Asian

I always liked Asian inspired clothing and used to have a few tops either made of vibrantly colored silk or of intricately embroidered linen, with delicate Asian lines such as the traditional collar and splits on the sides, usually mid-hip length, with or without sleeves. That was years ago though, and because my body changed a lot in the last few years, I did not keep most of my clothing. 

This brilliant, very artistic blouse has the most vivid Asian themed images, made of 100% silk and decorated absolutely beautifully, with lots of heart, talent and inspiration - I was simply stunned when I ran into this piece of art in a local thrift shop this past weekend. I could not believe my eyes! It was double surprising to me to read the label - Chico's Design. Now, I am a big fan of Chico's for years. Some of their customers complain that the brand changed and it is not what it used to be, and when I discovered this amazing item at Goodwill, I finally understood what they meant by that. I have to agree. I do not see clothing of a similar level of craftsmanship and inspiration these days. (Though, now and then they do amaze me with their very imaginative blazers! I have a few, but I have not posted them in the blog yet.)

We did a little research on the Internet, and it seems that Chico's used to have a special line of clothing called Chico's Design, but it does not exist any more. Oh how lucky I felt when I stumbled into the blouse! I only hoped that it would fit me since I usually get a size bigger. Magically, it fit me just right! (There is a little issue with the bust area, but I am willing to overlook it!) I felt even luckier when I stumbled into yet ANOTHER beauty of the very same line of blouses!! Not one - two great finds, priced $5.99 each! Both are stunningly vibrant, exotic and just blow my mind. I feel like I am wearing a museum piece. :) 

I have a fair amount of Asian blood in me. Not so much from my father's side who is from the central part of Russia (Vyatka region) and whose family look like their ancestors could have been Vikings (or so Justin thinks) - tall, long legged, red haired guys with oval faces, not really typical Russian looking at all (if there is such a thing). But grandma from my mom's side looks like she is a good part Asian. No wonder mama used to call me Buryatochka (a little Buryatian girl) - though, strangely enough, I was the only "Buryatian" in the family, with my round face and wide, pronounced cheek bones. When I look at the old family photographs, I definitely see the resemblance. 

Center row: Innokentiy and Alexandra Nikiforov, my great-grandparents, and their son Dionisiy.

Lower row: Polina and Vasiliy, their youngest children.

Upper row: Praskovya (my grandmother) and Lidia, their daughters.

Photo taken before the World War II in Tatarka, a small Siberian village.

Praskovya Shadrina (nee Nikiforova), my grandmother, with her children Nadia (left), my mom; Nikolai, Elena and baby Vera. 1954. 

It's hard to believe that my grandma is here much younger than I am now!

Nadia (my mom) and her oldest sister Nina. 1958. 

Mom is 13 or 14, and Nina is about 18 here.

There are more old photographs on the site Angara. Tatarka which is my mom's much treasured creation - she researched the history of her village and wrote a beautiful essay about it (in the Russian language).

But I think it is more than just "blood" and resemblance though. I feel my connection with Asian cultures on a very deep level. I once wrote an article about an unforgettable experience I had at the performances of Namgar, a gifted ethnomusician, who visited Seattle with her talented music group (named by her first name, also Namgar) and their ancient traditional Mongolian and Buryatian songs. It felt like my ancient roots were coming alive, and at one point in the concert when Namgar was singing old lyrical songs of her ancestors and Juliana, a beloved Seattle singer and ethnomusicologist, was at the same time, in a perfect harmony with her, singing ancient Russian love songs, it was as if my two great-grandmothers, one Slavic and another Asian, both young beautiful women, were talking to me. (If you read Russian, you can check out my article about Namgar and their two concerts in Seattle in 2010 here. I know that Namgar was very happy with it and included it in the group's references on their Wiki page and other resources.)

Or maybe it is as simple as I am just visually attracted to certain colors and shapes which compliment my appearance, and there is nothing more to it? And the fact that my first marriage was to an Asian man, and my daughter is more than 50% Asian is a pure coincidence?

My mom and other villagers' children are taken to another town over the river, on their very first trip to middle school, the 5th grade (their tiny village had only an elementary school, from 1st to 4th grade, all kids in the same classroom). 1957. Mom is the first girl (on the left) out of three girls sitting together. She was turning 12 that fall. Kids were about to spend the first school quarter apart from their families and come back only for a short visit during a school break.

My daughter Anna, 11, 5th grade. (Post about my outfit here.)

We don't know for sure, do we? All we know for sure is the way we feel. And I felt very strongly that I found something which I absolutely had to find when I stumbled into this amazing silk blouse at Goodwill last weekend. Just as strongly as I felt listening to Namgar's singing in a beautiful, intimate little hall in Seattle, a few years back.

Blouse - Chico's Design (thrifted). Skirt - Lane Bryant (clearance rack). Scarf - Target (clearance rack, $4.50). Boiled wool jacket - Lands' End (thrifted). Shoes - Dansko. Umbrella - via Target. Brass bracelet - thrifted. Earrings - Chico's (old). Rings - long story. :)

Linking with Patti's Visible Monday and Bella's Secondhand First (premier link-up)!