WIW San Fran trip report and Earring Metal Tone Hack

I just spent a 4 night mini-vacation in San Francisco. The trip was filled with long city walks, dinners, a little recreational shopping, and museums and a Cirque de Soleil traveling show - Volta.

The luxury of a car trip meant I didn't have to pack in a carry-on, but I tried to build my wardrobe around shoes (and my handy new convertible Tumi backpack/purse, which got a work out) as practice.

These are my dinner outfits.

#1 is an experiment for me with the matchy modern take on a twin set - gift from my MIL - I love the color and I’d welcome suggestions on how to wear the scarf that don’t overwhelm me.

#2 is my self-made drape neck top - i’m loving this newer raspberry color in my palette and will buy more.

#3 another effort to wear scarves. Once more I took a wide scarf and cut it into 1/3 -2/3 and I’m finding it easier to wear to now. I love this scarf color - I think it sums up my wardrobe.

#4/5 Earring metal tone hack - in #1 I’m wearing my mom’s 30+ year old Metropolitan Museum white and grey pearl earrings copied from Ruebens’ Venus in Front of a Mirror. They both had a gold setting like the original painting (shown on the white pearl #5). But when I was at the Met in Ocober for my NYC visit, I saw they now have them in silver and I almost bought a pair. Instead, using a very small paintbrush, I brushed Adirondack Silver Mixative (alcohol ink similar to what is in Sharpies) on the gold part and got a lovely matte shade of silver. It cleans up with rubbing alcohol if I ever get tired of it, or it gets on the wrong spot. I wear them much more often now and it is holding up well. I may try this on some boot hardware that bothers me.

#6-17 One of the most fascinating exhibits we saw was the DeYoung’s Contemporary Muslim Fashion. Beautiful and thought provoking.

#18-19 The Legion of Honor - East Meets West - Jewels of the Maharajahs. Just Oooh Aaaah BLING. I didn’t see the no photos allowed and was appropriately reprimanded (no excuse, but everyone was taking them). But Angie needs those pearls.

Comment, suggestions and improvements welcome.

This post has 19 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Zappos

Tumi Voyageur Jena Convertible Backpack

View Info

Top Pick

J.Jill

Ava Merino Pullover

View Info

Top Pick

View Info

View Info

View Info

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

Zappos

Levi's Womens 315 Shaping Bootcut

View Info

Top Pick

Zappos

Naturalizer Blissful

View Info

Top Pick

5 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Your twinset is LOVELY. I'd add a pile of pearls. Super refined and fab. The studded boots look amazing with those pants.

MY WORD. Your earring DIY job is sublime. IMPRESSED.

cjh

Veteran

Very pretty colors on you. I see why you also like green. Thanks for sharing the exhibit photos. Very beautiful and interesting.

taylor

You look great in green ...
Those jewels and pearls ....Wow !

rachylou

Exactly what Angie said (!)

Firecracker (Sharan)

The self-made raspberry top is gorgeous on you! I don't think the scarf in 1 overwhelms you. I like this modern-twinset look. Nice job on the earrings, too--I like the matte silver!

Janet

Loving the photos from that exhibition, thanks for sharing! And I think you’re wearing those scarves nicely. Loving the double green in #1.

Your earring transformation is giving me ideas. Well done! I actually prefer the new look you’ve given them.

Anonymous

Ive been known to paint over hardware with nail polish a craft shop told me that trick. Love the raspberry top especially, but the green is nice too. What a beautiful exhibition-that yellow one especially!

kellygirl

What a brilliant hack and green is definitely your color! You look fab in everything. What a great mini vacation! Sounds and looks like you had a wonderful time!

LaPed

Love your green outfits in 1 and 3. Perfect colour for you. I'm going to have to try this silver hack with some hand-me-down gold pieces. I can't get rid of them, but I never wear them. It could also open up a world of possibilities for thrift-store bags (which inevitably seem to have gold hardware!).

JAileen

Your earring hack - how smart is that?! I never knew of the product you used before. I may need it. Where did you find it? (How did you even know about it?)

I love the top you made, and your twin set looks modern, and is such a good color on you.

karen13

Thanks everyone for comments and I'm glad you find the metal tone hack useful. I now love these earring and they sat mostly unworn in my jewelry box for 25 years. Mom would be proud - she was very craft and a super talented seamstress.

I saw many pieces in the Muslim fashion exhibit that I would wear in a heartbeat - perfect for sun-sensitive me.

Angie - I'm so glad you like the Banana Republic Denim trousers with the studded booties - a while ago you pointed out they weren't PPL (I need to stop buying petite pants). I was able to extend them by creating a different fabric facing inside the hem and filling in the old lighter hem laundry line with a prussian blue alcohol marker (Copic, for those interested). Now I wear them all the time. Because you can't unsee PPL.

JAileen - Here are links to the products I have used for this type of thing. You can find them at Joann or Michaels-type craft stores. If you go the brush route, make sure to clean it thoroughly with rubbing alcohol. A Qtip with 90% isopropyl can also clean up mistakes, as long as whatever the prginal finish is can tolerate alcohol (test in an inconspicuous spot).

LaPed - I have not yet used this on anything that gets a lot of wear, like a zipper or purse hardware; it might need frequent touch ups. But it is worth a try.

Amazon

Ranger TIM21247 Adirondack Alcohol Ink Metallic Mixatives 1/2-Ounce 2/Pkg, Gold and Silver

Krylon Diversified Brands 9901 Gold, 9902 Silver and 9903 Copper Leafing Pens

WHAT a great tip.

Jaime

Twinset is fantastic, jewelry hack well done and amazing pictures of the exhibit - thank you for sharing!

Helena

Polished outfits in beautiful colors. YLF!

Cee

You look lovely and I'm glad you had a cool time

Suz

Oooh, I am excited about your jewellery tip! Thank you! I would love to get some of that stuff and do this to some of my unworn items. Those earrings are beautiful, by the way.

And thank you for sharing photos of the exhibition. Those are so elegant and luxe looking -- I'd be thrilled to wear many of those outfits.

Your own outfits actually echo the elegance of that show with the long lines and draping. You look great in both scarf outfits and your self-made top is super!

Category