Beasts and birds, art and ornamentation
My friend Marina, an artist, invited me to the Museum of Fine Arts to see the exhibit "The Marvels and Mirages of Orientalism". Over early morning coffee, I began to anticipate the richness of the women's attire as painted by Benjamin-Constant, Maurizio Fortuny, Jean-Paul Laurens, and leafed through "Fashion", The Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute's calendar, a gift from my old friend Susan C.
Days like this unfold; all I have to do in this visually rich city is look at the "beasts and birds." On the bus, I saw an elegant woman in a mink coat worn super-casually, the snap of her red scarf evoked the neckline of the 1940 Schiaparelli dinner dress that appeared with the quote:
The exhibition, beautifully-mounted, summoned the East, painted at a time (the mid-19th century) when travel there was dangerous and the spectacular richness of the hammam and souk inflamed the painters' imaginations. The show balances its impressions of ethnic "exoticism" with an acknowledgment of the stereotypes, which detract little from the mastery on display.
Adrift in its langorous atmosphere, I noticed that the visitors wore not even a suggestion of the embroideries and silks of the paintings, yet women eternally seek that sensuous shimmer. A simple black jeans/white tee was lit by a fuchsia fur scarf:
With winter still evident, most of the crowd wore black. This woman looked tidily chic, but reminded me how environment plays directly upon fashion.
Afterwards, Marina and I stopped by Ogilvy, where a 70% off sale plus a further 20% off on that day, dictated a look. She's modeling a Black Watch blouse that she could not resist:
On the way to tea in Place des Arts, we passed a display of an Elizabethan gown, a contrast to the unconstricted, diaphanous clothing of the Orientalism show—the essence of containment, yet still conspicuously feminine.
Winter is slowly breaking up. "The Marvels and Mirages" runs till May 31; maybe Susan will hop a train to see it.
Marina has her own opening, an exhibition of her mysterious and moving space paintings, at Galerie Luz, from March 11 to April 4.
Days like this unfold; all I have to do in this visually rich city is look at the "beasts and birds." On the bus, I saw an elegant woman in a mink coat worn super-casually, the snap of her red scarf evoked the neckline of the 1940 Schiaparelli dinner dress that appeared with the quote:
The exhibition, beautifully-mounted, summoned the East, painted at a time (the mid-19th century) when travel there was dangerous and the spectacular richness of the hammam and souk inflamed the painters' imaginations. The show balances its impressions of ethnic "exoticism" with an acknowledgment of the stereotypes, which detract little from the mastery on display.
Adrift in its langorous atmosphere, I noticed that the visitors wore not even a suggestion of the embroideries and silks of the paintings, yet women eternally seek that sensuous shimmer. A simple black jeans/white tee was lit by a fuchsia fur scarf:
With winter still evident, most of the crowd wore black. This woman looked tidily chic, but reminded me how environment plays directly upon fashion.
Afterwards, Marina and I stopped by Ogilvy, where a 70% off sale plus a further 20% off on that day, dictated a look. She's modeling a Black Watch blouse that she could not resist:
On the way to tea in Place des Arts, we passed a display of an Elizabethan gown, a contrast to the unconstricted, diaphanous clothing of the Orientalism show—the essence of containment, yet still conspicuously feminine.
Winter is slowly breaking up. "The Marvels and Mirages" runs till May 31; maybe Susan will hop a train to see it.
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| Painting by Marina Malvada |
Marina has her own opening, an exhibition of her mysterious and moving space paintings, at Galerie Luz, from March 11 to April 4.
Comments
And if the opposite sex chooses to wear a garment made for the other (menswear trousers on a woman, a skirt on a man) the effect dinimishes those characteristics, which is sometimes the intention.
Of course some reject the very notion of gender altogether, but I am not so inclined. I find, as a tall, short-haired woman, if I do not at least consider the notion of femininity in clothing, those are the days when I have been called "sir".
If you want a formal cream tea, reserve at the tearoom in Birk's.
Only in a cold climate can one wear one without feeling guilt...luxurious warmth a fur coat offers is like nothing else.
I too have been called 'sir' so agree with you - a little personal decoration helps to clarify. Not being a girly girl, I've still come to appreciate more and more the uplift from wearing some jewellery and a scarf with a beautiful texture and colour. It just makes my day better.
When I am called 'sir' I'm usually wearing jeans and neutral-coloured parka, and it depresses me somewhat. I don't get it in the summer, thanks be!