Amanda Palmer in Chicago

On our second day in Chicago I wore this lace up dress from City Chic (size XXL/24) via Gwynnie Bee. I thought it was fun paired with plaid leggings from Torrid & the red leopard cardigan from the day before. This dress made me feel like I was about to go to a NIN concert back in the 90s. I liked the lace up front, but not the heavy metal silver grommets. The cut-outs (in the back too, but I didn't get a photo), fit & flare, pockets, & length were marvelous. The fabric was heavy, which made this a great nearly winter dress. 

The morning started off with coffee from the hotel's hot beverage buffet (tea, hot chocolate, & several kinds of coffee with all the fixings) in this lovely cup...& some photos of the hotel remodel on our way out the door for brunch at Harvest Moon...

I had a french toast croque-monsieur & we shared a side of blue potato hash browns. The best part about this place was the aesthetic...pretty women with melting candles painted on the walls, moss on the walls & below the bar (where there was also a wrought iron fence), & ornate empty frames attached to the ceiling. I appreciate over the top decor. Oh, & this lovely moon man & lady outside...

Across the street...mosaic art decorated the outside of a building...

I liked this part best of all...

The mirror pieces reflected the sky, trees, & colors surrounding us, which I found just delightful & made me want to create a huge mirror mosaic of my own.

Then we headed to our Airbnb near Thalia Hall...where Amanda Palmer was playing that night. The last time we saw her there it was extremely difficult to get a cab to take us back to our hotel...& I found this place only a block from the venue. We had a cute porch outside our bedroom, a king sized bed, a jacuzzi tub, & an enormous walk-in closet. 

The Pilsen neighborhood was charming...with murals everywhere...mostly with a strong Latino influence. I admired the artistic beauty as we strolled down the street...stopping every 30 seconds to take a picture of all the loveliness that caught my eye & asking the girlie to take my photo. Kate is so very patient with me.

Orange everywhere. 

This coffee shop was spectacular...look at that ceiling *gasp*. That Vosges bag came in handy as we decided to cut it up & each used one of the lovely ladies as a card...we wrote messages on the back as Amanda asked us to bring a tribute to Leonard Cohen, who had just died a few days prior. 

Pre-dinner tamales were delicious...& I fell in love with their tin letter M in rusty metal. Kate outside our dinner restaurant, Simone's. 

The girlie nomming sweet potato fries...& that wall *swoon*. I think they just painted the wall black & then spray painted the stencils...but does spray paint really come in that many shades? 

We waited in line for the doors to open...it was a lovely night with a stunning full moon. Thalia Hall is so pretty. Kate got us front row seats because she is the best girlie EVER! And they made a decent Moscow Mule. Let's not talk about all the kids people bring now that Amanda is a mom. 

Amanda came out with Goodnight Moon...but she never read it to us. Thalia Hall has a curfew, so she could only play a few hours (she'd been doing 4 hour shows). We were all still processing Leonard Cohen's death & our evil president-elect...she really helped. I admire how open & vulnerable Amanda has always been with her fans. She played several Leonard Cohen songs & Neil came out & read Democracy. Quite a few people had gotten the message to bring a tribute for Leonard...& we shuffled up to the stage to lay them in & surrounding her ukulele case. 

It was a perfect evening with my bestest girlie. 

My make-up with this ensemble included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Zero; Too Faced eyeshadow in Golden Nugget, Sin City, & Jackpot; Year of the Dragon eyeshadow from Mon Ennui Cosmetics; Nars lipstick in Cruella; NYX lipstick in Russian Roulette; & Little Red Wagon nail polish by OPI. 

Fun Home in Chicago

 Dress: Portia Pin-Up Dress in Leopard by Kiyonna (size 4x), my first purchase from GB back in 2013

Cardigan: Croft & Barrow, thrifted

Tights: Catherines
Boots: 90s Fluevogs 

Purse: gift from Kate

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Wendy Baker

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I first wore this dress back in Autumn 2013 & immediately purchased it from GB. It was my very first try then buy from them. I remember how outside my comfort zone this dress was...at first I had them send it in a 5x so it wouldn't be so form-fitting...but it was too big on me to wear. I was shocked when it not only fit me in a 4x...but I *liked* it...Va-va-voom. The only other time I've worn this dress was spring 2014...poor neglected dress. I have an extra of this dress if you happen to be the same size as me & would like to buy it...I am trying to get rid of things.

I adore these Fluevogs & wish I could find them on eBay in burgundy (even though I was in the middle of writing this post...I wandered over to eBay to look at all the Fluevogs for half an hour...I'm easily distracted).

I wore this dress to work (with my sweater buttoned up) & to travel down to Chicago with the girlie to see a play. 

Fun Home at Oriental Theatre in Chicago with Kate...this was her birthday present to me this year. I had picked up the graphic memoir while in Berkley with David when it first came out & both Kate & I read it. It follows Alison Bechdel's coming of age as a lesbian, while growing up in a funeral home with a closeted gay father. 

Pierogi for lunch, just down the street from our hotel. 

The gorgeous Oriental Theatre...I want to move in...

4th row! Thank you, girlie! They did a fantastic job making this a musical...I was worried. 

There were several variations of this fall display in front of Hotel Allegro, where we stay. This was our first time back since they finished a complete remodel of this lovely historical building. I thought it was fabulous before...but it is nice now too...change is hard...it's still sinking in. 

We decided to get take out for dinner & stay in our room, but first...complimentary all you can drink cava happy hour. That is most certainly an upgrade from their previous wine happy hour. I like bubbles. I stayed & had another glass alone while Kate went off to fetch our dinner. Our meal from Sunda (Asian Fusion) was delicious! I was dubious about $16 cauliflower (& do you see how tiny it is?!), but it was worth it. It ended up being our best meal of the weekend. After dinner, Kate took a walk & came back with chocolate from Vosges. She is the best girlie EVER.

The Legendary Shack Shakers in Plaid

 Dress: Red Plaid Skater Dress by Torrid (size 4x)

Cardigan: ?, thrifted

Leggings: Torrid

Boots: 90s Fluevogs

Earring: etXarte

2 Necklaces: Babil & Bijou

Black Chain Necklace & Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I just bought this dress from Torrid a few months ago...but it's no longer online. I'm glad I grabbed it when I did. I am crazy about plaid...you'd never know it since I rarely wear it...but now that it's all over...I'm going to have to stock up! I really should wear these things as soon as I buy them so you have a chance to get them too. I'm a terrible blogger. Torrid has this ombré red plaid dress that is similar, but it's nearly sold out as well. 

This dress is everything I wanted in a plaid dress...fit & flare, great length, red & black, deep scooped neckline, comfortable. I don't really pay attention to trends...but I'm thrilled plaid is hot right now because I need more. This outfit has a 90s vibe to me...although I wore a lot of plaid in the 80s. 

David & I were taking these photos as the sun was setting & it turns out...even when it still seems light out...as soon as the sun officially sets...picture quality rapidly declines. We were curious about that as our camera lets in a lot of light. I had planned on re-taking these photos...but I don't really like to get dressed up in an outfit if I'm not going to wear it...but I'll wear it again someday & get sharper pictures. 

I finally got a haircut...& colored as well...so happy about that. I color my hair myself as I was formally a hair dresser & keep my license current so I can buy stuff at the beauty supply shops. 

The Legendary Shack Shakers at The High Noon. I will see them anytime they come around...amazing live show. 

I went with Kate & Angie...you can see both of them in the shot above. J.D. Wilkes is always a blur...so much energy. 

No accessory/make-up pic because I thought I was going to wear this dress again & take it then. Have I met me? I should know myself better than that by now. 

Find the Find

 Dress: Work the Angle Dress in Pink by Poppy & Bloom (size 5x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Dansko

Purse: Vintage 80s, remixed by Me

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Me

Bracelets: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I've worn a bunch of these Work the Angle dresses from Poppy & Bloom (did they go out of business?!), but this is the first one that's been available in a 5x. While the 4x fits me just fine...I like the extra length this adds. I could easily wear this size without teggings with no fear of flashing anyone. This was my favorite print of this style in a 4x...much tighter & shorter...which one do you like better?

This pink design seemed a bit 80s to me...so I dug out this Marilyn Monroe purse I made in 1989. Huge clock purses were all the rage at the mall...so I got one in black & another in pink. The clock thing wasn't for me...so I made little art installations in them...the black one got Louise Brooks...but I used that purse so much that the plastic front is probably too scratched up to use.

Savers keeps having 50% off sales...so I have to keep getting things #findthefind...more cardigans & comfy clothes to wear around the house/to bed...

 And shoes...

We can't seem to stop eating at Alchemy. Their burgers are just so good & they cook them *perfectly* every time...rare for David & medium rare for me. 

My hair goddess, Gen, is on maternity leave...& I just couldn't wait any longer to get a haircut. She did a good job, but she's no Gen. Obviously these pics were taken *before* the snip...the graffiti wall is from Cha Cha's parking lot. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Zero; Sephora eyeliner in Brown; Too Faced eyeshadow in Satin Sheets, Sprinkles, Cotton Candy, Dark Truffle, & Totally Fetch; Summer blush by NYX; Bite Beauty lipstick in Pomegranate; Sheer Anarchy lipstick by UD; & You're A Pisa Work nail polish by OPI. 

Field Table

 Dress: Nina Dress in Brushstroke Print by Effie's Heart (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Cardigan: Lane Bryant, thrifted

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Naturalizer, thrifted

Earring & Necklace: Babil & Bijou, no longer online

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I loved this dress! Effie's Heart dresses always make me happy & are SO comfortable, but I am rarely tempted to buy them since I don't think they hold up very well...they are made out of a heavy t-shirt kind of material & pill slightly after a few wears...not enough to make them rags...but I prefer things to look new. I *do* own this style of dress in navy plaid that I adore. 

I'm thrilled with this LB crocheted cardigan I found at Savers...I have the best cardigan collection. We are going to convert a room in our new house into a closet...& I will finally be able to have all of my clothes in one place...then I can share pics with you. Now...my cardigans are all over the house. 

Dinner at Field Table with Kate...delicious drinks & yummy food. Oh, those roasted...then fried potatoes were so good. And the magical roasted carrots...it was all wonderful...

I didn't manage to get a photo of the unexpected cuteness that occurred...a man walking 3 bulldogs around the square had one escape as he was putting them in the car...& the doggie ran through the restaurant. Everything is better with dogs. 

Ulta sale...I couldn't resist the sparkle of the UD Moondust palette & NYX lipsticks are a great cheap lip color. 

Beth Ditto was having a sale...so I got each of these $115 leggings for only $15 each! They were sold out of the Eat Your Make-up print in my size, so I went with a 22/24...which turns out to be the perfect fit for me...so I may have to alter the Lipstick Traces to be a bit smaller. 

We made this sign for voting day...but we all know how *that* turned out. I drove Kate out to hike on a lovely day. And I went to Confectionique...a once a month Parisian marketplace where I was mistaken for a woman named Autumn...if you're out there Autumn...I'd love to meet you as you are obviously a cute fashionable redhead. 

My Confectionique finds...a porcelain French lady that was once a brush handle (I'm thinking of either making her the top of a tassel or gluing her on a lamp as a finial), resin coated fall leaves, a pin cushion, autumn colored tassel, & a bitty French key that was used to turn on gas lights. 

My makeup with this outfit included...Kat von D eyeshadow in Rewind & Hyperballad, Urban Decay eyeshadow in Freeze & Last Sin, Luster blush by Nars, NYX lipstick in Eros, UD lipstick in Sheer Anarchy & Rapture, & This Color's Making Waves nail polish by OPI.