brocade pattern | Frivolous Universe

TWO TIMING: Reclaimed silk drapery and pink underthings

By: Jessica Holmes

23-08-2012

I thrift store binge, followed by frequent purges. I hate to see my thin-boned closet bulging at the seams due to the fashion equivalents of high fructose corn syrup and/or grandma’s homemade but overindulgent cookies. Sometimes, you just change your mind on what you want in your life. And then sometimes, you change it back again.

Take this dress. (No wait, don’t.) I bought it at a Portland Buffalo Exchange a few years ago, and it was buried in my gots-to-go pile that my mom and my sister were recently rooting through in search of things a normal person might wear. When my mom saw this dress, she said so sweetly, “I don’t think I want to wear something with a pattern that looks like a couch or drapes, and is that slip supposed to be showing?”

And I thought, “Duh. Why would I give away something silk with a pattern that looks like a couch or drapes, and has a slip intentionally showing.” Mine. Mine! I may have broken up with this dress, but now I’ve really fallen for it.

Because with one slip intentionally showing, why not try two? I bought this beautiful pink slip on a thrift store trip a few weeks ago with Bethany. It livens up this dress in just the right way. The both were begging to be two timed.

Cindy Says heels: sale $60 (Original MSRP: $120, Piece Unique & Shoez)

Armor Bijoux antique Afghanistani silver and glass necklace ($$$).

Hey, this dress is kind of an underdog, don’t you think? Cough. Awkward segway to…

Story Story Night‘s next show is coming up on MONDAY, August 27 with UNDERDOG: Stories of Long Shots, with fantastic featured storytellers Tracy Sunderland, Margaux Reed, and Al Popwell, followed by feats of wonder in the story slam.

Priority seating tickets are only $7. Each ticketholder now gets a free drink special at our Afterparty at Red Feather Lounge and Bittercreek. Gold! Best deal/good times in town.

Happy endings, all around.

Photography by Bethany Walter.

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Ice Princess . . . of the foothills?

By: Bethany Walter

24-02-2012

Bethany

While the other FU ladies are waiting for this winter to be over, I am happy to have a chance to crown myself with this fur hat. Nearly twenty years ago it traveled all the way from Russia with one of my father’s colleges from whom he bought it. In all the time since it has hardly been worn. This last Christmas my father gave it to me. He may never have thought to before my converting to a life of frugality and second hand thrifting. Before the expected gift to give was brand new and cost money.

Brocade coat, Russian fur hat, Anne Klein Neiman Marcus pencil skirt, Liz Claiborne black leather heals

Brocade coat: McClintock Collections, Ishi Nights (Boise boutique 5 years ago)

All of my gifts my family gave me that Christmas were second hand and it was the best one I had ever had. There wasn’t that feeling of waste from giving or receiving an obligatory gift. There also wasn’t any embarrassment from receiving or giving a more expensive gift.

Russian fur hat, vintage chocker necklace, lipstick: NAR Heat Wave

Vintage fur hat: Russia, gift
Lipstick: Heat Wave by NAR cosmetics
1960s vintage gold bead choker: inherited from grandmother

Notice the drape of the fabric and the buttons on the collar.

Leopard animal print and gold chain belt: Talbots (The brand is just a guess)
thrift store, gift (price: $5)

Yes, I mixed bling and animal print with a conservative Victorian brocade. Juxtaposition is one of my favorite fashion dos.

Anne Klein Neman Marcus pencil skirt, fur hat, vintage JH Collectibles blouse

Pencil skirt: Anne Klein, Neiman Marcus, thrift store (Price: $5)
Vintage 1970s white draping blouse: JH Collectibles, thrift store (Price: $3)

Liz Claiborne leather heals

Leather heals: Liz Claiborne, thrift store (price: $3.49)

The world of second hand has changed my relationship with people and material wealth. Once great expense is taken out of the equation of giving, the worth of a gift becomes thoughtfulness and creativity. I feel I have more to give people and they feel they have more to give me.

This perception of the value of a gift has also expanded to my overall value of material wealth. I see things that cost money and things that don’t more on the same plane of worth. It is a freeing feeling to see things this way because I am not hoarding my belongs and focusing on the monetary expense. Thrift store shopping and second hand has open me up to a bigger life of generosity.

Anne Klein Neman Marcus pencil skirt, fur hat, vintage JH Collectibles blouse