The Wild Child
...
I shall not speak, I shall think about nothing:
But endless love will mount in my soul,
And I shall travel far, very far...
Sensation by Arthur Rimbaud (March 1870)
I shall not speak, I shall think about nothing:
But endless love will mount in my soul,
And I shall travel far, very far...
Sensation by Arthur Rimbaud (March 1870)
Once the sun is no longer obscured by cloud, once the flowers have begun to blossom yet again after their long slumber, and once the birds have returned to singing their cheerful morning songs, my thoughts shall always turn to the idea of travel and how one should dress for spring.
Whether it be travelling to the park to enjoy the long stretches of grass and majestic trees, now able to take pride in their flourishing appearance, or if one is fortunate enough to have the opportunity to travel across a foreign land; there is a beautiful sense of freedom that comes with the months of spring and summer. Yet equally there is usually a vast contrast between the fashions sported on the streets or across the grass.
If one were ask a number of people how they dress for warmer months or indeed travel, the majority would answer that their priorities are of comfort and functionality. It would seem that many are either content to immediately strip down for spring, or rather diametrically, deck themselves out in rainproof gear, or sporting the lighter of their winter coats.
With the fickle nature of the weather during spring, I am personally always drawn the simple answer of layering. One is able to keep warm and dry during the light showers and cool winds, yet one is equally able to enjoy the warmth and sunshine without overheating. Dressing during the in-between seasons can be a far more enjoyable and rewarding experience due to the inherent creativity that one must adopt.
One of my personal favourite springtime collections has to be the Spring '07 offerings from Ann Demeulemeester. The single word that I come up with for the collection is invariably of it being romantic. There was the beautiful layering of flowing shirts, waistcoats upon waistcoats, and asymmetrical jackets, all maintaining a well fitted yet creatively draped aesthetic. The pieces had an odd sense of formal elegance, in spite of their more casual display. Indeed it seemed as if the models could have easily arrived after having travelled through a series of variated settings.
The collection told a story, and indeed therein lied one of its great strengths. Perhaps the characters had begun their adventure, having spent the previous day at a rather formal affair. Their garments would have been buttoned up and their looks polished. Decorated with their long strings of pearls, they would have spent the evening conversing lightly over an exquisite banquet and used the late hours of night to bond over music and dancing.
Late the following morning, they had emerged sleepy eyed and groggy, to walk out into the blazing sunshine, which had immediately shocked their pupils into restriction. According to Demeulemeester many may have even foraged through the woods, with their adornments of feathers and twigs hanging equally alongside the glistening pearls. Perhaps they took to an easy day of adventures in the forest, undoing their buttons in the heat, and allowing their shirt tails to flutter in the breeze. Effortlessly cool yet elegant.
Apologies for the delay in getting back to all of your wonderful blogs, I shall try to visit as soon as possible. Many thanks for all of your continued wonderful comments!