People think I’m talking complete bollocks when I talk of various inspirations for outfits; a scene from a movie, a cutout from a vintage magazine I picked up in my local bookstore (Black Gull Books in East Finchley…unofficially the best 2nd hand book store ever….), the way the light is shining into my bedroom…. And so begins the eyes rolling from people, the quizzical/cynical stares, the judgement of ‘Oh please….it’s just an outfit….. what a load of tripe!’.
I can’t present it any other way though. If people have been shopping with me, when they see the way my eyes go all glassy and entranced when picking up a certain something, they’ll know that the cogs of my head are harking back to a certain inspirational image. To illustrate, my mind was being pulled into several different directions when putting together this outfit. Again, experimenting with underwear as outerwear but colluding that with other decades and references. An inspiration equation of….
….the demurely sexy qualities of 1920’s lingerie…. the dreamy innoncence seen in Clarence H. White photographs (a really old book of his work came to me via Black Gull)….
….the floppy hat worn by Jeanne in The Last Tango in Paris….the restrained frumpiness in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s outfits in Secretary….
=
(Background images ‘Drops of Rain’, ‘White Morning’ by Clarence H. White…. seriously… take an afternoon and drown yourself in his photos if you can…
The bra is amazing. But I’d rather wear it with really high waisted pants, a nude top underneath and a navy oversize blazer. I totally understand what you say about finding inspiration in random things/objects/moods.
You are right..
I know what you mean, and it’s nice to think your outfit tells you a story even if no one else gets it.
I’m not a fan of high waisted jeans, but I would go for a skirt or trousers with not too many qualms.
Delicious shoes and a very sexy outfit! It’s fantastic to know where you draw your inspirations from, even if others don’t get the vibe. Forget the rude comments…it’s usually from people who don’t know how to put any thought into getting dressed.
lovely shoes, but there’s just something not quite right. i guess it’s the frilly-ness or the sheer colour of the bra that breaks this outfit. i agree with diana about wearing a top which is about the same colour as the bra so as to make the whole look flow. but good try though! keep those creative outfits coming!
Love your creativity.
I am totally with you. I cut sleeves from my jackets and pretend that it was designed that way… Or, I put a garden chime around my neck the size of a tea soccer and people ask me where they can buy one like that. You can go to my site (I guess by clicking my name) and see a dress I designed out of balloons.
I would love the outfit more without the bra, I think. Or maybe if it was a corset instead.
LOVE those stockings.
Oh, love that bra…so delicate.
sorry the bra is just not working.
i love how you manage to find inspiration from so many things around you, and the bra is gorgeous…i think the outfit could become even more intresting, though, if the shirt was less fussy [and perhaps a neutral color?] so more attention would be drawn to the bra. great shoes, as well!
i like your website and totally understand what you’re saying. i think only designers or creators would understand the creative process. love the bra, but wearing it over that billowy, dark blouse looks like you’re trying too hard. something in a lighter color and closer to the body would look better.
I sort of liked the frump of it… the not quite right qualities… ruffled prim if you see what I mean…the iffy-ness of it…
You are all right though… something not quite right about it…
Actually i don’t see a problem with that bra. There are so many tops that i’ve seen that have the sort of structured area up top which makes everything so much more prominent. If anything, this is one of your more ‘safe’ choices!
oooohhhh very interesting…
I’m revelling in your creativity here, I’m loving that outfit but unfortunately for me I would never be able to walk out of the house without the lovely bra worn on the inside…
I wish I was more adventurous..
Hey Susie,
You know I love your style but.. the bra! It still looks basically like you’ve got a cool outfit on and then have decided, arbitrarily, to stick a bra over it. I totally get the underwear as outerwear thing but maybe you need underwear that’s a little more substantial, like a really cool basque or some such.
I agree – if this was a corset it would look fab but the bra does not quite go with the rest of the outfit and looks a little odd. It isa a gorgeous bra though and would perhaps go with something lighter coloured!
I love your adventurousness and always enjoy hearing about what inspired an outfit!
I suggest no bra…it looks weird over the dark colored top..
Cheers to you for taking risks. I looked at that picture for a couple minutes trying to figure out what I thought. In the end…love it!