Simple Pleasure
I can feel my spirits rising with my hemline
We’re in the thick of it. The grey and cold of January has a way of amplifying the weight of bad news or even just transforming commonplace monotony into something intrinsically bad (don’t worry, I am starting therapy next week).
While generally contemplating how to escape, I was struck by this bit in a guest post by Liv Elniski in the Articles of Interest newsletter:
Glamour, in its most honest expression, is a performance that provides an escape, pieced together out of aspiration, desire, and whatever the materials and garments the moment affords. It can help us fashion our realities—to soften the rough edges and uncertainties of a particular moment in time and space.
I’ve long felt that frivolity is important for lifting spirits in difficult times and this eloquently puts words to that delicate connection…which brings me to the find and ensuing project that really brought me joy this week: the discovery, and transformation of a vintage bow top.
My partner Blaise picked it up for me, confidently announcing “You want this” and for obvious reasons since it has several things I really value in clothing: A gratuitously padded shoulder, a high and simple neckline, and colors that are set off by black.
The top is also reminiscent of the results from one of my regular Pinterest searches these days: “1991 Moschino” (my other most recent search is “Vintage Majorette” but that’s for another time)
The late 80’s/early 90’s looks in this style are really doing it for me. Notice the presence of black, even in small amounts, throughout all of the looks…I love this to balance a palette. The pattern-clashing is so yummy and the silhouettes are strong and well-tailored.
That being said, the weak point from a modern lens is how some of the designs skew towards work-wear and feel inappropriate for more casual applications. Hence why I love to crop to modernize!
I used light blue thread to hem it in a pinch because I struggle with impulse control but I’ve decided I am ultimately going to swap it to black. I am happy that I went ahead and jumped on the project though because I am trying to stop stockpiling DIY or alteration projects that I’m planning to get to later.
I love a crop that is a short as humanly possible without revealing too much, but this could also work well in a more moderate length and is a fun idea for lots of tops…
I am back on using the sewing machine for the first time in probably 25 years and it feels really good. I have so many ideas for upcycling as well as hopefully making pieces from scratch. There’s something about partially replacing my desire to consume (troublesome) with my desire to create (objectively good) that slows me down and grounds me in my body, giving me not only a piece with a personal connection but also an enriching practice.
Frivolity strikes again to let the light in.
I hope you are safe and warm and even happy wherever you are!
Thank you for reading.
XO, M