One of my favorite New York Magazine sections is the approval matrix. Last week in the despicable/highbrow section was a photo of Carrie in the SATC film with a large Louis Vuitton gift box in her hands. In the background was a circled snippet of a Bluefly shopping bag, with this (from memory) comment: “Bluefly? Carrie would never.”
Point well taken, but I was surprised that nothing was said about the content of that LV gift box Carrie was about to give her assistant. For inside lay a truly garish handbag in various shades of orange and yellow patent and jacquard. Louise (the recipient of said gift) made the requisite fuss, but I wonder whether she wasn’t a tad disappointed.
I mean, if you’re going to buy someone an LV bag, at least buy her a beautiful one. (Linda Grant makes a similar point on her Thoughtful Dresser blog.)
But now it seems that I have experienced a garish comeuppance. For I have just received (in the mail, ordered by moi, not as a gift) an exquisitely garish pair of shoes.
First, please note that I do not like yellow gold for myself—I’m a white gold grrrl. These shoes, however, are cracked* yellow-gold four-ish-inch high-heeled spectators with a creamy patent perforated toe (and a little cream patent around the heel). The gold buckle has a large-ish gold crown on it and the shoes are made by that supremely garish label (and I shudder to type this) Juicy Couture.
Point well taken, but I was surprised that nothing was said about the content of that LV gift box Carrie was about to give her assistant. For inside lay a truly garish handbag in various shades of orange and yellow patent and jacquard. Louise (the recipient of said gift) made the requisite fuss, but I wonder whether she wasn’t a tad disappointed.
I mean, if you’re going to buy someone an LV bag, at least buy her a beautiful one. (Linda Grant makes a similar point on her Thoughtful Dresser blog.)
But now it seems that I have experienced a garish comeuppance. For I have just received (in the mail, ordered by moi, not as a gift) an exquisitely garish pair of shoes.
First, please note that I do not like yellow gold for myself—I’m a white gold grrrl. These shoes, however, are cracked* yellow-gold four-ish-inch high-heeled spectators with a creamy patent perforated toe (and a little cream patent around the heel). The gold buckle has a large-ish gold crown on it and the shoes are made by that supremely garish label (and I shudder to type this) Juicy Couture.
I have not fallen under Juicy’s spell these many years as Gela and Pam have left their garish mark on yoga sets, dresses, bags, advertisements, etc, etc. In fact, I have said “Yuck,” and looked to something more funkily elegant.
But I like these garish shoes of mine and think that they will be strangely wearable as a neutral.
What do you think? Is there a time when you can wear garish without feeling embarish?
*And to think I was just ranting about cracked leather on K.Line’s blog. Umm--oops!
10 comments:
You're asking me about garish? I'm a leopard fashion disaster in WWD and a founding member of the Golden Girls sequins club. I better pass on this.
Thank you for your comment. You may have saved someone a lot of aggravation!
And I almost laughed when I read your point about the assistant and whether she wasn't somewhat disappointed by the choice of bag. You are so right. That scene was one of the most pallid in the whole film, leading me to realize that, when the styling wasn't on, it just played like an infomercial.
Have a great time on your vacay...
yeah i don't know if i could do the bag, but I could probably do do the shoes...SATC was great at garish sans "embarish"
I shouldn't talk with my silver Capezios, but I will anyway.
I love these, and I know you will find brilliant ways to wear them.
They are truly fabulous, unlike that appalling purse.
I'd probably love them if I didn't know who made them, but I find Gela and Pam strangely repellent.
I've found that in recent years, metallics have suddenly become somewhat neutral in my eyes, and these shoes are not 'too much' if you will, by any means. I actually think they're quite perfect!
It's so funny, but I agree with iheartfashion. I've usually avoided Juicy like the plague, and then I saw a girl wearing this adorable dress and had to know what brand it was. It was Juicy! These pumps are actually cute, label aside. I realize that I should probably do a post about label prejudice, which somehow dominates my clothing preferences. Don't be "embarish" about these: nobody will know who made them. They'll just see your fabulous self in these fabulous shoes!
I'm the Queen of Garish (although WB kinda trumps with the WWD thang) so I have no right to comment. OK! yes I do, I love 'em!!!
Absolutely! Although if I'd received that LV as a gift it would have gone straight on eBay!
There is always a place in my wardrobe for the garish, the outlandish and the just plain ridiculous. It is all a matter of editing the outfit to make them work.
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