Friendship Story

I don't know about you, but I sometimes put pieces together just for fun - I hang them on a tapestry rod in the living room, so I can glance at my "work in progress" from time to time as I read or write. This work sinks in to me, new ideas come, new details are added, something gets removed... all while hanging there on the tapestry rod. Then I transfer the work in progress from the rod on to my body. It's still in progress at this point, because as all of you know, things rarely look the same on the body as they do on hangers. Sometimes, it's so completely wrong (and I loved what I saw on the tapestry rod) that I don't even bother to photograph my ideas. Other times, I proceed to photograph, and then it can be either - "yep, it works" or "nope, it doesn't." 

I am not super analytical. I can't always figure out in advance what will work for me and what won't. When it comes to the creative process, I follow my heart. And when I started my style journey about a year ago, I bought pieces which I though would work, or I wanted them to work. And some of them became favorites, and I wore them a lot, while others mostly spent time in my closet. It's not that I don't like them - most of the time, I think I just haven't found good companions for them. Good friends. We all need good friends. Those who see us for who we are and love us for who we are. Not less, not more. I'm sure you know what I mean. Clothes are really not so different. Each piece can be brilliant if it has a good friend - the one which helps it shine.

So that is what I've done here, in this post. I tried to find a good friend for the stripy blouse and yellow blazer. I knew there should be some in my closet. For whatever reason, this duo (blue stripes + yellow) has happened for the first time just now. Strange, yes? They seem to be made for each other, but were hanging far too far apart I guess. In the closet jammed with clothes like fish in a tin, they almost didn't have a chance to meet, and I didn't think of them as a perfect couple until just now, silly goose! 

 I wanted to find a good friend or two for them in my closet, and found four - so they won't get lonely if a couple of their friends find another engagement. I think four is a good number - like four musketeers (there were four, eventually!).

So here are the four friends for my duo:

1. The white pants

Sleek, crisp and classic. There is really not much to add about them. They are reliable, like all good classics. I funked them up with my crazy shoes just a bit.

2. The boyfriend jeans 

Those are sort of new classics - relaxed, easy, comfortable. I paired them with Converses which decided to stay on my feet till the end of the photo session.  

Then I tried the stripy/yellow duo with another potential friend, but they didn't get along. (I will come back to that "friend" later in the post.) I called out for help...

3. The striped jersey pencil skirt

I just love this - stripes on stripes, what can be better? Well, okay, maybe a few things. But this one is pretty good, admit it. Cool, modern, hip. 

(If there is one thing I adore about contemporary fashion - it is that "casual chic" thing. I am not a big expert on fashion. Come to think about it, I am not even a little expert. But I sense that this "casual chic" thing is here to stay - it's like having the best of both worlds in one outfit.)

4. The denim skirt

The little denim skirt was the fourth musketeer for my duo. I don't know why I don't wear this one. It's soft, comfy and slimming. I better find ways to have fun with it in the future.

And that is the story of finding good friends for my stripy/yellow duo. 

But what about the clothes which tried, but weren't able to become good friends with my duo? Don't they deserve friends too? Of course they do! No more teasing. Secrets are being revealed right this moment. The one which didn't get along with the duo was... a pair of brightly colored skinny jeans, the green ones, remember them? But I had something else in store for them... Something very special indeed. Inspiration!

The inspiration came from the darling Vix's post - unexpectedly, as it happens, I was completely taken by the super stylish look... Thanks, Jon! I, of course, had to have some flowers and sequins and crazy platform wedges... but I stayed true to the spirit by pairing bright and hip skinnies with a conservative vest and "ascot". I have no idea where I would go in this outfit (perhaps no further than this blog :) - but I sure had tons of fun playing with it. :)

Just like with the clothes, I can't always predict whether a friendship will work or not. We don't really have a chance to hang our "potential" friends on a tapestry rod in life. We can't really "try them on". So we dive into friendships with all our heart and soul. Sometimes, to find out that it's a perfect fit. And other times, to find out that it's not. The latter hurts like hell. It's much more difficult to say "no, it doesn't work" about friendship than it is about clothes. But at the end of the day, there is always a hope that somewhere out there, there are true friends looking for us. The friends who will love us for who we are, not less, not more. The friends who will be able to share our joy. The friends who will give us their hand when we fall down. The friends who will never want to stop growing together. The friends who will help us shine. They are looking for us as passionately and impatiently as we are looking for them. Someday, somewhere out there, we'll meet. So we all will be happy, engaged and not lonely anymore. 

The End

All the clothes - remixed from my closet.

Linking up with Visible Monday at Patti's

Update: joined Share-in-Style: Skirt or Pants on September 15, 2014!