Sunday, January 20, 2013

Event: A Dickensian Christmas

Real life has barreled into the blogosphere and landed right in the lap of yours truly. I’m sorry I haven’t been updating nearly as often as I should, but allow me to make it up to you with a trip back in time to the Great Dickens Christmas Fair in Daly City…

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You know me, name a lit-themed convention where period costumes are required and you can bet your bustle I’ll be there in mine (see: the 2013 Edwardian Ball). Fair planers transformed the Cow Palace into a miniature Victorian London, complete with sooty chimney sweeps, mince pies, and carts full of sweet, warm nuts.

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Highlights included custom corsets from Dark Garden (model and cupcakes not included), Whirlwood Magic Wands, a performance by the Royal English Opera Company, and perhaps most of all unbelievable leather masks by Mitchell Walker.


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What’s that I hear? The tinkling sleigh bells of a new holiday tradition?!

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Fashion: The Final Markdown!

I had a sinking feeling I hadn’t seen the end of the men’s cashmere sweater debate. Sure enough, when I hit H&M for their after-Christmas sale, I found not one but two blue cashmere jumpers discounted from $99 to $30.

(Sorry for the photo quality; I snapped these with my cell phone on the fly.)

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True, some reviewers say it’s not worth it to buy cashmere from chains like H&M because it pills in no time. But considering our next-cheapest contender for first-hand, store-bought finery is a $195 pullover from Macy’s, I’d take my chances with the chain.