Gogol Bordello

 Dress: Neon Check Dress by City Chic (size XXL) via Rita @ FabFatshion

Cardigan: Willow Bay, thrifted

Teggings: Re/Dress

Socks: Sock Dreams

Boots: Dr. Marten

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Babil & Bijou

Bracelet: Kate

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this ensemble to work & see a band with Angie & Toby. I rented this dress from GB earlier in the year, but have been missing it ever since I mailed it back. This was my very first City Chic dress AND my first experience with scuba fabric. This is a fabulous fit & flare...it felt like a hug on the upper part of my body, great length...basically...perfect...I mean, it has pops of orange! If you are looking for good deals on awesome clothing...Rita & the group FabFatshion is the place to go. She & her friend Loraine scour the liquidator outlets & find marvelous retired GB clothing in excellent shape. 

In line for Gogol Bordello! When I discovered Angie & Toby were next door at Lao Laan Xang having dinner...I threw my wrap across our chairs & headed over. Since I came right from work, I was planning on popcorn at the theater for dinner. They generously shared their food with me & I ordered crab rangoon. SO much better than popcorn!

Gogol Bordello were just as amazing live as I thought they'd be...I want a Shitty Barn concert with just these 3 guys...& J.D. Wilkes opening up...can someone make that happen for me?? Their encore went on forever...so 2 minutes before the show ended...I had to bolt. Crowd anxiety overload. 

Above photo found on Instagram, taken by Adam Brown. 

My make-up this day included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Plushie, UD eyeshadows in Urban & Slowburn, Bite Beauty lipstick in Blood Orange, & OPI nail polish in Peel Me a Gobi Grape.

The Game of Love & Chance

 Dress: Autumn Breeze Faux Wrap Dress by Jete (size 5x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Avenue

Teggings: Re/Dress

Boots: John Fluevog

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Earring: etXarte

Photography: Super Boo & Me 

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this autumn leaves dress to see a play with David, work, & run errands. It's the same style as this dress that I bought because I loved the pattern so very much. I am not a huge fan of GB's house brand garments, but I like this style (& the Chelsea fit & flares). The asymmetrical neckline on this dress is a bit odd, but with a little fiddling, it lays fine for me. As with the dress I bought, I mostly like this dress for the pattern (anything with an autumn print or colors is going to be a hit for me). The length is great & I like the drape...there is a bit too much fabric under the arms, but a cardigan hid that. 

Savers 50% off sale, round II...David found me a black velvet hoodie that I would wear to the dog park or around the house, I discovered a green cardigan with argyle & sequins, & 2 pairs of shoes. The black ones are a size & a half larger than I normally wear, but after I texted a picture of them & a pair of Clarks to Angie & she didn't want them...I had to get them...$4! The heel on the Clarks were too high for me, but I have worn these Naturalizers several times since bringing them home...with thick socks, they are only a tad bit big. 

Our last play at American Players Theatre for the season...me in front of their fall display. 

The Game of Love & Chance, an 18th century French comedy, was an excellent way to end the indoor season. However, as funny & entertaining as the play was...the best part of the afternoon was discovering they are doing my FAVORITE PLAY EVER next season, Sarah Ruhl's Eurydice. I have asked them on Facebook for years to consider it...& I was all aflutter when I saw it listed in the program. **The top photo was taken from our seats & the bottom photo I found online. **

My make-up this day included...Sephora eyeliner in Brown, MAC eyeshadow in Coppering, UD eyeshadow in Roach, Too Faced eyeshadow in Créme Brûlée, Bite Beauty lipstick in Apricot, & OPI nail polish in DS Indulgence. 

A Fall Weekend

 Dress: Fit & Flare Dress in Ruby Red by Julian Taylor (size 24) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Lands' End (size 3x)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Socks: Sock Dreams

Boots: Dr. Marten

Necklace: Babil & Bijou

Earring: etXarte

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this outfit the whole weekend (Saturday & Sunday)...without make-up on Saturday & with on Sunday. The red of this dress...wow! And the textured pattern...swoon. The length & flare...perfection. The dislikes: the top of the dress is too big, the neckline gaped & didn't want to lay flat, the humongous exposed unnecessary zipper in back (die, trend, die!) bunched up & gave me a hunchback look (mainly because the dress was so large up top). I LOVE red & leopard print together...& since the cardigan hid most of the flaws of this dress...it was a delight to wear this fun outfit. 

It was a gorgeous fall day for the last of the outdoor farmers' markets (I shopped downtown & west side on this day). Willy Street Co-op was having a squash tasting...yum, squash is delicious...I especially adore delicata & butternut...& I was just popping in to buy some fish. Indian buffet! If I had to pick one thing to eat for the rest of my life...it would be this...they use all the best spices (cardamom, ginger, curry). 

Weeks & weeks ago I posted a picture of this precious Day of the Dead bride & groom at Pier 1...I had been meaning to stop by since the day after Halloween to see if they went on sale...but I procrastinated an entire week...& it paid off...because they were still there & 75% off! I got the pair for only $5 & change each. Surprise mail day! David bought me 9 pairs of teggings during Re/Dress's final sale ever on teggings...they sold them to a major distributor & will have a set price going forward. I love surprise mail! 

Then we got to meet Angie & Toby's new foster dog, Val/Carla. She is adorable! (spoiler alert: I have since fallen madly in love with her during Thanksgiving dinner, but we probably don't need 3 dogs). As long as we were dog greeting...I brought over snacks from market that I bought from Underground Meats...Wisco Brandy Old Fashioned Salami & their cheese crackers that are the best version EVER of Cheez-Its...& the obvious accompaniment...Angie made us Brandy Old Fashioned cocktails. 

Savers 50% off sale haul...I scored 4 cardigans & a pair of shoes. David got a bunch of stuff...but I picked out those 2 floral shirts for him...one in light blue, the other dark blue. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Love + eyeshadow by Sugarpill, Too Faced eyeshadows in Créme Brûlée & Champagne Truffle, NYX Simply Red lipstick in Russian Roulette, & OPI nail polish in You Make Me Vroom. 

A Most Thoughtful Surprise

 Dress: Vintage Halter Dress in Animal Print by Igigi (size 26/28) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: ?, thrifted

Teggings (brown): Re/Dress

Sandals: Dansko

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this outfit to work & run errands. Even though this is clearly a summer frock, it coordinated splendidly with the last of autumn's beauty. This was a fantastic chiffon halter dress...I adore the mix of animal print...& the fit was superb due to smocking in the back (otherwise there is no stretch). The only downside to this dress for me was the halter & open upper back would require a strapless bra in summer, but luckily it was cool enough to cover up with a cardigan. 

Sephora 20% off haul, part I...this was waiting on our doorstep for me...Kat Von D's Mi Vida Loca Remix eyeshadow palette, Sephora's Jem & the Holograms: Truly Outrageous eyeshadow palette, & an Anastasia Brow Wiz pencil...+ 3 free perfume samples & a Kate Somerville ExfoliKate that was free with VIB points. 

Even better than make-up (!?!)...a package from Wendy Baker also came in that day's post. Take a peek at those sparkly bundles...

Ooooooooo....Aaaahhhhh...I fell in love with the green & purple flower necklace & asked Wendy to make me mismatched earrings to wear with it...perfection, as usual. 

That gorgeous pink bubble necklace?? A complete surprise. Wendy's thoughtfulness & kindness overwhelms me...in celebration of me coming over to the pink side ;)

My make-up this day included...Sephora eyeliner in Brown, MAC eyeshadow in Coppering, Urban Decay eyeshadow in Fireball, a mixture of MAC lipstick in Strength & Bite Beauty's Apricot, & OPI nail polish in DS Indulgence. 

Adult Swim: Monster Mashup

 Dress: Cascade Wrap Dress in Abstract Plaid by Karen Kane (size 3x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)
Skirt: Enwrapture Vintage Sari
Socks: Sock Dreams
Shoes: Nine West, thrifted
Earring: etXarte
Necklace: Kathy Barrick
Bracelet: Vintage
Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me
Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this ensemble to have dinner & drinks with Kate on Devil's Night..then to play at the Children's Museum during an adult only event. The colors in this dress were gorgeous, but sadly...did not quite make a dress on me...if only KK made one size larger...however, most of her garments do fit me in a 3x. Otherwise, this dress was completely lovely in every way...if you are a bit smaller than me...you will fall madly in love with this dress. I do like how I managed to get a wear out of it with one of my many sari skirts...but I was especially pleased that I happened to have a shade of olive lipstick that complimented my outfit that I completely forgot I had.

Kate as a sweet dragon...& a snarly dragon...

New autumn cocktails at Heritage Tavern!! We began with a Cranberry Ginger Crusta (Ansac cognac, creole shrub, cranberry juniper jam, lemon, angostura) & a Heritage Apple Dram (Wathen's bourbon, Hum, all spice dram, apple syrup, lemon, sparkling cider). Tacos from the Happy Hour menu...pork for me, market veggies for the girlie...O!M!G! why have I never had these before?! Because tacos sound boring. $5 for 2 crispy pork soft tacos that are one of the best things I have ever put in my mouth! They may have been even better than my beloved deviled eggs that were delivered to our table next. 

Oh, the autumn cocktails...they were a delight! For our second round we had Rosemary's Pear (Deaths Door vodka, Sapins, spiced pear liqueur, pear purèe, lemon, spiced pear bitters, rosemary, grated nutmeg) & Autumn's Harvest (brown butter & roasted squash washed Rittenhouse rye, Snap, Tuaca, Heritage maple syrup, lemon oil). I'm not sure I could pick a favorite...I would have them all again. Why haven't I had them all again?!

We finished our meal by sharing Roasted Squash Thai Coconut Soup with ginger butter poached lobster & Wild Mushroom Gnocchi. Every single bite & sip were amazing...as is perpetually the case at Heritage Tavern (we had a mediocre brunch there once, otherwise...perfection every time). 

Then we crossed the street to The Children's Museum for their Halloween Adult Swim...& hurried up to the roof while it was still dusk. Sunflowers, wild rambling gardens, 2-headed metal birds, & a menacing dragon! 

Wicked happened to be playing in Madison & there were a team of lovely ladies with quizzes (are you a Galinda or an Elphaba?) & make-up...despite having seen Wicked twice, I could not remember the words/melody to a song Elphaba sang (I wanted to sing For Good)...if you sang a song of your character, you could have your make-up done by their make-up artist...they also had glitter & green make-up set up so you could do your own...I wanted my make-up done...so the ever so nice girl sang the song while I stumbled along...then got my make-up done! Kate running on the hamster wheel...& touching a human brain. 

Frankenmuppets!! This was SO much fun!!! There were hundreds of stuffed animals that we could mutilate to make our very own creature. This was an especially splendid evening spent with my precious girlie...thank you, Kate <3

My make-up this day included...NYX Golden Olive eyeliner, Urban Decay eyeshadows in Beat Down & Chains, NYX Wicked Lippie in Trickery, & MAC nail polish in Chroma Green Garter. 

Maxi on a Fall Day

 Dress: Sylvia Maxi Dress in Peony Allure by Igigi (size 26/28) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Willow Bay, thrifted

Shoes: Sofft, thrifted

Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Earring: etXarte

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this marvelous maxi to work. I thought I might buy it this time, but I resisted the urge. I wore it over the summer to Concerts on the Square & felt like a goddess. It is a thoroughly lovely dress, the perfect length for a maxi & the kind of frock you can throw on & go anywhere in...& look smashing. I also think it translates to cooler weather quite well with the addition of a cardigan. 

 Another windy day.

Good mail day! I got a mystery box of 6 dress that were bursting out of the box. So much fun! Rita & Loraine sell high quality clothing in great shape that they get from several liquidators in their area...including garments that Gwynnie Bee gets rid of. I bought this mystery box from Rita through their group, FabFatshion Plus Size Resale, & paid ~$15 each for these 6 dresses. That one all the way to the right was my favorite from City Chic & I am thrilled to own it. 

My make-up this day included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Zero with Sephora eyeliner in Brown on top to soften it, a few eyeshadows from this Morphe palette (terrific color selection, terrible pigmentation...but I am judging that based on the fabulous bang! I get from bright colors by Urban Decay & Sugarpill. This is a great cheap palette, $25!, if these are colors you only want little pops of...I prefer them to look just like they do in the pans on my eyelids), Bite Beauty lipstick in Quince, & OPI nail polish in You're A Pisa Work. 

Ruby Deco at Garver Feed Mill

 Dress: Francesca Dress in Ruby Deco by Igigi (size 26/28) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Socks: Sock Dreams

Shoes: Dansko

Necklace: Age Before Beauty

Earring: Babil & Bijou

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I wore this stunning Igigi dress to work. How fabulous is that pattern?!! Igigi also uses this fabric in a maxi that will most likely sell out soon that I have been considering purchasing. Francesca dresses are a marvelous cut & come in so many lovely colors & motifs. These dresses bought directly from Igigi are perfect, however, the neckline is elastic & I've found that gets stretched out with all the washing GB does...sadly, this dress came to me with a floppy neckline or I would have purchased it immediately. Sexy surplice neckline, empire waist, just right length, with a flawlessly flared skirt...effortless style. 

An extremely windy day got us lots of interesting photos...some fun...most unusable. 

This old feed mill is a spectacular backdrop for pictures...it has been empty & decaying for decades, but there are plans in the works to renovate this old beet factory into an artisan food facility. 

My make-up this day included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Zero, NYX Glam Liner, Love+ eyeshadow by Sugarpill, Urban Decay lipsticks in Gash & F-Bomb, OPI nail polish in O'Hare & Nails Look Great.