Forsooth, a delectable Elizabethan tapestry dress, available from Meat Market Vintage Clothing on ebay.

I have never seen a print like this before. Never in all my days. The colors all muted, pensive, as if in a minor key. Olive abstract leaves form a background with touches of fawn and here and there a coral flower. I love the heavily-lidded eyes of the bearded courtiers, their ruffs and expressive hands. I also love the profile of our one-eyed redheaded lady and her haughty high forehead. But there are other parts of this repeat print that I wish had been focal points for the photos: the lovely lady with the lute (seen in the side view), the melancholy brunette with the gold ruff,the gentleman with the brown velvet sleeves. And how I love the empty black chairs, seemingly of wrought iron, left unoccupied in the garden. The details on the clothing of each of the figures is stunning, precise and yet full of expressionistic brushwork.

Sadly this one is not my size, or I'd snap it up and wear it to baroque recorder concerts. For winter I'd probably want to wear a chocolate-brown velvet shirt with long puffy sleeves underneath (to mirror those on one of the figures). This sheath would also look lovely with tights and over-the-knee boots. I don't think I'd be able to resist wrangling my hair into a snood either. Please get this dress. It would look darling on you, and you would show restraint. Over-the-knee boots or a snood, but not both, right? I always succumb to the cornucopia of details.

I had hoped to amass an absolute horde of novelty prints with lutes on them, or other quaint musical instruments, but the progress has been painfully slow.

Paganne, goslings. I wonder when I became such a toady for labels? This whimsical frock is available from Love Me Two Times Vintage. It's a medium, full length gown with a long slit up the left side going straight to mid-thigh. The print is on the front and the back. Pagannes don't come cheap. But you are worth it, so go get it. Or at least look at all the lovely photos.

I'd be tempted to wear this with a hat made out of broken violins. You can pick them up cheap by the armload at Goodwill. It would be even better if the pattern on the dress was actually an electronic keyboard. How fun would it be to play your own evening gown at a gig? Though the keyboards are not optimally placed for doing so. But just imagine, watching drummers struggle with their kits and saying:load-in's a cinch with my new piano frock. In the movie version of my life, the working keyboard would be on an apron that I tied onto my gown, that way I could adjust it in my lap. And I'd play all Blossom Dearie tunes. Perhaps I'd have a small grand piano nestled in my chignon. It would have a working keyboard as well, but--get this--it's a toy piano, all plunky, decayed sound.

And rings on every finger--rings shaped like grand pianos that are in fact--music boxes. Did I mention that I love Liberace?

Now I'm getting greedy. I'd sit next to a full size grand piano, playing it using extended techniques, play the electronic piano on my apron and occassionally reach up to the toy piano in my hair. Winding the music boxes on my fingers.

Quick, someone call Margaret Leng Tan and Phyllis Chen. I have had the pleasure of seeing both of them perform live. Margaret Leng Tan was performing with Eiko and Komo at the Japan Society. And Phyllis Chen playing an assortment of toy pianos, music boxes, a grand piano, and even played a composition than involved frying an egg, at Symphony Space. Both were awe-inspiring.

New to my blogroll is Couture Allure's blog, featuring designer vintage togs, along with vintage advertising and tips. Tips not only on vintage make-up stylings, but the proper way to carry your gloves. Like a lady. [That last line must be read with an Eliza Dolittle cockney.] But I prefer to smack people in the face with my gloves, and challenge them to duels.