Pink and green and everything in between
Stephanie/Little Birds mentioned The Preppy Handbook a couple of weeks ago and I just had to pull out my old copy and dust it off. Growing up in the Southeastern US, dressing preppy was the look during our high school years. For me, it all started in junior high with my driven desire to own every pastel shade of Levi cords ever produced, and continued into a full-on obsession in high school. With pink and green hippo (yes, hippo) printed fabric in one hand, green mini-corduroy fabric in my other hand, I was a McCall's sewing pattern and a seamstress away from having the reversible wrap-around skirt of my dreams. Wish I had some of that hippo fabric now. Fair isle sweaters, kilts, blackwatch plaid pants, loafers, duck boots, Skyr turtlenecks....it all followed. I was in the vortex of prep... hook, line, and sinker. But, alas, then came college and my wardrobe morphed into my boyfriend's old ripped and patched Levi's thrown on with a shirt from the 10 cent goodwill grab bags. But that's another story.
Several years ago my mom mailed out my old bermuda bag that I carried in high school, complete with all the interchangeable covers I had. The above photo is my bag in the exact same state I left it in when I was carrying it some....22 years ago (yikes). (It is laying over my favorite fabric from Fiona's package, thank you again.) That cover was my default cover, a favorite Kelly green one (practically all my outfits went with this color, imagine walking neon and you get the picture). I had lots more, but only have a few left. Here's a monogrammed strawberry one I made, circa 1983-
Not bad for a teenage cross stitcher. It went so nicely with my strawberry printed turtleneck, my strawberry printed grosgrain ribbon belt, and my navy blue cord pants with the strawberries all over them. I had these Old English style initials on nearly everything I wore or carried.
I'm feeling a bit nostalgic for my preppy side, and my old B bag. Although I've been carrying it on and off since I stopped carrying my kid's diaper bag, its never had a proper face lift. I'm working on giving it a little love this week. Found some new pink and green fabric for a cover (below), I'm thinking this plaid skirt might also turn into one.
There are many other irons in the fire this week. I am warning all you wise.. craft swappers that I am feeling very pink and green this week.
Notice I've added to my sidebar that I plan to have a computer free day on Friday this week. The simple idea being I will not be on the computer for any reason that day. I will instead be doing any and everything else. Toni, we're in this together, although I won't be able to email you on Friday and tell you so.
Who's in with us? Can you commit to a computer free day???
Now I leave you with a picture of my delicious lunch...
someone doesn't like crusts on their sandwiches.
I'm in....
Posted by: Kristina | February 15, 2006 at 01:58 PM
Who doesn't like crusts on their sandwiches? Today surely did bring back memories. Those darling bags. And all that pink and green.
Posted by: mom | February 15, 2006 at 02:05 PM
ah yes, coming of age in the Reaganeighties. Those last two fabrics are fabulous, are they currently available or are they vintage finds?
Posted by: Carol | February 15, 2006 at 03:37 PM
Oh, man, you're bringing back the memories here... I too, had a Bermuda bag, one that I sent away for just the handle and had to sew, staple, etc the rest of it. Remember WHALES on everything too? Who'd risk people drawing the comparison between a GIANT BLUBBERY WHALE and a teenage girl?? Also: collars that defied gravity with their ability to stand up... I never got that was starch that did it! Hence: floppy collaritis.
Posted by: megan | February 15, 2006 at 03:45 PM
I am freaking out because i got a Bermuda bag at the market's flea market a few months ago and was so excited. I am going to go home tonight and take a picture of them finally and put it on my blog. i loved them!
Posted by: Kristen | February 15, 2006 at 03:50 PM
You must have been too cool for school!
I LOVE the pink and green. That's a color combo I've been obsessed with lately.
Posted by: beki | February 15, 2006 at 04:59 PM
Good luck with the computer free Friday! You'll have to let us know how it all goes next week.
I'm sure you won't miss it a bit. :-)
Posted by: Adriana | February 15, 2006 at 05:17 PM
Okay more samey-same things to share--I carried that exact same B'bag in that exact same green, except mine reversed to navy with my initials monogrammed in red. I loved all things monogrammed. And I was just at the thrift store TONIGHT and I found another big b-bag that I'm going to use when I travel with my knitting. I'm going to blog it as soon as I finish putting Em to bed....
what else--loafers with dimes (not pennies, of course)a pink faire isle sweater that I'd kill for now,my duck boots that squeaked when I walked.... and my colors of choice were kelly green and purple. I remember that I had a green and purple striped polo and I felt that I was the epitome of cool when I was wearing it.`
what an awesome flashback!
Posted by: molly | February 15, 2006 at 06:23 PM
did you actually color in the pink and green page from TPH with the appropriate crayons? we did. i had only a brief fling with this look (i've always been more of a bohemian). it was lisa who fully embraced it, but, from 82-83 (when she was still picking out all my clothes), i was all about blackwatch plaid wool bermuda shorts, oxford cloth shirts, monogrammed sweaters, and, always, a matching grosgrain bow in my hair.
what is it with the south and the monograms? every gift i get from my inlaws has a monogram: towels, sheets, totebags, jewelery, photo albums...it drives jack and i crazy.
Posted by: Stephanie | February 15, 2006 at 08:12 PM
ps: i'm in on fridays! i think it's a swell idea.
Posted by: Stephanie | February 15, 2006 at 08:20 PM
Blair! I just got done posting about our computer free day too! Funny. I thought about emailing you on Friday to see how you were doing, then I remembered I wasn't supposed to be on the computer..duh. I'm looking forward to it actually.
I enjoyed reading about you old bag. I'm looking forward to seeing it take on a new life :)
Posted by: Toni | February 15, 2006 at 08:27 PM
Hi, I'm a new reader of your blog. :)
A designated computer-free day... what a great idea! I desparately need one (although I've also got two new machines to build and install and setup properly and my husband is giving me the "hurry up I want new 'puter" vibe), since I've got a bunch of baby shower gifts to make before Sunday. Yikes!
Posted by: Jennifer | February 15, 2006 at 08:27 PM
*gulp* I'm in on the computer free Friday...maybe I'll get more than a few rows of knitting done then.
Posted by: Dee | February 15, 2006 at 08:58 PM
Yikes, I'm having flashbacks about the scratchy kilts and blackwatch trousers that my mother had me wearing. Those are never coming back to me, thank goodness. I never knew there was such a thing as a Bermuda bag, what a cool consept!!!
Posted by: Strikkelise | February 16, 2006 at 02:58 AM
Snap - I love pink and green as well. As well as pink and chocolate brown. Well, just pink full stop.
You are just like my husband - he doesn't eat the crusts either. Which I don't understand. They are the best bit!
Posted by: Samantha | February 16, 2006 at 04:31 AM
Friday Computer Free day, sounds like a great idea. We'll see how it goes..LOL
I Love pink & green too!
Pink, green with a little touch a red is the best.
Posted by: gina L | February 16, 2006 at 04:41 AM
I have a writing project due tomorrow, so I'll need to be on the computer finishing it up and sending it out--and I don't know if I can resist the siren call of bloglines when I'm actually at the computer. So, sign me up for next week! Maybe even two days...I love this idea.
Posted by: Anamaria | February 16, 2006 at 05:58 AM
It will be hard but you're so right !! On friday no computer on !!! So I will have more time to finished your goodies my dear friend ;o) !! Hugs to you
Posted by: Sandrine (alias Didine!) | February 16, 2006 at 06:34 AM
I had one of those! And I wish I could find it and all the covers to go with it. So cute.
I need to jump on that computer free day bandwagon. Dare we say I try it tomorrow? I think I might consider it. I seriously need to limit my computer time.
Posted by: amanda8 | February 16, 2006 at 09:09 AM
count me in for computer-free friday.
i really need to chill out with the computer time!
i can't wait to see how much i can get done instead of being on the computer
thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: tammie | February 16, 2006 at 10:40 AM
I think what's in between pink and green is yellow! Another great spring color!
Posted by: jenny | February 16, 2006 at 11:21 AM
A computer free day/s is such a great idea Blair, I also spend way too much time looking.
I can't do Friday though, Friday is my 'bottle of wine and stick myself in front of the computer night'- I'll pick a day next week.
(spoken like a true addict)
Posted by: lyn | February 16, 2006 at 03:06 PM
What a wonderful tale, I have read about this book before and it sounds quite interesting and I just love how you talked about your bag :)
mmm
computer free fridays, sounds like a nice idea.
Posted by: Helen | February 16, 2006 at 10:21 PM
Oh, my, I had like a hot flash when I saw the preppy handbook. I remember the pressure so well back then, to look your best, wear only grosgrain belts, fairisle sweaters and turtlenecks, loafers, oh, and grosgrain headbands. I also spent alot of time ironing the collars of my Izod shirts so they stick up in the air.
I had a bermuda bag, loads of covers, that my aunt would make, and my espadrille shoes would match some of the covers!
Posted by: the painted pear | February 17, 2006 at 08:53 AM
Crusts for lunch are standard fare around here for me. That's just one part of my job description as a mom: "Official Crust Eater"
Posted by: Siri | February 17, 2006 at 09:37 AM