Astral Boutique's blog

Go Get Em, Tiger

Nothing is more fun than an outfit that shows off your Best Features. There may be some things I will never have (aka, cleavage), but my mamma did give me a long pair of legs.

The thing about Best Features is that they need to be framed, highlighted, and exaggerated so that they will be properly noticed and appreciated-- thus the micro mini and the platform shoes. (In truth, my legs actually aren't that long, and they are not skinny at all, but I can fool the eye with these tricks!)

I had just gotten home from running errands when I realized that I could take a "Lolita" photo in this outfit and make a saucy Etsy Listing for this blanket!

Here I am, about to trade in some clothes and convince the UPS guys to accept my package to Canada despite the issues with the Customs office due to the Canadian Postal Strike (over today, thank god!).

They were convinced.

This is one of my very favorite dresses, a 1960s cotton blend, simple and sweet. I was surprised that I liked the pastel blue/green color palette, which is lighter than most things in my closet, but somehow it works for me. And it matches abalone, my favorite jewelry. I love abalone because it is blue, green, pink, and silver, and it makes me feel connected to the sea, my spiritual home. (I am part Selkie.) 

Take a moment to think about your best features, and what you have done to bring them out lately. They do change over time, and some of us are just naturally built more for utility than decoration; but I believe that everyone has at least one thing about their appearance that is a potential stand-out. I propose that it is worth it to put time/money/effort into taking care of that feature, and showcasing it... it shows that you have a sense of your self, and that confidence makes other people feel more comfortable around you.

If you have ever seen someone that is famous for their beauty first thing in the morning, wearing a wrinkled t-shirt and no makeup, then you have noticed how much of appearance is about directing the eye and creating an illusion. Some "beautiful" people are actually not even attractive at all before they put their face (important) and their attitude (essential) on! But you don't have to be a movie star to allow yourself to treat your eyes or your hands or your lips or your feet like they are precious and worth insuring for a million dollars.

Now got get em!

 

All Dressed Up And Everywhere To Go

To have a closet full of lovely clothes, but nowhere to wear them, is nothing short of tragic. This problem (which so many ladies tell me that they have) must be addressed, or you are in danger of losing your sense of style, and reverting to the workout gear that is the norm in public spaces in the United States. Ew!

Let's work on this, shall we? Now if you are a modern girl with no other fashion outlet, you can always start your own fashion blog. People love seeing the way other people dress-- not everyone lives somewhere big and exciting with a parade of the latest hits walking by their window-- so they go online, to look at you! You can also post your outfits in Chictopia, Wardrobe Remix, or any other fashion community.

There is also the option of changing to a job that lets you dress like yourself, or at least incorporating some elements of your own style into your daily work wear. In my experience, bosses go for feminine, neat 1950s and early 1960s looks if you are the "face" of the business. The popular TV show Madmen has expanded the range of looks that are considered office-appropriate, to include vintage silhouettes-- at long last! You can at least get away with wearing expressive jewelry at most jobs... even a corporate culture lets you have a "funky" necklace or earrings. (And nothing starts a conversation between girls like jewelry!)

Lastly, it is very, very important to Go Out On The Town. Myself, I play in a band, so I get around, but onstage wear has some specific limitations (nothing hanging down that could hit the guitar; nothing with sleeves, cause it's hot up there on stage; and a distinct silhouette and color palette, cause floaty things get lost on people when they are seeing them from far away). So when I get to go out and see other people's music, I can really get arty.

This summer I am, like many of you, not feeling particularly flush with cash. So I found a volunteer position with my area's newest and most awesome music venue, The Tin House Studio and Gallery (I run their Twitter), and I get to go to most shows for free. If you want to go out often but lack the cash, look around and see where you can volunteer-- I've worked at film festivals, art cinemas, tending bar at parties, etc., and each and every gig was a chance to see and be seen. You do not have to be left out just because you are broke.

Above outfit, worn to see Coal Beautiere, Kira Lynn Cain, and Matt Bauer at The Tin House: 1970s semi-sheer wrap dress layered over 1980s grey Indian cotton maxidress. Geode slice necklace: made by me. Job's Tears long necklace: a gift from Chris, many moons ago.

Above outfit, worn to see Vandaveer, Cheyenne Marie Mize, and Foxtail at The Tin House: 1970s dress layered over a longer slip of the same color; necklace, a 1980s brooch that I made into a necklace.

This beautiful hair fork is from Grah-toe Studio on Etsy... it is a blessing for long, thick hair, since it not only looks wonderful but prevents the pulling and breaking of the hair that you can get if you use elastic hair ties. What a work of art:

You can find them here, and if you go there, tell them I sent you. I am a big fan.

If you can get over the initial self-consciousness (tip: pretend you are 85 years old and allowed to be "eccentric"), and learn to regularly dress to the nines, you will find that your life actually changes for the better. Everyone likes someone who takes care with their appearance, and especially someone who creates a unique look. It may not be fair, but I swear to you that people are nicer to you if you are dressed up (except for jealous, snarky types- but who needs them?), they open doors for you-- literally and figuratively-- and they want to talk to you and find out what you're all about. And if they have fancy cameras, they might even want to snap your picture!

 

Myself and Sara Zahn, the co-director of Tin House Studio and Gallery. Photo by Sarah Law, a super cool lady who was working as the official tour photographer for Vandaveer.

I'm 36 years old, I am not the current American Standard of "beauty", and all of the above outfits cost me about $10 each, head to toe... but I am doing just fine working my visual mojo-- and you can, too. Go forth and get thee dressed, my friends!

Back To The Garden

The fairies (and my friend Leonna) have been very very hard at work in the garden lately... 

This is an heirloom rose called Compassion. If only I could employ "smell-o-vision" on this blog... you just can't believe how divine the scent is. 

Leonna knows so much about flowers... she taught me about these lovely Bachelor's Buttons, which grow easily, and make a great cut flower. They don't wilt even if you wear them in your hair for a full day! She always wears flowers in her hair when she goes to teach her piano lessons... she is inspiring me to wear flowers in my hair every day! Bachelor buttons come in all colors; here are some white and purple ones:

I hate to name a favorite flower- that's like calling one person your best friend- impossible. But poppies really, really get me going:

Here is a Penstemon, a great hummingbird attractor, coming into bloom:

And of course the lovable Pansies:

Nasturtiums:

Squash seeds coming up:

And our marvelous greens, the broccoli and chard and kale that has become so lush:

My favorite thing to eat lately is a "sauce" that is made up of all of these greens together. I put them in a food processor raw and chopped up just a little bit to fit in there (you can get a decent food processor from one of those big box retailers for about $40- you don't have to spend a fortune, though of course the fancy ones are really nice to have), add a dash of olive oil and lemon, some sea salt, maybe even some pine nuts if I have them (Trader Joe's sells raw ones for pretty cheap) and then blend blend blend it all up. It is super delish spread on just about anything, and the energy it gives you is amazing! Yum!

(I try not to overdo it on gluten, so this is the low-gluten rye bread you find in the frozen breads section of the health food store. It's so yummy toasted.)  

New Friends

Up on the hill... 

The first sweet pea of summer. Soon the entire hillside will be covered, knee-deep, with these beauties!

Daisy days...

A grasshopper hanging out on my shoe!

The Sun Is Back In Town

Happy Solstice, everybody! I was up at dawn today, taking photos for the shop, and man oh man was all of nature celebrating. It was a long, hard, sun-less winter here in the Sierra Foothills this year, and it is so amazing that it has turned into such a verdant summer. I mean, it always does turn to summer eventually, but there were some moments this year when I was having my doubts! But the summer dresses are out from the back of the closet, the curtains are hung in the house, the fans are on, and we are drinking lemonade... it is the longest day of the year, and a time of much celebration around the world, with festivals cloaked in many colors and traditions-- but at the heart of each one of them is the idea that the sun has returned, and is now reigning the Northern Hemisphere! (Cue marching music.)

Summer Solstice at Stonehenge

I have a little song to share with you... just an itty bitty ditty, but I have been playing this one on the Solstice, for myself, for many years. I wrote it-- or the first verse, anyway-- many many moons ago, on the Summer Solstice itself, when my hunny was due to return home from a loooooong tour with his band. (Suffice to say I missed him like the dickens.) You can hear it as a song about the beginning of summer, or about any time when you realize that you can finally relax and let go-- at least for a season, or a moment-- a realization that the hardest times are behind you now.

It's just a little "demo" that I whipped up this morning, but I figured it was time to set it down in the Official Record. Clickety click here to listen (you can also download for free). Enjoy!

 

New York New York New York

Hello Internet! Last week we rewarded the hard working staff at Astral Boutique/Boys Noize LLC with a movie night! We even bought them popcorn as long as they signed an argeement to blog about it. We rented a small jitney bus and trucked the staff of 20 interns, volunteers and creative directors off to Nevada City's own Magic Theatre- a great little art-house that specializes in blowing minds and opening eyes to the wide, wierd world of cinema. They organize the annual Nevada City Film Festival every year which is coming up very soon & is a great excuse to visit the NC & get drunk.

On that particular movie night we were drunk on FASHION! More specifically, the world of fashion as seen thru the eyes of New York Times Street Style photographer Bill Cunningham in the totally engrossing "Bill Cunningham's New York". It's kind of hard to completely describe what he does- yes, he's at least 80 years old & has been shooting candid photos since the mid 1960s and he still rides a bike through the busy streets of Manhattan which made the whole theatre wince as he dodged one wayward taxi after another. He shoots collections, street style and after-hours parties relentlessly zipping from street corners to other continents and back again with no excuses and no compromises. Most importantly, his attitude toward clothes and the people who wear them was really inspiring. As someone who's been involved in fashion forever, he's seen every possible trend come and go but he's still enthusiastic and totally unapologetic about what he does. The characters who parade across the screen are fully in touch with the transformative power of clothes and they dress every day as an exercise in stating their individuality in a city populated by millions. Of course, Cunningham's favorites are at the farthest outer worlds of the fashion universe- high powered grand dames who've transformed their daily existence into artistic statements. Hate skinny, blank faced supermodels? Chill with Bill's bestie Iris Apfel-

If her style is too restrained, try to upstage Anna Piaggi-

It can't be done!

Time and again the co-stars state that clothes are like armour that help them retain their sanity while giving them the freedom to dream and create. For me, the film was like "Scott Pilgrim" or "The Devil Wears Prada" in that it was a complete universe that I wanted to live in forever then the credits roll and you return to reality with an underwhelming thud. All this would be frivolous window dressing if it wasn't held together by the iron-clad levity of Cunningham himself who comes across as a genuinely sweet guy who won't settle for anything less than perfection. As an expatriated New Yorker, it made me homesick for the days of monolithic buildings and infinite hustle. Peep the trailer for a glimpse of what goes on-

And while I'm here, I'd like to nominate 2 of my own favorite looks for the lads- the first courtesy of New Orleans juju legend Dr John, the Night Tripper himself-

Of course, no outfit is comlete without a battered Telecaster with a Bigsby tremolo.

And another good look for doods in the mood is courtesy of alt-rapper K-OS. I havent heard his jams but I'm feelin that poncho yo-

Aight- now go forth and make your stretch of sidewalk a better looking place.

Bill Cunningham's New York is coming soon to Netflix, just be prepared to show up at work the next day wearing a feather boa. Boyz noise out!

San Francisco Days, San Francisco Nights

Last weekend: a San Francisco-double-birthday-wear-your-favorite-princess-or-Halloween-outfit-unicorn pinata-walloping-adults-playing-guitar-and-drums-on-the-sidewalk party!

Followed by an epic walk on the beach and a concert (I won tickets!) at Cafe du Nord having my mind blown by Anna Calvi...

Turn Your Face Towards The Sun

Early morning on the hill, and all the flowers are facing the rising sun:

 

A Good Day At The Mailbox

Man, the mail has gotten so boring in the past ten years. Way back when I was a teenager, and I had a hundred pen pals, the mailbox was a place of infinite potential... the sound of the letters being dropped inside got my heart racing! No wonder some of us like to shop online- it means that the mailbox can still be magical place of shiny life-transforming objects.

Case in point, this beautiful package from Kirsten at Arabesque Aromas:

Inside the neatly wrapped tissue paper was the most incredible scent ever-- her newest creation, named Orlando, which is a natural plant-based perfume oil using Lapsang Souchong tea, tree resins and roots, Jasmine flowers and just a hint of Vanilla. Wow... I smell so darn good, it's almost dangerous. 

Kirsten is an artist, a historian, an alchemist, and a plant lover of the highest order.... I really recommend that you explore her aromatic world.

*************************

I have one friend who still writes me letters. And not only does Celeste write, she is the Queen of Presentation: the envelopes are decorated with stamps from a lifetime of stamp collecting, the letters re written on the back of poems, drawings, lists- and they are filled with ephemera and surprises. 

Celeste actually glued this tiny book to the back of the envelope!

Though few of us write and receive letters like we used to, I would say that the joy of this archaic act has actually increased over time.... probably because it is so rare. It feels very strange to tell your friend news and know that it will take days for it to reach her. There is something magical about sending your words into the ether like that... it seems to make them more part of the universe as a whole. 

I hope this post inspires you to send even one letter this year... try it, it still works! And it is as good as you remember it... maybe even better.

Big thanks to Celeste, who is also my partner in a New Year's Resolution to write for 15 minutes a day... you are helping me to get my Groove back!

I Heart Etsy: Gypsy Moon Gifts

Every once in a while, I stumble upon different kinds of "readings" on Etsy, and I always wonder if they could be genuinely amazing-- after all, there are so many fantastic artists on Etsy; shouldn't there be gifted psychics as well?

I never was able to pull the trigger and actually get a reading, however, until I found Gypsy Moon Gifts. (Curiously enough, I discovered this shop on the very evening when I was getting ready to go out to a Gypsy-themed full moon party... love the synchronicity!) It was the "Intuitive Collages" (pictured here) that pulled me in... I loved their energy and their style. Then I started looking at the custom blended oils and the readings, which all sounded enticing. It was the Feedback that got me, though-- I am not sure I have ever read such glowing Feedback anywhere on Etsy!

"Jennifer is amazing, kind and wonderful and so are her readings. Her incredible sensitivity contributes to the depth of the reading and her interest in clearing out and explaining things is felt in everything she writes and how she writes it. She is a real guide, a loving person and a very spiritual being."

"I'm more than a repeat customer at this point, I'm a regular. Every time I get a reading from this seller, it's always caring, insightful, and just... beyond my knowledge of proper descriptive words. Life changing is the only thing I can think of."

"I used this oil yesterday with an especially trying day at work that I thought I couldn't get through. I remember asking earnestly for help after a combination of this and heaven scent, and... like magic... everything started to turn in my favor." 

I do Tarot card readings for myself at home (I like the Herbal Tarot deck by Candis Cantin and Michael Tierra... because I know the herbs so well, and I was a student of Candis', there is an extra touchpoint of understanding for me in each card), but it had been ages since I had received a professional psychic reading.

Jennifer gave me one of the loveliest, most inspiring, positive readings that I have ever had... and best of all, it was full of practical advice. I feel like I had a talk with a sister who knew me inside and out, understood my struggles and my strengths, and truly wanted to help me. 

Along with my reading, I got a custom Intuitive Essential Oil Blend, based on the work Jennifer had done with me. I am in love with my special scent, and I have to say that it is working to bring new energy into my life in a very profound way.

If you have been thinking about getting a reading, whether for a specific issue or just for self-enrichment, I give Gypsy Moon Gifts my highest recommendation.