Monday, August 22, 2011

Sailor Sam

Day 5 of the 21-Day Challenge was to put a belt on it, and so I belted one out:

And the jailer man and Sailor Sam were searching every one
                                                                                     — Paul McCartney Band on the Run

This song came out in 1973, when I was a sophomore in high school — I didn't realize it was that old. My how time flies when you're having fun. Anyway, this line kept popping into my head when I wore this outfit, so I figured why fight it?

shirt — Lizwear by Liz Claiborne (thrifted)
dress — Ralph by Ralph Lauren (Marshalls)
boots — Haley by Faded Glory (thrifted)

This jumper has been hanging in my closet for years and years — the tags were even still on it! It's a ribbed sweater knit (you can't really tell from the picture), so I was probably uncomfortable with how curve hugging it was. It also seems so simple now, but I may not have thought to wear a belt before, and it really changes the look of the outfit.

Black belt or Red belt?  


My black-and-white striped shirt inspired my ear worm (I hope it's not contagious though). In retrospect, however, my shirt was probably more like the costume of a traditional mime than prison stripes or the Breton stripes that Coco Chanel popularized after a visit to the French Riviera in the 1930s.





It's probably no surprise that Marcel Marceau, the legendary mime actor, wore the striped top along with the other items of the mime costume, but what may come as a surprise is that the man who became world famous for silent performances was fluent in three languages.

Born as Marcel Mangel in 1923 in Strasbourg, France, Marcel, and his older brother, adopted the name "Marceau" during the Nazi occupation of France. The two brothers were members of the French resistance and helped many children escape to freedom into Switzerland. Marcel started miming as way of keeping children quiet, as they were escaping.
I'm really enjoying these challenges.
It's like playing dress up in my own clothes. 


In addition to the 21-Day Challenge, I'm also linking up to Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style, because well I thought that I was pretty visible in this outfit, especially with the red belt, and also because I have a bit of a silly pose.


Which color belt goes best?

15 comments:

  1. Yes, you gave me the ear-worm : > Love the pose, and my vote goes for the red belt. They are both cool, though. Thanks for participating in Visible Monday. (Mime-day?)

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  2. Cute outfit. I like the red belt and the way you wore it lower on the hips. It looks great on you.

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  3. I'm tossing my vote behind the black belt. I think I'd be digging the red belt more if red was repeated somewhere else in the outfit, like in the necklace.

    But the red still works and thats what style is all about, putting our individual twist on things. Dressing is NOT like bakeing a cake, there is no wrong way to do it.

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  4. You are so right about belts! I just recently re-discovered them, and they do wonders. (Have to now stop myself from overdoing it).

    One vote for the black belt. As for the red belt -- is it the same one in the first and third picture? I like it better in the first, for some reason..... I think the bottom line is that both belts work, though.

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  5. Oh, and I forgot to say, I love the whole look! A little "wow" went off in my head when I saw the first pic.

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  6. Oh, I love that last pose!

    And the hip-slung belt on you is fabulous. I never wear mine like that, but you make me want to give it a shot; it looks so great on you!

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  7. I like the red belt.. it adds a little something i think. Nice pop of color

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  8. Totally a bad ass look. I would wear this in a heartbeat. The red belt! The red! The cropped boots are perfect. I don't think it looks too clingy, the belt diverts from that. But I know what you mean, even when I was a size 0 (no longer!) I hated the way rib knits clung. You look fab!

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  9. I like the striped top with the black dress, and I think the red belt is my favorite version!

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  10. Hey Kari! This outfit is so fun and youthful! Gosh, both belts look great! If I had to choose, I'd say red, but only because I LOVE pops of color! You look great!

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  11. I love this look...with the red belt!! I also really like the boots..good thrifting!

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  12. Well, I'm ALWAYS going to vote for red!! I have a similar shirt and you've given me an idea of a different way to wear it! Of course, it'll probably be November before it's actually cool enough to wear it!

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  13. My vote was for the red belt, though I didn't get a chance to comment till now. I took my Visible Monday inspiration from you.

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  14. @Patti -- Sorry for the ear worm. :-)
    @SheWhoAccessorizesWell -- Yes, I think wearing it low slung made a big difference.
    @northeastchic -- it's NOT like baking a cake? that must be why I have so many problems. I like directions (I think that's why I like challenges so much). Whenever I do one of those inspiration things, I try to copy it exactly.
    @Anne -- Yes, I find myself trying to belt EVERYTHING these days, and some things just cannot be belted. Yes, it is the same belt. I was taking it off and on thought (switching it out with the black one), so it may just be where it was sitting on my hips.
    @Gracey -- thank you! You're so sweet.
    @Nenny -- thank you. :-) It's nice to have my kid commenting on my blog.
    @Megan -- thank you! Yes, rib knits are CLINGY! it freaks me out. I have always been more comfortable with hiding my body. I'm getting better in my old age though.
    @Rebecca -- TY. Doesn't it look a bit like yours? I remember doing a double take when I saw your outfit.
    @fashiondujourdaily -- TY! I think that's one of the reasons why I liked this outfit so much -- it was youthful without making me feel like it was too young.
    @Pam -- TY! It was a fun outfit.
    @Joy -- Thank you and glad to help inspire someone. I'll keep my fingers crossed that your weather will cool soon.
    @Coastal Harp -- Thank you! It's nice to hear that I helped.

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  15. You look great..........So full of spunk. I vote yes for the red belt!

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Thanks for reading. Honest opinions and constructive criticism are always welcome.

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