Bethany | Frivolous Universe

Are you staring at my breastplate?: How to feature your best accessory.

By: Bethany Walter

10-02-2012

Traveling all the way from the hills of Tibet, this ethnic breastplate has had quite a history. I do not know much about it yet except that is old, possibly a lot older than myself. Ethnic jewelry has a way of making me feel linked to another place and to the distant women who handmade and wore the jewelry before me. So far I have never seen any Tibetan breastplates like this one. It was crafted by people from the Naga tribes in East India. It is made out of shells, colored glass beads, and leather. Last week I discovered it when I was on a buying trip for my jewelry company Armor Bijoux.

For the last 10 years, I have been collecting ethnic jewelry. In the last few years, I have noticed modern jewelry designs based on antique ethnic jewelry. As much as I like what I see, I prefer jewelry with heritage.

Old Tibetan breastplate made out of shells, leather, and glass beads beads

Vintage Tibetan breastplate: handmade by the Naga tribes of East India, Armor Bijoux

Some women might be too timid or disinterested in wearing vintage ethnic jewelry because they don’t know how to incorporate it with their wardrobe. Ethnic jewelry is bold either in color, size, and intricate design. It is easiest to wear solid colors and make the jewelry the focal point rather than just an accessory. The advantage of bold ethnic jewelry is that you can wear something as simple as jeans and a t-shirt and still look intriguing.

Tibetan Naga breastplate

Gray boots: Report
Gray slacks: Sinequanone, purchased these 11 years ago from Russia
(Notice the pintuck pleats in knees)

Gray slacks from Russia and Bethany's Ass

The backside of these slacks are pretty awesome too.

Tibetan Naga breastplate

Antique Afghanistan silver cuff: Armor Bijoux

If you are interested in getting this breastplate, I’ll soon be adding it and other jewelry finds to Armor Bijoux in the next few weeks.

Photographer: Kelly Lynae Robinson

For more advanced styling of ethnic jewelry, stay tuned for this outfit that Kelly is wearing up above. She is glorious with her layering aesthetics.

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What is THAT on your face?

By: Bethany Walter

03-02-2012

Bethany

An experiment. This last week’s obsession was makeup. The artistic capabilities of makeup are more interesting than it’s beautifying ones. It has a powerful way of communicating and evoking emotion.

NAR Outremer eye shadow and men's thrifted tie
Eye makeup: Outremer from NAR
Grey leather ankle boots: Report, Shoe Fetish downtown Boise
Silver East India warrior cuff: gift

It is significant that face painting has been around for thousands of years and has been used for cultural, spiritual, and political expression.

Kosovo wedding

Political face painting – Right: American Muslim Left: Hippie

Makeup (face paint) is a more intimate way of communicating/connecting with people than clothes because of the emphasis it puts on the face. Highlighting my eyes with a rectangle had the effect of making strangers make more eye contact with me. Some asked what the blue rectangle was and why it was on my face.

Thrifted men's dress pants and tie plus NAR Outremer eye makeup

White textured blouse: home sewn , thrift store ($1, hell yes!)
Men’s tie: Bill’s Outer Wear for Kings Lynn, thrift store ($.89, booyah!)
Men’s dress pants: Hagger Expandometic, thrift store ($4, shabam!)

Except for the blouse, the clothing in this look are all thrifted from the men’s section for a grand total of $5.89.

Marcus Pierce photographed by Bethany Walter

Painter and photographer: Marcus Pierce

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Too much? : A Prince inspired outfit

By: Bethany Walter

27-01-2012

Bethany

Last week I confessed that I am at times a poser. I think of outfits as costumes and a way to pretend to be something I am not quite yet. Thinking of my outfits this way gives me permission to play and be creative with how I dress. I brought up this perspective of mine for dressing because I think sometimes people have a hard time wearing something adventurous and pushing themselves outside their comfort zone.

Lisa Sánchez, a friend and reader of Frivolous Universe, commented last time that I should think of my approach to dress as artistry rather than posing. She then gave an awesome example of someone who embodies distinct and glorious style, Prince. There were probably times she said when he looked in the mirror and asked himself, “Too much?”

“Too much?” I ask myself this question about last week’s outfit and I realized I am dressing too safe. Say hello to my Prince inspired outfit.

70s vintage nylon maxi skirt: Ship ‘N Shore, thrift store
70s vintage nylon blouse with necktie: John Matthews, thrift store

I’ve been waiting to wear this vintage maxi skirt for the last couple of months. Twice I saw it in a thrift store and it’s electric blue color jumped out at me. Both times I thought to myself, “What the hell is this?” It looked like a heap of fabric draped on a hanger. The maxi skirt was a part of 70s 2 piece Ship N’ Shore outfit. It came with a matching button up shirt with giant cuffs and two random strips of fabric.

The color matches Prince’s outfit up above perfectly. When I tried the whole outfit on it didn’t feel Prince enough and so I replaced the shirt with a signature white 70s vintage John Matthew blouse with neck tie.

This maxi skirt has serious drama, both in it’s movement and length.

On a side note, Kelly took these amazing photos. I only included this photo above because she loved it so much because of it’s motion. I however find it slightly unflattering. With this blog, I am, along with the other frivolous ladies, trying to redefine what our culture says is beautiful. Unexpected, unusual, and potentially uncomfortable has been becoming part of our definition of female beauty.

Headband: came with Ship N’ Shore 2 piece, thrift store

Prince always had something crazy going on with his hair and I felt I needed an extra accessory to push this outfit over the top. I fashioned this headband from one of the strips of fabric. Originally it was designed to be a neck bow.