Kansas City’s Women’s Equality Week-3 Events-3 Looks

Women’s Equality Day was August 26th. This day commemorates American women finally having the right to vote. Most cities have activities limited to just the one day, but Kansas City devotes an entire week to women’s equality.

I attended three events: the Sunday opening reception held at the American Jazz Museum, Building Coalitions Through Courageous Conversations at the National Archives and finally Empowerment Through Collaboration: Facing Challenges in Women’s Creative Work.

This week’s post is about what I wore to each of these. Going to Kansas City does take time (we live an hour away). This approach seemed to be the best way to balance my time in the car and the time I needed to write.

Sunday for the Opening Reception at The American Jazz Museum

Black and Light Neutrals

My base piece for this first style is a “new to me” Mango jumpsuit which I found on Poshmark NWT. Most of this spring and summer I’ve been putting together faux jumpsuit looks. I was hoping that I would eventually find a true jumpsuit that suited me. With this Mango piece, I believe I found it. With its side invisible zipper those visits to the ladies room are pretty easy (an important consideration for me).

I am loving this year’s belt trend because belts have been one of my life long trends. The belt I wore Sunday is a White House Black Market 2 1/2 “ wide reptile embossed, patent leather with a very distinctive buckle and another Poshmark find.

Annie Hall, I miss you because I never tire of vests. Truthfully, this Chaus linen/polyester Salvation Army find was the initial inspiration for this look.

The accessories included a very old pair of Steve Madden multi textured heeled sandals (TJ Maxx), a Louie Vuitton Alma bag from The RealReal and my Carnelian and silver necklace that Michael gave me for Christmas years ago. I believe it came from The Chicago Art Institute.

Building Coalitions Through Courageous Conversations at the National Archives

Burgundy and Tan

Three years ago, on the way home from a wedding in Minnesota, Michael and I ran into a Pendleton Outlet store. This was dangerous territory! Together, we spent a nice bit of our vacation money and the dress I wore this evening was one of my finds on that day.  Its simple shape and its abstract pattern appeals to me.

I didn’t do too much to accessorize the dress. My bag is a vintage Furla from eBay. I was attracted to the bag’s shape and simplicity and, at the time and knew nothing of Furla. After some research, I knew I had a good buy.

Last week, I finally noticed that my old Nine West sandals matched the Furla. These shoes were the first thing I ever pinned on  Pinterest back in the spring of 2010. It had just launched as a closed beta platform and I remember having to wait for at least a week to get accepted as a member. These days, it seems that I rarely pin a thing but know that Pinterest is a great tool for inspiration style boards. Someday, I might get back to using it this way.

Earlier this Summer, I was a very lucky lady and won Ritz’s of Journospeak’s Instagram contest for a Jord watch. Made with purpleheart wood, it just blended in. Do go and visit Ritz and her wonderful blog that covers everything from life style, beauty and fashion.

There was a time when I taught knitting and spinning classes at various fiber fests around the Midwest. I crafted my necklace from stones I found at one of these festivals and I can see a small landscape in each stone.

The larger rings I used were found at JoAnne’s Fabric store. The rectangular copper beads were purchased through Fire Mountain Gems.  I had to distress them with a special acidic solution to get the patina I wanted.

Empowerment Through Collaboration-Facing Challenges in Women’s Creative Work.

Sarah Nelsen, Kansas City Designer

I am saving my favorite for last. Friday night’s panel discussion was Empowerment Through Collaboration:Facing Challenges in Women’s Creative Work. The sponsors were: Women in the Arts Networking KC, Women in Design Kansas City, Kansas City Women in Film & TV and UNA Women of GKC.

The organizer and moderator of the event was our daughter, Rachelle Gardner-Roe. If you follow me on Instagram, you will know that Friday night I let loose with a live video, two regular videos and photos. For us, it was a family event because our oldest daughter was in town attending a veterinary medical conference and happily was able to come.

Both Rachelle and I are wearing Sarah Nelsen, a super talented young Kansas City designer. My top is a one of a kind created from an incredible piece of vintage chiffon that is embellished with black sequins, gold thread and multi colored irregular shapes. Verbal description cannot do this piece justice. It’s one of those things you have to see!

My “made by me” Donna Karen for Vogue super slim cut pants has been on here many times. Honestly, I am considering making a second pair. I love and wear them that much.

The black patent BCBG Generation pumps were thrifted from Goodwill.

This outfit perfectly portrays my style philosophy, which has three cornerstones: second hand market, made-by-me, and designed by Kansas City designers or companies that make a point to make their garments in the United States. No, I am not perfect following this philosophy. I occasionally purchase new merchandise made in China, Vietnam or elsewhere, but I do try to keep it to a minimum.

Rachelle’s dark blue textured Sarah Nelsen jacket is an achievement in garment engineering. The bodice curves around to form pockets. The back, which I did not think to photograph, is pleated and the pleats are stabilized by a back bottom band. I found a one piece jumpsuit (on Poshmark) to give her a sleek look. Both garments have pockets; pockets are very important for Rachelle. She was in four pocket heaven!

Rachelle With Her Panel of Creative Kansas City Women

Daughter Michelle was practicing fashion sustainability long before me. We encourage, support and collaborate with each other on this slow fashion philosophy.

Michelle, in a full shot, showing her style that is a combination of hand sewn and 2nd Loved fashion found at various thrift shops. Michelle enjoys a layered look, usually combining a bright solid or print with basic neutral pieces spiced up with interesting accessories. That night she wore a hand sewn cardigan and skirt from her favorite sewing book, The Magic Pattern Book, and a power red thrift store tank. The thrifted scarf and belt add additional texture and color. The skirt fabric was also acquired at a thrift store. Michelle loves these gladiator sandals, purchased from DSW Shoes last summer, despite my youngest grandson declaring them “LY” (translated: Last Year). Harrison, age 14, is a bit of a shoe snob.

I am sharing, again, the link to Sarah Nelsen’s website so you can check out this talented Kansas City designer.

That wraps it up for this week. Thank you for stopping by. I’ll have another blog bit next week. You are certainly welcome to leave a comment or two or three. I love to hear from you.

I link up with some great blogs every week. To see who they are go HERE.

Husband Michael gets credit for the photos of me. He also does some editing.

Again, thanks for stopping by. Take care……..

It’s time for the August 2nd Loved 1st Friday Linkup which stays open until August 31st. The new linkup will be this Friday.

Any post on a blog, Instagram, Facebook or the like can linkup to this style celebration. If you can copy and paste the URL in the Linky box, you are good to go!

One item is quite OK—a hat, skirt, pants, shoes, purse, or a piece of jewelry.  That item (or items) can be from a thrift shop, eBay, consignment shop, vintage boutique, one of the online consignment shops such as RealReal–or even something a friend gave you because they didn’t want it anymore.

When you do post, I would appreciate a description about your 2nd Loved item (or items), what type of shop you found it and what drew you to it. Tell as much or as little as you want. To be featured in my collage, which I will put on Instagram along with your links, you have to say what item is second loved. That is a “have to”.

If you have never participated in a linkup before, no fear. Go to Linkup 101 guide that is found on my 2^nd Loved 1^st Friday linkup page (also found at the top in the tab section).

Just click the frog below to link up and join the fun!

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