Last week I wrote about my fascination with the darker side of life. My very close friends, those that know me the best, call me the “Good Bad Girl”. This reflects the idea that there is another side of my coin, those moments in life that are full of lightness and translucence where the best of human existence is possible. Perhaps it can be chalked up to being a Gemini but my persona and thus my life experiences, have always contained elements of darkness and light. Like the feeling one gets when looking at a piece from an Alexander McQueen collection that is beautiful in it’s horror, I have always been able to climb up from darkness and feel “the unbearable lightness of being”.
Roland Barthes, philosopher and author of the Fashion System, talks about how clothing concerns all of the human person, not just the body but also the relationships that individual body has with the world. Since studying the subject of fashion it has become evident to me how sociologically important it is. Fashion documents individual and societal histories and contains and plays with elements of oppression and liberation. It tells stories of how the wearer relates to power and how a woman might manage ambivalence. So more and more I realize that my ever-evolving choice of clothing and the on-going development of personal style is about containing the darkness and light of my transaction with the world and the many encounters I have had in my life and work with good and evil.
For me there is a kind of aching sweetness to the outfit I chose for today, a counterbalance to the edge of last week. I feel rather angelic. The dress is white, illuminating the encroaching darkness that comes with twilight. The color white can reflect all the visible light of the spectrum and thus offers unlimited possibilities. It symbolizes new beginnings, wholeness and completion. You cannot hide behind white because it easily becomes translucent. It offers a sense of calmness and protection and psychologically has been found to alleviate emotional distress. I have been feeling a desire to wear white this summer. Whether it is dresses, shirts or skirts, my desire seems to reflect a movement to someplace new in my life. A kind of letting go, one that may explain why in some cultures white represents mourning. Whatever it means, I am continuing to climb.
I love wearing white in the summer. In fact it reminds me of summer and sunshine and lightness. It does not seem right to wear white during our rather dark English winters. That is a time of year when I feel more like hibernating and sitting by a cosy fire.
Interesting how style transacts with our inner and outer environments. I like a dash of white in a blouse or a shirt to light up a dark winter day.
Usually in summer – to keep things fresh and light but love the decadence of "winter white". I prefer white clothes to be romantic, frivolous, or whimsical rather than practical!
I like to switch up the romance and the utilitarian whites, probably due to my androgynous nature!
Interesting idea having clothes distract others from seeing your distress. I think I do that too!
Usually in summer – to keep things fresh and light but love the decadence of "winter white". I prefer white clothes to be romantic, frivolous, or whimsical rather than practical!
I like to switch up the romance and the utilitarian whites, probably due to my androgynous nature!
Interesting question and thoughts on wearing white. I have been slowly adding white to my heavily black wardrobe but tend to stick to white tops or jackets. I never wear all white. I like the way it lights my complexion and lifts my blacks through the long, cold winter months.
What a lovely phrase "lifts my complexion". Wearing with black does put things in sharper relief.
Interesting question and thoughts on wearing white. I have been slowly adding white to my heavily black wardrobe but tend to stick to white tops or jackets. I never wear all white. I like the way it lights my complexion and lifts my blacks through the long, cold winter months.
What a lovely phrase "lifts my complexion". Wearing with black does put things in sharper relief.
Reading your posts elevates and enlightens. I’m choosing to wear white today!
Oh I would love to see what you choose!
Reading your posts elevates and enlightens. I’m choosing to wear white today!
Oh I would love to see what you choose!
I’ve always wanted to renounce the somewhat sacred fashion rule of only wearing white bottoms between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
I, personally, love to hide in plain sight and have found that easy to do while wearing white. There isn’t really anything flashy about it, it doesn’t necessarily pop out unless I style it to. So I guess I wear white when I feel a need for more control…
White articles of clothing or outfits have their purposes — culturally or situationally specific — but really, I enjoy it as a blank canvas for people to keep looking at what white thing I am wearing, admiring (or not) how I am wearing it, and guessing why. It takes their attention away from whatever expression I have on my face: if I am melancholy and mourning; if I am stressed about a business meeting; or if I want to feel affluent and not give a [care in the world] if I spill something on it (I am quite clumsy).
Interesting idea having clothes distract others from seeing your distress. I think I do that too!
It is so interesting the way our history interacts with our style choices. Of course uniforms are traumatic they are often used to strip one of personal and individual identity. Since you are such a unique individual I can see why you shied away. I wore uniforms and always tried to add something that set me apart…perhaps black sandals with silver trim.
I love white tops. Rarely do I wear all white and your post prompted me to look at the conscious reasons:
1) Most of my relatives were in the nursing related professions and wore white all the time. In my zeal to rebel as a teen, I always yearned to wear "black"( especially in the sixties when black fishnet stockings came in.)
2)Religious figures and authority figures around me wore all white often. I guess it added to my family’s uniform trauma.
3) Styles and fit for shoes were an issue for me as I had problem feet as a child. It didn’t help that money was tight and black patent leather shoes became Sunday shoes and then was rotated to school shoes. And then the rotation began over again each season.
Fast forward: I’m attracted more to black, but love a peak of white for tops. But how to keep the look from that food industry suggestion???
I really like how you’re rocking black sandals with this outfit. (mmm. perhaps an idea for me)
I like your spin on looking at the symbolic imagery of white. On the flip side, I’d love to be able to wear more all gray and silver outfits. I wonder if this white hair( or light grey), I’ve had since I was 12, has anything to do with all of this???
Enjoyed your blog post and love this outfit on you as well as the setting.
It is so interesting the way our history interacts with our style choices. Of course uniforms are traumatic they are often used to strip one of personal and individual identity. Since you are such a unique individual I can see why you shied away. I wore uniforms and always tried to add something that set me apart…perhaps black sandals with silver trim.
I’m realizing that my earliest jobs out of school — a couple of print shops, then managing the office for a potato farm! — were dirty places, and I got the habit of wearing dark colors there… even though my later professional life in academe had a physically cleaner setting. (We won’t go into the dirty tricks of the academic life!) Interesting to think about how these early experiences make unconscious inroads on one’s choices ever after. Now that I’ve discovered the connection, it may be time to do some culling and refocusing. I am reminded that Emily Dickinson wore only white for most of her adult life. As did Gandhi.
I got a chuckle out of the dirty tricks and academia comment. It is fascinating to me how transactions with our environment, not just parents, shape and form our current schemas and choices. Now we know they even lay down the neurons in our brains. I wonder. Why Emily Dickinson chose to wear white, do you know?
I’m realizing that my earliest jobs out of school — a couple of print shops, then managing the office for a potato farm! — were dirty places, and I got the habit of wearing dark colors there… even though my later professional life in academe had a physically cleaner setting. (We won’t go into the dirty tricks of the academic life!) Interesting to think about how these early experiences make unconscious inroads on one’s choices ever after. Now that I’ve discovered the connection, it may be time to do some culling and refocusing. I am reminded that Emily Dickinson wore only white for most of her adult life. As did Gandhi.
I got a chuckle out of the dirty tricks and academia comment. It is fascinating to me how transactions with our environment, not just parents, shape and form our current schemas and choices. Now we know they even lay down the neurons in our brains. I wonder. Why Emily Dickinson chose to wear white, do you know?
I’ve been complaining to everyone I know that I can’t wear white because I’m such a schmutz. I never liked white until a couple of years ago. Then I bought an expensive pair of white Goldschmied jeans and got a stain on them the first day I wore them. How to keep it clean?
Only wear them for blog posts LOL
Only wear them for blog posts LOL.
I’ve been complaining to everyone I know that I can’t wear white because I’m such a schmutz. I never liked white until a couple of years ago. Then I bought an expensive pair of white Goldschmied jeans and got a stain on them the first day I wore them. How to keep it clean?
Only wear them for blog posts LOL
Only wear them for blog posts LOL.
I like the wrap construction of this dress; it not only flatters the waist but the neckline and chest, as well, in a lovely androgynous femininity. Is there such a thing? Androgynous femininity? As an English professor, earning my degree allows me to say, "Yes. I thus define it so!" LOL . And, at the same time, it looks luxe and comfortable. White definitely is my trademark color. I so enjoyed your white dresses on Pinterest. How does white tell my story? It certainly flatters my light hair and complexion, as it reflects light. However, white transcends to my home decor to…even my dog. But that was purely coincidental; though a rescue, he is my inspiration in many ways. Moving along, white is light, clean, crisp, fresh, uplifting, and luxe; it is not complicated. I do white all year round; I break the white color rules, so to speak. Winter white? Okay, call it that. But deconstructing it, white is white. Therein, I am certain, is my love for white that has much to do with yearning and gleaning much pleasure from that which is simple, uncomplicated, a navigation away from familial, historical complexity, I’m sure. That being said, not all complexity is ill-gotten, can be totally fascinating, memorable, and lifegiving. Synoptically concluding, I do believe it is white’s simplicity and complimentary aspects that is at work for me. I always look forward to and am inspired by your postings.
http://www.whitedogluxe.com
I always am inspired by and look forward to your responses to my posts! We must share notes. I took in a rescue dog this summer. It has been challenging yet gratifying and much hard work and training but he is a love. He will probably appear in some Fall posts as he is black and tan, colors I always associate with Fall.
I like the wrap construction of this dress; it not only flatters the waist but the neckline and chest, as well, in a lovely androgynous femininity. Is there such a thing? Androgynous femininity? As an English professor, earning my degree allows me to say, "Yes. I thus define it so!" LOL . And, at the same time, it looks luxe and comfortable. White definitely is my trademark color. I so enjoyed your white dresses on Pinterest. How does white tell my story? It certainly flatters my light hair and complexion, as it reflects light. However, white transcends to my home decor to…even my dog. But that was purely coincidental; though a rescue, he is my inspiration in many ways. Moving along, white is light, clean, crisp, fresh, uplifting, and luxe; it is not complicated. I do white all year round; I break the white color rules, so to speak. Winter white? Okay, call it that. But deconstructing it, white is white. Therein, I am certain, is my love for white that has much to do with yearning and gleaning much pleasure from that which is simple, uncomplicated, a navigation away from familial, historical complexity, I’m sure. That being said, not all complexity is ill-gotten, can be totally fascinating, memorable, and lifegiving. Synoptically concluding, I do believe it is white’s simplicity and complimentary aspects that is at work for me. I always look forward to and am inspired by your postings.
http://www.whitedogluxe.com
I always am inspired by and look forward to your responses to my posts! We must share notes. I took in a rescue dog this summer. It has been challenging yet gratifying and much hard work and training but he is a love. He will probably appear in some Fall posts as he is black and tan, colors I always associate with Fall.
When I come home from shopping my husband says, "Another white blouse."
Oh God I just realized… I spent 18 years in catholic schools. Maybe that’s why cloaking in a white blouse is so natural, soothing and desirable to me.
Yes, sometimes the most comfortable things in life are those objects that are part of daily rituals.
When I come home from shopping my husband says, "Another white blouse."
Oh God I just realized… I spent 18 years in catholic schools. Maybe that’s why cloaking in a white blouse is so natural, soothing and desirable to me.
Yes, sometimes the most comfortable things in life are those objects that are part of daily rituals.
When I met my husband, I was 26, I had a favorite outfit that was white linen pants with a white sweatshirt. He called it my "white tornado" look. I love that simple outfit that can be repeated no matter what the style. Now I am 63. Planning to reengage the white tornado.
That is a wonderful approach, to have a signature outfit, rather than a signature style. Mine is all black and perhaps most conveys my essential self. Around the signature you can always experiment and try new things but there is always a place to return. Does anyone else have a signature outfit?
When I met my husband, I was 26, I had a favorite outfit that was white linen pants with a white sweatshirt. He called it my "white tornado" look. I love that simple outfit that can be repeated no matter what the style. Now I am 63. Planning to reengage the white tornado.
That is a wonderful approach, to have a signature outfit, rather than a signature style. Mine is all black and perhaps most conveys my essential self. Around the signature you can always experiment and try new things but there is always a place to return. Does anyone else have a signature outfit?