listing
I've been reading lots of wish-lists and must-have lists for fall, and I feel both a sense of relief and wistfulness at being unable to participate. With no change in seasons here (none that calls for a serious rethink in clothing anyway), there is no need to contemplate necessities like warm scarves, outerwear, shoes, etc. But part of me of course, wishes for an excuse for the thrill of something new.
I rarely sit and form lists of what I want - what I want usually creeps up and takes me by surprise with its power. But inspired by all the tidy lists I keep coming across and in the interest of exercising my organisation skills, I sat down and tried to make one.
After spending a good part of the day mulling it over, I came up with this:
Needs:
- Ballerina flats, in a neutral shade
Wants:
- Double-breasted navy cardigan
Dreams of:
- Sofia Coppola for Louis Vuitton bag
Truth be told, when my idea of perfect is pretty much this, there is very little out there that I really need or want to buy, I think.
Photographer: Tom Munro
Magazine: US Elle September 2007
I'm past the point when I'm tempted by things that I know do not suit me. I'm in a comfort zone of basics, which IS my style. I have my tees and henleys and jeans and sneakers - that's done.
I'm also beginning a flirtation with more tailored items, but standing in the way is that niggly thing called weather, and on most days I can only bear just about the thinnest of cottons.
I'm failing to make a proper list, and thereby, also failing to properly define how I want to look, because I think I haven't quite comfortably understood what I mean by wanting to look "tailored". So I will:
- take a break from shopping and trying to achieve a "look"; instead I'll just...relax. Enjoy what I have and be inspired by what I see and eventually I may come across that magic item that coalesces inspiration into something I actually put on.
- give away the distractions in my closet that I don't and will never wear, or outgrew.
Below is a good balance of what I want to achieve with my style - kind of laid back but serious, tomboy-ish but not mannish, and just a touch austere.
Clockwise from top right: Rex Agency, David Sims for The Gentlewoman, Venetia Scott for Margaret Howell, COS, Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin for French Vogue, Mario Testino for British Vogue
I rarely sit and form lists of what I want - what I want usually creeps up and takes me by surprise with its power. But inspired by all the tidy lists I keep coming across and in the interest of exercising my organisation skills, I sat down and tried to make one.
After spending a good part of the day mulling it over, I came up with this:
Needs:
- Ballerina flats, in a neutral shade
Wants:
- Double-breasted navy cardigan
Dreams of:
- Sofia Coppola for Louis Vuitton bag
Truth be told, when my idea of perfect is pretty much this, there is very little out there that I really need or want to buy, I think.
Photographer: Tom Munro
Magazine: US Elle September 2007
I'm past the point when I'm tempted by things that I know do not suit me. I'm in a comfort zone of basics, which IS my style. I have my tees and henleys and jeans and sneakers - that's done.
I'm also beginning a flirtation with more tailored items, but standing in the way is that niggly thing called weather, and on most days I can only bear just about the thinnest of cottons.
I'm failing to make a proper list, and thereby, also failing to properly define how I want to look, because I think I haven't quite comfortably understood what I mean by wanting to look "tailored". So I will:
- take a break from shopping and trying to achieve a "look"; instead I'll just...relax. Enjoy what I have and be inspired by what I see and eventually I may come across that magic item that coalesces inspiration into something I actually put on.
- give away the distractions in my closet that I don't and will never wear, or outgrew.
Below is a good balance of what I want to achieve with my style - kind of laid back but serious, tomboy-ish but not mannish, and just a touch austere.
Clockwise from top right: Rex Agency, David Sims for The Gentlewoman, Venetia Scott for Margaret Howell, COS, Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin for French Vogue, Mario Testino for British Vogue
Comments
Aissa: Thanks. It's a relief yes, but I always worry I will do something silly in a fit of boredom!
If Jane: If only I did too!