Spirit of a Place

I had lots of fun creating and wearing this outfit. For a brief weak-kneed moment, I wanted to change into a different coat, but decided to go a little out of my comfort zone and over the top with this furry thing (previously shown HERE), playfully marrying Winter with Spring in my attire. 

When I was interviewed by Sylvia of 40 Plus Style a couple of years ago (HERE), one of the questions I answered was whether I think the place I live in influences my style. I thought about it ever since, and here is how I would answer it today. I do believe that places have their own unmistakable spirit. I also came to a realization that as spiritual beings, we are longing to find a place on earth that is in harmony with who we are. I think it is the main reason I moved so many times and  changed many places, until 10 years ago I finally found my Home. I don't really think of myself as a citizen of a certain town or a certain country, but I know my soul is in harmony with this whole area, called the Pacific Northwest, with its unique geography, history and nature. But above all, with its unique spirit.  

  

To me, the spirit of this place is very open-minded, yet also grounded. Accepting and curious. Free-spirited and warmhearted. Gentle and genuine. Friendly and unpretentious. A perfect place for dreamers, explorers, artists and inventors. And as far as cities go, both Seattle and Tacoma have their own strong quirky vibe, and I can think of only a few cities in the world that share it. I really think that if I had stayed in one of the places I've lived before, not only my life, but my style would be very different. I would most probably stay within an elegant, rather conservative "norm" that society forces on educated and all-in-all respectable middle-aged women. I think I broke out of that forceful perception of a norm. Society can place me in a middle-aged box all it wants, but I am the only one who can define who I am within. And my style develops from within, not from the outside "norms". My style is reborn here, the same way I am being reborn (spiritually) here, by the sea.    

The location for this shoot is new to me. I passed it so many times when driving in Seattle, but haven't had a chance to stop by until that day in late February. It's the Lake Union Park and MOHAI - Museum of History and Industry in the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle. As stated on the museum's website, "MOHAI tells Seattle’s story through exhibitions and interactives. True Northwest: The Seattle Journey examines the trials and successes of Seattle’s colorful, sometimes bumpy trek from wilderness to world city. The Bezos Center for Innovation investigates Seattle’s role as a nexus of big ideas and new directions." 

Justin and I got fascinated with this clock that looked genuinely antique to us, and yes, indeed it happens to be a historic 15 feet tall clock that was built by Joseph Mayer in 1913. It was first installed in front of Carroll's Jewelers at Fourth Avenue and Pike Street in Seattle in 1915. Many decades later, the clock was donated to MOHAI and installed by the museum in 2008. Apparently, "the mechanical clock required winding once a week until the innards were stolen over Christmas 2009". What a lame thing to do! Nevertheless, the clock looks marvelous and adds to the sense of historical continuation of our city. I was rather pleased to realize that all of its colors were reflected in my outfit - green, white, black and a little bit of gold (see the trim on my bracelet). 

Another fun feature of this park is seeing seaplanes taking off and landing, and if it is within your budget, you can even get on board for an unforgettable scenic flight!

Location: Lake Union Park & MOHAI in Seattle

Photos by Justin

Tutu skirt, blouse and faux fur coat - Lane Bryant (different years)

Booties - Aquatalia via Nordstrom Rack (old)

Purple tights - who knows (old)

Earrings - Chico's (old)

Bracelet - c/o Chaos NY (old)

Sunnies - Christian Siriano for Lane Bryant 

Purse - Michael Kors via TJ MAXX

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