Like a Russian Play

When Pantone revealed the colors of the year of 2016, I thought that there would not be too many things for me this year. "Oh good, I'll save money then," I thought. Rose Quartz and Serenity, or, translated into my unsophisticated color vocabulary, pale pink and pale blue (I know, it's not the same!), just aren't my colors. I do think they are both pretty and serene, I just did not think I would want to wear them. But appetite grows with eating, as they say, and at this point wild horses would not be able to drag me from my experiments with style. To my surprise, I soon found myself getting into pretty blues and pinks. And when I saw this dress, I fell head over heels for its tender beauty.

Valentina Ponomaryova sings "Под лаской плюшевого пледа", 

song in the genre of Russian romance (or Russian Gypsy song)

for A Cruel Romance (1984), a movie based on Alexander Ostrovsky's play Without a Dowry (1878)

A bodycon dress can be challenging to wear. But as I grow older, I am gradually coming to accept myself more, and that includes my current shape. And sometimes, I want to wear a bodycon dress, especially a dress with such beautiful, feminine lines. Pairing it with this gorgeous crochet cardigan emphasizes the Victorian vibe. It makes me think of Chekhov and Ostrovsky's plays, Russian dacha, long evenings, filled with heartfelt conversations, tea at a cozy veranda, the beauty and tenderness of this world. If you ever wondered about the legendary enigma of the mystifying Russian soul, think tenderness. The core of the Russian soul is a gentle, compassionate heart which to me, means the ability to see the exact same qualities in the hearts of others, as if they were forever innocent and child-like.

All three pieces that shine in this outfit are relatively new. The dress is available on Kiyonna site in ivory and black (sadly, it is sold out in this beautiful rose hue). The hand crocheted cardigan is by Torrid Insider's Collection. The pumps are by Ivanka Trump. I bought this brand for the first time. They are quite comfortable for such a high heel, though I had to size up to make up for my wide feet. For accessories, I picked my old beloved hand-painted enamel (finift) filigree earrings from Russia and an OPI nail polish, the color called Italian Love Affair. It's soft, but a little brighter than it appears on the photos. A rhododendron spilling its blossoms by our cottage served as a beautiful backdrop for my ensemble.

Anton Chekhov (1897)

Valentina Ponomaryova. "Романс о романсе"

Alexander Gerasimov. After Rain (1935)

Dress - Kiyonna

Crochet cardigan - Torrid

Pumps - Ivanka Trump via DSW

Earrings, purse - old

Linking up with Top of the World Style

Throw Back Thursday

Tina's Pink Friday

Visible Monday

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