Monday, May 19, 2014

Event as a Gift


Remember my outfit from the post Not With Chalk, But With Soul? It was mentioned in Sally's Lovely Links over at Already Pretty - how exciting! I noticed that because there were suddenly over 500 views of that post (it's close to 900 now)... that just has not happened to my blog before! I'm happy to welcome all the new readers and encourage you to leave comments - please do! I would love to hear from you! :)

Now, on to today's outfit. You might think that someone very thoroughly planned this photo shoot - look how the funky chairs perfectly match the colors of my dress! Yet we didn't plan it. It just happens to us... all the time! A proof? Here are a few from the top of my head:


A little spooky, right?


This was the only dress I found in my secondhand adventures during this Spring. (OK, it was the only one right before today when I bought a very cool casual dress from 90s - I paid a whole 3 bucks for it, by the way. But that one is in rather Autumn colors, so it probably won't be worn till later this year.) I was looking for something floral and floaty - and I found it, only not in a thrift shop (see Dream Dress). But this one is well worth of all my search and prayers (OK, I am fibbing - I don't actually pray for dresses, or for anything really, but oh do I dream! Don't even get me started on this!). This genuine silk and genuine wrap dress was a consignment store purchase earlier this Spring, and I really think it's a gem.  The label says "Silk Assets Diane Von Furstenberg" - I thought that I heard the name, so I poked online a little... Yes, it's a famous designer whose silk wrap dresses go for several hundred dollars. But this dress was not one of those. Apparently, DVF had a line for QVC (Quality, Value, Convenience) in early 90s with the idea to make fashion affordable for women. You can read the bit of information I found.


I love this design and the vibrant colors! It strikes me as Italianesque, would you agree? So playful and sophisticated. I accessorized it with my colorful statement necklace, Italian glass ring and Cole Haan clutch (I honestly have no idea what it's made of, but it's quite fancy - it has a little mirror on the inside, so thoughtful!). Oh, and you probably noticed that I also got a fresh haircut and color. Yes, I visited Erica - it was that time again! We did it slightly differently - shorter on the top and longer on sides and the back. Very JudiDenchesque!




I'm 41 now. The road from 40 to 41 was a bit bumpy one. But it's much better now, and I know it's going to be totally fine some day. I know it because I want it to be. I think my life is this amazing thing which becomes either better or worse, and it's pretty much up to me. I am free to decide what my life will be. There is my past which I cannot change. Sometimes it calls me, draws me back. Sometimes it hangs right here in my heart, weighing me down, unforgotten and unforgiven. I cannot change it. But I can forgive it and let it go. That is in my power to do, and only in my power, no one else's. Thank you for visiting, past, now go home. 41 is a new count.


Back in Russia my birthday was filled with family, gifts, tasty treats, music, girlfriends, relatives, parties, flowers (always pasque flower, since my birth, a tender soft yellow or less common purple, which my Dad would bring for me from the woods, every single year, and still does, even though it's my 12th birthday far away from my parents' home)... The tradition of celebration changed radically. It's a quiet day when I choose the way I want to spend it. Very often I choose "an event as a gift" (I love stuff, but I have a lot, and I really want this day to be memorable). In the past, I have chosen a classical concert and visiting Northwest Trek (unique nature park), and a day trip to some interesting place, sometimes exciting, and other times peaceful - depends on the mood I am in. This year, I chose to visit the new Car Museum (opened in 2012) in Tacoma, and I was in heaven! It's not that I am such a big fan of cars - no, but I am a big fan of museums and a huge fan of people who have their own vision and pursue their dreams in life. LeMay is both. 



At the entrance, there is this speedy car hanging on the wall with a phrase written all over it in many world languages (including Russian, but they did misspell a little though - they should've asked me!) - "We The People". Then we entered the main floor (there are four of them) to see the newest exhibition - Volkswagen, beloved Beetle and microbus!


I started my life in America in Motown - and was lucky enough to visit both Henry Ford museum and the famous Detroit car show (as well as a few smaller scale car shows in the US). It's always fun to see old cars, especially the very first cars - those are Justin's and my favorites.


But I find it especially fun to see the car history as a whole - and that is the strong point of this museum, wonderful representation of automotive history done with great vision and care.


We the people were also taken care of, and after an exciting tour landed in a cafe on a terrace right inside of the big gallery, so we could observe cars from the above and have classic American lunch (chili dog for Justin and pulled pork sandwich for me).


And of course there was fashion! Cars cannot be without fashion, can they? And there was London. And I was there too. :)


Dress - Silk Assets (vintage 90s via consignment shop). Denim jacket and watch - Chico's. Shoes - Born (super comfy sole and soft leather). Necklace - Talbots. Italian glass ring - boutique. Clutch - Cole Haan via TJ MAXX.

Linking up with Bella's Secondhand First
and Patti's Visible Monday

27 comments:

  1. What a lovey way to celebrate your birthday with a trip out. You look wonderful with your new hair cut and colour and that silk dress is just divine - good find. xxx

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    1. So glad to see yo here, Jayne! Missed your posts lately. And thank you. I really enjoy my new dress and hair too! :)

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  2. You look wonderful, and Happy Birthday and I hope hundreds more people find your blog - it's so good. Thanks for sharing with Visible Monday, xox

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    1. I couldn't resist to share it with your wonderful link-up party, Patti! :) Thank you!!! :) xxx

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  3. Happy Birthday, Natalia! Wow it seems like just yesterday I was 41. I blinked and six years went by. It's scary how that happens! You look gorgeous and what a fantastic museum to visit! I LOVE your dress and am almost filled with envy except that I am happy for you instead. In the first picture I thought oh she is looking very fierce like a super model. Then I saw you posing with the cars and I knew for sure that you were a super model! Your new hair cut and colour looks great!
    xoxo

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    1. We Russians are all secret supermodels... or secret agents... or both... :)))

      Thank you, dear friend! 41 feels wonderful, and I expect nothing less than wonderful from now on! :)

      Hugs to you, will visit that museum together when you're in town! xxx

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    2. I'm certain you have the talent to be both a secret super model AND a secret agent. You don't do an inconspicuous look well but that's the whole trick. You are so stylish and colourful and head turning people think you could not possibly be a secret agent. So clever of you!
      Wouldn't it be fun if I really could visit? Well, maybe someday. Right now I'm so exhausted I'm having troubles keeping up with blogs. I can't imagine trying to travel and see a museum!
      Hugs right back!
      xoxo

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    3. Tssss... Justin still doesn't know! ;)

      I hope you'll feel better very soon, and am sending all the good stuff your way! I am certain that we'll meet here or somewhere else. Dreams come true. :)

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  4. Gotta love those coincidences, Marlen! :) Thank you, good to have you here! xxx

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  5. Happy Birthday to you! What a fab hair colour you're sporting and a stunning frock, loving the glass necklace and those chunky wedges, too.
    I'm a huge vintage car nut, I was squealing at the Isetta and, of course, the V Dub! xxxxx

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    1. I haven't seen Isetta before - what a cutie! I learned that they re-released V Dub recently - also pretty. Thanks. Vix! xxx

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  6. Happy Birthday! 41 looks gorgeous! the dress is pretty spectacular, the collar, the cut, colour and sleeve length are all very special, and of course you look amazing in it! the cars are awesome, I have a deep fondness for 1950-1960 American cars, such glamour and style and they were huge! x x x

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    1. Thank you, my dear sweet Sandra! I love it that you can see how styles/fashion change over time in such museums - you can almost feel time when you're there. Soooo many styles to choose from... hmmm, I as always appreciate the variety the most! But if someone asked me which car I'd pick to have a ride on a sunny day, it would be definitely one of early cars, they are just so hopelessly romantic! xxxxx

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  7. Happy Birthday, Natalia! Going out doing something interesting and different with Justin sounds like the perfect way to celebrate, and you look amazing. I adore the dress, so very pretty and flattering on your fab figure, and that necklace is a dream. And the newly trimmed and coloured hair is fantastic, very sexy and sassy! I think you would have fitted right in in Swinging London in the 60s! xxxx

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    1. Thank you, Curtise! Soooo much! I felt wonderful in London! ;-) xxxxx

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  8. Happy Birthday beautiful lady! I think the new haircut and color are banging! You look hot! What a unique and wonderful way to spend your Birthday. I too prefer events to stuff at this point in my life and it's not because I want the memory it's because I want to be in the moment.
    I'm happy to hear you say you have left the past behind. I think a lot of people have a hard time doing that and then they stagnate, get bitter, angry and lose their happiness. We only get one life so why not try and find joy, everyday.
    Lotsoflove
    xxxxooooo

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    1. Thank you, Krista! Agree with you on all accounts. We don't want to loose our joy! ;) xxxxx

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  9. Happy Birthday, Natalia! Wishing year 41 to be a magical and powerful year for you! You look amazing- the colors, not too bright but lively are perfect for you. And that dress hugs all the right curves- mee-yaow! I just found out from Anne who I got to meet today that you are living in Tacoma. How did I not know this- so close- I must figure out a way for us to meet!

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    1. Thank you, Bella! So very touching... And yes, we will meet soon, we are sooo close! :) xxxxxx

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  10. Happy Birthday! It looks like you had a wonderful day. Such an interesting museum. The old cars are amazing.
    Love your new/old dress. You look gorgeous in it. The last picture is so cool! Your husband has done a great job photographing you.

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    1. Thank you, Oksanochka! Happy to hear from you, and Justin says thank you for your kind compliment! xxxx

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  11. Happy birthday although a bit late! Great idea to offer yourself an event for a present. I think wrap dresses are the best, so elegant! You look all happy for your 41 years and you should be because you are still around and can breath to each new day!

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    1. Thank you! :) Numbers never bother me. I actually live with the philosophy that life only begins at 40 for quite a long while. :) I've done A LOT before 40. Pretty great things too. It's time to refocus now and let go of the past. And THAT is not easy as I am very caring and quite sensitive person. But I feel happy about my age and about myself. :)

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  12. I love the colours in the print, and the dress looks wonderful with the necklace. Well played on the thrift shop store front too. I've never found a Von Furstenberg anything in one!

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    1. Thank you! It was a consignment shop, a little more expensive than a thrift shop, but still! I was excited! Pure silk and such a glorious design... And this is apparently a 40 anniversary of the DVF wrap dress too - how appropriate! :)

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  13. What a yummy and completely entertaining post! Love, love, love this dress. And it sure loves you! Every curve presented in the very best light. Flattering and beyond ... never let this little baby go! Cute shoes, jewelry, hair ... everything! Your huz lookls like a proud guy, as he should. You look just fabulous.
    And congrats on the success of your post! Great news.

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    1. Thank you, Jan! This one is a keeper. The husband I mean. Though the dress too. :) xxxxx

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