Believe it or not, every year, the Downtown Milford Business Association in Milford, CT hosts an annual free pirate day event during the first Sunday in June. This happened to be the 22nd Annual event and it was my first time attending. The event invites folks to dress like a pirate, rock out with Rockin' Ron the friendly pirate, and watch Captain Kidd and his mutinous crew invade Milford Harbor around noon. Then the event transitions to a scavenger hunt on the Milford Green and surrounding businesses, along with food trucks, vendors, and live music. There's no entrance fee and the event is very family friendly. The festivities are from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, (which I imagine is perfect if you have young ones that need something to do before a nap). For us...not so much. We had a long day in Hartford the day prior attending a production of Beetlejuice the musical, and honestly could not get there until around 1:00 pm after putting on our costumes and finding parking. Parking around downtown Milford and side streets and neighborhoods is free, but it is CHALLENGING to find a spot. We parked somewhere between Lisman's Landing and Downtown proper, and I'm not sure exactly where we were parked, except that we were rather close to the Milford Historical Society. 

At the Milford Historical Society, New London's Free Men of the Sea were offering a presentation on actual tools and pirate lore as well as donning historical dress. Apparently Captain Kidd really did visit Milford, CT on his final voyage as a stop on his way to Boston in 1699 (before his subsequent arrest, imprisonment, and being returned to England for trial and execution).

​It is known that Captain Kidd buried treasure off of Gardiner's Island just off of Long Island, but locals believe he also hid a portion on Charles Island, a 14 acre island connected to Silver Sands State Park by a rocky outcrop that is only accessible during low tide and winter months for those who want to explore it, as it currently remains a state protected bird sanctuary. You can read more about the island itself, why it's called the "Thrice Cursed Island" and actual local accounts of their experiences on the island at Damned, Connecticut. 

Now, if you recall, we dressed up like Pirates last summer for a pirate event in New London. For this event, I basically did a variation of my pirate costume from last year with a couple of new layering pieces. I kept the bandana as my headpiece with bold dramatic makeup. I'm wearing the crow skull necklace again,  but a different layering necklace I got a million years ago when I worked at The Limited. I'm wearing six stone bracelets on each wrist. And of course I can tell you which stone each one is along with their metaphysical properties, in case you were wondering.  The blouse and skirt is the same, but this time I am wearing a waist belt that has two large pockets that hang down over my skirt and a real corset!

I thought I had corsets in my 20's that I bought at Hot Topic that had button closures, but this one is the real deal. It has metal clasps in the front and is boned all around. The covering is a satin/silk and it is decorated with ornate black lace and black beading on the top and bottom. The lace up ties in the back lace up in the middle of it and any extra gets tucked into the top or bottom of the corset (whichever is easier). I gotta say, the first 45 minutes or so wearing it, especially while sitting, was pretty difficult. I felt a shortness of breath, even though I hadn't  pulled it as tight as it could go. (It's technically a bit big for me, but I considered that a sort of insurance as women's bodies tend to get bigger over time). But thankfully, after walking around in it for a few hours, it conformed to my body, and I had no problem sitting up very straight and comfortably sitting cross-legged on the ground eating tacos by 3:00 pm. 

I also wore my snake fishnets instead of regular fishnets. Honestly...I couldn't find my regular ones..and now that I think about it, I believe I tossed them because they were old and ripped...badly last time I wore them. The boots are the same choice as well. I feel like these are the perfect edgy pirate boots for the heat of the summer. 

Now the only thing that's the same about Pahl's outfit from last year, may just be his bandana, his pants, and his boots. He's wearing a different linen/cotton blend long sleeve shirt, with a definitely more pirate like tail coat that is a deep red velvet with black lace details and silver buttons. He's getting good use out of his baldric with a very nice metal cutlass and a pretty convincing revolver hanging from his waist belt. You can't see it in this picture, but he's wearing a silver octopus belt buckle. Another addition this year is a cheap tricorn pirate's hat that he added some feathers and a few other things to make it more snappy looking. Oh and of course, he doesn't have long hair either anymore. 

By the time this photo was taken, I had worn the corset for over 3 hours and even eaten a full meal in it. Pahl says that I need more props to look more like a pirate. He let me borrow his revolver so I could look like some of those fierce female pirates depicted in the tv program "Our Flag Means Death". 

I enjoyed myself at the festival and was very happy to have managed to break in my corset during the event. It has given me the confidence to invite other corset like garments into my life.  Pahl had a blast handing out coins to young children and being asked to take photos with random people and families at the event. My pirate costume wasn't as good and it's alright. I haven't put as much thought or money into my costume, but maybe next year I'll add a tricorn hat to help keep the sun off my face. 

L-R: Danielle, Jax, Becca, Emma, Amber, Caroline, Alice, Bianca (in front)

Around the end of May 2024, I attended a fashion meeting with my local community. We went to Emrey's Speciality Sweets & Sodas and it's night time business The 196 Club , along with visiting shops along the Pratt Street Historic District in Hartford, CT. Both businesses are located at the same address (196 Trumbull St), yet one of them has a secret entrance, requires reservations in advance, and only opens in the evening. 

Emrey's, located just across the street from the XL Center and near the Yard Goat Baseball Park, offer's a vintage soda bar with a variety of old-fashioned sodas, milkshakes, ice cream and select coffee creations. They also offer old fashioned candies and other gifts available for purchase as well as a digital photo booth. The inside is well lit, bright, and decorated in 1950's pastel pink with white and black tiles and accents. There is seating inside at the counter and other tables on the side. The counter fits a group of 8 comfortably, even while some of them are wearing hoop skirts. 

Now at this point, you might be wondering why six people are wearing all pastel colors and why the other people are essentially wearing gothic styles in the group photo. Was it because the goth people lacked closet options? No, on the contrary, they were dressed for the speakeasy portion of the meeting. 

The 196 Club, (also located at 196 Trumbull Ave) totes itself as "an intimate and casually glamorous space for inspired cocktails, decadent bits, and rumored debauchery". You have to go to their Instagram to inquire on how to find it, but you must make reservations in advance either on their website or calling in advance. The dress code is upscale casual...we nailed that part no problem. They offer a variety of cocktails as well as mock-tails and small plates and desserts. Where as the Sweet shop evoked the charm and whimsy of the 1950's, the Speakeasy went further back in time to express an intimate yet darkly lit space of the 1920's prohibition era. Red painted walls with framed advertisements from the era hung near our small tables. We each ordered a drink and two small plates to share with everyone in our group, so I must say that I've also tried most of the menu. It is very good, but don't expect to eat a full dinner. It's just not that kind of place. 

We had a bit of time before we could enter the speakeasy, so we all ordered speciality sodas in the meantime before settling down for our group photos. Pahl and I shared the lavender soda. I usually don't really like drinking soda, but I'm still dreaming about this one almost two months after I got it. The lavender flavor was subtle, but the overall taste was sweet (but not too sweet) and very refreshing! 

For my outfit, I went with black, gray, silver, and off white as my main colors. The dress I'm wearing is called, "Where is the Bat?", and it is by a Polish indie brand called Lady Sloth. I purchased this dress from another member in my community earlier this year at a swap meet. The dress is light gray, with matte black illustrations of sphinx cats and bats with silver and black stars. It comes with a black waist tie. In other photos I've seen of it, it also comes with a black bow you can place on the bodice or a strap, but that wasn't part of mine. This dress is very comfortable and even has pockets.

Since it was getting to be warm outside, I opted for a mesh inner blouse from Chinese Indie brand Honey Machine.  It was my first time wearing it, and it's neat how the shoulders poof out a bit while the rest of the arm tapers down to a small flare at the wrist. It was a little tight in the chest for me, but other than that it fits fine for an inner blouse. I also wore ribbed lace heart pattern calf socks to echo the mesh look of the blouse. Now because I knew I was dressing for the speak easy, this is where I did some things that are different. I wore my Miss Point Rhine Riverside Top Hat and my Modo~Vintage Elegant Three Buckle Mary Janes in the off white to match the pearl details of the hat. I completed my outfit with silver and black jewelry along wtih a matte black shoulder bag. I am also wearing a hoop skirt for comfort. It is slightly big for my skirt, but it helped with comfort while walking around in the sun especially. 

Pahl wanted to match my black and gray look, so he wore a white striped shirt, a more casual gray and black herringbone waist coat, black jeans, black and gray herringbone oxfords, a gray bow tie with black polka dots, and a black hat. 

It's always fun when someone plans a fashion meeting at a place that serves food and drinks where we can simply socialize and get to know one another. And this particular one was very clever to boot--with both the sweet shop and the speak easy portions. You could attend one or the other, or both--it  was a great way to get out and experience some cool new businesses in our little state!

Every year during the first weekend of May, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art hosts a special exhibition called Fine Art and Flowers. This was the 41st Annual Fine Art & Flowers exhibition, and it was my very first time attending. At this event, florists, garden clubs, and interior designers are assigned paintings, sculptures, and objects from the museum's collection to create floral arrangements inspired by the colors, textures, motifs and emotions that the artwork they are assigned conveys. 

Apparently you don't have to be a florist or a designer for a living to enter the design contest. You can just be an art enthusiast with a flair for putting things together. I believe there is an entry fee and the museum does give you a choice in the type of art whether it be abstract, modern, painting, sculpture, and or object such as fine china and then assigns you a specific piece from their collection. The art that is selected changes from year to year, and there is a spot to vote for your favorite on a ballot at the end of your tour. 

We attended this event as part of our annual spring time double date with Sarah and Erik. Last year we went to the Elizabeth Park Rose Gardens and had a picnic together, so we wanted to continue off the flowers in Hartford theme. Luckily we chose an indoor activity this time as the weather was a little uncooperative. It was threatening rain the whole ride up and was actually raining when we left.

My original outfit that I was going to wear for the date was an ivory based dress with a lattice design of purple flowers and purple ribbons, but it was entirely cotton and I didn't want to get rained on in cotton. At this point in time, I lacked a purple or ivory colored shawl or short sleeve cardigan that might have gone with my original piece so I swapped my original dress and blouse idea for my trusty Alice Girl When Camellia Blooms JSK, because it's lined polyester, water resistant, and went with the bonnet and shoes I had planned to wear with my other dress. 

I'm wearing the jumper skirt without the matching overlay apron and a 65 cm daily wear petticoat underneath. This is much more casual than the first time that I wore this jsk with a much poofier petticoat to an afternoon tea at the Wadsworth Mansion about some 14 months prior. Instead of wearing an off the shoulder 3/4 sleeve slightly translucent blouse, I opted for a complete stand collar cut sew with slightly poofy upper arms. I also paired it with off white cable sweater tights and my trusty beige oxfords I found on the clearance rack at DSW years ago. The only part of my outfit that reads particularly flowery at this point is my bonnet. The Xiaogui~Elegant Lolita Bonnet Bows Straw Hat in the Satin Ribbon and Lilac Vine Color certainly worked with the muted lilac color of this dress. I'm also utilizing my beige and brown violin cross-body purse. It just goes with every classically styled outfit at this point. 

Pahl's outfit reads a bit more flowery than mine. He is wearing a white shirt with a special type of collar so that he can showcase his carefully tied flower themed bow tie and exemplary bow tying skill. Over the blouse he has a burgundy and black paisley silk waist coat with beige and burgundy striped straight pants. His tail coat is a dark reddish purple to bring out the tones in his waistcoat and pants. His straw boater has a navy and red hat band that ties in his bow tie and tail coat.  His black rimmed glasses and shiny black oxfords complete the look. He also cut a piece of a real flower he had given me in a bouquet as a boutonniere. Other accessories include a silver pocket watch and a silver and amber ring. 

Sarah is wearing a vintage zip up over dress from the 1960s. It is so colorful and vibrant, I asked her to stand near this wall of faux greenery in the cafe so that it could be better perceived. She wore neutral gray sneakers with this casual look mainly for comfort while walking around the museum. 

Erik's flowery shirt may or may not be vintage. I'm not sure, but it goes with the colors and flowers in Sarah's outfit, and it looks like it's from the same time period. He kept the rest of his outfit simple with black jeans and black shoes. 

The museum cafe offered something like an Afternoon Tea in honor of the Fine Art and Flowers Exhibit. The trays were relatively modestly priced, but you had to pay for your tea separately. You also had to serve yourself the tea, even though they provided us with these wonderfully fancy tea cups and matching saucers. The treats were served on a single tray (rather than the 3 tiered tray I am used to) and it was a mix of crafted sandwiches from the cafe as well as pre-made pastries, macarons, and truffles. 

Not only did the galleries have all of the fine art and flower designs to view, but there were parts of the event where you could listen to live music being played or sung in the main hall as well as being able to talk to the designers directly. It was such a mentally and creatively stimulating event, that I would really like to bring my fashion friends back to it when it happens next year.