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Monday 30 May 2016

Middle-aged tweens storm Vancouver

Forget the dainty finger sandwiches! Shelley of Forest City Fashionista came to town for a few days and suddenly life became larger than life - it was triple-whipple-decker life, like a hamburger so honkin' huge you can't jam another slice of pickle into your mouth.

Forest City Fashionista and Bag and a Beret
Exhibit 1: Photo farking. We stopped roadside and sidewalk traffic at this busy downtown location. Models/Styling: Shelley and Mel. Photographer: Tripod and "Dick" the magic wand. Behind us is the installation artwork called Alien Terrarium by Elisa Yon and Amanda Arcuri, which is part of a series of public artworks in Vancouver, read about it here.


Bascially, we ate and drank and walked and shopped and vogued and repeated. I even managed to get invitations to a by-invitation-only charity/fashion/art Event:
...an elevated list of key influencers in Vancouver and those who are notoriously savvy in the art scene: a truly high-fashion mix of local socialites and celebrities, models, photographers and up and coming “cool” kids that have both industry legitimacy and international resonance.
That's definitely who we are. Hahaha! I thought hanging out with the local glitterati for an evening with Shelley might be interesting, or at least a good excuse to dress up and sip wine, not that we need excuses. When it was over we agreed that we hadn't been so love-bombed in years. [Edit: my writeup about it is here]

Shelley of Forest City Fashionista
Above is Shelley at the Nordstrom restaurant where on her first day here we mapped out a plan of action.


One night Shelley and I went cocktail-hopping at luxury hotels because, hey, what else do you do when it's raining? We were at a swanky lounge called Bacchus, swilling drinks and eating fries, when a couple we both liked from the Event came in. It's a small world.

Mel of Bag and a Beret wears a huge honkin' Moschino wrap

This little Moschino wrap at Nordstrom was marked down to $1,500 from $3,000. I have to figure out how to DIY my own, but better. There was a plastic-y tubular skeleton under this mass of fluff, which was annoying but gave the piece body. We found lots of inspiration on the racks but naturally we spent more time at thrift and vintage stores.

Shelley, Forest City Fashionista, supermodel
EDIT ALERT: This photo was included in a stellar lineup of women at the blog Warning: Curves Ahead in a post called "24 Things Women Over 30 Should Wear." It went VIRAL. Shelley is a STAR! - but then you already know that.

More photo farking. Shelley is a natural model. I swear - she has got the moves! She decided her makeup scheme and I applied it. If you go to her IG, here, you can see her purple brows and gold eye shadow (and other photos of her trip). Stunning! We also both wore our colourful brows to the Event.

Shelley, Forest City Fashionista, supermodel

Try as I might, in the photo below I couldn't bring out the true colour of this robe - NEON pink, the pinkest pink you've ever seen. I hadn't worn it before because I wanted to fark it to look less robe-y. So far I've only added some silky ties at the front but I knew it would be perfect for our shoot and bundling in the cool weather.

Mel Kobayashi, Bag and a Beret, neon pink robe

Confession: I'm not wearing a pant slip with these vintage lace pants. Hussy! Slattern! The pink under the pants are tights. The robe provides adequate modesty, but seriously, if you want to freak out about seeing through my lace pants, go for it. Isn't there a fashion rule for women over 50: if the pubes don't stick out, you're okay.

In the next photo you can see a piece of blue masking tape stuck to the hem from one of my earlier failed farking attempts. (Really, the colours are so washed out!) I got that amazing silk blouse a couple of years ago in a giveaway by Thorne Garnet.

Melanie Kobayashi, Bag and a Beret, neon pink

And finally, below, my favourite photo. We used my tripod as a hanger for our bags and clothes. Now, you know my cardinal rule for shooting on the streets, right? Don't let anything touch the ground! This is my face when my robe fell down. I squeezed the remote trigger as a reflex response like happens in those murder movies. Thank goodness the sidewalk here wasn't gross. 

These photos are not for VOGOFF, they are too tame, although my facial expression below is slightly Voggy. I still have to put up the guidelines. Yikes!

Shelley of Forest City Fashionist and Melanie of Bag and a Beret, photo farking

Shelley and I had brunch with Louisa of Damselfly's Delights and Sue of A Colourful Canvas at Acme Cafe (where I go with Sheila and L when they're in town) on Shelley's last day here. I have a few photos from then and some from the Event, but I figure this is enough for one post. I'll put the others up later. And maybe a little video [Edit: It's in the next post here. I can't stop laughing when I watch it]. Hee hee.

I was not online all week trying to squeeze in all my 3D life activities - hanging out with Shelley and working like a fiend to meet my work deadlines. I don't know when I can catch up with your posts but I'll try.


Hugs to all of you. Aren't blogger meetups the best?! Shelley was everything and more than I thought she would be. Sympatico. Thanks for making the trip, Shelley!!

I'll link the pink up to:
Patti at Visible Monday, Not Dead Yet Style,
Catherine at #iwillwearwhatilike, Not Dressed as Lamb, and
Anne at 52 Pick-me-up: White/Instinct, SpyGirl.

Shelley's post on our get-together is HERE.


45 comments:

  1. Argle bargle, I wanted to be there! I thought you were only doing lunch or dinner - had I known it would be a weekend extravaganza, I might have skipped my punk show! However, it does look like you had a fabulous time - awesome pics, outfits (the pink! The blue lips!) and oh, I wish I could have joined you...

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Na, it was more lunch, dinner, lunch, dinner, snackies, drinks, drinks, drinks... Heh. You would have fit right in and I missed you. All I can say is I hope there's a next time!

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  2. You look as if you both had a fantastic weekend!
    Love all the outfits on both of you.

    xxx

    Veronica
    vronni60s.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Veronica. Hanging out with blogger friends is the best!

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  3. Ah, severe FOMO here. That would be SFOMO, not to be confused with SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art).
    So glad your pink robe got a good chance at farking, it's a stunner.
    I went on a Moschino scarves "liking" binge on Lyst and ended up buying an Olive Oyl with Pills for $50. A steal! I'm waiting for the Power Puff Gils one to go on deeper sale -- it's a keeper as well.
    You probably don't have time right now, but the Documentary on Jeremy Scott (current Moschino designer) is very sweet. I streamed it on Netflix. It's title is "Jeremy Scott: The People's Designer"

    Thanks for linking! xxox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love the bold bright colours of Moschino designs. This wrap was terribly unwieldly, as many fashion items are. Heh. Good one on the scarf. I'll look up that documentary. I hope it's on Canadian Netflix.

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  4. Hahahahahaha! That last photo is brilliant!

    Shelley looks like the Statue of Liberty and you look like you've just been retained for further inspection on Ellis Island.

    If the colours are washed out here you must have almost blinded people on the street because they are super saturated on my screen. Those sunglasses of yours are the BEST!

    Shelley looks like a flying bug about to land on one of those massive leaves behind her. Too fleek! Yes, that is apparently a word.

    I'm wild about both of your hairdos.

    So happy you squeezed in so much fun.

    bisous
    Suzanne

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We were both doing the Statue of Liberty pose until I saw the horror unraveling before my very eyes. Shelley hadn't clued into the robe-falling disaster yet. Hahaha.

      Yes, people everywhere were stopping to shoot our shoot. The pink was not very subtle. Saturating the colour just makes it darker I found - it's jump-off-the-page bright.

      I laughed about the bug comment - the glasses do have a buggish quality. I had to look up fleek. I'm such a dork.

      Love your comments!! They always make me laugh. Chime in anyone...

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  5. Ha, I forgot about that blouse. Perfect for farking about. Off to Shelly's post

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love this blouse and I think of you every time I wear it. Thank you.

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  6. Omggggggg u guys look like u had so much funnnn!!!! I love it!
    I'm so down with you're rule: "if the pubes don't stick out, you're okay"!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I realized I'm wearing leggings, not tights, which are rank slightly lower on the hussy scale. Heh.

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  7. Wow great. You both have fun! ♥️ I love the pinkest pink I ever seen! haha, rofl, yor face is great in th last picture. Melanie you are the best! You sit on the ground, but in panic everthing else touch the ground?!!
    I wish you have a great "trip" together and so much fun.
    Wish you a good time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Okay, yes, I see the disparity there - okay for me on the ground but not my robe. Hahaha!!! I didn't even use the alcohol spray. This area is fairly clean. Thanks for your positive comment, Tina!

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  8. The things you two got up to when I wasn't around! You were relatively subdued by Sunday's brunch. Probably wore your wee selves out by then, huh? Glad I could share in a little of the fun, though. Hugs!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, it was our night of bar hopping probably that made us subdued, plus Shelley was leaving. Boohoo! It was great seeing you again, Louisa. I'm glad you could come!! I'm happy I could officially follow your blog too!

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  9. loooove that post!!!
    you both are sooo marvelous! absolutely gorgeous pictures!!! <3 <3 <3
    xxxxxxx

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  10. I will be putting up photos from our adventures later this week - I'm still adjusting to the time zone and having to go back to work! I am so glad we were able to spend time together and eat, drink and be merry. I was sad to leave too...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's hard getting back into routine after such fun - I know from this end too - but I don't have the time change to deal with. Too bad we don't live closer to each other!! xo I'm sooo glad you could come and visit!!!

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  11. You two are just too cool for school!!

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  12. Blogger meet ups really are the best but this one might be the best of the best. Cool kids fo sho! Tripod and Dick are talented such talented photogs. I cannot even put into words how much I love these photos! I lurve you two.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You need a gentle touch with Dick. If there is a big audience around he doesn't perform well - there are too many crossed signals, seriously. The wireless goes weird. Heh. CONNIE, come here!!

      Delete
  13. This is such fun. The photos are terrific!! I bet you two made some lasting impressions with a lot of people. Don't bother trying to catch up with other blogs... You will only exhaust yourself. So you haven't seen a few for a week... nobody dies of that. I have made a resolution about that too. You will here more by mail.
    Looking forward to the other posts. The expression on your face in the last photo hahaha.
    Greetje

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you thank you thank you for your reassurance about catching up. I try and I get sidetracked and I read a post and love it and then get sidetracked before I comment. I think everyone goes through this. We had so much fun - and it's easy for people to see and want to be part of it. We had this when you were here too, well, anywhere we go and have a good time. I laughed at that last photo - I had to share! Hahaha!
      Thanks, Greetje.

      Delete
  14. Oh My! Joy to the World Pix! A mini-Canadian bloggess-fest. Fairies buzzing around the Forest. The cool factor has reached over load. Danger. Danger. Danger. opps.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahaha. That does not compute.
      We did have fun. As Louisa says, you need to move Chicago closer to Vancouver. Heh.

      Delete
  15. Wowsers, look at you pair, taking the world by storm. You look like rock stars. Shelley's blue lips are ace! xxx

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    1. Shelley looked fantastic in the blue and purple. I loved her creativity. We certainly FELT like rock stars. Thanks, Vix.

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  16. I freaking LOVE bar hopping at luxury hotels!!! And vintage shopping. And, previous to this post, I didn't know that pants slips existed. I definitely MUST get out your way someday...

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Luxury hotels do it right when it comes to pampering with drinks and snackies and great furniture. I had a pant slip in about 1980 and have been wanting another. I don't see them, only those squishy spanx ones. No! You MUST get out this way!!

      Delete
  17. I just found your blog and I LOVE it! You both have amazing style <3

    ↞Skylar Cheri↠ Lifestyle, Travel & Fashion

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    1. Thank you, Skylar!! I'm happy to see you!

      Delete
  18. Oh my gah! I certainly felt a ripple in the space time continuum - who knew it was international resonance and lack of pant slip. What bliss - you both look divine; olympic levels of photo farking - just epic. I hope for a Vogoff supplement to celebrate. And medals.

    That last photo is a bit evil puppeteer/expressionist cinema-like (in a fabulous way).

    On fleek and tally-ho
    Sincerely

    Elaine Monkeypaints

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    1. Oh wot, fleek, yes, ho. ? Hahaha. Evil puppeteer - I love that image! I shall try to cultivate it more. Hugs to you, Elaine!

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  19. "Isn't there a fashion rule for women over 50: if the pubes don't stick out, you're okay." This almost sounds like a bumper sticker. As someone who detests age-appropriate rules, you've made my day.

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    1. Heh, thanks, Michelle. I KNOW we would get along divinely as fellows who detest rules. I'd love to see a sticker that says that. Hahaha.

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  20. You two are adorable, and I bet the best fun ever was had. I am still laughing at the fashion rule about not showing your pubes!! You are the BEST!!

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    1. Sue, I assure you, it was the best fun. We even managed to make a good thing out of the rain but getting almost sloshed ourselves. Heh. Always great to see you!!

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  21. A monumental and magnificent meetup! The two of you are perfect together, and I enjoyed each and every brilliant photo. Vancouver will never be the same!

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    1. Oh, Judith, I can't capture the relief of having someone who "knows" me in town. It was like that when Jean came too. It's the best part of blogging. Thanks for your comment.

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  22. Hahaha!! The pubes aren't sticking out, I checked GRIN

    p/s what adventures you have!! I'm positively in love with your world xoxo

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    1. Yes, things are a bit shadowy down there. Hahaha. But everything in its place. Thank you for visiting and your comment, Sheela.

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  23. wouuuu, you're so fabulous together!!, not doubled but quadruplicated fabulousness!
    I'm going to watch that video and more pics, yes!!!
    besos

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