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If you like all things fashion and haven't been living under a rock (but really, haven't we all been living under a rock lately?), you certainly will have already noticed that Y2K era fashion has been steadily making a beeline for us over the past year or so. Nobody is more excited about this than I am. Sure, I suppose this means a resurgence in the tackier things from the era like velour tracksuits, crop tops and blingy, logo-emblazoned handbags (yes, all of those things have their place and are very much making a comeback right now), but there are also more sophisticated, tailored, and whimsical sides to this new take on Y2K style that makes me sit up straighter and take notice. Y2K version 2.0 has a better eclectic balance to it than its original counterpart. Interesting shapes, denim, sequins, and strange and unexpected textures and materials...all these things have all been incorporated into our old favorites to give our lockdown-starved sartorial auras an injection of some much needed life. This is apparent in everything from separates and sportswear to gowns, footwear and bags. However, this time around there's less of a prescribed feel to how one should wear these pieces; a sort of everything-goes attitude befitting a citizenry sick and tired of looking at themselves in sweatpants, but not yet ready to give up entirely on said sweatpants' comfort. Perhaps what's best about this latest revival is how accessible it is. You do not need to spend a lot of money to take advantage of these trends! That said, you certainly can spend a lot if you want to. I mentally spent about three million British pounds just drooling over some of the pieces I looked at while researching this post. However, if you're like me and can't afford to purchase new investment pieces (or even one new investment piece) every season, there's hope. Those of us who deal in vintage and preloved clothing are likely sitting atop a giant heap of authentic and affordable Y2K specimens, and the spring and pre-fall runways offer no shortage of inspiration as to how to incorporate these pieces into our 2022 wardrobes. Not that you guys need any help in the inspiration department. Seeing so many 90s / Y2K pieces trending really makes my slacker GenX heart swell, and I'm willing to bet I'm not alone. For those of us who remember these pieces fondly from their first run, it feels a bit like the band is back together again, so go out there and have fun with it - you got this. Y2K Style Then and Now, A Story in Pictures Trend: Shiny Silk & Satin Tops Trend: Mock Necks Trend: Minimalist Investment Leather Bags Trend: A Sleek Black Leather Jacket Trend: Colorful Tailoring Trend: A Sharp, Pointy Bootie Trend: Funky Printed Jackets Trend: Double Denim Trend: The Baguette shop the looks

Greetings everyone, and apologies for the long pause in posting - I was away for a bit and like many of you have been quite busy, but all the same I'd like to welcome you to this, my official Patricia Field / Sex and the City (SATC) 50 year-old fangirl post. Yeah, I turned 50 this past August. I didn't make a big deal about it, because really...who gives a s**t? With the exception of a particularly diva-like right hamstring, nothing has really changed all that much for me at 50, and while I thought about trying to do something with it for the blog, it felt kind of disingenuous to try and make some sort of celebratory event out of something that basically felt like any other Tuesday. I guess I don't really talk a lot about the age stuff on the blog any more because there are plenty of people doing it better than I would. I prefer to just stick with the sartorial inspo that brought us all here in the first place. Besides, If one sees a photo of a woman with a head full of silver floofy hair, it an be safely assumed she's not 25. No need to state the obvious. Anyhoo, back to why we're here. I've been sitting on this SATC "Carrie" flower dress for quite a while now (not literally), nearly two years, to be exact, waiting for my moment. But I figured since the new SATC spinoff series is out now, the time was right to dust it off and take it for a spin. I readily admit, since the pandemic hit, I miss having an occasion to get dressed all fancy. Thankfully I have you guys to bounce this stuff off of, and of course the vintage clothing shop to run, so I do get my fix...but still. The SATC Carrie Flower Dress Origin Story Back in 2008, inimitable stylist, clothing and costume designer Patricia Field did a Sex and the City inspired capsule collection in partnership with the British landmark department store Marks & Spencer. I did not know this at the time - I was busy completing graduate school in upstate New York and trying to fit my life into boxes so that I could move to Scotland, but years later when I eventually learned how I had missed out on it, being the fan that I am I was pretty bummed-out. Especially when I saw that she had done a black version of the original white Eugene Alexander big flower dress that Sarah Jessica Parker wore (and Whitney Houston before her in the 80s). To this day, I swear would consider trading one of my kidneys for that white dress, such is the extent of my lust. Fast forward to about two years ago. I was fiddling about on Ebay, treasure hunting as I am inclined to do, and boom! There it was. The black SATC Carrie dress from the Patricia Field + M&S capsule collection - in my size! I can honestly say that pulling the trigger on that "buy it now" auction was the fastest I've ever moved in my life. I'm certain I set some sort of global speed record, the likes of which would make Usain Bolt hang his head in shame. And it was worth it, because I seriously love this dress, although sadly if you love it too it may be a bit hard to find by now. But you never know - keep your eyes peeled, because guys...seriously. This thing is lit. SATC in a Post Me Too World I make no apologies for my love of SATC. Sure, when you re-watch some of the older episodes, there are moments when it is a bit out of step with our modern sensibilities, but that can be said for most episodic television programs whose currency is pop culture. When I hear women maligning SATC from a feminist perspective, I always remind them to look back at what was on television at that time from a female role representation perspective. When SATC started in 1998, the TV industry was only just starting to pull itself out from under the ""older sitcom dad with a hot younger wife" days. Hell - it still has one foot firmly planted in that sinkhole. Granted, there were also a fair amount of "teenaged" shows at the time, like Dawsons Creek and Charmed, but it was really just the beginning of the evolution of our era of TV into what we know in 2021. While we're on the subject, I will say that Will & Grace is another show of that time that certainly should get a shout out for representation, but I digress. Looking specifically at the representation of women in TV, in the Y2K era, female-centric TV ensemble casts were only still emerging from the Lifetime TV for Women days when the industry thought anything written about women needed to be either about some type of victimhood, or...if they were really pushing the boat out, a "crazy lady" storyline where a female rival is trying to insert herself into another woman's life and steal her man/baby/identity. You know, fighting over a man. That old nugget. But, at the end of the day, if you're not a fan, hey - we're all different. But if you're here, you probably like clothes. We all will have that in common, so even if you're not a fan of the show, seriously...turn the sound off if you must and enjoy the clothes! So many iconic looks - so many things I'm still trying to reproduce, even all these years later. Sometimes, ya just gotta let your fangirl freak flag fly! Sorry not sorry. Patricia Fields + M&S dress (2008) | Donald J. Pliner shoes (2010) | pebbled leather gold clutch from my Etsy shop | see below for similar pieces to create the look

I had the occasion to be in Glasgow last week, and as is standard operating procedure at this time of year, the weather was predictably dull and grey. As much as we all come to expect a grey sky at this time of year, this trip stood out in that it wasn't just the weather contributing to the ambiance of nondescript, gloomy ennui. Everywhere I looked, my follow humans were actively participating in the erasure of any speck of color or sartorial joy that might have accidentally leaked in to the collective field of view. I walked into M&S at one point and encountered multiple racks of black, polyester trousers. I mean, yes, everyone needs a good pair of "work pants", but come on. I could literally feel my life force draining just looking at it. And it went on like this all day. Every single person had on black, grey, navy....the "safe" colors that won't garner too much attention or stand out in a crowd. Looking down Glasgow's busy Sauciehall and Buchanan streets felt like looking at a chorus of Mao jacket-clad extras on the set of some oppressive revolutionary period piece. The sight of all that gloom got me thinking; what has happened to us!? I distinctly remember the clothing of my youth in the 70s and 80s as being so much more colorful and full of whimsy something that has spurred me on to have an absolute love of the loud, exaggerated, in your face 80s vintage clothing that was the sartorial hallmark of the era. 80s Vintage Clothing is About Color & Fun Or course, I'm speaking purely sartorially here. I understand fully what has happened to us; the global pandemic, the financial struggles, the shortages of goods (both perceived and real), the woeful political and ideological extremism, the acting-out...everyone is just...so...tired. I get it. But our eschewing of color and whimsy is not just a product of this pandemic. This phemonenon has been building for a while - sartorially since the demise of the bigger is better "me era" 80s and the rise of the goth-clad 90s manic pixie grunge girl. With that in mind, I wanted to remind us all of something that's the polar opposite of all this angst-fuelled, boring, serviceable dark clothing that seems to have taken over our collective sensibilities. Today I'm focusing on 80s vintage clothing that is in equal parts colorful, fun, wearable and ridiculous; the entirety of the 1980s aesthetic. Because when things get tough, even though it may seem appropriate, I believe it's a mistake to abandon the fun and the whimsical. It is exactly at these times that we need it more. Photos are clickable should you want any more information on any of these colorful little fun nuggets. Now go forth and be brave, and for the love of all the Gods, leave those miserable black polyester trousers on the rack where they belong.

Don't worry. I don't mean "old school" as in waxing nostalgic about the days of bullet bras and talcum powder; this isn't a piece about foundation garments or cosmetic safety. In fact, it's quite the opposite of that. (But since it came up, go ahead and rely on the Environmental Working Group's database/website for all your cosmetic safety needs.) No, this piece is a keepin' it real love letter to the cosmetics in my collection that are old. Like, really old. My favorite old beauty products from the back of the drawer. The Comfort of Favorite Old Beauty Products So much of what we see and read on social media is based around the model of influencers marketing the next best thing. And don't get me wrong, I love trying new things, but inevitably, I seem to find myself ending up reaching for the back of the drawer. I imagine cosmetic years are at least as exponentially ageing as dog years, and I'm quite certain that at this point I have more than one centenarian eyeshadow palette in my makeup collection. But isn't that the mark of a real holy grail product? From where I'm sitting, there is a lot of value in a product that you are willing to pick the lint out of repeatedly so that you can keep right on using it until you can see your reflection in the empty tin. With that in mind, here I present to you a couple of my trusty old standbys. Hopefully lint free, but probably not. Bobbi Brown Bronzer in Telluride (Matte) I purchased this Bobbi Brown Telluride bronzer in a bargain bin at TK Maxx in Glasgow, not realizing that it was a limited edition piece. I am now in the midst of a full-blown existential crisis. I'm freaking out because I can see that the end is near for this product, and a brief internet search has shown me that I'm never going to be able to find it again. This is the matte version of this bronzer, and I use it virtually every day in varying amounts, mostly just to create a bit of warmth to my look as well as ensure that whatever stage of tan I may be at, my makeup blends well. It keeps me from having to have 800 shades of BB cream in my colleciton. With my increasingly silver hair, bronzers tend to go very orange on me, so finding one like this - one that's just the right amount of warmth to complement my warm skin tone while avoiding the ubiquitous orange-based brown cast...that has been at least a decade-long quest. There are a few of the illuminating versions of this bronzer still floating around out there, but I have not been able to secure the matte version. With matte bronzers, you are really able to create a more natural look, and you always have the option to add shimmer over the top to change-up the look. I have subsequently launched into a campaign of trying to find a dupe, so this is going to be a watch this space kind of situation here folks. It's hard to find matte bronzers at the best of times, let alone in the shade I'm looking for. A few potential replacements that show early promise that I will definitely be trying in the future (not limited to matte): Korres Zea Mays Blush in Pupple Brown (hard to find - also probably discontinued), Stila Convertible Color Lip and Cheek Stain in Magnolia (discontinued in the UK, can still find it in the USA), and Guerlain Bronzing Powder in Medium Cool. Revlon Colorstay Creme Eyeshadow in Praline This is my second pot of this cream eyeshadow by Revlon. This one is a no brainer for me. It's a lovely warm pinkish shade that blends well with my skin tone. Yes, it's shimmery which can be problematic for those of us who aren't 25, but the creamy formula dries down and sort of sets in such a way that you don't need to worry about it settling into your creases. I get a lot of wear out of this stuff, and I use this most days. It's quick and easy, and I just stick a finger in, do a quick few swipes on each lid, and it gives me a bit of a glow without looking too "done", which I am not a fan of. This stuff gets me out the door fast, and I'm not messing with a bunch of brushes and colors and blending tools. I haven't tried any of the other shades yet, because quite frankly, I don't feel the need to. If I want a more dramatic eye, I often use this as a base, then build up with some of my other ancient eyeshadows on top of this to get the desired effect. But these days, this is pretty much what I wear every single day. These are available just about anywhere that carries Revlon products. Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42 in Shade 27 This is a Korean product, and it has been on the scene for a while. Finding the right shade can be a bit tricky with very little to go on other than online research and watching YouTubers half your age apply twice as much product as you would use, but with a relatively low price tag of around $10-$15 in the US, you can afford to experiment. It's a bit more in the UK through mainstream beauty suppliers, but there is a workaround. More on that in a minute The coverage of this product is quite sheer despite the very rich texture, so even if you get the shade slightly wrong as I did initially, you can still kind of get away with it. (For the record, Shade 23 was too light for me, and is a very cool undertoned light to medium shade that looks grey in the tube - but don't let it scare you. it would be perfect for someone with a light/medium complexion and cool undertones ). Shade 27 was the shade that I ultimately landed on, and it is a perfect match for my yellow-undertoned and often tanned skin. This product has a way of sort of emulsifying once it's on your skin and it really becomes quite seamless. Even if you feel initially that the shade may not be ideal, sit with it a moment, it takes a few minutes to fully settle. Incidentally, this photo is a representation of their older shade offerings. I believe they have since expanded it a bit more. This stuff has a good SPF comprised of a combo of a common chemical sunscreen and a mineral zinc oxide physical sunscreen. A little goes a very long way with this product; it lasts all day, has buildable coverage, and I absolutely love it. As I said earlier, it can be slightly more expensive (not much more) and harder to find in the UK, but if you can wait a few weeks, order it from Korean sites like YesStyle and you'll get it for half of what they sell it for on Amazon and other UK beauty sites.

Welp...here it is. Phase one of the embracing of my waviness - I've cut my hair into a wavy shag. I can't say I ever thought I would voluntarily choose a style that got anywhere near *eek* curly bangs (thats a curly fringe for you UK dwellers), but I've been letting this cut settle in for almost a month now, and it really is absolutely perfect for the amount of time and energy that I normally want to spend on my hair, which essentially as little as possible. I find that I am wearing my hair down every day now, which for at least the past fifteen years or so has definitely not been my default. I use a loose ponytail with a silky scrunchie on top of my head to sleep, pull it out in the morning, and it's pretty much ready for action. If I need to floof it up a bit to get the waves to pop out more, I spray it with water to reactivate the product in it and scrunch my waves back into some sort of shape (that they themselves determine). Yes, this sometimes creates frizz, but I'm working on adding just the right amount of product to try and mitigate this. Finding the Right Products for My Wavy Shag Haircut Products however are still very much a work in progress. In my last post about my hair, I had been following the Curly Girl Method. While I have absolutely embraced some aspects of Curly Girl (like sticking to sulfate and silicone-free products), the method was not 100% right for my fine but dense salt and pepper waves - it was simply too much product. If you go online and watch a few videos of wavy and curly YouTubers demonstrating the method, the amount of product that these gals are putting on their heads is downright obscene. And, as it turned out, not at all what my hair wants or needs. When I was following the method by rote using the amount of product that was encouraged by the online multiverse, by day 2 my hair felt dirty and was somehow both frizzy and oily at the same time from all the product. It was also making my scalp itch. There was so much product sitting on my strands, my scalp, and at the bottom of my shower it's a miracle I didn't break my neck slipping on all the slime. Plus, my silver hairs were beginning to display a most unbecoming shade of yellowish green. Thankfully the hairdresser set me straight when I went for my cut. An old hand at managing textured hair, he essentially told me I did not need to go all the way down the Curly Girl rabbit hole to make this work. And thank the Gods for that. So for any of you who are trying to embrace your natural texture and like me, have fine, dense, wavy hair like mine (which is about a 2B-2C) , here are some things that might help you. As it turns out, against what everything online will tell you, less can actually be more with the conditioner - use a dab not much bigger than a dime, rub your hands together, and pull it through, concentrating on the ends. Comb it through before rinsing it out. All of it. (I use either a tangle teaser or my wide tooth comb to do this, btw.) Lose the deep conditioners. Instead, use your preferred everyday one (silicone and sulphate free), and just leave it in longer if you need a shot of moisture. Avoid products with heavy butters, oils, and waxes. Products designed for curly hair are notoriously filled with heavy shea butter, coconut oil, and other heavy products. Seriously, these days everything is coconut and/or shea butter. I'm getting pretty sick of the smell of coconut, and I love coconut. Yes, these products are natural, but they build up really quickly, and I found that they dulled my hair right down. You'll have to experiment to see what works for you and in what quantity. Pay attention to product ingredient labels. While you don't need a degree in chemistry (although it would definitely help), familiarize yourself with what all these long, funny chemical words actually are. One great resource is the Is it Curly Girl website, which has a page that lets you plug in ingredients and it tells you whether or not the product is compatible with the Curly Girl Method. Whether or not you follow the method to the letter matters not, because what the page does do is provide a breakdown of what each ingredient is in a product and what it does for your hair, making it easier for you to eventually recognize these ingredients and identify products that work. Ultimately, what works for me may not work for you, but if your hair is fine, dense, and a mixture of coarse silvers and natural color, here are some of the products that have worked for me thus far with this wavy shag haircut: Innersense Create Volume Hair Volumizing Lotion - a fantastic volumizing lotion that really helps bring out the curl. A teeny bit applied to soaking wet hair is all it takes. this product manages to be both incredibly lightweight and moisturizing, and is completely natural and environmentally friendly as well! Superdrug Mousse (UK) I stumbled upon this mousse because I was looking to try a bunch of Curly Girl friendly products out without breaking the bank if they didn't work. At £1.99, this mousse certainly does not break the bank. While I don't use this every day, it does provide a nice lightweight hold. Innersense Create Lift Volumizing Foam - this mousse is incredible. Like the Volumizing lotion, a little goes a long way with this Create Lift foam. This mousse is light enough to use with other products, but equally is effective enough to use on its own, and has amazing hold! Bonus - it smells amazing! Giovanni 50/50 Balanced Hydrating-Clarifying Shampoo - gently cleans and gets rid of buildup without stripping the living daylights out of your hair. Free of all the bad stuff, sulfates, silicones, parabens, mineral oil....all of it.

I have been sort of conscious of the fact that I haven't posted about the hair thing in a while. I live with this mop of salt and pepper madness, so to me it's sort of a foregone conclusion, but there are SO MANY of you out there still responding to my grey hair transition posts even all these years later ( it has to have been at least seven years now), so it has been in my mind for a while to do a follow up. About six months ago I was admiring the bounce and definition of one of my colleague's natural ringlets. She told me she had been following The Curly Girl Method. This method of caring for naturally curly and wavy hair will be well familiar to many of you, but for someone like myself who has pretty much treated her hair as a thing you tie on top of your head and go, I had to look it up. I'll spare you the very detailed explanation here, but suffice it to say you do away with all things silicone, sulfate, blow drying (unless with a diffuser on cool), and heat styling. There are a lot of products involved (like...a lot of products) but you essentially just develop a routine that cleanses the hair without stripping, provides a ton of moisture, and as a result your hair's natural inclination, whatever that may be, takes over once your hair is healthy and hydrated. And so, the Wavy Hair Journey Begins... Long story short - after an initial "clarifying" shampoo to rid the hair of built-up silicones which coat the hair and prevent moisture from entering the hair shaft (ironically, I always relied pretty heavily on these to battle my considerable frizz), you go through a transition while your hair takes on moisture naturally and your "real hair" emerges. You guys. I was not prepared for my real hair. All these years of thinking I had "a slight bend" to my hair has been a lie. Every hairdresser who ever told me my hair had a "lot of body" has been a bad actor for the Flatiron Deep State. This is only day four, and I am already very solidly a 2b-3a on the wavy-curly hair scale. Everything about what I thought to be true of my hair, the constant frizz, the heaviness, the poofiness - all of it has been a result of my hair not being allowed to be who it really is. I feel like a terrible parent who forces her kid into gender-specific clothing in an attempt to "correct" something. I'm an abusive "hairent" (sorry), and I'm so very, very ashamed. I've managed to live nearly 50 years on the planet with absolutely no idea that I had hair this curly. So. Now what!? Well, definitely a haircut then. My self-scissoring ham-fistedness is not gonna cut it now that I have all these Medusa waves to contend with. I have made an appointment in the first week of August to go see someone in Glasgow who knows what he is doing with curly heads. For the first time in ages, possibly ever, I'm excited to go to a salon. So stay tuned for that - this is a work in progress. There's gonna be a new cut in my future, which I'll show you guys once I've done it. Until then, please feel free to learn from, and also laugh openly at, my ignorance. It takes a special person to go nearly 50 years without understanding her own hair type.

A Happy 4th of July to my fellow Americans! Yes, it can feel a bit odd celebrating the 4th when you live most of the year in the UK. Even if you happen to be doing it from the confines of your post international flight 10 day quarantine, as I am. Yes, best you stay right there...that's close enough. Don't come any closer, I could start to turn at any minute. You have to admit it's more than a little funny celebrating severed ties from British oppression when you are living in actual Britain with an actual British person, while paying taxes to the actual British government. Funny how things tend to level-out in life isn't it? Despite our best efforts, The Universe always manages to return to a state of homeostasis. If only we could get a copy of the script it's working from. That would be neat. Taking Back the Pants; Ultra Flare Star Jeans Okay, I know, I know. We have to talk about these pants. Yes, I know. Star print ultra flare jeans are a lot to take in. That's the point of the exercise - stay with me. I reached for these on purpose today, it being the 4th and all. I have heard a lot of consternation all over social media over the last several years regarding the co opting of symbols of Americana to serve extreme, right wing views. I'm not here to argue that this isn't a thing, because a brief internet search will demonstrate to even the dimmest of wits that this is absolutely, demonstrably a thing. Stars, flags, eagles...whatever, have all been herded into a corral that leads to a life of servitude to causes that they were never ever designed to support. Racism. Nationalism. Misogyny. It gets ugly. But here's the thing. When your spectacularly drunk uncle is making a scene in the parking lot of the local bar at closing time, waving his keys around and throwing verbal abuse at anyone who will listen, do you react by swearing off driving for life, changing your name, and moving to a different state to avoid any potential association? Of course not. You take away his keys, throw him in a cab and tell him to go work on himself. It's the same with these co-opted American images - the eagles, stars, flags...whatever, that many have come to associate with the right wing extremist idea of "patriotism" (read: violence). Why on earth would you hand over the metaphorical keys to these people? I'm wearing stars. It's a pair of jeans with stars on them. They're jeans, and jeans are for everybody - the way our country is supposed to be for everybody. However, our country isn't working well for everybody at the moment, so it falls to those of us who still have enough energy left to take the keys away from the violent extremists, the conspiracy enablers, the racists, the Q-loving mouth breathers, and all other manner of disinformation consuming no goodniks and send them off in a cab to go work on themselves. It is absolutely possible to love and appreciate your country and at the same time want it to do and be better, despite what the people at Fox tell you. This is not a zero sum equation, and it is a false choice to present it as such. It's simple really; be the change, wear the pants. Everybody gets to wear the pants.

The above photo is from an article I recently happened upon on the website Corporette. Despite the fact that I am not, never have been, and likely never will be a person with a corporate job, the article grabbed my attention because it was all about one's "daily shlep" - the sheer amount of stuff we carry with us to and from work, or anywhere else we may be headed. While I'm certainly not of the mind that there is a "right" amount of stuff to carry with you at any given time (that's personal and down to how much you're willing to carry), those of us who move about quite a bit can probably relate to my newfound near obsession with bags that are comfy, practical, and allow you to be hands-free. The Perfect Functional Hands Free Handbag It's not as easy as just finding a good quality, functional hands-free handbag that speaks to you that has a good crossbody style, or even a bandolier-type strap that enables you to covert it as you need to. I continually remind myself of this when I ram a bunch of my daily "essentials" (a term I use lightly when it comes to handbags) into my leather Dooney & Bourke Florentine Satchel, to date my absolute favourite handbag, and about 30 minutes in, if I'm wearing it as a crossbody, the bandolier strap is pinching my shoulder. Am I going to die? No. Does that mean I give up on my Dooney? GOD no. Never. But a substantial leather bag, loaded to the gills is probably not the bag for long-haul, hands free wear, if only because you end up thinking about it. Personally, I end up having to switch shoulders a lot if I'm out for a long time, because that little pinch of a reminder of its presence is annoying AF. I have finally laid aside my rather inflexible belief that the best bags are multi-functional and built like tanks, and come around to appreciate smaller bags that have been designed specifically to be worn as crossbody bags. Many of these can also work as a "bag inside a bag" - a small bag you can carry inside your larger tote for when you just want to nip in without the hassle of a large bag. Here are a few that I've come to appreciate, some vintage, some new. Have a happy, healthy, non-pinchy hands-free summer of finally getting to be on the move again! For more info on any of these bags, click on the photos!

For the record, I don't smoke. That's a piece of chalk. I was going for a look. And yes. I'm in Florida right now. It's long overdue, and the weeds I've been pulling around the yard this past week are a testament to that. But weeds notwithstanding, we've all had our wings clipped for a while, and now that moving around again is within reach, it is officially time to unleash my inner sartorial Florida Woman. That said, this look isn't really even true to the more modern permutation of Florida Woman. You know, the one that makes the paper after she pulls a baby alligator out of her yoga pants at a traffic stop, or goes on a shoplifting spree dressed as a giant turkey. No, this permutation is more old school. I'm thinking more along the lines of Slim Aarons Poolside meets Absolutely Fabulous. Florida Woman Fashion - Myth vs Reality Florida is an easy target, and I suppose for good reason. There is a loud contingency of people willing to stick their necks out to uphold our internationally recognized unhinged armed backwater MAGA on meth reputation. To each his own I suppose, but moving forward as we slowly dare to allow ourselves a smidge of hope for a more sanity-adjacent tomorrow, surely our warm weather wardrobes shouldn't feel like they too need to grow up and get all serious. To my mind, that would be a mistake. License to don insanely bright colors and patterns is one of the things I love about Florida, and by extension Florida woman fashion. I can throw on a flaming neon pink and green shift over my swimsuit, step into my cowboy boots, strap on my glitter flames motorcycle helmet and hop on my powder blue scooter for quick trip to the grocery store and be assured that I will absolutely not be the craziest-looking person in the place. In this post, I'm encouraging every one of you to embrace your inner Florida woman - the sartorial one, not the alligator-down-the-yoga-pants one. I'm featuring some recently (and not so recently) added pieces to the vintage shop, like this incredible late 60s-70s leopard print, kimono sleeve caftan I'm wearing. This baby is the real deal. You can click on the photos in the post if you want more info on any of these pieces. Not quite ready to go full Florida Woman? No worries. It's summer, the reality of going somewhere on vacation again is quickly becoming a reality again, and you can still incorporate fun, OTT tropical realness into your style game in small ways, no matter where you might be. *Baby alligators not included with any of the pieces featured.

When you hail from America's Dairyland as I do (that's the US state of Wisconsin to those of you not totally familiar with the American states), and The Universe sees fit to show you an ad that highlights the fact that after nearly a half a century you do not yet own a pair of Holstein print cowboy boots, there really is only one thing to do. Yeah, I pulled the trigger. As much as I don't really need anything new these days, sometimes you just have to. These aptly-named "Live a Little" boots by Dingo are the ultimate statement piece, and my new favorite thing. To create a look, they really require nothing from you other than to just show up. They work well as an accent to a simple monochromatic look , but equally are pretty darn fun to do a bit of pattern mixing with, or just to pair with a dress or skirt to take things in a bit of an unexpected direction. I paired it with this Dylan Babydoll denim shirt from Free People (which in retrospect I wish I'd gotten in a Medium instead of a Large but oh well), and just a simple plain black tank top and grey skinnies. That's it. Same basic pandemic uniform of t shirts and jeans, but now with 40% more cow! Just because things have gotten sartorially a lot more casual during the last year does not mean things have to be boring. Amirite? Above: Dingo "Live a Little" cow print boots | Free People Dylan Babydoll Top | snowflake obsidian drop earrings (old), similar | snowflake obsidian bead bracelets (old), similar Below: Boots as above | Vintage 90s Leopard Print Shirt | Y2K Vintage Wrangler Distressed Denim Skirt w/ Embroidery | Leather Medallion Belt

I've had these Free People "Just Float On" flare jeans for about a year and a half now, and I absolutely love them. They're really long and swooshy, high-waisted and stretchy, as comfortable as sweatpants, and man do they bring the drama to anything you put with them. These flares' superpower is the ability to turn something as simple a t shirt and jeans into a LEWK. I had them on a few months ago on my way in to work, and as I passed through the lobby, two of my coworkers literally stopped mid conversation and just stared at my flares. I do not know if it was in a good kind of way or not, but to me, it matters not. Sartorially, that kind of reaction is part of the joy born of picking strong pieces, and it's how I know when I'm doing something right. Styling a Pair of Ultra Flare Jeans Today I've paired these jeans with a simple grey tank and this vintage 70s double knit tribal print vest. I'm becoming more and more a fan of the vest as a layering piece in my old age. I find them especially useful when you are in and out of aggressively air conditioned places in your warm weather clothes. Not that air conditioning is a thing here in Scotland (it's more of a theoretical construct than an actual thing we need), but when I'm on the other side of the pond, I am constantly getting caught out in grocery stores and restaurants. Back when we were actually going to restaurants...remember that? Aggressive air conditioning aside, we have another matter to discuss. If you're looking for a bridge measure to help ease you back into your skinny jeans as we slowly start to work our way back into public life (or any jeans for that matter), I recommend giving these ultra flare jeans a test run. They make many different colors and washes, and as I said, they're at least as comfy as sweatpants, and they're dramatic, so nobody would accuse you of slacking sartorially. The bottom line: after over a year in our stretchy yoga pants, sweats and leggings, it just doesn't seem fair to stampede straight over to the skinny jeans the minute public health officials let us out into the pasture again, am I right? Even the very thought of putting real trousers on again is probably enough to send some of us over the edge. I mean, can you imagine wearing corduroys right now!? I actually feel faint at the thought. Free People jeans (product link above) | vest from my Etsy shop | thrifted leather belt, similar |turquoise chip bead bracelets (old), similar | Turquoise ring (old), similar | turquoise necklace (old), similar vibe

I used to love it when we all used to wear these little denim vests over our sundresses. IF you had a particularly boobalicious dress (like this one can be if you make too sudden a move), it gives you a bit of a protective layer. It also makes you feel a bit less full-on naked when you go into a grocery store in the heat of summer and are confronted with the AC and the freezers all going full-tilt. This little 90s era vest is nice because it hangs at an angle, so the points of the corners of the vest sort of slope inwards towards the waist to create a nice visual shape. All these items are secondhand. All available in the shop. Except the t-strap wedges. Those are mine, and I'm not sharing. •90s Tropical Sundress •90s Cropped Denim Vest •2000s Unionbay Western Style Handbag •Tooled Leather "Nicaragua" Flip Flops (below)