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Tag "vintage jewelry"

This day I was freelancing in a coffee house with my friend and photographer Francis Delapena.

We met in a graphic design class in college, I was 20 and he was 18. I sat right next to him. At first glance, Francis looked like all the boys I had honor classes with in high school: bowl-cut hair, baggy white t-shirt and jeans, and small wire-framed glasses. I had long, bright red hair and was wearing low-rise, tan corduroy pants, sea-green tank top, scarf, and mauve leg warmers on my arms. After a few class times, Francis learned I was taking photos for the Alibi (a weekly paper that survived maybe 5 months). He was just barely getting into photography and decided to share photos he had taken of BMX bike tricks. Soon we started taking photos together when I invited him to attend a Sir Mix-a-Lot concert I was assigned to photograph.

A few photographs of butts and 10 years later, Francis is one of my most cherished friends. Life to him is play and he brings the kid out in me and occasionally the girl who stands on a table.

Pose: Awkward  Dress: Urban Outfitters (1 year ago) Sweater: GAP (6 years ago from the Audrey Hepburn season)

Silver ethnic necklace: gift

Vintage silver Afghanistan bracelet: Armor Bijoux  (Next week this will be available to purchase. Oct. 31 – Nov. 4 there is a 10% discount on entire shop if you enter code: FrivUniv)
Shoes: Nordstroms (thrift store find: $2.50) Tights: Urban Outfitters (2 years ag0)
I had to show a closeup of my dress. I choose a lot of what I buy based on the pattern and unusual color palette.

Francis. The photographer.

 

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Perfect day for a photo shoot. The weather brought me professional studio lighting and conditions. Overcast clouds provided even-lighting and the breeze gave motion to my hair. The garage door was a great, muted backdrop that contrasted with the bright colors of my dress. The rectangular pattern on the door added some simple textural interest. On the ground, fallen needles gave another tactile detail and touch of imperfection.

I spent anywhere from an hour to an hour and half shooting 160+ photos. I lost track of time. I was playing with the lighting, waiting for the sun to come in and out of the clouds. I experimented with my poses and the perspective of my camera.

My neighbors probably thought all of this was an appalling act of vanity. I like to think of it as . . . photography.

Techno-colored dress

Dress: Hand-me-down from Kelly, another thrift store find. (Price: $5 or less)

Lace-up black boots

Boots: 3 years ago from Urban Outfitters. (price: $75 or $.16/wear)

Silver cuff

Warrior Cuff: Vintage from Indian. Present from my mom.*

Silver Cuff

Depictions of a bird, a butterfly, some sea creature, and a lobster. In the middle is a yin yang in the center of what I think is a sun.

Mickey frame

Bike whores, I know you aren't checking me out. This is an old Mickey frame powder coated. It was a present built by an old boyfriend who ogled bikes like they were women.

*My mom was hanging out at a wine shop and sharing a bottle of vino with a jewelry store owner and became friends. Afterwards, they crossed the street to the jewelry store where my mother purchased the cuff. For the last few years it has been my favorite talisman which I wear almost daily. I love ethnic jewelry so much that I have started my own online shop this year called Armor Bijoux.

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Every time I wear this blouse, my manfriend shakes his head and chuckles, “You look just like my mom.” Much as I loathe giving my man the willies by looking too matronly, I just can’t resist this little number. Guess I’ll just have to take it off when I walk through the door at the end of the day! And I don’t care who you are – no one can resist a vintage, perfectly fitted, black velvet skirt…….lust.

Blouse: Sophisticates (purchased for $3.00 at Re-Style in Boise); Skirt: The Villager (purchased for $14 at Atomic Treasures in Boise); Shoes: Luna Rosa (purchased for $20 on super-sale at Shoez in Boise)


This sexy grandma look even fits the FU “subtly slutty” bonus criteria! Note the slight sheerness of the blouse……

Earrings: Handcrafted by the supremely talented Hazel Cox (these were designed for me, and purchased so long ago I can’t even make a stab at remembering what I paid for them….); Necklace: Gorgeous gold beads given to me by my grandmother. Nothing beats a good heirloom piece.

Clutch: This stunning bakelite number belonged to my manfriend’s grandmother. It’s truly one of the most unique clutches I’ve ever seen and I adore it. Rings (from left to right): Gold dome ring in classic Greek design from my great-grandmother; sweet little Art Deco era diamond ring I bought from an antique store I worked at in high school; the last is very special – a yellow and white gold ring with diamond and elk ivory stones. The ivory was given to me by my stepfather, who passed away in 2006. It’s the one thing I wear every day, without fail. Made by Glade Davies.

 

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