Name This Decade!

Visiting a thrift-store in Providence, Rhode Island this weekend, I bought a vintage dress. I purchased the dress not because it's special but because it isn't. Let me explain.

The dress perfectly embodies the style of a particular time. Its colors, cut and big shoulder-pads announce the era in which it was popular. Can you guess which decade it was made in? The answer is not hard.

Back then, I desperately wanted to dress like other girls and coveted this particular style. Seeing the item on the rack this weekend, I realized it's not too late to live my dream. So, despite the passage of time, I brought the dress home for an emotional journey. Donning the dress today is some consolation for not being allowed to wear it decades ago.

What do you think?

Charter Oak Rally

I love nature and I equally enjoy city-life. This weekend I combined both pleasures. While camping in a tent on the edge of a bucolic pond at a motorcycle rally in Connecticut, I bounced into Providence, RI for the day. I've never really visited Providence before so it was an exciting adventure.

I have excellent instinct for finding the best areas in cities. I quickly located P's fun-center which is Wickenden Street. Not surprisingly it's walking distance from RISD and Brown University. The bohemian neighborhood has hip coffee-houses, lots of vintage stores and a few used record places. I found a cute vintage dress (that will be worn here soon) and a Nina Simone CD containing my favorite song of hers ("Sinnerman"). Best of all, I spotted and brought home a cardboard cylinder-package from the 1950's for a white girdle. (Picture below.) I plan to use the package as a home decoration; it's delightfully evocative of that era.

Did you have fun this weekend?

Motorcycle Camping

What are you guys doing this upcoming holiday weekend?

I'm riding north to the Charter Oak Rally, an annual BMW motorcycle event in scenic countryside with nice twisty roads. I'll tent-camp in the woods with other rugged riders and pop into Providence on Saturday to explore that small city.

Have fun!

Billiards

Photo by Mitchell Exclusive Pool Tables 

In the near future, I plan on acquiring some new space and the question arises of what to put in it. It took me little time to arrive at a perfect answer -- a billiards table. I love shooting pool and would enjoy having my own table.

I'm looking at modern designs and found a couple of really cool ones. What do you think of these? Have you ever played pool?

Photo by Mitchell Exclusive Pool Tables

Fluevog Shoes

I have a question for you.

My Canadian friends introduced me to their native shoe-designer John Fluevog who's been making interesting shoes for men and women since the Seventies. His designs are so original and odd as to often look alien. Yet they have a strong appeal to those of us who value originality. Some of his designs don't even look like shoes at all and he uses really unusual materials (like dragon-skin). The best way to view his creations are as art on your feet.

Fluevog has stores in most big cities -- including NYC where I'm going tonight to dine and shop. I'm considering buying a pair of these beauties. Thoughts??

Royal Wedding

Did you watch it? What did you think?

In The Groove

When I started blogging, Sheila, Suzanne and others gave me the same advice over and over again -- "Put a belt on it," they said. Honestly, this was good advice and eventually I learned to accept its wisdom. Belts define a waist (which is important for me) and create an illusion of curves (equally vital). I discovered belts give my outfits a more feminine appearance.

While browsing a vintage store, I found an authentic belt from the Sixties. I love its shape and color. What do you think?

How often do you wear belts?