Monday, August 24, 2009

Calling Mr. Givenchy...

Right now I'm busy with final edits on my novel before it goes on sub to publishers (!!!!). In order to give myself a break every so often (translation: to keep myself from freaking way out) I peruse catalogs, browse online, comb through magazines in search of--Ta-Da!--the perfect fall ensemble.

Summer clothes don't do it for me. And Chicago weather makes spring a wet, muddy disaster. Forget winter as well--we hearty folk cover ourselves in down and wool. But, fall, or rather, autumn, is absolute glory. The clothes attached to this season are perfect as well. Knee-high coffee color leather boots. Herringbone tights. Corduroy jackets with leather patches at the elbows. Cashmere everything--scarves, sweaters, even socks! Ooh, la-la!

There's one problem, however, with my fantasy of waltzing into Prada or Burberry, or even the much-more-likely Target, and choosing my fall outfit: My husband and I are saving to remodel our kitchen, so my clothing budget doesn't really exist.

It's a good thing, then, that my look hasn't really changed all that much over the years. I don't rock a mullet or wear acid-wash, but my style is definitely that of a woman whose girlhood was spent watching way too many old-style Hollywood movies. One example: I wear ballet flats, all the time, and have for years. In fact, years ago, before ballet flats came back big-time, I'd buy real Capezio ballet shoes and have them soled at the shoe repair dude. That's my homage to Audrey Hepburn. My other purchases over the years have been reflective of my obsessions with Diane Keaton in Annie Hall, Ali McGraw in Love Story, Katherine Ross in The Graduate, and Katherine Hepburn in just about anything. Oh, and Cher during her gypsy phase. More recently, the feast for the eyes known as Mad Men has made me want to scour every vintage store in Chi-town for tight cashmere sweaters and pencil skirts.

When borrowing heavily from the past, though, it is important to find balance in your presentation. I've made mistakes with this. Like Paris Hilton, ridiculous in head to toe Juicy Couture, I've gone all-vintage and ended up looking like a museum exhibit. A few key modern pieces must be added to the mix. It's kind of like creating a character based on someone you know in real life (You knew I'd bring this back to writing somehow, didn't you?). If it's a mere recreation on paper, then it's kind of a cheap copy, no? You have to add a little creativity to it, a little bit of you. Then the character really jumps off the page, right?

10 comments:

  1. Ooh, I love the idea of buying ballet shoes and having soles put on them at the shoe repair! Genius! I've been in the market for the perfect black ballet flats and haven't been able to find any that I love. This might be the ticket!

    ReplyDelete
  2. The perfect ballet flats are Lanvin. But if you don't have the spare $500 bucks (and who does?) Mr. Shoe Repair provides a great alternative. I've also scored plain black ballet flats at Tar-jay, then added inserts for arch support (they have none, that's why they're 15.99). They serve me well.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Is there anywhere where the whether is like autumn all year? If so, I'd move there just for the clothes.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Seattle? Dublin? Not sure. But I'd be right there with ya.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Gaaah, I LOVE ballet flats. And gypsy clothes. You are giving me a serious itch to go shopping. Yay for autumn! Scarves! Long coats! Thanksgiving dinner!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow--Loretta, when you make it out to NYC, we have to shop together!
    Great comparison to writing too.

    ReplyDelete
  7. GAH!!!!! I was at the goodwill yesterday with my teen looking for jeans (why go anywhere else?) and we found a pair of leather pants from Bloomingdales. High waisted, belted, puffed out legs with tapered ankles.

    Hysterical.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh, my God, I would have totally bought them!

    ReplyDelete
  9. They were 17.99! A bargain! Must have been circa 1982.
    AND: My kid bought a gunny sack (sax?) purple taffeta and black velvet prom dress for 15 dollars. (Note prom dress purchase in August, she has some moxie!)I was never so proud. I heart her. She said "I KNOW no one will be wearing this one."

    ReplyDelete
  10. She's awesome! The prom dress sounds fab. And your daughter is absolutely right--it's so much cooler to have a dress you don't see coming and going, as my mom used to say.

    ReplyDelete