Sidling up to Bottega Veneta's Dress

If any Gentle Readers live in a college town, or near a high school, or have teenage sons, then you are probably familiar with the emergence of a particular t-shirt style, come spring.

The t-shirt of which I speak is cut down each side, with fabric joined only at the hem and shoulder. It reveals a good deal of flesh in profile, while the front gives the illusion of being fully covered.

I find this style to be particularly unflattering, and am treasuring the years until my six-year-old son discovers it.

Although the side-cut t-shirt seems to have originated with boys, it is becoming more popular with girls, who wear a jogging top underneath.  That doesn't make it any more attractive.

So when I cast a sidelong glance at an ad for Bottega Veneta, one of my very favourite dressmakers, and saw that it featured a side-cut bodice, I could not but sigh.  Although this side-cut is decidedly uptown, instead of for the sports field, or--eek!--the classroom, I think that it cheapens the line of an otherwise lovely garment.

Here's hoping that the dress comes with a little envelope of matching silk thread, so that its owner can place a few important stitches along the side seams.

I'm feeling a little beside myself.

Horsefeathers

This feather-photo pillow by the talented designer Louise Roe *

reminds me of my favourite

(and still unidentified)

photo of

a horse's mane.

* Louise Roe discovered via Natural History

Going Green in Chicago for Saint Patrick's Day

On Friday we landed in Chicago, ready to test the winds and sample some new cuisine.


Having read in the news that St. Patrick's Day was observed on Friday, I wore my Christiane Celle Calypso Julia dress in an iridescent almost-jade silk. 


It's green enough to count, but not green enough to look like it's on purpose.  (I also avoid matching my clothes to the "holiday," so it's orange cashmere at Christmas and chartreuse for Valentine's.)



My colour.  I remove the elastic from the sleeves;
puffs are perfect for Anne of Green Gables but are too little-girl for me.


But I was a little concerned: I had planned to pop into the Calypso boutique that evening, and realized that I would feel foolish wearing the house dressing, so to speak. But that's my "green" dress, so c'est la vie, I thought. At least it wasn't balsamic vinagrette.
I'd done my part for St. Patrick.  Even if the rest of the city didn't seem to be following suit, curiously enough.  Where was all the Irish spirit?  And the green beer?  I settled for delicious green, organic stir-fry at a terrific Thai joint.

So I was confused when I awoke the next morning to discover green t-shirts, furry green hats, green antennae, and even green painted-on shirts(!) parading about Michigan Ave.  Of course the "real" SPD was on Saturday, and Chicago was luxuriating in it.

In my coral dress I walked with my family up to the Chicago River, where we watched the plumbers dye it green. 


The first of three green stripes.  Source



The process was fun to see: a boat emitted a steady burst of fluorescent green/yellow color into the water and two chaps in a speedboat followed at high speed, zig-zagging through the dye to stir it up.  The process reminded me of marbleizing a cake.

Source

And yes, a feisty but polite leprechaun did pinch me on the bridge for wearing my coral dress. 

Monocle Mentions Miss C's Article

I was delighted to learn from Selvedge's brilliant editor, Polly Leonard, that my piece, "Thoroughly Modern Modesty:  The Allure of the New Demure," received a shout-out from Monocle 24, the broadcasting arm of Monocle magazine. 

The editor, Tyler Brûlé; the broadcast editor, Gillian Dobias; and the editor of Eye magazine, John Walters, mentioned it during a conversation about Selvedge.

The review is below, and my piece is mentioned (and pictured!) toward the end.  Along the way, you'll find many sumptuous Selvedge covers to feast upon, and some thoughtful words to ponder.

Best Tressed

This month in Bazaar, Naomi Campbell is wearing one of my favorite haircuts.














Paulina had it, in the 1980s:

and Taylor Swift has it now:

Back in the 1980s, when I wore bangs/fringe, I didn't try this look because I didn't have/know about straighteners.  But now, I'm tempted!!

Soccer Mums 2012 by Victoria Beckham

I don't like the word "Mom"; never have, never will.  I grew up with "Mum," which has a softer sound, unlike the foghorn-esque "Mawm" sound of the former. 

Add "soccer" as an adjective, and I bristle. 

Not because I am uncomfortable with the concept of mothers taking their children to and fro soccer games, but because the term's used in a dismissive way.  (And women who kindly chauffeur their children are pretty bloody cool, in my mind.)

Having a son who plays soccer has opened up a world of soccer gear to me, especially soccer jerseys (I once found myself irrationally full of desire for a man's hot pink goalkeeper's jersey, with quilted elbows, size XL). 

But once I come to my senses, I realize that I do not want to trot around like Sporty Spice, unless I'm actually kicking a ball. 

However, for those of us who love athletic wear, Victoria Beckham has designed a terrific series of dresses that borrows stripes and collars from soccer jerseys.





Ahh, the perfect pointy collar!





 Would these indulge your secret inner soccer star? Mum's the word!

Best in Shoe

This year at the Westnminster Kennel Club Show 2012,

six new breeds were entered in the competition,

including the Norwegian Lundehund

and the Cesky Terrier. 

Dolce and Gabbana is following in those footsteps (paw-steps?) as it has entered a new type of shoe in the informal-yet-hotly contested design competition to make the most memorable spring/summer footwear.

Combining heritage scarf prints, a platform wedge heel, a certain astronaut-boot sensibility, and a scarf wrap-and-knot, this unusual piece of footwear might be best known as a scarfoe (pronounced scarfoo).

But if I really want to think of the connection between shoes and the Westminster Show (as I have been known to do), this year I will simply reflect on darling Malachy, with those soulful eyes that charmed me, as well as the judge, Cindy Vogels, to win Best in Show. 

I might not wear the scarfoes, but make me a pair of Malachy-inspired fuzzy slippers, and they're on!