What I Actually Wore #0101
Serial #: 0101
Date: 14/11/2012
Weather: 22°C / 71.6°F, a beautiful and sunny day
Time Allowed: 9 minutes
I am not one for pastels. Not to sound harsh to lovers of these marzipan hues, but I despise them. While the colours in this outfit are not strictly pastels, in combination they do present a pale likeness to pastels, which repulses me a little. (Of course, I am writing this story over a year later, when I am interestedly listening to the siren call of minimalism, seductively beckoning me to abandon the vintage ship.)
The word ‘pastel’ has its origins in the mid 17th century, via French from the Italian pastello, the diminutive of pasta, ‘paste’, all in reference to the art media. Pure (dark) pigment is mixed with differing quantities of chalk to obtain near-white shades, and this is the origin of the word ‘pastel’ in reference to ‘pale colour’. Who knew? (I actually use pastels as an art medium and didn’t know this!)
In fact, I chose the garments to complement the vintage 1920s duster cap, which is made from a dull cornflower blue and light red floral print, and a plain cream fabric that forms the frill. (It’s not often one can describe a colour as ‘light red’, but the darker red tones in the cap aren’t quite pink.)
The cardigan is a light blue-grey, the blouse a French blue with a white geometric print, and the skirt is actually a pinstripe in cream and apple green – from a distance the latter looks like a light pistachio. (This skirt sounds a bit like dessert!) So they are not really sugary pastels, but the total effect is quite girlish. The wedges are taupe and tan, at least a much more interesting colour choice than, say, my David Lawrence blue suede shoes might have been.
I vaguely recall feeling dubious about the outfit at the time, though my notes tell me that I received compliments on this outfit, and everyone admired my cap. It’s nice to reflect that some people liked it, but the SNAP jury is out.
Items:
Blouse: Lil for Anthropologie
Skirt: Veronika Maine
Cardigan: Sparrow for Anthropologie
Hat: vintage 1920s
Earrings: blue chalcedony, hand made
Ring: mabé pearl and silver, NGV
Watch: Kenneth Cole
Shoes: Habbot