.

The main differences between the two looks is that this time I have on tights and short boots. Last time I had bare legs and knee-high boots. Color combos and accessories really change things up so I don’t think anyone noticed that I was repeating a “formula.”

I’m a big fan of pencil skirts now. I wasn’t when I’d only had experiences with stiff, uncomfortable ones. But these stretchy skirts are great! I like how I can wear them high-waisted as a mini or on my hips for a knee-length option.

I’m joining Fashion Informant, Elizabeth Nygard, and Passion for Fashion for Friday Linkups. See what everyone else is wearing!

2 Comments

Filed under Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as fashion, owl sweater, skirt, style, sweater, thrifty fashion, tights

January 27, 2014 · 11:59 pm

Blue Camo and a Classic White Shirt

I joined the Navy. Old Navy!

Shirt: Old Navy
Pants: Old Navy
Belt: Couch Guitar Straps
Shoes: Soda

Until this pair of pants arrived from oldnavy.com, I had zero camouflage in my closet. Or maybe I did. Maybe it was just so good at being camo that I couldn’t see it!

I like the unexpected color of these pants. (Well, blue camo is worn in the Navy, I think of the olive/khaki color combo when I think of camo.)

Camo reminds me of hunting, and hunting makes me sad, so I’ve steered clear of this pattern. But the blue camo seemed like a nice variation.

I’ve since seen professional wildlife photographers wearing camo (they even have camo cameras) so if I do get some green camo clothing, I’ll pretend I’m on assignment with National Geographic. Seems reasonable, right?

And to offset the military vibe, I’m wearing a belt made of vinyl from a VW Bug. You can’t get more hippy than a Bug!

For once, I’m actually wearing a “classic white shirt.” For years I went without this wardrobe staple because I thought it would get dirty and wrinkled (and it probably will). Nevertheless, I’m glad to have a timeless item.

I’m joining Style Sessions, Visible Monday and Monday Bloom today. See what everyone else is wearing!

12 Comments

Filed under Fashion

Tagged as camo, camo clothing, camouflage, fashion, style, white shirt

January 26, 2014 · 12:06 am

Ten Years of Roller Derby

This year is the 10th anniversary of the Rat City Rollergirls, Seattle’s roller derby team. I can’t believe it’s been a decade. I was a founding member and it seems like yesterday.

It all started in 2004, when my friend Lilly asked a group of her friends (myself included) if we wanted to start a roller derby league with her. She’d fallen in love with the sport after watching the Texas Rollergirls play in Austin.

Meeting One was between Hurricane Lilly and two of her friends, Rae’s Hell and Dixie Dragstrip. Meeting Two expanded to seven. I remember meeting in a living room and planning what would become part of the fabric of Seattle–although we had no idea at the time.

We researched locations, looked into things like insurance and marketing, and planned fundraisers, media strategies and recruiting events. The league needed uniforms, coaches, managers, players–everything! It was almost a full-time job, and we all had jobs!

We were engineers, writers, developers, baristas, managers, you name it. We combined our skills and passion and built up the league from humble beginnings in a rink in White Center to Key Arena! I never played at the Key though. I played at the hangars at Magnusson in front of 1500 screaming fans, but after season one, I retired.

I’m Jean of all Trades, and I didn’t have the commitment to devote to one thing. I was busy with motorcycles, art, animal rights, and I had a boyfriend and friends to fit into the mix (not to mention a new job).

But I’ll always remember the year and a half that I was Lady Die #83. I met powerful women, made great friends, and reached a level of athleticism I didn’t know I had.

I’d highly recommend catching a bout and celebrating season ten. Roller derby has exploded onto the scene in the last decade and there are other leagues in Washington State, the country, and all over the world. There’s probably one near you. If you go to a Rat City bout, you’ve got to cheer for Grave Danger, my former team.

(starting back row, left to right) Edie Brickwall, Daisy Mayhem, PamOpticon, Lil’ Hateful, Sake Bomb, Bruise Lee, Lisa Lawless, Rettig to Rumble, Lady Die, Darcy Rant, Tashya Round, Ann Munition, Jinx (Photo by Lilly Warner)

9 Comments

Filed under Events, General

Tagged as grave danger, rat city rollergirls, roller derby, Seattle

January 24, 2014 · 1:55 pm

Peasant Blouse and Olive Skinnies

This past fall, I wore this white embroidered blouse with these same boots and with shorts. I wanted to style it for cooler days, so I kept the outfit the same and replaced the shorts with olive skinnies.

Shirt: Bébénoir
Jeans: Just USA
Boots: MIA
Bag: Matt & Nat
Ring: Silk Wire Jewelry
Cuff: Lauren Harkness

Everything else is the same (well, I forgot my necklace). I like experimenting with small changes to see how big a different I can make with an outfit. It goes to show that I don’t need that many items to mix and match and create new looks.

That said, I do enjoy shopping for new pieces. The blouse was a piece I picked up in NYC this past summer. But a white shirt is a classic, and a key piece for any wardrobe. This is a twist on a classic and it’s great to have in rotation.

Unlike its classic cousin, this blouse doesn’t button up. It’s a pullover style and being such a relaxed fix, I feel like it doesn’t need to be ironed crisp.

It’s got a neat back opening that I promise to show next time I wear it.

I’m joining Style Elixir, Elizabeth Nygard, The Life of the Party, and Lena B Actually and Rachel the Hat for linkups. Phew! Check out all the other bloggers and see what they’re wearing.

6 Comments

Filed under Fashion

Tagged as boots, fashion, jeans, skinny jeans, style

January 19, 2014 · 10:23 pm

Visiting Chihuly Garden and Glass

I recently visited Chihuly Garden and Glass, an exhibition, garden and theater showcasing the life’s work of Dale Chihuly.

The exhibit is new to the Seattle Center. It’s a permanent collection housed in a new building under the Space Needle–and it’s worth a visit. I was impressed with the size of the collection and with the variety of styles.

When I see a chandelier like these (Beneroya Hall has a couple, and there’s one in the foyer of Lincoln Center in Bellevue), I recognize it immediately as a Chihuly. I was lucky to see many of these pieces at the exhibit, and I got to see a film about how they’re made.

The neutral vessels in one room were delicate and subdued compared to what I imagine a Chihuly to be. They fit in perfectly with woven baskets.

The glass garden was a sight to behold. Chihuly’s work is organic and imperfect. These pictures can’t show the scale. The glass balls were about three feet high!

This breath-taking display was also larger than life. In the film about Chihuly, I saw him and his staff throwing similar floats into the water. Amazing! Floats were originally made to keep fishing nets afloat, so I know they must be durable. Still, it seemed so reckless. Great fun though. The beautiful floats in the film were sent downstream for an art installation on a small island and under a bridge.

Chihuly’s work fits into the natural environment and that’s probably why the glass garden was so mesmerizing. It was hard to separate the artificial from the living. In summer, this garden will be stunning!

I got to walk around Chihuly’s work, and even under it. The glasswork in the ceiling cast colorful shadows. I saw a similar installation in Tacoma, where a glass bridge welcomes visitors to the Museum of Glass.

Similar vessels were on display in a room where I got up close and could appreciate the variations in the glass colors and patterns.

I’ve taken a couple of glass-blowing classes and I have a true appreciation for the art and craft of glass art. It’s an amazing combination of creativity, physical labor and chemistry.

Have you been to a glass museum? I highly recommend Chihuly Garden and Glass if you’re ever in Seattle.

8 Comments

Filed under Art, Events

Tagged as art, Chihuly, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Dale Chihuly, glass, glass museum, Seattle, style

January 17, 2014 · 10:00 pm

Moto Jacket and Pencil Skirt

I didn’t do a lot of post-Christmas shopping last month, but this quilted pleather motorcycle jacket was an exception.

Jacket: Aeropostale
Top: Marshall’s
Skirt: Forever 21
Tights: Roots Canada
Shoes: Old Navy
Purse: JC Penney
Necklace: Herbivore Clothing

I found the jacket in the clearance section at Aeropostale.com–and then I saw the site had an additional 40% off! That made this $100 jacket about $22.

It’s really soft, and completes my moto jacket collection. I have a velvet one and other variations, like pink, but until now, I hadn’t found the perfect faux Rebel Without a Cause version.

Today, I wore it with tights and a pencil skirt. Perfect for wine tasting and a live show, which is where hubby and I were off to.

A jacket like this is a classic, and I’ll be able to wear it with everything from jeans to dresses. What classic pieces do you have in your wardrobe? Anything missing?

I’m linking up with Fab Favorites, Love your Look and Passion for Fashion today. See what all the other bloggers are wearing!

3 Comments

Filed under Ethical, Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as fashion, faux leather, motorcycle jacket, pencil skirt, pleather, skirt, style, thrifty fashion, tights, vegan

January 13, 2014 · 8:41 pm

Culottes or Gauchos?

According to Wikipedia, culottes is a French word that described the knee-length britches worn by upper-class men in the late middle ages and Renaissance to the early 19th Century. They were tighter (think George Washington) than the “split skirt” style women adopted later on.

Women’s culottes afforded women the freedom to straddle a horse, rather than having to ride side-saddle, like they did while wearing dresses and skirts.

Gauchos is a Portuguese word used to describe residents of certain South American regions. They are a type of cowboy who wear ponchos and loose-fitting pants called bombachas.

If culottes are pants and Gauchos are people, then I guess I’m wearing culottes! Some will call these Gaucho pants, in reference to the people who wear them. Now we know!

Shirt: Thrifted
Culottes: Swapped
Socks: Target
Shoes: Thrifted
Bracelets: Various places

I got my culottes at a clothing exchange. They’re loose and comfy and look utterly ridiculous–until I put on heels. When I’m flat-footed, the length and width of these pants are more Bobby from King of the Hill than woman’s wear. For some reason, heels change the proportion and make everything work.

I wore these style of pants a lot when I was a kid. I’m happy to have them in my wardrobe again. Do you have culottes or gaucho pants?

I’ve joined Style Sessions, Visible Monday and Thrifters Anonymous for blog linkups today. See what everyone else is wearing!

9 Comments

Filed under Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as culottes, fashion, gauchos, style, thrifty fashion

January 9, 2014 · 4:14 pm

Winter White and Robin’s Egg Blue

Who says you can’t wear white in winter? I don’t mind breaking rules so I wore white jeans. I’m also dreaming of spring so instead of playing it safe with black, gray or brown, I wore robin’s egg blue on top.

Sweater: Goodwill
Tank: Gifted from my Tante Marion
Shoes: Aerosoles
Ring: Shop in Boston (name long forgotten)
Earrings: Shop in Seattle (no closed)

I can’t complain about the weather. Seattle is such a mild climate. The polar vortex bypassed us, leaving us to our usual rain. Flowers around here will bloom all year (depending on the type). A hearty mum does well by my front door. In summer, when it’s actually dry around here, potted plants in full sun don’t stand a chance so I switch to in-ground gardening.

The real risk with white in winter is getting dirty. I took advantage of a rare rain-free day to wear my white flares. And in case you’re jealous of the mild weather, remember that I’ll still be dealing with rain in May and June when everyone else is in sundresses and shorts! It’s a trade-off.

I joined The Fashion Informant and Lena B Actually for blog linkups today. Check out what everyone else is wearing!

6 Comments

Filed under Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as fashion, flares, jeans, style, sweater, thrifty fashion, white jeans

January 5, 2014 · 9:43 pm

Flares and Stripes

If you’ve been to my blog before, you know I’m drawn to color. That’s why I mixed so many colors (and a couple of patterns) together in this outfit. I just can’t help it!

Jacket: Macy’s
Sweater: Swapped
Tank: Target
Flares: Thrifted
Shoes: Thrifted

I’ve worn these flares before (with denim, stripes, and a poncho). This time, I mixed in houndstooth.

Of course, I also added stripes, and a bright, layered tank. I made my necklace out of another, less interesting necklace. Is that DIY or reassembly? Either way, I’m happy with the results.

I do wear black sometimes, but when I do so, I’m less likely to take time to pose for outfit shots. That’s the real reason you see me in so much color. It’s funny. At some points in my life, you’d be hard-pressed to find color in my closet at all. These days, I can dress in all colors, without hesitating. It’s like a fashion pendulum. Could swing back one day. But for now, I’m enjoying playing with colors.