fashion - The Seventh Sphinx

February 26, 2014February 25, 2014

inscribed

I don’t usually like words on [my] clothes, or shoes, or bags, or…anything to be worn. I don’t want my T-shirt talking to you, with some room for exceptions when I think the design exceptionally charming or neat. I got that J. Crew kiss tee I wanted, for example:

And, though I don’t know that I would wear it, I have a soft spot for this Flight of the Conchords tee:

vendor images

When it comes to jewelry, though, I’m more flexible. Perhaps because jewelry is a kind of extension of the skin, at least when worn directly against it, and I’ve always liked and toyed with the idea of a tattoo of a word. Or of several words somehow significant to me (perhaps together, perhaps isolated and scattered, in some appealing script). I still quite like the idea but don’t see myself committing to anything anytime soon (neither, though, will I rule a tattoo out in my mind. Have not forgotten the plan to experiment with henna). Though there are some questionable ones out there, I find tattoos so interesting – or I find all species of body decor interesting, the tattoo being a particularly ancient* and powerful example.

*How incredible are these ancient Siberian tattoos?

Coming to the point then:

I got this necklace.

wearing it here

This ties in with what I was saying about being a bit cheesy, I suppose. [What if I am! There is nothing I can do about it, really.] Evidently my exceptions all revolve around love and kisses. And rocking the party.

Well, I like it. Love is a concept worth thinking on, worth keeping in mind. I’m going to wear it. I like the idea of an “M” as well, though my whole name would be, for me, too, too much.

This piece is also part of my preparations for summer, when I intend to wear several dainty gold necklaces of different lengths layered together with a minimally buttoned white shirt. It’s all part of the plan.

February 17, 2014February 17, 2014

the mid-length gloves

The wrist-length (or not quite wrist-length) glove is smart and sleek, the standard winter glove around 2 inches past the wrist is practical—though a bit dull without any inherent charm of its own—, the opera or elbow-length and beyond glove is formal and elegant…and then there is this length: a few inches short of the elbow but decidedly long. This length strikes me as an excellent modern compromise; neither the (now very bold/costumey) elbow length common in the 19th century nor the short (quaint, retro) day gloves of the early 20th century. And they are not the standard issue glove, either. They are something a bit new to the casual ensemble, and this gives them the ring of style.

To accentuate this out-of-the-ordinary feel I chose a dark purple shade instead of brown or black.

I only took my jacket off for a moment to show what was underneath. One really needed a jacket.

Warm climate style mavens really have the rest of us at an advantage.

I’m squinting slightly due to the wind and end up look like a reserved matriarch or something. I kind of like it.

This look features a bunch of textures, which I like doing lately. I think I will always like doing that.

Tweed coat (thrifted) with fur collar (eBay), monki scarf, Sorel boots, leather gloves (thrifted), J Crew buttoned shirt, Cotton Candy (?!*) skirt, golden akoya pearl studs from Pearl Paradise, love necklace via asos (right, like I was saying, cute things in moderation), Mulberry bag (thrifted), Japonesque Velvet Touch blush (which will tell you about soon). On the lips: Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Esprit. This sheer lipstick is blotted, with a bit of a pink Rimmel pencil (Pure) added to the center such that the color fades to nothing at the edges. Nothing too precise about it (that irregular have-been-eating berries stain effect), and I would experiment with this kind of gradation more.

*Where do I get this stuff.