8.06.2016

Book Style: Twelfth Night

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!



8.04.2016

Book Style: The Tempest

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.