Overcoats // Seasaw

 Dress: Short Sleeve Black Sea Print Wrap Dress by eShakti (size 28) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Camisole: Lane Bryant

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Born

Earring, Necklace, & Bracelet: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

The colors! The print! So much beauty. This dress would have been a keeper if it had only fit properly...the fit is the same as this constellation dress. The bottom fit great in this chiffon dress, but the top didn't come close to closing...so I was forced to wear a camisole...which I know a lot of girls do anyway, but I'd prefer not to...especially in summer. I like dresses because they are a complete outfit. It was super fun for a wear, though. 

Good thing I thought of this aquatic wall for photos...it was the ideal backdrop for this dress...even if the light was off.

I never got around to taking a make-up & accessories photo as we had just moved.

I wore this under the sea frock to The Shitty Barn to see Overcoats with Seasaw. Kate got a glass of rosé...& it was so delicious...I bought us a bottle. It was the perfect outdoor picnic wine. 

 Girlie bezzers selfie toast...

One of the many weird faces I make...& Kate dancing to Overcoats...

First up...Seasaw, from Madison. Before a show at High Noon years ago, the bartender was playing their CD...I asked who it was & then we saw them play a few weeks later. I bought some vinyl from them after their set & they recognized me from Instagram!

Overcoats was visiting the barn from New York...so much energy & so many songs about crappy relationships. Both duos had an obvious close friendship vibe & electro-poppiness that made them a splendid double bill. Girl power! 

I also wore this dress to work with David, & afterwards we shopped for pans & ate pizza. Oh! And this was the first time my phone knew I was driving to our new home <3

Dead Horses & Memories

 Dress: Leafy Greens Ruffle Maxi Dress by Melissa McCarthy (size  4x)

Sandals: Born

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

I bought this dress for $25 when Melissa McCarthy clothing was going out of business earlier this year...it eventually went down to $15, but I'm sure by then my size was gone. I was attracted to the unusual delicate color combination & lovely leafy pattern, as well as the fluttery sleeves. I knew being able to see the back side of the fabric on the ruffles, bell sleeves, & high/low hem would drive me crazy...& it did. I felt rather frump-a-dump in this frock. The fit was great...but it needs a lot of work if I keep it...so should it stay or should it go? 

If it stays, I would need to tack down the ruffles so the underside wasn't showing, shorten the dress several inches in front & take away the high/low hem, & perhaps use that extra material to line the bell sleeves. Is it worth all that work?

The fabric is so pretty...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Mildew; UD eyeshadow in Seize, Jones, Mean, & Gossip; Habanero lipstick by MAC; UD lipstick in Big Bang; & OPI nail polish in Orange You Going to the Game?

I wore this outfit to see Dead Horses with Kate...outside on the lake at Edgwater's Brewgrass Fridays. The band was fabulous, but unfortunately, all they serve is terrible Friday fish fry...so we left during their set break to seek girlie food. But...not before I took pictures of us & Kate mocked my tongue sticking out move that I constantly do. 

We tried out Gates & Brovi in Kate's new 'hood...because they had Friday fish fry that we were hoping would be much better than Edgewater's...& I'm suggestible...after seeing so many fish walk past me during the concert...that is what I was in the mood for. We started out with smelt & cheese curds. The smelt was THE BEST THING EVER. Just perfect...it reminded me of my childhood when we'd go smelting in the middle of the night & come home with trash bags full of little fishies. We both had the bluegill fish fry for dinner...it was alright, but we would go back & just make a meal of that tasty tasty smelt. Also, it is pronounced Schmelt...if you're from the U.P....or apparently, Wisconsin. This woman sitting next to us had the most awesome flowery sandals...I'm on the lookout for them...I need some.

I also wore this dress to work & run errands. David & I finally checked out our neighborhood Goodwill...& found some of the clothing I donated from our garage sale. These were some of my last days packing at the old house...& I finally found my old 80s photo album. Unlike today, I hardly ever took pictures...I only brought a camera to school a handful of times, so not too many photos of that time. Me, Shane, & Mike in the first page, then Dave (my high school boyfriend), & some shots of Michael & Neil...awww. Then! Our first night at our new house...June 13th. 

I also found this letter Shane wrote to me in the early 00s...he wrote me 3 letters over a 2-3 year period & this one was living in one of my jewelry cabinets...still in the envelope, addressed to...Meshel Dear Darling. He'd write me these letters & leave them with flowers in my driveway or on my car. I miss him so much. 

Antique Flea

 Dress: Colorblock Crepe Dress by eShakti (size 30) via Gwynnie Bee (use my link to get your first month free & help me earn GB credit)

Leggings: Eat Your Makeup leggings by Beth Ditto

Shoes: Madden Girl

Earring: Kerala Rose

Necklace: Wendy Baker 

Bracelets: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This dress had such bright vibrant hues...& you know how I adore orange...however, it was so ill fitting that it wasn't much fun to wear. I did get a few compliments on it though, which surprised me. Since this dress had no stretch, I sized up from my usual 28 to 30...because I wasn't able to wear the last non-stretchy eShakti dress in a 28 out of the house...I should have stuck with my usual size with this one. But...it wouldn't have mattered because the dress was awful...the armholes were huge (my bra showed), the pockets stuck out, & worst of all...there were pleats on the boobs that ended in a point right around the nipple area. Disaster. 

On the other hand...I was finally able to wear these Eat Your Makeup leggings I bought nearly 2 years ago from Beth Ditto. I'm so happy I was able to snag some things from her before they closed the shop. 

 I wore this dress to a small antique flea market here in town, & on another day to farmer's market & work. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Sunrise Blue eyeliner by NYX, Urban Decay eyeshadow in Calavera & Goldmine, Sauce & Fire eyeshadow from Morphe, MAC lipstick in Habanero, & Aim to Misbehave nail polish by Essie. 

A local antique shop was having a flea market outside...so David & I checked it out...& came home with...this ornate lamp stand. I have plans to make a necklace holder out of it. This was $10...

And these stunning metal leaves that look like they were handmade & bought at an art faire (they have an artists name on the back, along with their city). Sorry for these terrible pictures taken in our bomb shelter. 

I used to have a small collection of pretty embroidered/beaded cardigans from the 50s back in high school...this one caught my eye. Then we went inside to oooooo & aaaaahhhh...which worked up our appetite for Indian buffet. 

I know this handle is supposed to be leaves...but to me, it looks like a dog nose...if I could draw, I'd draw dogs with these gorgeous noses. 

GGG Garage Sale

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

Teggings: Re/Dress

Sandals: Clarks, thrifted

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Age Before Beauty

Bracelet: Vintage

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

This Oui style of Effie's Heart is fun because you can wear it off the shoulder or not...unfortunately, it was work to get it to stay long enough to take photos...so I can't actually wear it like that. For me...I wish there was just a single layer to the top of this dress...but it is otherwise superb. I've worn (& bought) this style in strawberries...so cute! 

This was my first black dress from Effie's Heart...& I noticed pilling happening on the first day...different fabric? Most of their garments have held up for me well. In fact, I need more EH in my closet...while searching for the strawberry dress...I was looking at all the adorable dresses I've regrettably sent back. I should have bought them all. Such fantastic summer frocks. 

I decided not to bring any color into this outfit & stick with black, creme, & earthy metallics...that can be just as fun as color...sometimes. 

My make-up with this outfit included...Roach eyeliner by Urban Decay; Too Faced eyeshadow in Chocolate Gold, Gold Dipped, Old Money, Cocoa Truffle, & Decadent; MAC Bronze Shimmer lipstick; & Burnt Sugar nail polish from Colors by Llarowe. 

I wore this dress to work, have dinner with David at Weary Traveler, & check out doors at Deconstruction, Inc. Also, I found this old frame of photos from 1989 while packing...I was so young!!!

I also wore this dress to our garage sale in Angie & Toby's driveway/garage. I sold some clothes...but mostly, it got donated to the Goodwill in our neighborhood. Good riddance...I don't throw stuff away that often! 

The best part of garage sales...hanging out with friends, DOGS, & my delicious sangria. And this year...Kate's adorable elephant pants...sadly, by the end of the sale she had a large rip right on her butt area...which is what we are all looking at in the last photo. Oh! And the delightful Ms. e brought me a large bag of makeup...that was great fun to look through & we all ended up with something. I spread the joy by putting the leftovers in the free box & making a few tween girls day.

A Place to Hang Clothes

 Dress: Fit & Flare Tulip Hem Maxi Dress in Fuchsia Plum by Lands' End (size 3x) via Girls of GB RAK (Random Act of Kindness) 

Sandals: Nickels, thrifted

Earring, Necklace, & Bracelet: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

It feels like years since I've worn a Lands' End dress...this one comes from a RAK in the Girls of GB group & this is my first time wearing it. This bright magenta color is gorgeous & I think this is the only garment I own in this shade. I wish I had a dozen dresses in this style in crazy prints...it was so comfortable & the cut (including the placement of the waistband) was wonderful. 

Years ago, GB used to carry a lot of Lands' End dresses in the summer...they were a go-to staple for me. I still have half a dozen of them...I guess I don't reach for LE as often because Effie's Heart now fills that category of easy effortless summer dresses for me...in cuter quirkier prints.

 I thought the green looked rather nice with the Fuchsia...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Mildew; Anthem, Swoon, Lemmy, & Vinyl eyeshadow from Kat von D; UD lipstick in Big Bang, Firebird, & Speedball; & Greenwich Green nail polish by OPI. 

I wore this dress on a nearly 100° day with 90+% humidity to go to a friend's birthday party...where I took practically no photos. I never did understand what this game was that Toby & David were playing. 

The rest of that weekend I spent in our air conditioned house hanging stuff up in our new closet! Some in progress pictures of the closet being built...& a little section of colorful dresses hung up. I am so excited to have a place to hang every piece of clothing I own! I will do a whole post just on the closet when I finally get finished setting it up. 

On Your Feet!

 Dress: Bluebell Print Fit & Flare Dress by Melissa Masse (size 4x) via Gwynnie Bee Try Then Buy

Footless Tights: We Love Colors in Olive

Sandals: Jambu

Earring: etXarte

Necklace & Bracelet: Wendy Baker

Photography: Super Boo, Kate, & Me

Stats: 5'7" 55-50-64

It's another gorgeous print of this Melissa Masse Magic Dress...such a fantastic style & cut...this dress looks good on everyone. I immediately bought it...it looks like a vintage botanical print from a book...exquisite. It is basically the perfect dress, I just wish the waistband were up higher for me. 

I own several of these dresses...some of which I haven't worn yet...I last wore this style in thistle bohemian border (my favorite pattern), also in...claret mandala floret, pink & black (the original), orange kaleidoscope, tangerine prism, midnight plaid jacquard (I wish I would have bought this one)...I know there are more, but those are all I could find. 

David bought me these sandals over a year ago at a shoe garage sale a woman has twice a year...I'm not sure where she gets them all, but I usually find at least one pair I have to have. If you enlarge the photo above...you will see the cute flowers on the side.

I packed this dress to move before I could take pictures of the make-up & jewelry. 

I wore this dress to attend Kate's summer work party...look, the capitol! We went to the Overture Center to see the play, On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan. Not something either of us would have thought to go to...but, free. 

Cute Kate tries on my necklace...

You all know how I like to sit nearly on the stage...so this was a completely different experience for me...up in the balcony. My May Play! box...& my favorite mascara & Ulta birthday gift of Nars Orgasm blush...so pretty. And! I bought my first (& only?) pair of LuLaRoe leggings for $10 on eBay. 

No make-up & resting bitch face Torrid dressing room photos. I went in to pick up a legging order...& they had buy 1, get 2 free on all clearance items. That white skirt was too lovely to pass up...I'm going to dye it...orange? yellow? purple?