it's full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes*

I'm having an existential fashion crisis. With my hair pixie-short, I can't hide behind my hair anymore or use my hair to balance my body,  I've become more self-conscious and aware of how clothing fits on me, with my broad shoulders and short torso.  Things I enjoyed wearing no longer bring me happiness.  This is why I'm selling and donating a bunch of clothes.  I'm also changing my style to be a bit more mod.  I don't know how that'll go, but for now, I'm at a cross-roads of style.

how to be awkward

- Sleeveless button-up: Alexander McQueen for Target

- Skirt: Jenny Skirt in Hansel and Gretel by Pinup Girl Clothing

- Shoes: Champion Glitter in black by Keds X Kate Spade | here

- Jean jacket: by Theory

- Beret: from Amazon

put a bow on it

Here's a bonus outfit shot from Jon:

we really visited jamaica plain because of fomu

- Shirt: Red Check by Brutus

- Sweatervest: by Merc Clothing

- Pants: by Rapha

- Shoes: by Will's Vegan

- Sunglasses: by Ray Ban 

*Peter Gabriel - The Book of Love

we're small town dreaming*

If you've followed this blog, you know we explored San Francisco and the Bay Are every weekend for new and exciting sights and sounds.  Unfortunately, we haven't done much exploring here in Massachusetts.  Since I had a bunch of clothes to donate to Goodwill (and Jon wanted to visit FoMu), we traveled to Jamaica Plain, a neighborhood in Boston.

It took some time - almost an hour! - to get to Jamaica Plain via public transportation since they were doing track work on the Orange Line.  But once we arrived, we were transported to a quaint neighborhood with lots of New England charm.  It didn't feel like we were in Boston!

After we dropped off the clothes, we walked a short distance to FoMu, a cafe with tasty desserts.  They make the best vegan ice cream and pastries!  After much deliberation, we ordered a pumpkin spice latte cake, with a pumpkin whoopie pie for later.  Pumpkin season is the best.

hello, you're pretty

On our way to the record shop, we stopped at Boomerangs, a secondhand shop. They had their Halloween items for sale, but the highlight for me was seeing the Rock (and a sexy potato costume?) in the frames.

hot damn

manilow up front

Lastly, we stopped at Deep Thoughts JP, a record shop with the most psychedelic decorations!  There was so much to look at, and there was a good amount of decently-priced vinyl to peruse.  Of course, I bought a couple records.

thinking deep thoughts

Jamaica Plain is definitely a cool place to visit, and I hope to check out more of the city in the future.  There's a couple more photos in my October folder on Flickr, so please check them out!

*Suede - Beyond the Outskirts

high speed our miracles*

With a mixture and sadness and exuberance,  I returned my beloved Mini Cooper to the dealers today.  As I posted yesterday, I was feeling pretty apprehensive about not having a car after years of car dependency.  Is it weird to think about its impact on my footwear?  Because I'm pretty sure I need to invest in proper walk-about-town wear now.

i'm car-free! (insert vomit emoji here)
- Dress: Kelly Red Kitten by Bernie Dexter | here
- Cardigan: by Mak | here (says it's "JJ Perfection" but it was a Mak Cardigan!)
- Shoes: - Shoes: "Robbie" shoe in black patent from B.A.I.T. Footwear | here
- Bag: by Betsey Johnson
- Tote: "Shoplifters of the World Unite" tote bag
- Sunglasses: Seanna sunglasses by Kate Spade

- Headband: from Nordstrom

Folks, it's weird not having a car.  I'm not ashamed to admit it.  I know, in the end, I did the right thing.  I hope to see the positive impact of this decision from a financial point of view, as well as an environmental standpoint.

And, so my car-free life begins.

P.S. Here's a bonus photo of me enjoying the sun after a couple tiki drinks...  Ok ok, this was in the bathroom at Highland Fried in Cambridge.

*Johnny Marr - The Right Thing Right

it's the only way to live / in cars*

It's probably weird to write a post about life with cars, but, alas, here I am.  I'm returning my leased Mini Cooper back to the dealer, and, quite honestly, I'm apprehensive living a life without a car!

After I graduated college and started my big-time grown up job in the Bay Area, my parents helped me get a car.  I wanted a Mini Cooper because it was cool.  They wanted a Honda Civic because it was reliable.  Of course, they won.  So from 2001 to 2015, I drove my trusty Civic up and down the California coast, had adventures with friends, replaced it's windows when it was broken into (three times. SIGH), and participated in the ingrained car culture of entitlement without a second thought.

me and my car decora in 2001

Since I lived in the suburbs all my life, having a car was normal.  Places are sprawled out.  Work is far.  Errands are easier with a car.  There should always be parking for cars everywhere.  Everyday.  Normal.

When it came time to finally retire my car in 2015, I decided to get my dream car - a Mini Cooper.  I had moved to San Francisco - the first real urban city I've ever lived in - and work was now an hour commute down the bay.  I leased a Mini and bought the appropriate miles since I planned to commute 5 days a week for the next 3 years.  On top of that, I had procured a parking spot in a nearby garage, since parking in my neighborhood was tough.

But then everything changed.  I was given the opportunity to work from home, and naturally, I took it.  I got to take care of my little Marty, save on gas, and not deal with a daily hour plus commute.  I would go to work once a week, and it was less stressful.  I used my car once or twice a week, and it sat in my paid garage space while I gallivanted around San Francisco via public transportation.

my car in new york!

As Jon's job took him to the east coast, we brought the Mini with us.  I was paranoid about the snow, and it's detrimental affect on my car.  I can't help it - I'm paranoid that way!  While it was convenient for groceries and short jaunts to neighboring states, it became increasingly clear- having a car was not only a nuisance but a financial drain.  I was paying for gas, parking, insurance, and a lease for a car I barely used.  I had gotten used to walking, taking public transportation, and car share programs like Zipcar that I no longer needed a car.

Here we are now, on the cusp of living a car-free life, and it frightens me.  I loved having my Mini Cooper - it was so damn sporty and awesome.  It fit my style perfectly!  However, I'm excited for the financial aspect of not having a car (more money for dresses!).  I have to train myself that I don't need a car to get myself everywhere, and I need to depend on other modes of transportation.  We'll see how this goes!

What are your thoughts on living a car-free life?

*Gary Numan - Cars

they do it over there but we don't do it here*

Back in 2014, Jon and I watched David Bowie Is, a documentary about the immersive and comprehensive Bowie exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.  We didn't think we'd be able to catch the exhibition while it toured, disappointed that it would never stop in San Francisco.  Fast forward to 2018, we've moved to the East Coast, and the last stop of the exhibition happens to be in the Brooklyn Museum in New York.  When the tickets were released in March 2018, I immediately purchased them for July, right after my birthday!

We dubbed it the Birthday Bowie Weekender.  Here's the outfit rundown for quite possibly the hottest (like literally, the weather) weekend ever.

help me from melting

- Dress: Alfred Shaheen Blossoms Print Hawaiian swing dress from Unique Vintage | other colorways here

- Cape: Bed Lace Jacket by Anna Sui

- Purse and earrings: Splash Out wicker crab bag and By the Pool pineapple double drop earrings by Kate Spade

at the polynesian - with tangaroa

at ps kitchen - gimmie all the flowers

Looking back at my photos, I should have tied the sleeve ribbon on the bed jacket.  I'm super self-conscious about my arms (a discussion for another time), so seeing them out like that embarrasses me.  I recently rediscovered that Anna Sui bed jacket, purchased years ago when I had traveled to Manhattan by myself and splurged on the piece.  It's perfect for these hot days and covers my arms.

david bowie is my blackstar

- Dress: Hamilton dress from Unique Vintage | other colorways here

- Cape: Bedroom Lace Jacket by Anna Sui

- Purse: Splash Out wicker crab bag by Kate Spade

- Shoes: Sundae wedges by Miss L Fire

- Boater hat: straw boater by Scala (actually a men's hat) | here

at the william vale - summer smells like sunblock and insect repellent


mr. crabs was definitely popular about town

Somehow I lost a button on my Hamilton dress.  The buttons weren't secure to begin with - I had to repair a couple when I received it - and I don't have any replacement white cloth-covered buttons.  That's a shame.  I chose this dress because the vertical stripes reminded me of Bowie's Saturday Night Live performance with Klaus Nomi and Joey Arias.  But imagine my shock when I walked into the Berlin years section and the wallpaper was all black and white stripes!  I nearly cried in happiness.

As for my bag, Mr. Crabs garnered a lot of compliments!  He can carry my phone, wallet, and sunglasses, but what you can't see is that I'm also wearing a backpack (Matt and Nat's Mercy Backpack from Herbivore Clothing, if you're wondering) to carry other travel necessities, like sunblock and insect repellent.

bonus accidental stripe twinning with jon

Planning outfits for these hot East Coast summers have been a challenge.  It almost makes me enjoy the winters... almost.  What do you do to keep cool?

I'll post more on what we saw and ate for Birthday Bowie Weekender - keep an eye out!

*David Bowie - Fashion

open the door / get on the floor*

We saw “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” yesterday, and I finally had an appropriate dinosaur-themed dress to wear during the showing.

that brachiosauraus scene left me with a lot of emotions

- Dress: by Betsey Johnson (bought years ago)

- Fake leather jacket: by Blank NYC, purchased from Nordstrom | similar
- Neckerchief: from the Gap (really really old)

- Shoes: by Rachel Antonoff for Bass Shoes (also bought years ago)

- Boater hat: by Innocent World (purchased from Closet Child Harajuku in Tokyo) | site

pterodactyls!

I'm wearing a camisole underneath the dress because the sweetheart neckline is a bit too low for my liking.  This is probably the only dress I have that has a zipper front.  It always throws me off.  The dress also has princess sleeves (which unfortunately, you can't see with the jacket on top) and makes my broad shoulders feel even broader (thus the jacket).

needs more dr. malcom

“Dr. Ian Malcolm pin-up pin” by Emma Munger | here

Growing up, my younger siblings were really into the Jurassic Park movies. I remember watching countless television shows about the science of Jurassic Park dinosaurs.  It's crazy that they're still making JP movies after all these years.  Did you watch the movie?  What did you think about it?

*Was (Not Was) - Walk the Dinosaur

if i could just fly away*

It will be my first full summer here on the East Coast, so I'm bracing my delicate California-bred skin for east side humidity and heat!  To keep my cool, I created a new Proper Social Etiquette playlist, titled Welcome to Summerville.  I wanted it to be perfect background music for those backyard barbecues, poolside parties, and other quintessentially summer shindigs that happen here in suburbia.  

- The Beach Boys - Let's Go Away for Awhile

- The Free Design - Bubbles

- The Orange Peels - The West Coast Rain

- Modular - Playa Biquini
- Belle and Sebastian - Song for Sunshine

- Gorillaz (feat. George Benson) - Humility

- You'll Never Get to Heaven - Beyond the Clouds

- Ringo Deathstarr - Summertime

- Johnny Marr - Hi Hello
- Club 8 - Hot Sun

- Alpaca Sports - Summer Days

- Lo-Fi Fnk - Last Summer

- Arctic Monkeys - Snap Out of It

- The Horrors - Something to Remember Me By

- Hoops - Gemini

- Seablite - Cerulean (obvs)

- The Drums - Days

- Bertran Burlagat (feat. Robert Wyatt) - This Summer Night (Solenzara Mix)

- Astrud Gilberto - Summer Samba (So Nice)

- Koop - Summer Sun

It's mostly new-ish tracks that I've been digging lately, as well as a couple old PSE standards.  I usually don't repeat songs from old playlists, but that Koop track is my summer jam! And I think this is my first summer playlist with songs that actually have "summer" in their titles.

For some reason, Spotify is still showing a couple tracks that don't belong: Labyrinth Ear and Decompsure.  Skip those!  Give the playlist (or me username: bardotcharming) a follow on Spotify.  I may be horrible at blogging outfits and trips, but, man oh man, sharing music is easier to do!

I hope you enjoys the tunes, and happy Summer Solstice!

*The Orange Peels - The West Coast Rain

at the tiki bar*

We finally made it to Tiki Rock in Boston, and we had a fun time sipping on some cocktails and relaxing. One of things I noticed living here in Massachusetts is the curious lack of tiki bars, so when Jon surprised me with reservations on Saturday afternoon, I was excited!  Tiki escapism and drinks!  Also, it’s been a really long time since we both got to wear our matching outfits.

this door leads nowhere

- Dress: Vintage barkcloth dress from Retro-Diva / Melissa Grüenhagen

- Bag: Wicker pineapple bag by Michael Kors | here and on sale!

- Shoes: Flamingo shoes by Miss L Fire

can't eat this coin (it isn't vegan)

- Earrings and sunglasses:  By the Pool pineapple double drop earrings and Seanna sunglasses by Kate Spade

my designated drinker

- Shirt: Vintage barkcloth Hawaiian shirt from Retro-Diva / Melissa Grüenhagen

close-up of the pineapple bag

The bag was a big hit; people were tickled by it.  Funny thing was that initially I wanted the Kate Spade novelty pineapple bag, however, when I went to go to the Newbury Street store, they were sold out!  Randomly, this bag came up in a Google search, and I thought it was cuter!  I trekked to Macy's, found it, and purchased it.  The shop ladies thought no one would buy it because it was too "unique".

guess what, shop ladies?  i love this bag!  it fits nothing inside it, but it's adorable!

I'll (someday, sigh) review Tiki Rock here on the blog.  I can’t wait to go again!

*Kenny Sasaki & the Tiki Boys - At the Tiki Bar

try to break me / but you can’t shake me*

If you read my Depeche Mode post, you may have noticed that I wasn’t feeling well that day. In fact, I haven’t been feeling well for some time, but I was determined to have an amazing evening at the concert.

daytime adventuring outfit

After weeks of planning, I was going to wear a pink Betsey Johnson party dress with my fake black leather jacket and Ziggy boots.  When I tried to put on the dress, the zipper broke!  Disheartened, I decided to go with my outfit back-up plan (people have those, right?): a new Kate Spade shirtdress with my pink fake leather jacket and Ziggy boots.

i based my whole outfit on those shoes, really.

- Shirtdress: Botanical Poplin Dress by Kate Spade | here and on sale
- Fake leather jacket: by Zara
- Boots: Ziggy Glitter ankle boots in black by YRU shoes | here and also on sale (but only size 7 is left)
- Boater hat: by Innocent World (purchased from Closet Child Harajuku in Tokyo) | site

the flair
- Back patch: “Babe with the Power” by Sugarbones | here

close-up of the ziggy boots

Major thanks to the manager of VIP relations for taking the top two photos of me. Going to a small show alone is way different from going to a major concert alone, so it was nice to have someone support my fandom.

The back patch and boots were a definite hit, and I’m sure there are photos of my back floating around the internet.  All in all, I’m glad that I chose that outfit to wear on the best night ever. It made me forget my troubles, if only for a little bit.

*Depeche Mode - So Much Love

where we're all super stars*

It's been a couple days now, and I'm still riding high on my Depeche Mode experience at Boston's TD Garden!  During their first go-around the States last year, they skipped Boston and played New York and Connecticut instead.  So imagine my excitement when they announced another US tour earlier this year!  Since the show would end up during my birthday month, I decided to give myself an early present - the Front Row VIP experience.

i'm a vip!

I've never been to the TD Garden, so finding the venue - with all the construction going on - was a trying experience.  But once I arrived, I was greeted by the nicest check in people and taken to the VIP lounge for drinks and snacks.  They gave me a cool reversible canvas tote and a wireless speaker as a gift.  I haven't been feeling well lately, so I had to bypass the alcoholic drinks in favor of water.  Also, since Jon had made it the day before, I snuck in a vegan pizza for dinner and ate it all by my lonesome.  I was too shy to talk to the other fans there!

i didn't expect the snacks to be vegan, and i was going to miss dinner.

After some time, I decided to head out to the floor so I could check out the opening band.  The TD Garden is where the Celtics play their games, so it's pretty massive.  Walking to the front freaking row made me super nervous!

so close!

Their opening band (really artist), EMA, was pretty good.  I dug their sound!  The stage lighting, however, kept blinding me.  Ah, the perils of the front row.

ema

Next was Depeche Mode!  Their set was similar to the set from last year but with some changes in Martin's solo songs.  Still, being in the front row at your ultimate favorite band's concert is an elevating experience.  Everyone in the front row is friendly and share their DM stories.  I met a nice gentleman named Dave from Connecticut.  It was his first time in the front row, so he was pretty stoked.

my new bff

Getting to see the band up close was definitely a dream experience.  They seemed more alive when you see them up close, and the connection is more intense.  During Cover Me, Dave looked at me and we both said "superstars" and I pretty much died.  I will never live that down.

revolution


marty


waiting for the encore

Here's a couple of full-length videos (Martin Gore songs, obvs):

home

i want you now (missed the beginning because i was so giddy at this point)

Depeche Mode has been touring non-stop, and I'm thankful they stopped by Boston on their way back to Europe.  They deserve a rest after all this touring!

Setlist:

Revolution (The Beatles song)

Cover Me (Alt Out)

Going Backwards

It's No Good

Barrel of a Gun (Grandmasters Flash - The Message)

A Pain That I'm Used To (Jaqcues Lu Cont remix version )

Useless

Precious

World in My Eyes

Cover Me

The Things You Said

Home

In Your Room

Where's the Revolution

Everything Counts

Stripped

Enjoy the Silence

Never Let Me Down Again

Encore:

I Want You Now (acoustic)

Walking in My Shoes

A Question of Time

Personal Jesus

Check out the Flickr album here for all gazillion (ok, it's only like 150-ish) photos and videos from the night.   Have you ever treated yourself to an extravagant concert experience?  I hope this won't be the last time I get to sit in the front row for Depeche Mode!

*Depeche Mode - Cover Me