There was a period when I was a young girl when I would love to look through catalogs and fashion magazines and imagine the lives of the people who would wear the clothes I saw. Since there was little possibility of my affording or having the opportunity to wear most of these things it was also fun to imagine the life I might have if I could have or wear anything I liked in these catalogs, it was a kind of a way of dreaming of the possibilities, and perhaps the beginnings of my love of clothes.
To some extent that habit is still with me as I still love to look through fashion magazines and flip through the pages of clothing catalogs. I still cut out pictures, and I tend to past them together on pages that I store in notebooks. I still have all these collage pages of style that I have colleccted since my mid-twenties and although there are some things I would not wear today, I am mostly surprised at the consistency of my taste. Whenever I feel confused, or a little lost in life, looking through these books calms me and makes me think of what is important....
and no, the clothes themselves are not important, that is not what I mean at all...
But looking at them puts me in touch with those parts of myself that never change. It is good to be reminded.
When we came back from our trip to Tennessee there was a big bucket of mail waiting for us and in it were lots of catalogs. I enjoyed looking through them and pulling out pages, and I spent another evening putting those pictures together into an imaginary "if I could buy everything I really liked what would it be" kind of scenario.
There were several pages of pictures I pulled, but actually very little that I would buy as is. Some things, yes, I love for themselves, but the length was wrong, or the color was wrong, or something. That is why I sew, not because I have ever wanted to sew all my own clothes, but because sometimes I want things I just can't find, and I want them just the way I want them.
I found more things I liked from the moderately priced catalogs and some of these things I could buy as is, and there are a few things I may buy, but at the moment that is not really my inclination. I just like looking at the pictures.
I considered posting this over on my sewing blog, but I am not sure that I am really going to sew clothing inspired by all these garments and I have trouble fitting my musings about clothing and style when I am not sewing on a blog ostensibly about sewing.
I suppose I am constrained by the name and the idea, even though I am the one that named my blogs.
So this blog, which is really just about my mental peregrinations seems just perfect for my sartorial thoughts as well. As usual, my ideas and content seems to evolve. And so, although I originally intended to write only about "more serious" topics here, my life and my thoughts are not only serious, and seem to be more often frivolous. It seems I am ready to admit to all the nonsense and just move on.
The three skirts shown at the right are all just lovely and I could happily wear any of them. The two pleated skirts, which are both from Anthropologie, are two short or they would be winging their way to me as I write this.
The other skirt, the one with the appliqued circles is cute, but is the idea that appeals, more than the actuality of that particular skirt
Do you ever like the idea of something more than you like the actual example that is in front of you?
The other garments on the sheet above are more of inspiration pieces for ideas that float around in my head, the shape is nice. I look at the tee and remember that I want to put chiffon trim on some tees. The dress is the kind of thing I love every summer and it reminds me to play with pretty fabrics and have fun. The brown tunic is fabulous, but once again too short.
Some of the garments are, once again, things I don't really like in and of themselves but love for the ideas they give me.
The cardigan on the page to left is very appealing. I still might order that if I remember to do it before it sells out. I have a bad habit of putting things in a cart and then sitting on them and contemplating them until they have been whisked away by more intrepid shoppers. The blouse with the eyelet lace front panel s really lovely too and I want it, I see myself sipping some lovely beverage in a cafe wearing that blouse, but it also inspires me and makes me think of other things.
The other pictures represent ideas more than garments I actually lust after. I like the layering, I like the long tunic but not the colors, I love the embroidered peasant blouse but I would love it in layers of silk and I have no intention of doing the embroidery right now. I love the idea of a traditional peasant embroidery on a delicate silk worn with a very tailored, almost mannish pair of pants. Someday that perfect interpretation of a peasant blouse might appear in my life.
All of these clothes would fit into my lifestyle.
But what about the designer clothes from the fancier catalogs? There was a big book from Bergdorf Goodman, but there were only two things I really liked. The suit by Armani with the pleated front is gorgeous but not my color and definitely not needed. The very sleek, modern, color blocked dress could probably is fabulous and might be something I would actually try to make someday.
I cut out the picture of the little top on a whim. I like the idea of making something with a knit layer underneath and a draped chiffon layer over it, although I would never wear that top as shown probably mostly because I would never have the sun-bronzed body that would show it off.
My fantasy shopper had more luck with Neiman Marcus.
Again there are several things by Armani: a suit I don't need, and a lovely striped jacket with the drawstring at the neckline, but again it is too pale for me. The ideas are fabulous. Everything else is just inspiration.
Don't you think a little cardigan with the big scalloped edges would be fabulous over chinos or jeans? The closures are fabulous but they look heavy compared to the garment, or at least my vision of the garment. And the wonderful coat in the bottom corner would be fabulous without the appliqued flowers and frills. I suppose I like my flowers in simpler garments like the lovely little chiffon blouse.
The seaming and the piping on the jeans really appeals but I could never wear jeans that narrow. But the piping draws the eye down. The same effect would enhance a wider trouser leg as well.
These clothes all appeal to the long leggy person I would like to be. That doesn't mean I can't put together clothes that help approach that illusion. I suppose it is the reminder of the desired illusion that I am after.
Once upon a time these were the kinds of clothes I would covet. But they aren't really very useful for going to the farmer's market or the butcher shop, or weeding the garden either. If I ever need a suit again, there is no shortage of inspiration. I suppose I covet the idea of these clothes still, but not necessarily the actuality of them. And yet the ideas still seem to have potential.
Can you see the same person in all of these clothes. I suppose I can. I can pick find the common thread, or is that I am the common thread? There is room in my dreams and in my life for all versions of me.