this month in shopping i

It is probable that the juxtaposition of the excessively serious and excessively frivolous, which is the basis for the rhetoric of Fashion, merely reproduces, on the level of clothing, the mythic situation of Women in Western civilization, at once sublime and childlike.

                                                                                            –Roland Barthes, The Fashion System

I spend a lot of time determining what to acquire. A lot, a lot. I take acquisition quite seriously, or rather am able, when in the mood, to shift into a very serious stance about it, so my choices are at once outside, peripheral to what is necessary and deserving of considerable time and attention.

I think it’s always interesting, how people spend their money.

Here are some current highlights.

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If you’re in the market for a hat, the Goorin summer sale is a good place to start. I picked up a short brimmed straw panama, the Marin. [Wearing it here!]

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I find hats difficult to wear, usually, but I love them anyway. They radiate attitude. They often for me can fall into or at least approach falling into the category of too much, which is exactly what I like about them.

On a slightly related note, inspired by the price and the pattern, I picked up this utterly charming and unnecessary paper parasol mentioned in a recent xojane post. A childlike selection.

8pal60852_red_frontviewA parasol is a pleasantly eccentric accessory, but a practical one, too. As a prop, for about $15, I couldn’t resist it. At 32″ in diameter, it’s not small.

Made curious by boisdejasmine‘s post about ways to use orange blossom water, I picked some up to play with.

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Another comfortable underthing option for the flat chested, the Cheap Monday triangle microfiber bra (via asos). This looks less like a bra and more like a basic bikini top or abbreviated camisole. Great for wearing under loose tank tops as it doesn’t look especially bra-like, i.e. like it shouldn’t be visible. Great for tee shirts, too.

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And one truly practical item, a light cargo jacket by add (via YOOX). This is a wonderfully light (ideal early autumn weight) and thin parachute-like material. Loving the symmetrical pockets that make it at once slouchy and structured. I got this quite a while ago, actually, but only recently is it approaching the weather for it.

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Have also been finding some great dresses, on which will have to do a separate post.

 

bikini of the day: the bold bandeau

IMG_4642This is the suit I was wearing in the bandeau/pencil skirt post. This design is by the Finnish brand Marimekko via Anthropologie (thrifted). I am often drawn to bold, rustic stripes in varied widths like the pattern featured here. I find them somehow more approachable than a bold, bright solid, more eye-catching, too; a pattern that invites attentiveness, gives you something to look at. Leave it to the Scandinavians. Also really like brown mixed with pastels. This is reminding me how I want some of those beautiful little Scandinavian-inspired bowls in Anthropologie – the size and style of a small Japanese rice bowl (and in fact made in Japan, evidently. I don’t know why but – usefulness entirely aside, though I do find them useful – I just love dainty porcelain bowls like this), with many different patterns to mix and match. I feel an urge to acquire a random selection that is not unlike what I experienced with the eggcups…

This was another instant, effortless, yes-this-is-the-one kind of acquisition, I think largely because of this brilliant color combination + ratio of light tones to dark tones situation.

Doesn’t it seem like one might wear a turban with this suit?

[More on turbans soon…I got some fabric.]

I like hiphugger style bottoms, too. The silhouette they give seems pleasantly sleek and sporty to me, like you ought to be playing beach volleyball (which is probably true), or wearing them with a tank top in one of those Olympic runner get-ups. Sleek is a prominent keyword in my style, I would say. Or, at least, I want it to be.

Hm. I want to go swimming.