I don't claim to know a thing about fashion and although I have been a bit more fashionable as of late. (This is mostly due to a mother-in-law who helps me pick out different things at places I wouldn't even think to walk into, places like Zara in Indonesia or Alfonso Dominguez in Barcelona..that and pinterest, and various other blogs, have helped me to branch out.. and also the fact that these days it's fashionable to dress different, or bohemian)
I guess you can say that I am dabbling in fashion, and I'm fortunate enough to have a family who can help provide some great pieces for me.
You see...
we have been on quite the budget these days. (Actually we just made a new budget and boy is Tez fired up about this one. His fav phrase these days are "I'd be happy to SAVE UP for one of those things"... sigh... sometimes it's tough being a grown up... and saving kind of makes spur of the moment fun decisions not so spur of the moment or fun -maybe that's the point? ) nonetheless this has created a somewhat of a 'desperate times call for desperate measures' philosophy when pertaining to clothing and I have had to mix and match various pieces in my closet. (that sounded very "Woe is me"-ish, when the truth of the matter is I have plenty of clothes and could be in a very worse situation and should be greatful that I have many options compared to people who are less fortunate...) Let me rephrase all that by saying that I love coming up with new combo's for old peices because it makes me feel thrifty and versatile.
I say all that to say: I know little about fashion but I feel I'm learning and I do love me a cute cheap outfit!I also have a slight appreciation for the people out there who can put together something beautiful or bold and WORK IT!
I also love old people.....
Where in the WORLD did that come from and what does the love of fashion and old people possibly have in common? you ask
Well, I'll tell you:
I watched a wonderful documentary today. It's free streaming on netflix and if you have an hour and a half I think you should check it out. It's called Bill Cunningham New York
(That's him in the top left corner on the bike)and it's not super deep and its not going to make you want to fight for some cause... it's just one doll of a documentary and sometimes, let's face it, we just need a break from the nitty gritty and this is where this documentary comes in.
It's all based on the work of fashion photographer Bill Cunningham, who pretty much stands on the streets of New York and photograph's people in everyday fashion. He writes a Sunday piece in the New York Times called On The Street and it's cute.
I was amused by his love for fashion and beauty. He really sees everyone as a blank canvas, and he sees the beauty in what people choose to wear, not only that but he never criticizes people for what they choose. He'll admit he likes to take pictures of beautiful clothing but from the documentary you see that his idea of beauty isn't always cookie cutter. There is even a time (small spoiler alert) when a magazine chose to use his pictures for a what's in and what's out segment and because of that he got so upset thinking about how those poor women he photoed might have taken that criticism that he quit the magazine. He said he doesn't view fashion in an "In or out" way. It just is. I like that.
It's ironic that all this comes from a man who doesn't dress himself up.
(End of spoiler)
In a Lady GaGa world where dressing crazy is overrated and overdone this documentary kind of gives you a fresh look at fashion and those who dare to be different. As you watch the documentary you begin to see the world through Mr. Cunningham's eyes and find that clothes, at times, can be more than just clothes and that there is beauty and art literally walking all around, you just need watch for it.
No comments:
Post a Comment