Wednesday, February 15, 2012

in which i swear i was born with gypsy blood

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Remember when everybody was belting scarves like this? Well I'm bringing it back (today)! I always love outfits like this best, I think. I definitely have gypsy blood in me, somewhere... perhaps I'm descended from Irish Travellers?

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(dress: etsy; skirt: vintage (grandmother); boots: seychelles; scarf/belt: thrifted; necklace: flea market)

I had a lovely evening with my Valentine. He made me special nachos (our usual + sauteed mushrooms and garlic--yum!) and we drank champagne with fresh strawberries and watched "A Walk on the Moon" (my choice). (Oh, and he went to three different stores looking for my favorite brand of chocolate-covered cherries--because I definitely am not the sort of girl who scoffs at chocolate on any occasion ;)

The movie was good (and may have inspired today's outfit a bit), though pretty silly in some respects. It takes place at a Catskills resort/camp during the summer of love, with the moon landing and Woodstock festival acting as bookends for the affair of a discontent housewife with a traveling blouse salesman. I must admit, the housewife (played by Diane Lane) wasn't terribly sympathetic, and entered the affair sort of nonchalantly and without any real guilt (even sneaking out of the cottage to see her lover while her mother-in-law begged her not to leave--yeah, right), but there was still so much to like about the movie. If I'm nostalgic for jazz age Paris, I'm also nostalgic for America in the "swinging 'sixties"... and it's obviously closer to home. They're not terribly different, if you think about it--culturally significant times ruled by excess and flamboyance (probably because ages defined by art are necessarily more lively and free-wheeling), important social revolutions and relaxation of social norms... all good things.

But then, thinking about the 'sixties and everything that was happening, culturally and politically, I realized how far we still have to go. We're still trapped by futile and violent conflicts/wars; the space program, which once launched (pun intended) America to the top (with the moonwalk as an indication of great things to come/new discoveries ahead), has ended, like a surrender; no huge Woodstock-style free concert would ever happen now (or could it??? Someone get on that...); while people once did drugs to loosen up by "expanding" their minds, the overprescription of mood-suppressing drugs (for anxiety, ADHD, even anti-psychotic) now loosens us up by closing off/denying the power of our minds (for the record, I'm not advocating the use of any kind of drug, just pointing out the difference); we fought against racial discrimination in the 'sixties, and we're still fighting against discrimination today, most notably for gay rights. It seems that there will always be a fight to be fought. Maybe some day we will be able to live and let live, for the good of all, without exploitation or abuse.

I've definitely been a bit lecture-y lately. Whoops. I don't mean to be... these things have just been on my mind. The times, they are a' changing (again, and always)!

11 comments:

  1. Oh, you look amazing here! I love the scarf tucked in your belt and the gypsy vibe in this outfit :) also, sounds like you had a great Valentine's day! I never heard of that movie, but I think I have to watch it, 'cause I love that period too.

    Life is a romantic poem

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  2. Gorgeous! I love how you're wearing your scarf-and your skirt is adorable.

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  3. So gypsyesque!!! I love it, reminds me of stevie nicks, whom i adore. The print mix with the top and scarf is perfect. Those nachos you had sound DELICIOUS, I love me some nachos and now have a huge craving that must be satisfied this weekend.
    The 60's were definitely such an interesting point in time in history, I would have loved to have been around just to have taken part in some of the things that took place during that time (womens movement, civil rights, etc). It's crazy to think that all that happened, and people tried so hard, while there have been advancements its sad to think that sexism, and racism are still so very prevalent in our culture.
    xJennaD

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  4. That green skirt is such a beautiful shade on you.

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  5. Beatiful photos and outfit! Lovely!

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  6. Wow the gipsy theme in your outfit rocks, I love the floral vlouse and the belted scarf (I think I've missed this trend, nee dto try it out soon). You look so pretty and folklorish :)
    And yes history is repeating itself over and over again, I notice it so often. A friend's mother recently said that she has a feeling that times are changing, the economy, the climate, the people's attitude towards food (and it's production). It wouldn't surprise me if we'd have some events from the 60s again soon - hopefully only the good ones.

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  7. I really like this outfit, I never know how to wear skirts that lenght but this looks good, and the sleeves of the blouse and a great shape. I used to think 'if only I had been young in the 60s *sigh*' until I started to think how few opportunities were open to women and many other groups in society.

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  8. Hattitude Artistic Style Blog

    i have never seen a scarf belted like that! i'm definitely going to start doing it too! i like it cause it gives the effect of a vest! very cool!

    talk soon wild child
    -Hattie
    Hattitude Artistic Style Blog

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  9. wonderful blouse and stunning scarf too

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  10. great outfit!
    and you have got so much hair, lady!! i love it up in a bun like that.

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  11. I think you look great with the scarf belted like that. I'm really loving the color and shape of your skirt too. The pattern in your top and the one on the scarf look great together. Definitely slightly reminiscent of gypsies.

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