Crunch

 One of the best things in the world:

Walking my dog through crunchy leaves.

Leslie Caron

Sometimes I wonder why Leslie Caron isn't more iconic. We all know about Marilyn, Audrey, Brigitte and Sophia, but I think Leslie Caron is equally enchanting.

Leslie Caron played the ingenue in such movies as "An American in Paris," "Daddy Long Legs," "Gigi" and "Lili." She's got big, bright eyes and a French accent, and in most of the movies, she gets a chance to show off her mad dancing skills.

Lili (above) is one of my favorites and probably the most romantic movie featuring puppets ever. (Do I mean that? Even more romantic than the times Kermit and Miss Piggy get together? Even more romantic than The Dark Crystal? Yes. I think I mean that.)

And while she's not as famous as she once was, and she doesn't show up on Pinterest all that much, her legacy as a leading lady is still very solid thanks in part to her beauty, her innocence and her sassy dance moves.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here is a picture of Robert wearing a turkey apron about to fry a turkey. America!

More giant clothing

Look at my doggy run! Run, Sunshine, run!

I am wearing these wide-legged pants every chance I get. They make me feel like a cool kid circa 1977. (Sunshine's look is classic and timeless and does not evoke any particular decade.)

 My husband, like so many husbands and boyfriends (and wives and girlfriends) in the blog world, is my official photographer during outfit photos. His question when I asked him to take a picture of my shoes? "What shoes?"

Fair enough. But my fabulous side-lace boots do peak out just a bit here, and they sure did provide me a lot of warmth on that brisk, late-fall walk.

Both my striped shirt and sweater situation are thrifted. I love the combination a whole bunch. I'm carrying on with my wearing-of-giant-things trend that I have going this week. Giant things are so often comfortable things.

My dog really works with my outfit too. She makes the whole thing look very outdoorsy and comfy and sweet and adorable. Thanks, Sunshine! You always help me look good.

A New Kind of Love

My favorite Hollywood couple are Joann Woodward and Paul Newman. Weren't those two just the best together? I love it when they star together. She's always uptight, and he's always... really, really not uptight. Then they kiss each other, and it's great!

"A New Kind of Love" is a good example of this. 

Giant striped sweater

 "You went from teacher to hippie in a flash!" my husband told me after I changed from my school-logoed polo and work pants to this ensemble.

I'm not sure if I'd call it hippie (I mean, it's definitely hippie adjacent), but it does include some fabulous wide-legged pants and a thrifted striped sweater. I love this sweater. Like my pants, the sweater is pretty giant. It was the weekend, and I was ready to let loose in some loose fitting clothing!

Immediately following this photo, we hopped in the car, drove through some crazy traffic and then were rewarded with some crazy good sushi. It was a great way to spend Friday night -- started my weekend off right!

Fabulous Fashionistas

"Old age doesn't have to be grim and boring."

This film is proof it can be fabulous.

Jayne Mansfield

In the Weetzie Bat books (so good), Weetzie bat adored Jayne Mansfield. Jayne Mansfield was so LA. She was beautiful and fake and sad. I'm with you, Weetzie. I really love Jayne Mansfield too. The Girl Can't Help It.

Past peak

The holiday season is here, fall is far past peak, but there are plenty of crunchy leaves on the ground, and I'm still spotting gorgeous trees who have yet to lose all their leaves.

Style Icon: Adriana La Cerva

Drea De Matteo played Adriana La Cerva on "The Sopranos," and she gave the show its heart. She also gave the show its Jersey-girl va-va-voom. Adriana was all about big hair, lots of makeup, tight clothes and a constant cigarette.

She was not shy or subtle, that girl. Get it, Adriana. Get it.

Adriana is often tacky, but in the best way. She's always fun to watch when she's on screen... no, I take that back, sometimes it's absolutely excruciating to watch her. The Sopranos can be a tough show. I'm still not over the Adriana plot. Still. Not. Over. It.

Like so many hot hotties, Adriana has rotten taste in men. I know you love him, but he's no good, Adriana! (You could also argue she has rotten taste in see-through zebra-print tops, but it's also kind of awesome, right? She's a mob chick! She's gotta wear a lot of gold and a lot of animal prints. It's in the contract.)

And while she was usually tacky, Adriana could get kind of classy. She was a knockout, that's for sure with great hair, excellent eye makeup, lots of gold crosses and a wardrobe that makes the goons watching her swoon.

Says You!

 Just me in a striped dress hanging out with the Charlotte skyline.

I went to see a taping of the NPR quiz show "Says You" at CPCC in Charlotte, and it was intellectually hilarious fun!

The Steep Canyon Rangers were part of the show, which I didn't expect, and it made it even better! I've never seen a live taping of a radio show before. I totally dorked out about it.

I also hung out with this good-looking guy during intermission. He didn't get to go to the taping of "Says You," which explains his sad face. (I, on the other hand, had a happy face.)

Crowder's Mountain hike

We don't have to drive all the way to the mountains to visit a mountain. Crowder's Mountain is just about 20 minutes from our house, and it has a very strenuous hike and a stellar view.

I wore workout gear and a tiny ponytail. We took our dog, Sunshine, and she had the best time ever!

I, on the other hand, found all the up-ness of climbing a mountain very challenging. But we made it!

And the reward was gorgeous. Look at that rewarding view!

Look at that happy doggy face!

Style Icon: Bob Dylan

In my opinion, the best looking men are the ones who look like they don't really care how they look. I bet a lot of those men do care and that's why they look so great, but they don't look like they're trying too hard. I like my men a little scruffy. Hence my husband's beard.

Anyway, this post is about Bob Dylan. Bob Dylan doesn't really care about how he looks because he's creating great art, and he ends up looking really amazing. 

Really amazing. I would wear that whole outfit. Messy hair, black coat, nice little scarf. Oh yes, I would wear that outfit.

I would also wear the above outfit -- collared shirt and big jacket. Then I'd look up at someone pensively on a snowy street.

Have you seen "I'm Not There" -- the movie where a whole bunch of actors play Bob Dylan throughout his life? It's so good, and Cate Blanchett plays the above Bob Dylan, and she should have won the Oscar for it. An Oscar, I say. 

I love the '60s. Why was everyone so fabulous in the '60s? You look at singers today, and they lack both soul and style. Sorry to sound old and crotchety, but it's true. I mean, I love glitter and the vapidness of pop radio sometimes, but we sure don't have a modern day Dylan hanging out on Top 40, do we? 

Old Man River

"Show Boat" was one of those musicals I watched over and over and over as a kid. I have a long list of them as I was a musical-obsessed child. "Show Boat" is about a boat that travels along the Mississippi River and the people who own it/ work on it. Customers come on the boat to watch plays -- musicals actually. There's a lot of drama. Bad guys and gambling and so on and so forth.

My love for the movie is twofold. Fold one: Ava Gardner is Ava Gardner. Can you believe this big-screen goddess came from a small town in North Carolina?

Fold two: the song "Old Man River." My favorite lyrics -- "I get weary and sick of trying/ I'm tired of living and scared of dying." Okay. Little bit of a bummer, yes, but such a great song!

And that voice! What a voice. 

Self portrait with donuts

Yum to the yum.

Buttoned up

During recess, I took off my sweater because it was so sunny and warm. When I left for work, however, I had my coat buttoned up and I was still freezing! We had a cold snap that snapped really, really fast. 

I love changing weather because I get to wear fun, new things for the first time and also drag out fun, old things that feel new again because I haven't worn them for months and months.

Look at this coat! It has so many buttons! I look like I'm in the military! Sort of. But goofier!

See: A little bit goofy. The heart sweater has no military vibe to it, but it's adorable, and it works well with my awesome new boots. I'm pretty into a gray/brown/black (and white I guess) combo. It's subdued, but I dig subdued, and the shades seem to match this cold weather and darkness.

Style Icon: Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman's look is pretty straight forward -- moptop of hair, black clothes (often including a coat) and a brooding, knowing expression. That's what makes a style icon: consistency and fabulousness and consistency in the fabulousness.

Intelligence is an excellent fashion accessory. As is an adorable dog. And some black sneakers. Everyone loves intelligence, dogs and black sneakers.

I was a fan of Neil Gaiman because of his Sandman comics, and then years later, I became a huge fan of Amanda Palmer because of her Amanda Palmer-ness, and then I found out they were married, and I was like "What the what?"! It was too much, my head almost exploded. Now I listen to "Theatre is Evil" and worry about their relationship. (I'm sure they're fine. None of my business anyway. Not that that stops anyone from having an opinion ever.)

Have you seen Neil Gaiman's commencement speech? It's the best thing ever:



Style icon. Brainy brain. Total inspiration. Married to a hot chick. Way to be awesome, Neil Gaiman.

Loving It

Lately I've been loving...

1. Polka-dot shoes on a polka-dot rug. I do enjoy the polka dots.

2. Fresh flowers make me feel like a civilized adult.

3. I have been making myself fruit/spinach smoothies (you can't taste the spinach, scout's honor), that look pretty gross, but taste pretty good.

4. I love this Sophia Loren poster I saw at Ikea. I didn't buy it, but maybe some day. Love you Sophia!

See you sun

At 6 p.m. Sunday, I wore this lovely get-up to the grocery store. It was already pitch-black. It's that time of year -- the days just get shorter and shorter from here. (In the photo, I am being illuminated by lovely fluorescent lights.)

I love fall despite the darkness (and I'm actually pretty okay with winter too). Part of the reason for my great love? Great boots.

These are new and they are beloved. The laces kill me. Kill me dead. (And by kill me, I also mean slay me and by slay me, I also mean I like them a lot.) I actually bought these boots new and they weren't even on sale or anything, but I really wanted a good pair of tan boots, and now I have one! I tell you what, I can handle it being pitch-black at 6 p.m. if I get to tromp around in these darlings. Long live fall!

Style Icon: Courtney Love

My favorite Courtney Love is "Live Through This" Courtney Love. She was all red-lipstick, messy blond hair and angry guitar playing.  Hole was a great band, so says me. I liked them when they were messy, and I liked them after Courtney got all glam and looked like she regularly washed her hair.

I also love "Kurt and Courtney" Courtney Love. Those two were seriously in love. It's clear.

I think sometimes quiet, introspective people need those brash, loud people in their lives. Courtney provided all the noise. I've known people in relationships like that, and sometimes they work, and sometimes they're terrible, but they make sense to me. Plus look at little Frances Bean!

I've started to get into lipstick this year -- like loud lipstick that's makes my face all mouth. Courtney Love has that look down.

She really had a signature style -- babydoll dresses, baby barrettes, baby, baby, baby, but she's a tough, sexy woman.

Plus Hole made great music. She was everything you wanted out of a rock star -- moving, angry music and a visual spectacle to boot. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go smear on some red lipstick and put a plastic duck barrette in my hair...