I have finished the first draft of Maids: A Graphic History, and am working on finding a publisher. Here is an excerpt from the introductory chapter for those who might be curious:
Fringarde
This blog began with stories of consignment stores and vintage stores, but is morphing into nostalgic musings about disappearing or disappeared objects, and reflections on things that endure.
Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Wednesday, September 7, 2022
Fall clean out and travel packing
The time has come to purge the closet. I have five bags of clothes ready to bring to 1. Revolution, then 2. the Listen Center (our local equivalent of the Salvation Army or Goodwill), with one little vintage piece that might be of interest to Nancy the Girl. It's always a good way to channel one's time, going through one's closet and coming face to face with one's oversized wardrobe. I own quite a few second hand clothes, and I also hang on to clothes that I purchased a long time ago -- more than ten years I consider to be "a long time ago."
The top that I'm wearing today might actually be getting there in age, and it's still perfectly fine, as the temperatures drop gradually to a comfortable coolness. In assembling my outfit for today -- something that takes me a long time on days when I really don't have to look all that presentable -- I realized that I was perhaps channeling one of my favorite women artists, Elizabeth Vigée-Lebrun.
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
Empire Luggage
There is a store in New York City called Empire Luggage that has been selling luggage and bags for ever since I can remember. It has changed hands several times, with an ever changing mix of ethnicities always in the store, behind the counter and unpacking boxes of backpacks, etc.
My latest acquisition from that bag emporium consists of a small waist pack that I have been wanting for my walks around town. I've gone a little overboard with documentation, but heck, it's been such a fun accessory this summer.
...Worn with vintage shorts (found in Montpelier VT) and a Talbot's shirt from a local consignment shop.
...With a used Madewell blouse...
...With a striped blouse from a vintage store in Montreal, QC.
...with that dress again, Revolution, WRJ, VT...
I am ending with my trusty cross-body (I still use that one for longer outings) along with used Talbot's blouse, linen pants (from a consignment shop in Northampton MA), and denim shirt (from a French consignment shop). I also bought a new skirt at J.Crew because it was a. on sale and b. I love the Liberty print and c. it's machine washable (seen hanging in the changing room). The sling bag, by the way, also came from Empire Luggage. I had bought it in a rain storm, because I was transporting a book that was a special gift for a friend (it was signed by the author). The sling bag was waterproof enough to keep the book dry until its delivery.
Thursday, July 14, 2022
New York City for the 4th, another clothes swap and typewriters
Spent a few days in New York City over the 4th of July and took the subway to Fort Greene where I spotted a few interesting summer outfits.
pink and black......red and orange...
...white and green...
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Back home in New Hampshire, I was invited to a clothes swap where I acquired this amazing dress made from African fabric. The following day, I wore it to an outdoor sculpture show.
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Meanwhile, my friend who collects eclectic objects from the past was "drying" her typewriters on her front porch. I love the green color and the font of the keys on the Corona machine. What beautiful objects these were, but I am relieved that I can type on a computer, given my propensity for typos!