Fashion Inspiration: Riverdance!

Hmm, it was dark and the camera no likey

Tonight Kristen and I went out for a traditional Irish dinner and then enjoyed a complimentary performance of Irish music and dance. I'll be posting a video of St. Paddy's Day weekend in a few days, but for now, I'm feeling inspired!

What does this outfit remind you of?

If you said Celtic dance garb, you would be correct!

I think this look can be very eclectic and fashion forward, but verging on costumey if you're not careful. Start with a full-skirted dress that hits about mid-thigh. This can really be interesting if you go semi-formal and then try to dress it down. Tights or knee-high socks are a must, and any type of simple flat or ankle boot will make the dress seem more casual, everyday, and traditional-Irish-dancery :-). The military jacket in this ensemble emulates the structured, long-sleeved tops of Riverdancer's dresses. As a final touch, I think an accessory with some Celtic-inspired patterns would look great. Maybe try some jewelry.

I feel like I would randomly start stomping around and doing high kicks if I wore this. That's the power of the Irish spirit!

Flashback: The Dance of the Cucumber

Please tell me you all remember this?

I have woken up singing this song every single morning that I have been in Spain. I guess it's the only concrete Spanish from my youth that my tired brain has to cling to :-)

Lyrics:


El Baile del Pepino

Miren al pepino.
Vean como se mueve
Como un leon tras un raton
Miren al pepino,
Sus suaves movimientos
Tal como mantequilla en un chango pelon.

Miren al pepino
Los vegetales envidian a su amigo
Como el quieren bialar
Pepino bailarin, pepino bailarin, pepino bailarin,
Baila, baila, ya!

Miren al tomate
No es triste?
El no puede bailar.
Pobre tomate . . .
El deberia poder bailar
Como el pepino--
Libre y suavemente.
Pero el no puede danzar.

Escuchen el pepino
Oigan su voz fuerte
Como un leon listo a devorar.
Escuchen al pepino.
Que dulce as su canto
La voz de su garganta perece un triar.

Escuchen al pepino
Los vegetales envidian a su amigo
Como el quieren cantar.
Pepino cantador, pepino cantador, pepino cantador,
Canta, canta, ya!

Escuchen al tomate
No es triste?
El no puede cantar.
Pobre tomate . . .
El deberia poder cantar
Fuerte y ducle como el pepino
Pero no puede . . .
Ni siquiera da un silbido.

Fashion Inspiration: Harem Pants

Were these ever in style? Wow. Just wow.

My mom actually seems to pull them off pretty well. They give her a schmexy little waist, you know?

By the way, she made these pants herself for a comedic performance of DC Talk's "Heavenbound" that she and my dad would do back in their days of leading youth group together. I've seen it on video. It was quite spectacular.

Get a load of me and my matching harem pants and skeleton shirt! From the looks of it, I'm singing my solo part in the above shot. Although I was really more of a groupie, as I recall. Kind of just along for the ride ;-D

And thus the Crosby family was born! So much love.

P.S. I know the rap, too! Maybe I'll record it on webcam and post it someday . . . or not.

Anyway, it might sound ridiculous, but baggier pants are becoming quite a trend these days. No, not gangsta-style pants hanging off of your body and exposing either your behind or your skivvies to the world. I'm talking about something more like this:

Photo credit

Anyone for a nice high-waisted, drop-crotch number that tapers at the ankle? This model seems to make them look hot, but how wearable are such pants, really?

Here's how I would rock them:

I think if you accentuate your waist with a crop top and keep the rest of your outfit simple and classy, harem pants (or jam pants, hammer pants, parachute pants, drop-crotch pants, whatever you want to call them) can be very fashionable and flattering--for the ladies, that is. Guys, I don't have much help for you. Sorry.

I have a confession, I bought a pair of khaki pants that are dangerously close to channeling the MC Hammer vibe. I wore them in this post. Admittedly, I hadn't really thought about the fact that I would have to wear them differently from "normal" pants. They look a bit frumpy in the pictures.

I'm willing to give it another go, personally! For nostalgia's sake! Long like the 80s and 90s! I'll skip the crazy mosaic patterns, though.