Vintage shop, Venus on the Half Shell in Frederick MD
Perhaps I've watched too many episodes of What Not to Wear but the time to PURGE has come! Like most of my friends, it kills me to part with clothes that I once loved, that I was wore, and that I can no longer say to myself but they'll fit ONE DAY. Then there's the opposite kind of clothing that I finally am letting go of - the FLAX line which basically is like wearing pajamas all made of linen. Now I love linen, in fact I love all natural fabrics. But in truth, most Flax clothing is SO comfortable because the waists are elastic and the tops are so flowing that anyone could grow at least 5 or more sizes and never even notice. That's it, they're going, kaplooey! (Want my Ebay login? haha).
Venus on the Half Shell has a wide range of vintage accessories too.
My closets are much emptier; my floors are virtual booby traps. Stuff is everywhere, simply everywhere. This process of "cleaning" is messy, it's exhausting, and it's seems never-ending. So far, however, I took the first load of articles to a consignment shop where they donate leftovers and non-sellables to charity. At Target I bought several clear tubs to label future donations and store off-season clothing. Problem is...I first have to clear space in the basement for the new tubs (you can see where this is going).
I became so overwhelmed that to relieve the stress of ridding myself of old clothing, I had to go shopping. I chose to check out a vintage shop in Frederick called Venus on the Half Shell. Firstly, I loved the ambience and the design. It resonated with me somehow. I selected several dresses to try on. I need dresses, honestly. I discovered that I should have lived during the forties and early fifties (doesn't it figure that I was born shortly after the era of my favorite fashions?!) I bought two dresses, both from the 40's and both less than $30 each! They fit as though they were tailored just for me. I will include photos another time.
I chose to wear the yellow and orange print sundress with a scalloped neckline, fitted waist, and full-ish skirt for our anniversary dinner that night. I was channelling Doris Day in The Pajama Game...all bright and perky in my new/old girly dress. The dinner was spectacular. We ate at one of our favorite local steak places. Tom wasn't crazy about me photographing the steak as we like to return from time to time :-)
I did take a shot of my after-shopping lunch, however. I had a yummy gorgonzola and walnut salad at NOLA (in Frederick, not the Emeril's one in the real NOLA).
The ice tea was fresh brewed with each order and was incredible! (also free trade)
I grabbed a local paper off the sofa to read because one of the front page stories caught my eye: NUDE HIKERS WARNED AT PARK. According to the Frederick News Post, ten men ages 40-60-something, were hiking "with nothing on but their shoes." So, really, I ask you...is that technically nude? It may have been a matter of debate between the man who spotted them and his wife, who phoned the police an HOUR after they saw them. By the time the police found the men, the hikers had already re-dressed. They claimed that it was National Nude Hiking Day and that one of the ten remained clothed and walked ahead of the group to alert other hikers of his advancing nude buddies in case they wanted to avert their eyes. You know me...I'd be setting up my camera ;-)
