Dress Up, Dress Down

There is absolutely nothing wrong with either approach to dressing, and I use both, though I mostly show dressed-up versions of my outfits on the blog. In this post, I will share two outfits, very different in style and feel - in some ways, they really couldn't be more different, but I created both and I enjoyed them both equally. I just try to listen to that little bell that goes RING - when something from my wardrobe clicks with my current mood or energy level, and considering the weather and the situation I'm about to enter, I think it's pretty much all I have to know regarding what outfit to pick. It usually takes no more than a few minutes - and I am out the door!

The first one, I wore to a dance performance that we attended this past week in the Velocity Dance Center in Seattle - Familiar Foreign Body. It was the most unique dance performance we've seen. Not to draw too close an analogy, but it would probably feel like the innovative Stravinsky's music compared to Tchaikovsky or Rachmaninoff. It was new, unexpected and fresh, and it really makes you stop and think, instead of just flow dreamily with your own feelings and associations. I got tickets for this performance almost randomly (Anya had a school assignment to write an essay about a live dance performance, and it was the only show for our narrow time slot), but I'm glad I did - it was truly eye-opening to all the three of us. The choreographer and one of the dancers, Tom Weinberger, is a teacher of so-called Gaga Movement Research (read more HERE). You can see him in this short video (it is not the part of the performance that we've seen, but you can get a rough idea). Have you ever seen, experienced or heard of Gaga?

I was never a professional dancer or anything even remotely close to it, but throughout my life, I took various dance classes, everything from contemporary to ballet and hula (last time, about 6 or 7 years ago). At some point, I lost touch with this part of my life, but I want to dance again some day. This performance definitely reminded me just how much I miss dancing... I do sometimes dance at home when nobody is around (though, I made my family dance with me on a few occasions too). It is one of the quickest ways to improve your mood, to raise up the energy level. Dance doesn't have to be a learned skill - just listening to your body and moving to your own rhythm... 

For my outfit, I put together items from my closet that I have owned for a few years, but in a new combination. The blouse is by Eloquii (shown in FEBRUARY 2017). The sunglasses and skirt are by Christian Siriano for Lane Bryant (the skirt shown in NOVEMBER 2016 and JUNE 2016). I only own two or three pairs of ballet flats and don't wear them very often, but this shiny and sparkly AGL pair (bought 4 to 5 years ago) was perfect with this outfit. The earrings and clutch are vintage. Red lipstick was the only cosmetic touch - I rarely wear make-up during warmer months. Shaggy hair - courtesy of Mother Nature, while my fabulous hair stylist Erica is on maternity leave (so worth it - she has the most adorable baby girl!).

On to the second look. Casual, but very fun! I wore it for a leisurely day spent on the loveliest island - Bainbridge, which is only 35 minutes from Seattle by ferry. The fact that one of the storefronts coordinated with my new rainbow skirt is a pure coincidence! Even though I actually had business regarding the possible selling of my books in this store, I completely forgot how it looked. So when we arrived, I was happy to have such a natural photo opportunity. Serendipity!

The skirt is by ModCloth, and I think before this skirt, I only had one item from them, maybe two? but since I bought this beauty, I found a couple more fun items to add to my colorful wardrobe... stay tuned! It got so many compliments and so much attention! Obviously, there are almost endless ways to style this gorgeous skirt - pick any color of the rainbow, the whole spectrum with every hue in between! The rest of my outfit came together easily. "Where would I find that T-shirt?" I thought to myself, and in a few seconds opened just the right box. "Where would I find that denim jacket?" I thought then, and in a minute looked into just the right closet. How that happens, I really don't know - I haven't seen these items in at least a year. 

The shell earrings and T-shirt are by Lane Bryant (between 2013 and 2016), the denim jacket by Old Navy (last year, shown in MAY 2017). The little fabric purse was bought on Bainbridge Island probably in 2014, the brand is Coelacanth, but the link to their site seems to not work - it was a California-based company with very cool designs... My old canvas Toms are comfy and stylish, and all-in-all, I think it's such a fun laid-back outfit. And even though I don't wear either T-shirts, or denim often, I am happy that I did not get rid of these two things - I do love this look, and I'll be wearing it again and again!

Fantastic pizza with a glass of red wine, improv comedy, followed up by a scoop of home-made ice-cream, an evening walk and ferry ride under the stars were just what the doctor ordered. I hope you enjoyed your weekend! Tell me what you were up to?

Linking up with Tina's Pink Friday

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