on the street: the pom pom

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Winter is that time of year when those of all ages can get away with an otherwise unacceptable preponderance of pom poms. When the temperature drops suddenly I can forgive all manner of ridiculous and excessively cute hats. I am even sometimes charmed. This slouchy take on the classic winter pom pom knit hat looks great here, I think. The oversized pom adds a youthful, playful touch to the casually stylish neutrals.

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I’ve yet to find a winter hat that I genuinely like and want to wear, and prefer to the absence of a hat. Hair problems, in part, but there’s also the issue of the hats being too cute. Cute is not really my look. That is, cutesy. Once in a while I’ll toe the line and am usually self-conscious as a result because it is unnatural to me. Or I’ll adopt an element that is abstractly cute but in the context of the rest of me it isn’t cute anymore; I overwhelm the cuteness until it reads more like eccentricity, or editorial—which is often a synonym for unwearable, in fashion—flair. This is my theory.

*Though these are external perspectives, and not words I use about myself or find internally useful (‘sexy’ being another term I would not even think of without a gaze, without an other), because I cannot see myself without knowing that I am myself, rendering objective judgments largely irrelevant/impossible. The age-old problem of being oneself.

Adorability does seem like one of those things you cannot achieve on purpose, though, anyway (except quite good actors, maybe, and even this is in the eye of the beholder). Ex. any given toddler in that stage where they realize that people think they are cute when they do certain things, and promptly stop being particularly cute. Premeditation spoils the whole effect.

I’m looking at hats, though. There are a few under consideration. We’ll see. One has a pom pom and little hearts. There is a possibility I’ll have to redact most of this post.

the bicycle

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After looking for a Dutch style step-through for a while I settled on this one, the Public C7i. It has a classic European aesthetic and features an internal hub on the rear wheel for smooth shifting and protection of the gears. Rides beautifully. The basket is a Nantucket oval basket with the plaque removed.

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There’s something parisienne about this look; the stripes, the length of the skirt…I like this silhouette. Currently preoccupied with [looking for] skirts that hit somewhere between the calf and the sweet spot just below the knee.

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Why not match one’s lipstick to one’s bike?

Navy linen skirt from asos, Arizona Jeans shirt (in my new favorite color), Steve Madden flats, Free Authority fedora (which is not practical, on a bike), Pearls of Joy 8-9mm studs. On the lips, Tom Ford lipstick in Cherry Lush.

 

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