Contempo

Thank you for your kind, thoughtful comments on my last post, beautiful stylish ladies! And thank you so much for sharing your stories and thoughts. We both are very touched, Mama and I.

On to today's outfit (last Saturday actually).

I know contemporary fashion is not at all everybody's cup of tea. Some of my beloved blogging friends, women of distinctive and unique style, are not especially impressed or even interested in today's fashion. I actually happen to like it, or rather I came to like it - I came a long way. Remember I told you that I sort of took a vacation from fashion? Well during that vacation, things changed - they actually changed a lot. If you would take that vacation with me, you'd probably notice it too. One day I realized that I just don't get today's fashion. What's with the proportions, with the lines, what's with everything, and where is beauty in it all? What sort of fashion is it and why don't we all go back to the 90s or something. Why the 90s? I think because it was a time when I was young and hip, had a career, had money to spend on clothes, was not married, had no kids, no big ambitious plans, free as a bird, with active interest in fashion and style. I knew how to appreciate that fashion.  

Then the 2000s came. A new millennium. I don't know about you guys, but I kept myself pretty busy for over a dozen of the first years of it. Up to the year 2013 when I decided that I needed a break - I was moving non stop, starting with 2000, constant changes, one after another, creating newer and newer things, fun, exciting, challenging, but at the end pretty exhausting. During those years I did not think of fashion much. Style - yes, fashion - no. I don't think I lost my sense of style during that period (I still knew what I liked), but I for sure took a nice long vacation from fashion.

So when I started actively being interested in it again, it was like learning a new language. At first, everything sounded like abracadabra and total balderdash. Especially skinny jeans. Who would ever want to wear them, I thought to myself. They are ugly, uncomfortable, unflattering and all around just a waste of time. (Remember I also told you recently that I can be quite opinionated.) But then I started learning. And little by little, I came to appreciate new-to-me, unknown and even banned at some point lines of contemporary fashion. My favorite thing about it? You can mix anything with anything! You don't have to go all formal and dressed up if you don't want to - but, on the other hand, if you want to, you absolutely can. You can choose to go casual, but if you wish, mix a fancy sparkle like a statement necklace, with your denim, and create a casual chic outfit. Mix contemporary with vintage for a unique and dynamic look. Go all vintage, if that's what you like. You don't have to stick with one period, mix eras. If your shape is what used to be almost universally called "fat", you can change your attitude about it - you are curvy now, and that's very cool. You are 40 something, 50, 60, 70? Look at all these amazing blogs here and there - don't hide, you are visible, take pride in whatever your stage of life and just be yourself. 

Contemporary fashion is probably the most accepting phase in the history of humanity. If you want to, you can even wear historical, fantasy or sci-fi costumes, and get away with it - you'll be cool, unique and you'll be just you. I know it is not like that in many places of the world yet. But it is like that in many places already (thanks to the Internet, by the way). It's the beginning. It can only go forward from this point, not backwards. I don't think people who've had a breath of fresh air will want to go backwards and wear "what's required" by situations, other people, society, etc. Only more unique mixes and more free styles from now on. Embracing all the variety in the world.

So this is my ode to contemporary style today - the ideas are classical, but the lines and the attitude are modern. I learned the language. I can now not only understand, but I can also speak. And when you know how to understand and how to use, you will learn how to appreciate as well. 

Coat - Ashley Stewart

Chiffon blouse - Lane Bryant

Corduroy leggings - Hue (old)

Boots - Aquatalia

Necklace - Chico's

Wool scarf - Garnet Hill (old, gift from Justin)

Purse - B Makowsky

Linking up with Patti's Visible Monday

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