And I’ll be wearing the vintage wedding dress that I had transformed into a ballet-length beauty.
What did it look like before? This.
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And let’s say that opera was the Marriage of Figaro. What would you wear?
A wedding dress? Of course you would.
I found this beauty at a vintage shop and even though I’m already hitched I had to have it.
I’m getting it shortened so it will be more of a ballet length as opposed to an I’m-going-to-the-chapel length. (I’ll post the “after” shot along with the big reveal of my Hammer pants post-makeover.)
I’m guessing the dress is from the sixties. But the spookiest part about it? The initials sewn inside — they’re mine.
It is also a learning experience. And because this was my first year attending the music and arts festival in the desert, I thought I’d compile a list of the top 10 things I learned at Coachella 2010.
1. The desert is hot.
2. A little barf won’t ruin a Phoenix concert. (After the guy next to me leaned over in the middle of the show and puked his guts outs, I contemplated leaving. But, like a true fan, he kept on rockin’ so I did too.)
3. Tweeting about that barf will get you written up in LA Weekly.
4. Major Lazer can hype a crowd like no other. See exhibit A, which, I should warn you, isn’t exactly suitable for work.
5. Icelandic is the world’s prettiest language. It doesn’t matter if you can’t understand a word of it, when it’s sung by Jón Birgisson of Jonsi, it’s like watching doves fly under a rainbow on a summer morning.
6. Wearing a New Kids on the Block t-shirt will make you new friends.
7. Some bands will blow you away live. (I’ll see you in Vancouver, Temper Trap.)
8. Others won’t. (Sorry, XX, I’ll buy your next album, but I’ll pass on your next show.)
9. Canadian flags look out of place among palm trees.
10. Paris and Nicky Hilton are much prettier in person.
Have you been to Coachella? Are you going? 2011, anyone?
I had no idea how beautiful the landscape would be. What was I picturing? Flat lands and a million swimming pools. But now that I’m here, I’m in love. The desert, the mountains, the colour of the sky at sunset — it is so beautiful.
Which is why I am even more excited about Coachella.
So what did I bring with me? This vintage, floral, fluttery number. Perfect for the desert, but it wasn’t always this way. Back in the day it was long. Like Rachel Zoe long. And it was gorgeous, but just too heavy to wear.
But back to Coachella. Lexie, you were wondering which bands I am dying to see (and re-see)? Today it’s Yeasayer (who will be playing in Vancouver on April 21), Passion Pit (even though I just saw them on Sunday), the dance-tastic LCD Soundsystem, the one and only Jay Z and my boy Erlend of the Whitest Boy Alive.
And because my husband loves them, we’re also going to see the way-too-heavy-for-my-taste Dillinger Escape Plan. But we won’t go anywhere near the front of the stage for this reason.
Man, I cannot wait.
First photo found here.
Oh! Miike Snow. Their show the other night in Vancouver was so gat dang fantastic, they have me seriously considering re-seeing them at Coachella this weekend. Even though their set time conflicts with Phoenix.
And you know how much I really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really love Phoenix. (Coachella, you are cruel for pitting these two against each other.)
But Swedish pop powerhouse Miike Snow put on the second-best show I’ve ever seen. (What was the best show, you ask? It’s a tie between !!! (Chk Chk Chk) and that Britney Spears show where she threw a tantrum and stormed off the stage.)
So what do I do? Stand by my old love, Phoenix? Or ditch them for my new love? Help!
P.S. I’ll be tweeting my face off from Coachella. So follow me.
These beautiful specimens have been sitting in my friend Melissa’s closet since the eighties. And when clearing out her closet one day she thought of me (biggest compliment ever) and generously handed them over.
Notice the pleats…observe the tapering…
It’s almost too much to handle, isn’t it?
I’m getting them tailored as I type and I am praying to MC Hammer that they turn into rad, wearable shorts. Will let you know how it goes.
Want to see some other hideous “before” shots? Take a look here. And here.
the more fun it is to accessorize.
Short shorts, long jacket and Frye boots? Sounds pretty classic to me. Which means it’s game on. Bonus points if the accessories hold memories.
Take, for example, the gold bracelet I found during my recent trip to Playa del Carmen, Mexico. It reminds me of sun, sand and, well, shopping.
Then there’s the blue and gold bracelet I found at CRS Trading Post in Britannia Beach. Stopped there on our way to Whistler last weekend, which means it reminds me of sun, snow and, well, shopping.
The Trading Post is also where I found my car’s newest accessory, the dream catcher. Which reminds me: I should start planning some dreamy roadtrips for the summer.
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Wish I could spend all my days in Playa del Carmen.
I could get used to a beachy-keen lifestyle.
But my favourite spot to swim? It wasn’t the beach but a giant freshwater cenote (sinkhole doesn’t sound nearly as romantic, does it?). Cenote Ikil was cold, full of fish and dripping with Lost-style vines. Add to that the fact that it was a reported 54 metres(!) deep and you’ve got the coolest, spookiest swimming hole in the Yucatan.
I’ve been back in Vancouver a few weeks now but I desperately want to head back to Mexico. Now.
My tangerine dress? It’s from Zara. My suitcase? It’s bulging full of ridiculously bulky sweaters and scarves.
Seriously, who goes to a place like this and buys big woolly things?
Look to Mother Nature. Because she know what she’s doing. And if a colour palette is good enough for her, then it’s good enough for me.
Let’s take the peacock feather for example. The forest green, the deep purple, the navy blue and, when the light hits it right, the splash of yellow. (The peacock headpiece, by the way, is one of two custom pieces made for me by Vancouver’s Alice Hart.)
Stripes, florals, miscellaneous geometric patterns — they all work together beautifully when Mama N picks the palette.
She makes the potentially disastrous practice of print-mixing as foolproof as can be.
In fact, I’d say she’s the best stylist a gal could ask for.
And it was finally spring-y enough to wear a summer dresses (underneath a faux fur jacket, but still).
This particular number I found in Turkey last summer. And it’s got everything I love in a dress — bat-wing sleeves, light material and a beautiful print. Makes me think I need to get a similar one made in a different print.
My boots? Didn’t have to travel quite so far to find them. They’re from Umeboshi on Main Street.