Dress: Black Velvet Stripe Fit & Flare Dress by Connected Apparel, thrifted
Waist Cincher: Kate
Velvet Jacket: ?, thrifted
Tights: Snag
Boots: Fluevog: Balmoral Boots circa 1989-90
Earrings: Green Goddess Vintage
Necklace: Heidi Daus via Ebay
Bracelet & Pin: Vintage
Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42
I adore this black velvet stripe fit & flare dress...it's cute, stretchy, & comfortable. The ideal length to show off boots. Nice swoop neckline in front & back. I found this dress thrifting & it was one of only a handful of dresses I tried on as possible contenders to see The Cure in. I also thrifted this velvet jacket. The velvet waist cincher was Kate's, but they've since gifted it to me & don't remember where it came from. I closed the jacket with a vintage black rhinestone pin, but I don't think it shows up very well in photos. I've had these Fluevog boots for decades. I must admit, I treated them rather poorly...back at my old house they were shoved underneath the daybed in my office collecting dog hair. The calf circumference on these is rather small & I didn't think they'd ever fit me again. I threw out the old tattered laces & replaced them with ribbon. I'm not sure I've ever worn this bat necklace before...maybe once. Because of the silver hue it casts...I went with this grey/black/rhinestone necklace as a dramatic bracelet...& these fabulous dangly earrings that Gayle from Green Goddess Vintage gifted me.I wore this outfit on our last full day in Chicago last month. I hopped in Veronika & headed off to the Fluevog store for a special swap & shop...of course, I was just there to buy...& it's a good thing, because everyone else was there to sell. I tried on all the pretty used shoes first. I ended up with 4 pairs...2 in the Munster family. I nearly got these silverfish heels, but they were just a smidge too tight. After getting the used shoes sorted...I went on to try on everything in the store. Jack always helps me & is so patient. Which shoes should I bring home?I want them all...eventually...I intended on getting the orange metallic Bebops, but after kibitzing with Jack...I decided to get the green/pink plaid Malalas since Jack said they made fewer & had been a good seller. I don't know if you can tell here...but the buckle is a safety pin. I don't need those pink plaid shoes too, right?! They are too similar to the ones I got & unnecessary...right?I've been in love with these since they came out...it was good to try them on in person as I discovered my typical size works fine & I don't need to size up like suggested online. My top 5 choices below. Spoiler alert...I now own 4 of them. This was a fun event...the store was well organized to give everyone a space to sell...& there was a table of treats. We had the place to ourselves for 2 hours before they opened at noon. Group shot!After shoe shopping...brunch with the girlie! Leopard carpeting.I wasn't that excited by the menu, but we picked this place because they have a marvelous patio & they were an easy walk from our hotel. Check out that spectacular pink banana outfit.We began with cocktails...a Salted Watermelon Mojito for Kate (spirit-free aperitivo, salted watermelon, a sh*t-ton of mint) & for me, an Oaxacan Old Fashioned (Reposado tequila, mezcal, sugar, bitters, citrus oil). For breakfast, I chose Sweet Potato Hash (grilled peppers, housemade giardiniera, pumpkin seeds, poached organic egg) &...This spectacularly beautiful Cinnamon Roll (cardamom cream cheese frosting, Israeli pistachios). Kate had a Kale Fattoush (dill vinaigrette, Persian cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes, crispy pita). My second drink came in this adorable dotty glass that Kate wouldn't let me steal, Saturn (Japanese gin, passionfruit, almond orgeat, falernum, lemon). Kate sipped on a Chica Morada (purple corn, pineapple, spice). We were right on the Chicago River & could watch boats go by...including some kayaks...hey! that was us the day before. This place was not just Instagram ready...it was also tasty. Posing for photos back at the hotel.Back to the room where Kate changed clothes & I switched out my boots for sturdier Fluevogs that would do better in mud...& onto the L we hopped. And then we walked & walked & walked to the park where Riot Fest is held. There were a lot of signs indicating that the neighborhood wasn't thrilled to have their park taken over by hoodlums. I don't blame them...it's a large loud group. AFI was playing as we walked in...they were good. We sat on the blanket Kate brought for about 5 minutes. It was excellent people watching...leopard spots & mushrooms. We didn't have to wait long for The Dresden Dolls to hit the stage. It's been so long since we've seen them as a band...usually it's just Amanda solo. They were supposed to have a reunion tour, but then Covid hit...but they are back together now recording new songs & doing a smattering of live shows. They were on fire...just having so much fun. They brought Melissa Auf der Maur (Hole, Smashing Pumpkins) up on stage to play guitar, while Amanda joyfully pounded drums, & Brian sang...Beastie Boys, You Gotta Fight. Amanda was giddy with the amazement that her band got to open for The Cure & meet Robert Smith. After the show, we wandered around in search of food & tried to block out the horrible sound of The Mars Volta. The Cure!!! I've been a fan since I was 14...& this was my first time seeing them. Robert wore an Amy Winehouse t-shirt & flashed Sinead O'Connor's photo up on the screen during Pictures of You. He & the band sounded phenomenal. I'm so glad we braved a fest to see them. Back at the hotel...I tried on the corset Kate brought.
