It is disorienting when your dream-filled nights resemble worlds you long for while your days plod ahead in a steady succession of unfulfilling moments. Not that these moments lack value. Not that these moments are not, by way of my being present within them, formative of my ongoing existence. It's just that this is the existence I chose, and now it confines me.
My movement is restricted by an array of fears and discomforts. My moods are restricted since the selfhood I created is not reflected back to me in any real or lasting ways in my present environment. This environment reflects and refracts another style of personhood. A way of life that is oriented around different everyday struggles.
I'm heplful. I'm mostly cheerful. As always, I am awkward and a little clumsy. But there does exist a place where I can steady myself, if only once an evening. That place is home. I am not there.
May 22, 2013
April 5, 2013
Georgia
A couple years ago after familiarizing myself with all things Matthew Ames, to the extent made possible by an internet connection, I cemented my fandom with a "like" on facebook, and I believe also a "follow" on tumblr. Since then, I've received no signals.
Until today, when I was alerted to "MATTHEW AMES FOR WEEKDAY," and damn. Can someone in Europe or the UK ship me one of each please?
This came into my consciousness moments ago, and I immediately began this post - something I hardly ever do. It just resonated. Then I skimmed this interview with Weekday Magazine, and discovered that Mr. Ames left NYC to teach at Savannah College of Art and Design. The connection thus deepens, since I'm sitting in Atlanta, Georgia right now, down the street from this city's branch of SCAD.
Looking again at the clothing and this editorial, I see how Southern necessities - denim, cotton, coveralls, loose fits - combine with a modern minimalism in cut and design. The angular grayscale backdrop in the editorial also allows for the tree stump stool. These are not costumes of nostalgia for a rustic past, but an acknowledgement of the interconnectedness of technology and raw materials that produce garments necessary in the present. It's a shame, though, that this clothing is not retailed in a venue accessible to most of us living in the U.S., let alone in the South.
Until today, when I was alerted to "MATTHEW AMES FOR WEEKDAY," and damn. Can someone in Europe or the UK ship me one of each please?
This came into my consciousness moments ago, and I immediately began this post - something I hardly ever do. It just resonated. Then I skimmed this interview with Weekday Magazine, and discovered that Mr. Ames left NYC to teach at Savannah College of Art and Design. The connection thus deepens, since I'm sitting in Atlanta, Georgia right now, down the street from this city's branch of SCAD.
Looking again at the clothing and this editorial, I see how Southern necessities - denim, cotton, coveralls, loose fits - combine with a modern minimalism in cut and design. The angular grayscale backdrop in the editorial also allows for the tree stump stool. These are not costumes of nostalgia for a rustic past, but an acknowledgement of the interconnectedness of technology and raw materials that produce garments necessary in the present. It's a shame, though, that this clothing is not retailed in a venue accessible to most of us living in the U.S., let alone in the South.
March 26, 2013
28
I had a birthday back at the beginning of this month. Rang in my late 20s with Proenza Schouler wide leg silk trousers (secondhand, Wasteland), vintage top with mother of pearl button detail (also via Wasteland), brand new Dries Van Noten five inch pumps with ribbons (not visible, sorry, will share later), and hours of dancing until it hurt too much to dance anymore.
Seriously, these pants saw some Janet in "I Get So Lonely" leg breakdown action.
I read this Collector's Weekly article on Frida Kahlo's wardrobe, which just blew me away with the gorgeous pictures and ideas about clothing and bodies and disability. (There are some amazing articles on CW! -- last one I read before this was about getting addicted to opium via collecting opium paraphernalia.) Feeling so inspired by Frida, and with a party in the works, I suddenly just knew what I needed to do: braided floral headpiece.
I did not want it to be a costume of Frida, though. I just wanted to execute the design challenge of this hairstyle. So, I finally took these Proenza pants to be hemmed, located an appropriate top, and picked out flowers at my favorite florist in San Francisco, Birch. My bff helped with the braiding and floral arranging on my head (as well as the hosting of said dance party). It was one of the highlights of the night for us to make this idea become a reality.
It made for a memorable birthday. So did my lovely gift of a Kaoru ring (from one of the best shops in San Francisco: Cotton Sheep) to add to my small but growing gold band collection. The two other rings that make up this collections are seen in the upper right photo, of my hair dress rehearsal from the day before the party.
The nice thing about creating a floral headpiece, is that you get to have a cute little bouquet for the morning after the dance party.
Seriously, these pants saw some Janet in "I Get So Lonely" leg breakdown action.
I read this Collector's Weekly article on Frida Kahlo's wardrobe, which just blew me away with the gorgeous pictures and ideas about clothing and bodies and disability. (There are some amazing articles on CW! -- last one I read before this was about getting addicted to opium via collecting opium paraphernalia.) Feeling so inspired by Frida, and with a party in the works, I suddenly just knew what I needed to do: braided floral headpiece.
I did not want it to be a costume of Frida, though. I just wanted to execute the design challenge of this hairstyle. So, I finally took these Proenza pants to be hemmed, located an appropriate top, and picked out flowers at my favorite florist in San Francisco, Birch. My bff helped with the braiding and floral arranging on my head (as well as the hosting of said dance party). It was one of the highlights of the night for us to make this idea become a reality.
It made for a memorable birthday. So did my lovely gift of a Kaoru ring (from one of the best shops in San Francisco: Cotton Sheep) to add to my small but growing gold band collection. The two other rings that make up this collections are seen in the upper right photo, of my hair dress rehearsal from the day before the party.
The nice thing about creating a floral headpiece, is that you get to have a cute little bouquet for the morning after the dance party.
If you'd like to see shit like this in real time, plus a lot of plants, patterns, and buildings (now featuring moments in the American South) you can find me on instagram @loveshipsusie.
March 25, 2013
Familiar Longings
Tonight I found inspiration on my husband's tumblr. We've been apart for about two months now, though I've returned home for one long birthday weekend at the beginning of March.
We have been together five and a half years, married for three. The frenetic excitement of new human intimacy gave way to deep and sustained understanding of one another's being, during which time a familiarity grew that at once allows a beautiful shared openness while diminishing the frequency of the new.
We have a shared language much like early cavepeople, all mouthy syllables and silly noises. We also have an aesthetic language that increasingly overlaps, to a point that makes us both uncomfortable at times. Who wore this hem length first? And, someone has to change because we both can't go out in oversized black pants and a cropped brown vintage mens jacket and the same shoes.
It is possible that we fear such a merging because we live in a culture centered on individuality, which says that we shouldn't be the same person. IRL we are quite different, though. And anyhow, I hate the notion that style is about expressing your individuality, when it is and always has been about a whole bunch of connections among yourself and others involved in your choices, abilities, finances, skills, tastes, and ways the garments came into existence and into your sphere of tangible reality. I'm not denying that some of us are born special and despite dire circumstances came out with above average taste. But there were entry points and influences every step of the way. And, we all face limitations. Our lives bear witness to the connections that brought us to this particular present.
Anyway, as I was saying, I was pleasantly surprised by my husbands posts to his inspiration board.
I'll take one of each.
Being across the country from him, I am able to reflect more meaningfully on the fact of my man's good taste. Something I don't always get the chance to do when we laze about the house on Friday nights at home, in our PJs, eating Chinese delivery.
We have been together five and a half years, married for three. The frenetic excitement of new human intimacy gave way to deep and sustained understanding of one another's being, during which time a familiarity grew that at once allows a beautiful shared openness while diminishing the frequency of the new.
We have a shared language much like early cavepeople, all mouthy syllables and silly noises. We also have an aesthetic language that increasingly overlaps, to a point that makes us both uncomfortable at times. Who wore this hem length first? And, someone has to change because we both can't go out in oversized black pants and a cropped brown vintage mens jacket and the same shoes.
It is possible that we fear such a merging because we live in a culture centered on individuality, which says that we shouldn't be the same person. IRL we are quite different, though. And anyhow, I hate the notion that style is about expressing your individuality, when it is and always has been about a whole bunch of connections among yourself and others involved in your choices, abilities, finances, skills, tastes, and ways the garments came into existence and into your sphere of tangible reality. I'm not denying that some of us are born special and despite dire circumstances came out with above average taste. But there were entry points and influences every step of the way. And, we all face limitations. Our lives bear witness to the connections that brought us to this particular present.
Anyway, as I was saying, I was pleasantly surprised by my husbands posts to his inspiration board.
I'll take one of each.
Being across the country from him, I am able to reflect more meaningfully on the fact of my man's good taste. Something I don't always get the chance to do when we laze about the house on Friday nights at home, in our PJs, eating Chinese delivery.
