Monday, May 11, 2015

Stripes and the City, or Equal in All Directions


Stripes going every possible direction!
I must admit, this is my favorite outfit right now. It came together easily: I ordered both pieces at the same time, on great sale, and when they arrived, it was obvious that they belonged to each other. Though, of course, both will have separate outings as well. I wrote a product review on the site, and I pretty much said it all there. To me, these are bold fashion statement pieces, high fashion if you will - art at its best. To me, they say 1980s and 1930s all at the same time (think art deco). 


The building I am standing by was built in the 1980s, but to my eye at least, it has a very art deco vibe going on, and it was a pure coincidence that both my outfit and the theater to which we had tickets last Sunday, connected so well. It was our first time in that theater (I'll write more about it), and I had not seen pictures of it. Serendipity! Don't you love when it happens?


I know that women often want to avoid wearing boxy or loose looking pieces, but I don't. I was always a fan of such statement pieces, they say so much about the wearer - they say, among other things, that you do not feel obligated to always show off your body, that there is so much more to you than your feminine body shape, that you can appreciate clothing as art - the same way as sculpture or architecture is art. It is not equal to hiding your body, as it might be interpreted. I feel it is very liberating. I feel both are very important to me and I do appreciate both - outfits that make me feel feminine and beautiful, and outfits that help me to make a statement about me as a person, not just as a female.


Now, taking off the bold stripy ruana (which feels like a soft cocoon cardigan, being 100% cotton, not a simple wrap, having a distinct shawl collar and openings for your arms). 
The jumpsuit attracted me the very first time I saw it. I snapped it up for $40 (original price $140, and it's worth it) and couldn't be more pleased with my purchase. It is my favorite jumpsuit to date - very comfortable, made of quality polyester, stretchy (but not flimsy) and easy to get in and out (those public restrooms!). It does not restrict my movements in any way, and I could easily wear it to lounge at home. But at the same time, it is such a striking fashion statement, even better in person than it appeared online (I do a lot of my purchases online).


Look at the sleeves, they are art! The black border, the now-popular vertical stripes on the legs, and the border around the sleeves and neckline (with two little buttons on the back), they all combine to really make this jumpsuit an art piece - bravo to the designer! I don't know how Chico's picks designs - do they have a staff design team, or do they buy designs from free lancers? But I regularly find myself in awe with their designs - even when the style itself is simple, the fabric is so vivid, I rarely see such amazing choices from similarly priced brands. And once you figure out how their sales work, you can get yourself a great wardrobe for no more than $30 or $40 a piece. (They should be paying me to say this. :))


Now - the theater!
We are now moving from discovering small community theaters around the Sound to big professional theaters, some of the best in Seattle. I bought tickets to this one because the play sounded like a lot of fun - a lot of elements in it that both Justin and I love: comedy, finding love, rural life, Ireland... The play is called Outside Mullingar (Tony Award nominee) by John Patrick Shanley, and you can see it till May 17 at Seattle Repertory Theatre, which is located in Seattle Center and occupies the Bagley Wright theater which shares the lobby with Leo K. theater - read about all the complex relations in this article if you're interested. I'm new to it, as I said, and only now discovering that there is a theater row on Mercer Avenue, even though we've been to Pacific Northwest Ballet located there, and passed the colorful Teatro ZinZanni (must visit one day!) on many occasions.


Little did I know that the playwright of Sunday's piece is the one who wrote (and directed) Joe Versus the Volcano which is one of Justin's all time favorites! (Maybe you saw it or Moonstruck which is now available on Netflix - 3 Oscars, including best screenplay.) We did not know that at all (for whatever reason, did not do my homework), and yet during the performance I had a feeling that this play really connects with Justin in so many ways, and I was right - it had a great impact on him. I will not give away the plot in case you decide to watch the play. It was hard for me to understand the thick Irish accent (I jokingly said that I needed captions, but actually they do have captioned performances in that theater, and more than that - I remembered that I've been to one captioned theater show back in 2003 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, during Russian Cultural Festival - we watched an amazing performance Boris Godunov played by famous Russian actors, and while my friend and I understood Russian, much of the audience did not, so they read captions on the screens above the stage... and I totally forgot that experience.)

After performance talk with actors.

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience - strolling downtown, being at the nice big city theater (part of me is a city girl), watching the play and listening to the actors afterwards, discovering something new about the city which I adore... but more than that, I loved my time with Justin. The irony of this weekend was, it was Mother's Day weekend - and yet, the presents and surprises seemed to work more towards Dad in our family (other than watching a Justin-oriented play, we also bought him a new pair of shoes which we don't do often). But I do not feel cheated at all. In our relationship, I am the one who feels pampered a lot. And I love it, of course, but I also am happy that I had a chance to pamper him. Just a little bit of so well deserved pampering. You see the play is about a sensitive guy, "man with feelings" - and that's who Justin is, a man with feelings. And our society, as Justin pointed out when we discussed the play, is not built for "men with feelings" ("A man with feelings should be put down" as the main character says in the play). 


We all know how women decided that it's OK for us to be strong, if we want, and went for our rights to be strong. We fought hard, and still do, for our right to be strong, to be equal. But somewhere alone the lines the definition of equal got distorted. If it is OK for women to be either soft and sensitive, or strong and powerful, just as we please at any given day, then it must be OK for men too to be either strong and powerful or gentle and sensitive, if they want to, without being shamed for it, without asking for a permission for a break from being "the strong men", "the wall", with a long list of accomplishments attached to the simple word "man"... It is not in sensitive people's nature to actively, openly fight for their rights. So they just shut up, most of the time, and try to carry on as providers who don't get to say what they would actually like to do with their life - especially family men, but not only. Our society does not recognize that it's OK for men to be sensitive. If you are sensitive, then become a monk or something. It's probably the only "honorable" option for a sensitive man - at that point, the society does not demand a long list of accomplishments, it's OK to be a monk without accomplishments - it's weird, but it's OK. If you choose any other role - even as an artist, writer, musician, you must become successful, then the society will recognize your right to be called a man. And what about feelings? They are left to us, women... 


Yet, this picture lacks something extremely important, even vital - it lacks allowing men to feel their feelings. "Men don't cry". But they do! They do have feelings, they do have fears, they do have dreams, they do cry, they do feel lost at times, and they do very much also need a place to run to where they feel safe and accepted for who they are. But also, "men with feelings" love you just the way you are, listen and understand you like rare girlfriends do, encourage and support you in every possible way, so every day of your life is special, not because the calender says so, but because they, "men with feelings", really feel so, because they learn to listen to their feelings, trust their heart and treasure what matters most in life. 

Do you think we, as a human race, are ready to be more accepting and equal in all possible directions?


Jumpsuit and ruana - Chico's (available on their site)
Shoes - Ecco (old)
Clutch - Urban Express via TJ MAXX (old)

Location: Bagley Wright Theater, Seattle

Linking up with 52 Pick-me-up: Stripes and

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29 comments:

  1. Wow! That is the amazing piece of fashion. Very bold!

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  2. awww natasha! what started as a fashion post - fabulous stripey outfit perfect with the tan/orange accessoires! and yes, volume in clothing can reveal much more beauty than a body-con dress... -, touched the art of theater - sounds like a very good play! -, ended as a love letter to our "men with feelings" :-)
    i´m hopefull for "the society" when i see some of the very young men, sons of our friends. they are so much more open then their grandfathers generation and seem to not need to play the macho to be seen. and in the end - who raise the men? women! "we" (in "" because i´m not a mother) have it in our hands literally how the next generation turns out!!!!
    big hugses around your stripes clad person from me!!! xxxxxxx

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    1. You seem to really get it, Beate - thank you for it!

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  3. I wouldn't have thought that stripes in every directions were so lovely together! The pieces make a great outfit!!
    Inspiring look ...

    It was a very good play, wasn't it?

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  4. Wonderful outfit, Natalia. You're right, the drama of the black and white stripes and the structure of the sleeves and curve of the jacket give a definite Deco-like vibe to the look, echoed perfectly by the gorgeous theatre.
    I saw the film Moonstruck years ago, it was Nicholas Cage's finest hour. Wasn't Tom Hanks in Joe Versus The Volcano?
    As society evolves it has become more acceptable for men to show more than one side of their personalities. The strong silent type of our fathers' generation is on the wane. xxx

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    1. Yes, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan playing three different roles. A very beautiful philosophical tale.

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  5. Hi Natalia, I ve seen you in Danas Wabisabi. Amazing outfits. Have a nice day, Tina

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, Tina - I'm off to visit your blog!

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  6. What a wild amazing jumpsuit! LOVE it! The sleeves are amazing.

    I do think with the rise of the metrosexual things are changing a bit. I think that is a good thing. My husband's old European heritage is a bit of a weight around his neck at times I think.

    bisous
    Suzanne

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    1. They still have a long way to go in most of the places in the world, men with feelings...

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  7. I've only seen my husband cry twice. He puts on that "Man" front often. I know there have been plenty of times when he has wanted to let loose. I'm so thankful I'm female. I cry and I find it very cleansing and therapeutic. Most men are so low maintenance that I often forget about pampering them and how they truly enjoy it. Thank you for this reminder, Natalia.

    The jumpsuit is beautiful on you and the stripes are perfectly aligned. It flatters you well. I bet Justin can't keep his hands off of you. ;)

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    1. You made me smile with "Justin can't keep his hands off..." :)

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  8. Oh yes, how right you were to buy both those striped pieces and wear them together; I definitely see a 1930s influence in the jumpsuit, and you look fantastic in it. The theatre is a beautiful design too, and I'm glad you enjoyed the play.
    I hope that definitions of what it is to be a man - or a woman - continue to develop and adapt. There is no one way to be anything, we all find our own way and I'm hopeful that our kids have various fantastic examples of what masculine/feminine can mean. As the mother of a son, I feel a real responsibility to give him positive messages about sensitivity and gentleness; Owen is actually quite an emotional soul, and I don't want him to lose that as he heads into puberty and adulthood. xxx

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    1. I'm glad you see the 1930s vibe too, Curtise!
      Feelings are a wonderful and extremely sophisticated tool given us to understand ourselves and others better and ultimately make the most of our lives.

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  9. I have just discovered your stripes outfit at Dana's and immediately fell in love with it. So specially and especially . wonderful. many greets, ela

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    1. Thank you, Ela! I will return a visit for sure.

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  10. Thank you so much, my dearest Natalia for your kindness and warmth.Being back home after four months feels so good.
    Much love, my sweet friend
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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    1. So glad to see you here after many long months of your absence! Welcome back!!!

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  11. Fantastic jumpsuit Natalia! The way the stripes of the cardigan/topper and the bodysuit meet at the back is really high fashion, and worth a lot more cash than you paid :-) Great purchase! Yes, it does take confidence to wear volumes of this size, and I'm not there yet, but I sure do get inspiration here!

    The older I get the more I'm convinced that men and women aren't that different, only in our bodies. It takes a lot of confidence from a man to show feelings the same way we women do, but I find it very mature and yes, a sign of self confidence. Just like my husband :-)

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    1. You are very wise, my friend! I agree with everything you said. Including the stripes that match perfectly - well-crafted items, rare thing these days...

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  12. I am sure seeing you in this outfit was another treat for Justin too, you look wonderful. I love the stripes and those amazing sleeves and of course the fact that is black and white. Sounds like a great day out. Wise words about the male/female differences. I think ever so slowly things are changing and it is becoming more acceptable for men to show their gentle sides. As a mother of two grown sons, I sincerely hope so. xx

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    1. Jill, I thought of you when I put the outfit together - in my mind, I dedicate it to your bold "architectural" style, about which I hope we will talk very soon. :)

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  13. Hi Natalia!!
    Sounds like a wonderful experience. I would have loved to talk to and learned from the actors too. I took some acting classes and it was a blast. You look lovely! I really like this pantsuit on you, love the stripes!

    Thank you for linking up with Turning Heads Tuesday
    jess xx

    http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com

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    1. I learn from actors a lot - they are spontaneous and have to be in the moment in their art, which is very much how I like my writing to be. Glad you liked my stripes, Jess.

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  14. I do see the art deco influence in this look...and as a keen lover of stripes, I absolutely love how you styled this look.

    This performance sounds fantastic. I do think there can be no real equality if both men and woman are not allowed to embrace both sides of their nature, i.e both feminine and masculine side...or what is considered feminine and what is considered masculine.

    Today woman try to be more like man and not like any type of man but that material stereotypical macho guy...and it is really bad for both men and woman to try to emulate that. Sadly, today the only success story is about someone who becomes rich. Financial success is the only success anyone notices. Nobody will mention a woman who was a good mother and raised her people to be decent as a successful story (or a father that was a good father for that matter)...no, only success is if you make thousands or millions....and that is really sad, that that is the only thing society holds dear.

    http://modaodaradosti.blogspot.com/

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  15. oh yes, this is one of my favorites outfit of you too!!, first, because you look gorgeous, and love that comfortable and cool style, and second, because love how you wear your statement outfit, love the sleeves, love the fabulous design and love that '80's doing the 30's' style. It's a decó vibe in the background too, that pretty theatre is matching your outfit!
    And yes, I'm against sexism, and that includes everybody!, because I'm against discrimination based on gender, any gender!, men are also victims of prejudices and social pressure!

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  16. I think you look great in this jumpsuit. Very elegant and lady look.

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