Midnight Garden Dress

May 2013: Midnight Garden Day
Photo by Sarah Cloud Peterson
When I first read that this month's "How I Wear My..." project would be devoted to florals, I didn't think I could participate. Oh, I savor a rainbow of flowers as much as anyone; but they tend to make me uncomfortable on expanses of fabric, especially fabric that some designer wants me to wear. Splashy tulips on my thighs? Peonies sprawling across my chest?

Then I remembered this dress. It was a floral I couldn't resist: dark, dense, and saturated, which is really the only way I happily wear a floral. Like a midnight garden. It's as simple as that.

The dress was designed by one of my favorite media personages, Clinton Kelly of the USA's What Not to Wear fame. The man is funny and sharply intelligent; he really wants to help people feel good about themselves; and he understands color, camouflage, and emphasizing a waistline. I would normally feel cheesy ordering a celebrity-designed garment from a television shopping network, but I made a happy exception for Clinton, and I continue to monitor his line.


May 2013: Midnight Garden Detail
Photo by Sarah Cloud Peterson

Did I mention that the dress is machine washable? And it has a story now, too. Here's something I wrote to Clinton on Facebook last summer. It may also help you, my readers, understand a little more about me and clothes:

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I started watching What Not to Wear reruns randomly during the winter of 2008. I was spending long, tired hours on the sofa, nursing my first baby. I was wearing tapered jeans and shapeless shirts - mostly black, left from goth days long ago; thirty pounds of extra weight were clinging to me; and there was no time to cut my straggly hair.

But after some weeks of WNTW, and reading the companion book and several other style books, I was motivated to drop the weight so I could feel better in prettier clothes. I tried (and still use) Carmindy's five minute face, adapted for my pallor and lingering goth tendencies. I branched out into richly colored clothing, and I don't bother with anything that won't let me accentuate my decent waist and bustline. I cut blunt bangs one night, and dyed my difficult-to-maintain faded auburn hair chocolate brown after watching numerous inspiring Nick and Ted segments.

Clinton, you and Stacy made me laugh and inspired me. All of the staff -- and many of the participants -- warmed my heart. Feel good about yourself and what you have, but just...work it all more and better!

And bless you, Clinton, for making a pretty knee length dress in a rich palette, easy fabrics, and flattering cut. --June 27, 2012

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With my note, I'd posted a quick snapshot of me in the dress -- a more summery look that day; the same cardigan and bag you see here, but with bare legs (it's really hard for me to show my legs but it was hot outside), a little gold necklace, sunglasses, and gold wedge sandals. Clinton wrote back(!):

"sarah, you look amazing! thank you so much for sharing this pic!!! i showed a bunch of friends at work and they all agreed you are rocking it OUT! you did me proud! and thanks for your note. it made me super-happy to read!"


  May 2013: Midnight Garden Day II
Photo by Sarah Cloud Peterson

My only issue with Clinton's line is that there is some vanity size inflation. On a good day, I'm at the large end of Small or the small end of Medium for mass market garments. After reading reviews of this dress, I ordered an Extra Small and it was a good fit. I've never been an XS before in my life. The waist of the chiffon overdress has even become a bit voluminous for me after dropping a few more pounds, so yesterday I did a trial run with a wide belt.

Before I leave, I'll recommend my favorite book by Clinton. It holds the basics of his style and fit advice, as well as tasty easy recipes (my husband loves the "Swedish" Meatballs); an unpretentious wine guide, tips on modern manners and good grammar, and ideas for decorating and entertaining, all in his wryly funny voice:

Freakin' Fabulous: How to Dress, Speak, Behave, Eat, Drink, Entertain, Decorate, and Generally Be Better than Everyone Else.

Four and a half stars, friends. I'm not alone in loving this guy, and his book.

Chiffon wrap dress with chemise, Kelly by Clinton Kelly. Silk/cotton cardigan, Charter Club. Tights, We Love Colors. Silver dangle earrings, hand-me-alongs. Green cocktail ring, gift from Abs. Mexican silver hemisphere ring inherited from Great Aunt Elsie. Gunmetal leather Avis belt, Moss Mills. Purse, Coccinelle. Jailyn ankle boots, Børn.

Supper Clubbing

Hotel Seymour, Seymour, Wisconsin
Image source unknown

"Supper club" can mean a few different things to people of different milieus: Supper Club State.

But here in Wisconsin, a classic supper club is probably going to be a restaurant with a humble atmosphere, wood paneling and genuine vintage décor, and several decades of history. There will be a bar that mixes up brandy old fashioneds, and hearty food like piles of fish fry and prime rib specials. You'll likely find either a "relish bar" where you load your plate with cheese spreads, pickles, banana peppers, and crudités; or a small salad bar, complete with stewed beets and whipped Jell-O confections.

You'll be welcome in jeans and a battered tee. You'll fit in just as well in country club knits or khaki cargo shorts or a pantsuit and jewels or a crisp shirt and tie or a chiffon cocktail dress or a baseball jersey.

I saw all and more on our recent visit to the Hotel Seymour in Seymour, Wisconsin. There were people of all ages, of many walks, with all sorts of things to celebrate. They were seated on stackable banquet chairs 'round vinyl-covered tables with laminated number cards, tucking into their Chicken Cordon Bleu, Hand Battered Lake Perch, or the Saturday Slow Roasted Prime Rib.

 May 2013: Getaway Outfit
From original photo by Ruth Peterson

I grab the chances I get to dress up a bit, like date night with my husband this Saturday, but I didn't want to be too fancy. Dark jeans, a blouse, kitten heels, and a leather jacket were perfect for driving north into the countryside, sitting at a friendly bar watching the Brewers baseball game, then heading to the dining room.

I had to walk carefully: the bartender had made me a whomping dirty martini. Strong, tall, and tasty. She held her hand over the olive bowl, ready to strain the brine into the shaker. "You tell me how much," she said. "Everybody's dirty is different."


May 2013: Getaway Detail I
From original photo by Ruth Peterson

I'd been craving a fitted leather jacket for some months, especially after observing a couple of chic French (or so I suspect) moms at my daughter's school, and watching a lot of Castle reruns. Detective Beckett rocks the little leather jackets.

But I worried that black would be too badass for me, and brown too boring with my coloring. Charcoal grey was a possibility, but then I came across this sveltely shaped, wonderfully wine-hued jacket on sale for a very tolerable number on 6pm.com. I didn't get my hopes up before it arrived, but I sighed with happy relief as soon as I examined it: interesting and resilient leather but not stiff; sturdy hardware, including a hang chain; a thick, smooth satin lining; and a good fit open or zipped.


May 2013: Getaway Detail II
From original photo by Ruth Peterson

The Chicago Tribune just posted a review of a new book on the subject of supper clubs: Ron Faiola's Wisconsin Supper Clubs: An Old-Fashioned Experience. Faiola writes: "If there is a common thread in these establishments, beyond the ubiquitous brandy old-fashioned and relish tray, it is family."

Indeed, we would be just fine bringing our tots to most supper clubs, and the bars make kiddie cocktails alongside the old fashioneds. But they're time-honored fun for a grown up date getaway, too.

Sunglasses, Target. Pearl earrings, gift from husband. Leather jacket, BB Dakota. Chevron blouse, Ann Taylor. Pearl and vintage silverwear necklace, gift from Abs -- Silverwear by Marissa Saneholtz. Levi's 512 bootcut jeans. Walnut zebra slingbacks, AK Anne Klein. Purse, Coccinelle.

Goldflame Fronds

May 2013: Kitchen Sink Still Life
Chopsticks, Porcelain, Spirea
Photo by Sarah Cloud Peterson

My mom was in town this weekend, and kept the kids under her watchful and loving eye while I caught up on rest, paper letters, and projects. Oh, and a date with my husband, but more on that later. I was also able to do my spring shrub trimming, secure in the knowledge that the kids wouldn't careen into my realm of growling blades and projectile twigs.

My reward for trimming the shrubs: landscaping that is not too much of an embarrassment to the neighborhood; and some fiery fronds of goldflame spirea. I love its sunset tones early in the year: autumn in spring. I am not usually fond of orange and green together, but I'll make an exception for the window over my kitchen sink.

How I Wear My Metallics

Lanvin Paris (Faubourg Saint-Honoré) Shop Window, November 2012
Image via WindowsWear
Striking fashion blogger and busy mom Jill of Everything Just So included my thrift shop & pewter clutch outfit in her How I Wear My: Metallics post. Thank you, Jill!

Adrienne of The Rich Life (on a budget) shares several more participants in this month's challenge.

I really do love a muted bronze or soft pewter bag, flat, belt, jewelry...and I've always got an eye open for the perfect subtle metallic pump. The things I choose go with most hues and mix with other metallics, and they work for all seasons and most situations.

Oh, I'll wear a metallic flat to death, and then I'll spend hours looking for another pair that will go everywhere with me. I've written on the quest before: "...not too gold, not too silver, not too gunmetal, not too copper, not too pearl; not too blingy with jewels, not too prim with little ballerina bows, not too plain with nothing at all; not too flat, not too chunky..."

I tried to do without a metallic flat last year -- I decided to try deep burgundy as a neutral instead. But I felt hampered. The pop of subtle color was helpful with some outfits, but with others, it didn't work. And what to wear with my burgundy outfits without seeming matchy-matchy!?

No, this spring I'm back to Børn's Molly in the perfect soft pewter-bronze Tartufo shade.

Popping Tags

April 2013: Chenille Jacket Outing
Photo by Sarah Cloud Peterson
Theme song: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis -- "Thrift Shop", but of course! BAD LANGUAGE WARNING. I'm just not fond of the "clean" version with all its silly squishy editing; sorry.

Finally we're into fifty-something degree weather, so I can pull out my fitted jacket collection. Oh, I love a fitted little jacket.

This one was a serendipitous Goodwill find. My daughter and I took a shift at the Girl Scout cookies table at the city Goodwill last month. The other moms and I agreed: why not do some shopping when our shifts were done? I allowed myself just a very brief go-round and happened upon this jacket: sturdy old worldish tapestry in some of my favorite shades; pleasing bronze grapevine buttons on the cuffs; well-constructed inside, all the seams neatly piped; and a nice fit.

The black leather pumps were a Goodwill find this week, after I'd found spotless pink and white gym shoes and black patent Mary Janes in my daughter's new size. Kid feet grow so fast, I'm only willing to buy them new footwear if it's urgent. It feels satisfyingly home-makerly to find just what we need, in clean shape, for single digit numbers. I've needed basic black leather pumps for years, and there they were with their subtly sexy little notches, for $3.99.


April 2013: Goodwill Pumps
Photo by Sarah Cloud Peterson


April 2013: Jacket Back
Photo by Sarah Cloud Peterson

The clutch: it's from the Marc Jacobs for Target collection. I'd eyed the clutch in a magazine well before the holidays. Just as I hoped, I snagged the pewter color for half price a few days after the New Year.

Trying to do my self-portrait thing on a windy day...

  April 2013: Waiting Out the Wind
Photo by Sarah Cloud Peterson   Chenille jacket, David Brooks via Goodwill. Black non-iron shirt, Brooks Brothers. Grey jeans, Jones New York. Leather pumps, Apt. 9 via Goodwill. Pewter leather clutch, Marc Jacobs for Target. Rings, antique family pieces. Pearl earrings, gift from husband. Gold necklace of small pendants collected since childhood.

Desktop Polish

April 2013: Desktop Polish
Photo by Sarah Cloud Peterson

Let's face it: I don't have the solo time or cash for professional manicures, and they'd be silly anyway, with all the hands-on housework and gardening I do. I'm interested in long-lasting gel manicures for special events in the future, but it's just a topic for research right now.

I do find moments to push my cuticles back gently with a washcloth in the shower. And when I have a half hour or so of writing or Facebooking to do, I'll either rub in hand cream, or paint my fingernails and toenails. I type carefully, and the drying time goes quickly as I catch up on my internet entertainments. I have this little tray under my desk lamp, a constant query: Will you be sitting still at your computer for a while? Time for a touch up.

Here we have OPI's "Cosmo-Not Tonight, Honey," a champagne shimmer for my fingertips -- chips don't show up so blatantly. And right now, for my toenails, we have "Black Cherry Chutney" -- a blackest red with a barely detectable pearl; and "Diva of Geneva" -- a trickish burgundy-plum-deep magenta shimmer, depending on your light.

I was attracted to the French Oak and Belgian Linen scents in the Christmas Restoration Hardware catalogue. Rather than paying $40+ for a candle or $16 for a shower gel, though, I opted for the $5 stocking stuffer jars of hand cream.

The scents are...interesting. I did some googling of the scent names before I ordered, in case other bloggers had provided further analysis, but they hadn't. So in case anyone else does a similar search, I'll blog up my observations.

French Oak is described as "Herbes de Provence mingled with purple iris, white oak and a hint of smoky wood." It is not at all the soft herbal I was expecting. It's a sharp, fresh, crisp blend -- like a handful of fresh lavender, basil, rosemary, and thyme crushed in your fingers, and add some cedar shavings. I don't perceive the softness of iris or the hearthside richness of smoke.

Belgian Linen is described as "Creamy sandalwood and Egyptian absolute tuberose, warmed by vanilla bean and incense." I don't know what such a blend has to do with Belgian linen care, but here's softness and warmth. I do get that classic "white linen" note on first application -- not clean household laundry, but the starchy, almost powdery aldehyde of white linen in perfumery. A good housekeeper has just sprayed and ironed her linen tablecloth. It blends smoothly with soft sandalwood, faint warm spices, and what I detect as gentle amber and fresh cream. Yes, maybe vanilla's in there, but it's not a sweet gourmand scent.

Winning Pictures

April 2013: Composition and Chance
Photo by Sarah Cloud Peterson
Just for fun... Here I'm reading my Kodak Books How to Take Winning Pictures guide, original publication date 1985, my copy 1994. I'd gathered it up from my childhood room over Christmas in Michigan.

It was a quick but fruitful read. A lot of the information is still helpful and inspiring for all sorts of pictures: portraits, landscapes, cityscapes, close ups, night shots, still lifes, animals, action shots... The less technical advice about choosing time of day, environments, mood, and compositional elements can be applied to simple snapshot cameras, analog or digital. The suggestions for print film speed, exposure length, f-stops, exposure bracketing, etc. can be translated to DSLRs.

The book is still available on Ebay and Amazon for a few bucks. My copy has the girl eating watermelon on the cover.

I can't wait to do a style photo shoot with one of the book's homemade diffusing suggestions. I wonder if it will work with the DSLR: "For occasional use, you can try stretching a piece of nylon stocking over the front of a lens and securing it with an elastic band. As a variation on this method, try using colored stockings -- particularly pastel hues."

Oh, the 80s, when we might have spare pastel nylons about.

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Edited to add a portion of my reply to Veshoevius of Taxonomy of My Wardrobe:

Re: DSLR settings -- All I can say is, take an hour to read your manual, your camera at your side; then take a day or two to experiment around your home and neighborhood. Take pictures of ordinary things -- don't worry about taking the time to set up fashion shots or still-lifes.

I learned so much, doing that. I wanted to be able to work well in natural and low-light environments, without flash, so I found that 1) the ISO setting (film sensitivity), 2) shutter speed, and 3) aperture value (f-stop) were most useful to play with.

I'm still learning and still making plenty of mistake shots, but that hour and a day's worth of experimentation really got me going.