One look and so many questions.
On Friday, when my daughter asked what "chic" means, I stumbled through words like "elegant" and "classic" before tripping over my own definitions. Elegant according to whom? Classic in what culture? I ended up saying that chic is about wearing what you want, with the confidence that an examined life bestows.
She asked what “bestows” meant, but by the time I’d found the right synonym, she’d already moved on, showing me her chic avatar on her online game, “Dress to Impress,” decked out in feathers, leopard print, and a “brat green” crop top.
I asked her if she knew what brat green meant—she said it’s a popular color in the game.
On Saturday, my dad suddenly lost peripheral vision for 15 minutes in the only eye he can see through. I took him to the ER, even after his sight returned, which marked the second most terrifying health scare of this year.
On Monday, another emergency care visit—with Anaís who had an infected spider bite.
Tuesday marked the third ER visit, this time with Bianca for an ear infection.
As I do the final spell-check on this post, I am booking yet another pediatrician appointment for Anaís who has now caught the virus her sister has.
During each visit to the ER, and then again at the pharmacy where I picked up the antibiotics, I overheard three overworked and probably underpaid healthcare workers commenting that hospitals used to be about the patients, but years ago, it became all about profit.
Anaís asked me what “profit” meant.
She then said that maybe she could sell the eye she had drawn last Friday, and probably make some good profit.
In between life, I have been putting together some looks to wear on Thanksgiving and the holidays coming up. I have been somewhat deflated by the results. I wonder if the looks are too feminine and lack friction. I question whether they are practical enough for hosting and checking on the oven and climbing onto the counter to reach mixer attachments I probably don’t even own.
I’ve noticed that what I consider cool is when an outfit mixes both conventional feminine and masculine-coded elements: floral patterns, peplums, sequins, and embroidery interacting with tailoring, button-ups, and loafers.
I also wonder why feminine-coded floral patterns, peplums, sequins, and embroidery feel stale, dated, or infantile without a masculine piece to toughen them up. And why do I read masculine tailoring, button-ups, and loafers as self-sufficient, powerful, and clean in the absence of feminine-coded elements?
Did you notice all the long-strung beaded necklaces during the recent fashion month, which now feels like it happened ages ago?
And why am I most drawn to the Vivetta look in which pearls are “offset” by a blazer and baggy jeans? To the point that I recreated for dinner with Jeff:
And did you notice all the peplums, too? In every shape, fabrication, and volume:
The day I went to Joann’s for some taffeta to try making a peplum top similar to the Lutz Huelle one (no longer available), which I plan to wear with baggy jeans as well, I overheard an employee talking to her coworker in aisle C9.
She was saying that their store was too “underpayrolled” to maintain all the zippers and buttons organized by color, as their manager had requested.
On the drive home, Bianca asked what “underpayrolled” meant.
Beautifully encapsulating how true style is personal, as much as "personal style" is commodified.
Pure, dreamy delight. I love the beautiful and subtle way you weave in thoughtful ideas on class. Alongside the inspiring fashion we love.