Book Style: Much Ado About Nothing

For outfit details click image.

Continuing our adventure in Shakespearean Book Styles, today we're styling Much Ado About Nothing. For those unfamiliar with it's slightly complex plot - seriously, I love The Bard's comedies, but an Abbot and Costello routine is often easier to follow - let me give you a brief outline: Benedick and Beatrice secretly love each other, but don't even know it themselves, so spend all their time flirting bickering while their friends scheme to set them up. Claudio and Hero fall head-over-heels in love before an asshole named Don John tricks Claudio into believing Hero has been unfaithful, leading to Claudio slut-shaming her on their planned wedding day. Before the truth is revealed and all the lovers can be reunited Hero "dies from shame". When Don John's plans are finally uncovered, a distraught Claudio is forced by Hero's father (who's been bankrolling the insane amount of festivities the entire play, btw) to publicly un-slander Hero and to marry Hero's "cousin" who is really Hero-who-only-faked-her-death because nothing says true love like being called a whore and then giving your One True Love™ a heart attack from shock at the altar. I always like the bickering Beatrice and Benedick better, anyways. 

Onto the actual clothing. I drew inspiration for this outfit from a modern Italian donna di mondo. I paired this "Claudio" skirt with a military-style sleeveless blouse for the sheer joy of contrast, floaty meets regimented. A "Real Hero" leather jacket easily takes this look into colder temps. These "Margaret" booties also transition nicely into colder temps - just add tights when you get chilly! A striking "Beatrice" tote bag and a "Beatrice" rose crown are so delightfully Italian to me. A statement "Hero" bracelet pairs nicely with a "Gossip" citrine ring, "Ursula" tassel necklace, and masquerade-worthy earrings. A pair of "Benedict" aviators add the perfect incognito touch. 

Book Style: Twelfth Night

Next up in my Shakespeare Book Style series is the comedy Twelfth Night. Fun fact, I can never spell "twelfth" correctly; assume that every instance here was accompanied by a squiggly red line of vocabulary judgement. Twelfth Night is a fun romp filled with love triangles, devious co-workers, and mistaken identities.

For this outfit I wanted to play with the idea of masculine/feminine dressing. I have a deeply rooted love of androgyny that my curves defy at every sartorial turn, so any excuse to really bust out the menswear makes my heart extra happy. Let's start with a pair of "Olivia" skinny jeans and a "Buck Gender Roles" t-shirt (also available as a tank!). Nothing embraces the long-standing tradition of women borrowing from the boys like the tuxedo and a pale pink tuxedo jacket brings the style game up a level here. Pro tip: Dress up jeans and a tee in seconds with a blazer, it will never get old. Another "masculine" silhouette meets "feminine" coloring with the pale pink brogues. I had to sneak in a pair of yellow socks for poor Malvolio - I can't be the only one who really pities this poor schmuck! A pair of bright blue suspenders adds some cheek to the menswear theme. Echoing the same vibrant cobalt with this envelope clutch, perfect for securing messages, ties the look together.

Now onto jewelry. A pearl ring can be used to woo your very own Cesario, should you choose. On the other hand (pun, so so so intended), a "Love Triangle" ring also fits the bill. A "Sebastian" watch brings in the masculine element to the jewelry selection while "Olivia" earrings reflect the love triangle theme yet again. Finally, sport a tiny fake mustache with this quirky little septum ring!

Book Style: The Tempest

Today's Book Style is another of my favorites from Shakespeare, The Tempest. (At this point, I think I may try and tackle all of his plays, even Hamlet.) The Tempest is such a stark play, and one of the few that does not bear an easy lineage. I love the blending of mythologies (Ariel, Juno, Ceres and Iris) and the brand of magic Prospero wields, based so much on words and knowledge. 

For the Book Style, I wanted to dress a modern day Miranda. I imagine her being less shipwreck-chic and more aristocrat-stranded-in-Bali. The outfit starts with a pair of flowy "Tempest" pants and a cropped floral bustier in "Storm Blue". I added a long, lightweight red cardigan to help insulate from stormy gales and sea mist. For the feet I chose a pair of earthy "Ariel" platforms. A sorcerer's daughter stranded with ample luxury goods would of course drape herself in jewelry. A pair of "Magic" threader earrings, a "Storm" accent earring, a "Prospero" watch, "Magic Eye" and "Miranda" rings, a "Duke" bracelet, and a "Work Your Magic" necklace will certainly help her win Ferdinand's heart. Finishing the look with "Shoreline Sea Foam" nail lacquer and a smokey "Sycorax" eye shadow embraces the dual ethereal and dark aspects of this play. 

Book Style: Macbeth

When it comes to Shakespeare I tend to favor the darker and more fantastical plays to the dryer histories or the romances. Macbeth reigns supreme for me. Perhaps it's because it is The Bard's shortest play. Although, I think it's probably because the women have all of the power and fortitude. Lady Macbeth is evil, but she's in control - even if she doesn't get a first name! The three witches set all the events of the play in motion with nothing but their words. Just wonderful. The men are all reactionary, while them women are decisive and ambitious and manipulative. 

For a Macbeth Book Style, tartan was a must. But then I fell in love with this possibly-faux-tartan shirt dress and I don't care if it's authentic or not. To keep the legs toasty I added this beyond-perfect pair of dagger tights. On top a McDuff cardigan - I know it's "MacDuff" technically, but Anglicized names come in many not-quite-right varieties. On the feet, a pair of blood splattered pumps will really get under Lady Macbeth's skin. A Macbeth book clutch is a must-have for this outfit, too. For jewelry, I chose a "Dagger" necklace, "Thunder" earrings,  a "Witch" ID bracelet, and a "King and Queen" ring. Add a touch of "Hecate" lip paint to your pout and go assassinate a king or two.*

*For serious, do not assassinate anybody, no matter how tempting.

Book List

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I've been seeing tons of direct and not so direct requests everywhere on my plethora* of social media accounts recently for book recommendations. Now I know that the majority of the askers do not actually share my taste in literature but I have personally discovered great new literary loves in several ways over the years, so I will be giving my personal recommendations today; this is not a reading list designed to coddle the masses. I've already outlined my favorite series, and I must remedy the fact the I neglected to include Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide series at the time, so I will be focusing more on stand alone novels this go round. Let the top** 20 recommendations commence:

1. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
2. Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk
3. Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk
4. The Colour of Magic & The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett (These two are the beginning of the Discworld series, but the rest of the books almost all stand alone.)
5. Black Swan Rising by Lee Carol (This is also the start of a series, but I was not as enamored with the sequel.)
6. The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
7. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
8. Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde (Also the first in a series, the sequel is not due out until this year.)
9. One Hundred Percent Lunar Boy by Stephen Tunney
10. Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman
11. Eating the Cheshire Cat by Helen Ellis
12. The Vesuvius Club by Mark Gatiss
13. In the Woods by Tana French
14. Macbeth by William Shakespeare (I recommend the No Fear versions for all Shakespeare reading.)
15. From Russian With Love by Ian Fleming (Clearly part of the James Bond canon, but the books all stand alone.)
16. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
17. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
18. Having Our Say by Sarah L. Delany & A. Elizabeth Delany
19. Confessions of a Teen Sleuth by Chelsea Cain
20. Jar City by Arnaldur Indriðason (This is actually the third book in a series, but I found it stood alone just fine and I haven't managed to read the prequels or sequels yet.)

Have you read any on the list? What should I read next?

*Fun Fact: This was my first favorite "big word". I am certain that I wedged it into inappropriate sentences far too often in middle school.

**More likely the first 20 that pop into my head. I've read so much I often forget titles but never plots!