My (not so) secret friends

Hello, strangers! Found a new place to take indoors photos for the winter months -- Hubby finally cleaned out the basement enough that there is some blank spaces of wall for me to use. So here I am!

The top is one of my new Lane Bryant purchases, one I got with my sister on my Christmas trip. We both had a good time shopping together, and I am sure she will pleased to see that I did actually buy something for myself too (I was a good Santa to her there, LOL). It's a snakeprint in grey and black, sorry I didn't get a closer shot. I added my beloved short-sleeved LOFT sweater to it, just to add a minor layer, a pair of medium-faded Old Navy Dreamer jeans, and my silver Privos sneakers.

Perfect outfit for bumming around on the weekend, I thought. Not too lazy, not too casual.

Monday, I went to work.



The key top is from Gwynnie Bee. I wasn't sure if I would like a peplum tunic top on me, but it turned out to be awesome. I am keeping it for a second wearing, maybe for a casual look this weekend. The pants are Gap modern bootcuts, and the shoes are my new Clarks booties.



So, um, have I ever told you guys that I own mannequins? I can't remember if this ever came up before.

As long as I am telling you about them, I should tell you that I own two.


(When you are a size 20, it is never a good idea to stand next to a size 0. Just sayin'.)

I got them from Forth & Towne years ago. As we were closing the store down, my boss asked me to bring my camera and get photos of everyone. I did get some incredible photos of everyone, but I also became obsessed with taking photos of the displays and mannequins as they piled up, and the store itself. It was a gorgeous, elegant store.











We sold bubble necklaces years before J Crew. :)



As a photo subject, I could not resist the mannequins.








"Thanks for coming. I've called this meeting to plan our escape..."



Or the empty space. Seriously, it was a stunningly beautiful store.







Each dressing room was uniquely decorated, with a vanity and stool.





Everyone had fun with mannequins. In the end I had to buy a couple of my own. $20 each, what a deal!



I put some clothes on her once I got home. The sitting one stayed in the backseat of my car for years, causing much mayhem and laughter as drivers passed me on the roads. :)



But in the end, they have been relegated to my basement. I've purged lots of things, but I can't get rid of them. They hold such fond memories for me of a special time in my life, working with really lovely people in a gorgeous place. That's where I met Shopping Friend, for goodness' sake -- and I'm standing up in her wedding in a few months. The mannequins will always remind me of her too, and everyone else from Forth & Towne.



I miss you guys!

I think I might need to move the mannequins around in the basement so they can be in more pictures. Hubby moved the standing one over by his new workbench, and dressed her in his fishing straw hat and his high school tennis shirt, and ---



-- hey, she's not wearing any pants!

;-D