Frivolous Universe

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Tag "jewelry"

The dog days of summer are upon us, and I’ve been feeling the yen for a little frivolity in my universe. I started by donning this Toucan riot of a dress and swilling Topo Chico, my favorite new fizzy water. I took my sideshow to the playground, where the boys of summer didn’t once look up from their game of pick-up. If there’s one thing I respect more and more as I grow older, it’s an attention span.

Kim Philley

I caught the sun and spun helicopter seeds. This vintage beaded necklace is my favorite piece of jewelry I own, besides my wedding ring. My mother brought it back from Borneo in the 1970s, and it has yet to lose a bead.

Kim Philley

A lens flare off green bottle glass? You can’t plan for that. I take it as it comes, much like this year. In the past seven months I’ve been hospitalized for severe dengue fever, geographically separated from my husband, moved six times, written a half dozen new songs I’m truly proud of, and have been consumed by obsessive relationships with a 1938 Gibson, a Yamaha, and a Samick Greg Bennett Blackbird. I’ve experienced mortal artistic terror twice in the past week. The kind where your hands turn into Gummi Bears as you’re playing guitar in front of a largish festival crowd. Thankfully, my voice is unwavering.

Kim Philley

The winged earrings, made of oxidized sterling silver, are inspired by the Owyhee wilderness of southern Idaho. I head for the Owyhees when I need to clear my head, and, no, I am not playing Pokémon Go. Melissa Osgood of Yellow M Studios in Boise is one inspired jewelry designer. Her tagline is “Jewelry for YOU — the curious — the innovator — the experimenter — the wanderer.” Sounds right on to me. Better yet, her feather-light rings are a guitar picker’s friend.

Kim Philley, Melissa Osgood jewelry, yellow.com

Speaking of friends, one of my favorite Lithuanians is working for a delectable food-delivered-to-your-doorstep company called Degustabox. Degustabox is already going gangbusters in Europe, but has recently launched in the U.S. I consider myself gastro-lucky to have received a sample shipment of their food swag, which includes 10 to 15 wholesome surprise products, shipped to your doorstep each month. As a lifelong fizzy water addict, my favorite grab from this month’s box was their Topo Chico Mineral Water. Topo Chico has been bottled at its source in Mexico since 1895, and their Twist of Lime is infused with lime essential oils, with narry a suspicious *natural* flavor. It’s the best fizzy I’ve ever tasted, and, again, those parrot-green lens flares!

Kim Philley, J. Crew

True confession: I am no Imelda Marcos. I own six pairs of shoes, and half of them are cowboy boots. But these J.Crew leopard wedges were on sale for 25 bucks. When the sirens of summer are singing your name, why resist?

Kim Philley, J. Crew, leopard wedge, shoes

Photography is how I unwind, but sometimes it’s fun to play artistic director. All photos are by my husband and talented collaborator, Ned Evett, who indulges my penchant for juxtaposed patterns and textures–in songwriting and in life.

Kim Philley, Music Box

As soon as we were done playing hooky on the playground, we headed back to work. We walked across the street to the Boise Bomb Shelter, where I hit the subterranean bathroom to shimmy out of my dress and into a work t-shirt and leggings. It was time to plug into our Vox amp and run set lists for our Wednesday, July 20th, Music Box show at Highland Brewery in Boise. What do I like most about the dog days of summer? Probably this guy:

Kim Philley, dog days of summer
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Well folks, in honor/sympathy of being the most broke I’ve been in many months, I am dedicating this week’s blog to the wonderfully humble act of dressing “free.” I went through my things and put together an outfit entirely comprised of items given to me. What I’m wearing here – from earrings to boots, even my socks – all were given to me by friends and family (except my bra and undies….those things just aren’t suitable hand-me-downs….) What I found was not only an outfit I love, but also a fantastic reminder of what amazing people I have in my life. Huzzah!

Mr. Rogers Sweater: A wool Land’s End gem given to me by my dear mother.  Story Story Nightie: This hand-stitched/screen printed frock was made by Bricolage and given to me for being a featured storyteller at Story Story Night (yep – that means you can get one too – just enter to be a storyteller! Or buy one. That works too.)  Jeans: Banana Republic, given to me by FU’s lovely Miss Monday, Kelly Lynae.  Boots: comfy, suede, and got em from the other Miss Monday, Nicole Orabona!

Bracelet: Sergio Collection; given to me by a tipsy rich woman many years ago, when I was a lowly buser at Red Feather – score one for the underdog! Ring: Handcrafted Navajo silver and petrified wood piece, purchased by my great-grandma around 1930.

Earrings: topaz and onyx, made by ma just for me! Thanks, mom. Necklace: Gold pendant with my initials (AD) etched in Greek letters – Alpha and Delta. It was originally my grandfather’s, whose name is Anthony Demetriades. How convenient for me! The tattoos (by Darcy Nutt) were most definitely not free, in case you were wondering……

 

 

 

 

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Every time I wear this blouse, my manfriend shakes his head and chuckles, “You look just like my mom.” Much as I loathe giving my man the willies by looking too matronly, I just can’t resist this little number. Guess I’ll just have to take it off when I walk through the door at the end of the day! And I don’t care who you are – no one can resist a vintage, perfectly fitted, black velvet skirt…….lust.

Blouse: Sophisticates (purchased for $3.00 at Re-Style in Boise); Skirt: The Villager (purchased for $14 at Atomic Treasures in Boise); Shoes: Luna Rosa (purchased for $20 on super-sale at Shoez in Boise)


This sexy grandma look even fits the FU “subtly slutty” bonus criteria! Note the slight sheerness of the blouse……

Earrings: Handcrafted by the supremely talented Hazel Cox (these were designed for me, and purchased so long ago I can’t even make a stab at remembering what I paid for them….); Necklace: Gorgeous gold beads given to me by my grandmother. Nothing beats a good heirloom piece.

Clutch: This stunning bakelite number belonged to my manfriend’s grandmother. It’s truly one of the most unique clutches I’ve ever seen and I adore it. Rings (from left to right): Gold dome ring in classic Greek design from my great-grandmother; sweet little Art Deco era diamond ring I bought from an antique store I worked at in high school; the last is very special – a yellow and white gold ring with diamond and elk ivory stones. The ivory was given to me by my stepfather, who passed away in 2006. It’s the one thing I wear every day, without fail. Made by Glade Davies.

 

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