The Larger Ladies

I am not really interested in fashion and this blog owner Matt normally posts luscious photos of cars, so this is a bit left of field for him. You may or may not be of a large size nevertheless some may find the photos of fashion for larger women interesting, in turn part of Melbourne Fashion Festival. While people watching, I like seeing well dressed larger women. Some larger women try to pretend they aren't larger, and that does not work. 

I am taking a chance that Matt won't mind me using one of his photos to publicise his post. He is an excellent photographer. 

The Melbourne Look

Yes, apparently we have one. This is of course a gross generalisation but there is some truth in it. 

I hope I know how to best dress myself in a casual manner and if I was younger and had money to spend on clothing, with today's importance on fashion, I expect I would spend time and money on 'the right look'. But I don't.

Black hair and bright or dark red lipstick is a Melbourne look. In the gay circles I used to move in, this colour was called ****sucker red. I actually just shrugged my shoulders. I don't know why.

We do get snow, up in 'dem 'dere hills but the trees look very un-Australian, though her look is Melbourne. 

This photo is probably quite realistic. 

And this one.

Getting towards eshay, but eshay has become a style as much as it was ever an identity.

Boys' night out.

Cool look and a great casual style.

This dude is very Melbourne.

Funeral wear

 I've never owned a suit. I hired formal dinner suits for a couple of occasions.

A few years ago R bought a blue suit. It is ok, but I think he looks better wearing other clothing. 

I have black pants of an ok cut, a variety of shirts, smart enough leather shoes and a decent jacket that can do for weddings, funerals and parties. 

Before we set off for Mother's funeral our Hair Dresser Friend was here at home with us, to offer comfort and support. She came to the funeral with us. 

At some point in a comforting way she patted my arm and then froze. I raised my eyes and head? Your jacket is Cashmere. Take it off. I want to see the labels. She was right, as the label says Cashmere blended with wool. 

I had no idea. I know it is a nice jacket and sits in my wardrobe normally covered with dry cleaner plastic. 

But isn't Cashmere very expensive? My hazy memory recalls a day when I didn't feel too poor and bought a jacket at a hugely reduced price for $180. It could been this jacket or maybe a hand me down from R, although he didn't know it was Cashmere either. Not showing, but the lining has an iron melt tear. All very strange. I should have taken a photo of the lining melt, and of the jacket on a hanger, but it is covered in plastic now. You'll have to wait for the next marriage or funeral for those. 

Toenail Tuesday

My toenails needed trimming.  I am not really overweight but because of the poor arrangement of my body weight, I find it so difficult to cut my toenails. The last time I did so, I ended up with a bleeding toe.

Better left to the professionals. I bused/trammed/trained to Swan Street Richmond where I found a place to give me a foot spa and toe nail cut for $40. It was bit more than I expected. My toenails were nicely shaped, bits of skin trimmed away and it was a very nice job, except my toe nails will need cutting again very soon. I did entertain other staff and customers when the pedicurist hit a sensitive ticklish spot when rubbing my foot and I let out a shriek.  "Sir, would you like a manicure? Just $20 more."  Maybe twenty years ago I had a manicure and I didn't think it was very good.

I said yes to the manicure and again it wasn't very good. Some nails looked unevenly cut to me. In spite of shaky hands, I can manicure myself better. Two coats of clear something was applied at the end and my nails are quite shiny. I quite like my shiny nails. I noticed a young man this day noticing my shiny finger nails. I doubt I will have another manicure but certainly a pedicure and I will say how I want my toe nails cut.

But you know what a stupid old gay man is might do with a fingernail? He might grow his left hand little fingernail longer, as I have in the past, and paint it. I will do so before family Christmas gatherings. "Did you notice Auntie Andrew's black/blue fingernail?" 

The uncle/great uncle may be old and boring now, but he wasn't always and there is trace of that left.

I just read that in the US that a men painting one fingernail campaign raised half a million dollars to fund a group to stop physical abuse of children.

I quite like seeing younger men with painted nails. You may disagree.