1988

Hi. I'm GFS also known as Reiko.

This is what I looked like in 1988. Glasses...hairstyle and all.



My students said I looked like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz.

The Mr. said I looked like Tootie from The Facts of Life.

I agree with both observations. I'm kind of proud too.

Some of you have never heard of Tootie or The Wizard of Oz.  

That's okay.

We will just call this "Geek Chic" for those who are scratching their heads.

Striped Tee c/o Striped Shirt

Gap Skirt (I dyed it yellow last summer)

L.A.M.B. Heels

Target belt

Vintage Train Case

Watch c/o TIKKR Watch

Random chain necklaces

Heart Necklace c/o Love Maegan

A Dream Deferred

Since I picked up the hobby of thrift shopping, I tend to make up stories to go with the clothes I find.  

For instance, this hunting vest was found in the men's department.

I suspect the owner of this vest was forced to get rid of his vest at the request of his wife.

She probably was so sick of him spending all of his time in the woods that she told him that he had to stop hunting.

Not because she didn't want him to have a hobby...but because he didn't have a JOB! She worked as a teacher's aide/exotic escort and he hunted while she was gone.

This probably went on for years.

Perfhaps she only put up with it for so long because she didn't want to be accused of stifling his dreams.

He always talked about his desire to own his hunting company where he trained people to hunt for deer, elks, and bears.

He probably had other get rich quick schemes over the years but this one was the last straw for the wife.

She probably told him that if he hadn't atleast acquired a single client by the end of the year, he had to get a job.

The year came and went. Still not a single person to start his business. Rufus had to finally give up hunting. On that last day of the year, he took all of his hunting/safari gear including this vest to the local thrift store. The very next day, he got a job as an air traffic controller. His wife was pleased, he got plenty of rest on the job and I got this vest.

Thrifted vest, Target Belt/Skirt, F21 T-Shirt, LAMB Heels, Watch c/o TIKKR, Borrowed Train Case

Thank you Rufus. I hope you weren't one of the ones caught sleeping on  your new job!

LOL...See...I told you. I make up stories to go along with my thrift finds.

You should try it sometimes. It's fun.

Subtle Changes

I giggled at my outfit today because it went through quite a few phases.

The hair was big...then the humidity got to it.

Target T-shirt

thrifted skirt

 L.A.M.B. Heels

Borrowed Train Case

TIKKR watch c/o TIKKR

The hair flopped for a while...

Then the hair got the fro-hawk treatment...

By the end of the day, I had changed the belt and let the hair go wild.

Welcome to a day in the life of GFS.

(My future mother in law pulled out some goodies from the attic this weekend. Somehow I walked away with this circular train case. On loan of course...but I'll make great use of it while I have it. I loveth it so:)

GFS Housekeeping...

1. I will announce the winner of the GFS/Shabby Apple Giveaway later this week.

2. There is a giveaway for GFS/Facebook Likers only...here

3. Yes, this thrifted skirt is indeed the same skirt worn as a dress from the previous post.

GFS Diva Style Advice: Part "Finally!"

I haven't done a GFS Diva Style post in a while...well because no one has asked me. Cathy from The Minister of Style blog contacted me to confess a cardinal sin. She had a kimono hanging in her closet not being used to its potential! What the What!?!

Cathy's Kimono Collection

So Cathy,  the Minister of Style...by the way wouldn't you go to church more often if your minister had a little style in the pulpit although it would be a distraction because I would sit there thinking that I need those shoes or that dress...I digress...  asked for ideas on how to rock the kimono. Nothing revolutionary here but here goes!

1. Think outside of the box...wear it outside of the house. Why waste all of that fabulousness sitting around the house? Not that I'm judging but a kimono is instantly chic. Somebody should see it...even it is that pimply faced kid sacking  your groceries at the supermarket!

Pics 1/2: from The Glamourai

Pic 3: From Karla's Closet

Pic 4: from Sea of Shoes

2. Play with the length of it. If you thrifted a kimono, there is no harm in altering the hem line. Depending on your height, a shorter length might be ideal. Throwing on a contrasting belt can also make all the difference in the world.  I had this purple one altered because there were stains at the bottom so I just had it cut. I have quite the collection of kimonos now, all thrifted of course.

3. Wear it is a jacket/cover up. Using it as a lightweight jacket/cover up is always an option. Find a solid sheath (or anything semi fitted), grab some accessories, throw on some heels...and step honey...step like you are going somewhere important!

The above kimono from my GFS Goes to Austin post here

Photos from The Glamourai

So here are the rules Cathy. You take my pointers and run like the wind! My only request is that you have to send me a pic(s) of you rocking the kimono so I can sleep at night:) I will post the update in a new post!

Necklace from Fashionnette-work.blogspot.com...go shopping now! Email her and she will show you her newest pieces!

Let me stress that I am really not one for rules when it comes to style...just know what flatters you and makes you feel good...most of all, whatever you do...pay close attention to fit. Whether it's a vintage find or from a shi-shi-fu-fu store...pay attention to how your clothes hang on you!

Email me if you have a question to go in the next edition of GFS Style Advice!

Godsfavoriteshoes@yahoo.com

If no other reason...do it to keep me busy...I'm getting bored!

Didn't Ya Know??

I went to the Erykah Badu concert last night. It's like 2000 degree in Houston now so avoiding any extra pieces of clothing is crucial for survival.

For some reason, I just decided my vintage Prince "Life is Just A Parade" T shirt was sufficient for the concert. Short skirt, fedora, LAMB shoes and clutch...done.

Speaking of concerts, there was a man who stood up most of the time and blocked my view. Now, if he was just feeling Erykah and the songs "like that", I wouldn't complain because it's a concert. I get it. BUT he was not snapping and swaying to the music. HE WAS RECORDING HER PERFORMANCE ON HIS DIGITAL CAMERA! So here is what I wish I could have said to the man who blocked my view last night.

Dear Not so Small Man,

I am so glad that you are getting to enjoy Erykah's performance. You deserve it. You probably work really hard and have been looking forward to this night for a while. But sir, why are you oblivious to the fact that I am behind you as well as others? Why can't you sit down periodically? I am also pretty sure that those aren't you seats. Let me see your ticket...I bet I can prove it. But I won't judge you for that. We all want to get closer to the stage, don't we? There's no harm in that.

But sir, I am not trying to assassinate you or your character in any way but you are not really that small. You are kind of a big dude. As a matter of fact, every one is sitting down in the whole arena because she is singing a ballad right now. Hell, ERYKAH is even sitting down. Furthermore, can you tell me what portion of your recordings will be quality? It looks like you are holding an Olympus digital camera...the same kind I have to take pictures for my blog. That's not even a video camera. Who are you going to show this footage to? Are you going to watch it again? Are you going to edit all the people's heads who are passing in front of you?

And while we are at it, could you please put that damn camera down and attend to your "about to pop any minute now" pregnant wife! She is uncomfortable. She is not even grooving to the music. She's just kind of just sitting there taking short breaths which look alot like the breathing  techniques I see on tv when a mother is ABOUT TO GO INTO LABOR!! Sir, please rub her back! She can't even close her legs when she is sitting. She is kinda just propped in her seat to alleviate the pain and pressure in her uterus. Sir, please stop recording. It looks like your wife wants to ask you to escort her to the ladies' room so she can throw up but she won't because you are standing up, blocking my view...while you record.

So please sir, excuse me for longing to tap you on your hip and ask you to sit so I can see. This is a small theater, there aren't any jumbo trons for me to see the performance. All I have to enjoy  this concert are my shotty eyes and my two ears. I keep hoping that the next song will be a fast song so that I can atleast jump and dance with everyone and not worry about blocking the view of the person behind me.

Thank you sir. I probably wouldn't have even bothered you if I saw that you knew the words to any of the song but YOU DON'T!

Sincerely,

The chick behind you in the Prince T Shirt crouching in between the cracks of you and your wife to see Erykah sing:)

(Erykah Badu in concert: Here is my contribution to grainy, poor pixelated concert photos to add to cyberspace...and I didn't block anyone to get these pics:)

(Are you trying to see if she is wearing some warm up pants, loose fitting t shirt, extra  long hair to her butt and gold foil paper around face?? Yes she is...That's Erykah!)

P.S...Next post I will write a letter to the two screaming, drunk ladies behind me who were cackling the whole concert and never heard them hum one song! lol!)

P.P.S...The title of this post is the title of my favorite song by Erykah Badu:

(click here to win a free gift certificate from Fashion for the Economically Challenged!)

Someone Stop The World

(Excuse the *moistivity in my face. I'm in Houston, where even the sun breaks a sweat)

If anyone ever asks you who my favorite singers are (what? It could happen:), I hope you know to tell them *Jill Scott and Maxwell.

Last night, I got to see both  Jill and Maxipoo (my pet name for him)  on the same stage last night. It was awesome. I've seen Jill perform live maybe 6 times already and Maxwell I've seen maybe 4 times? (I even snuck into one of his concerts long time ago, ssshhh). I. Love. Him and Her...LOVE. Most people who know me will probably say that I'm laid back and quiet and observant but those people have never seen me mad or at a Maxwell concert. All bets are off baby. I scream like he can hear me. I scream. I scream. And I scream some more. I really don't know what screaming does for anyone at concerts but I find myself doing a lot of screaming at Maxwell concerts.

I think I may have also waved my hand a couple of times like I was praising Jesus. I think at that point, I made a mental note to scream really loud for Jesus at church on Sunday.  If I can scream that loud for a man who has never met me or done a thing for me, then certainly I can eek out a holla  for Jesus on Sunday. Commitment made:)

I saw alot of outfit nightmares travesties at the concert. I wish this was a blog that takes potshots at people in their nightmarish get ups but I am way  too "classy" for that. (Not really)

I'll be honest, I built this whole ensemble around the sleeves on my vintage jacket (Thanks to Goodwill). I may have even screamed when I grabbed it. Notice a pattern? Things I love= Makes me scream.

(Thanks to the "fella"/sponsor/bf for the tickets:)

(Of course, I had to show you a poor concert pic that I took at the concert. If you don't know who Jill Scott or Maxwell is...get to know them)

Things you should know:

*Moistivity- not a real word:)

** The title of today's post "Someone Stop The World" is the title of one of Maxwell's songs.

*** Janet Jackson is my all time favorite performer...even if she can't quite move like she used to. I'm loyal**

****I don't always scream at concerts, sometimes I break into routines (click here)

Who would make you scream at a concert??