Jack Sparrow?

Not quite.

But this guy is possibly cooler than Johnny Depp.

Just really an amazing look, head to toe. (Note to self: if you are going to go for a full-on pirate look, perhaps best to do it monochromatic-ly.)  And he's working it.  And I mean, I have never approved of a fanny pack, but I do not question it on him.

He wanted to make sure the photo I took would not be used for commercial purposes. I guaranteed him no money was to be made from this venture!

All That Glitters

It's a little hard to see, but this girl's floor-length skirt is made up of tattered brown and blue ruffles adorned with gold sequins.  She said she'd been getting a lot of compliments on it. No doubt!  I love that she pairs this messy/dressy skirt with a cable-knit sweater that matches in color scheme but not at all in style.  Nice hair wrap, too!

Me, First Day

So here I am, in my first day of the fair outfit for this year.

There are always so many considerations: the weather (today was cloudy and chillier than usual, in the mid-60s), the activities (I volunteered at the info booth today, so I had to wear something over which I could layer my official volunteer t-shirt, but I had no kids with me, so I could wear slightly more delicate things than usual, and a shorter skirt, since I would not be sitting on the ground), the footwear (see comment below about the need for boots).

I also like to select all three days' worth of outfits at once, so I can get out the door quickly each morning. 

So I have on an antique Victorian white cotton lawn camisole under a vintage 1950s olive wool cardigan, a denim mini-skirt I found at my favorite local consignment shop for $5, over-the-knee cotton socks with bright flowers up the sides (from Anthropologie awhile back, I think?), and the cowboy boots I bought in Austin, Texas six years ago.  Oh, and a woven tote bag that belonged to my mother.

Knit Wit

Another lovely style one can spot every year at the Common Ground Fair is elaborate handmade textiles.  The fair is a hotbed of activity for knitters, spinners, and all manner of yarn and wool fanatics.

This gorgeous woman is wearing a long blue shirtdress (I don't know that I've ever seen a shirt maxi-dress before!) that looked like it was made of men's oxford shirt cotton, a great striped cord belt, and a fuzzy electric-blue vest.  She offered to put on her incredible technicolor dreamcoat sweater, but instead she is just holding it over her arm.

And is that a coral necklace? Coral and pale blue! What a great combination!

Contrasting Layers

One of the styles I noticed at the fair, both this year and last, is that of layers of clothing of contrasting colors, weights, textures, prints, styles, etc.  For example, I liked how this woman put a men's-style adventure hat and safari-ish coat over a classic denim jacket...and paired these with the current trend of black leggings worn on their own, as pants.  Oh, and then there's a bandana at her waist, for no apparent reason (other than coolness!).

Love the lace-up, knee-high boots, too.  Vintage (or vintage-looking), well-worn, knee-high, gray or brown boots were also in fine form all over the fair grounds today. Fashionable and practical: it's really hard to walk around the muddy fields in heels or ballet flats.

The 2012 Common Ground Country Fair is Here!

...aaaaand we're back, with more fantastic, unusual displays of innate style from the beautiful crowds at Waldo County, Maine's not-to-miss annual event, the Common Ground Country Fair, put on by our very own Maine Organic Farmer & Gardeners' Association (MOFGA).

Hurray! Are you as excited as I am?!

Let's start with this delightful mother and child duo, who are also the first folks I took a photo of at this year's fair, first thing on the morning of the first day:

I love the mom's update on 1960s counterculture look, with the poncho over what looks like a quite modern long-sleeve t-shirt (and I have been so wanting one of those floppy felt hats lately!) and her kid looks Huck-Finn-tastic.  Starting the fair off right, with some good old-fashioned farm style!