Potpourri

 

A Merriem-Webster dictionary online defines the French word potpourri (literally: "rotten pot", a name for a meat stew popular in 17th century) as "a mixture of flowers, herbs, and spices that is usually kept in a jar and used for scent" or as "a miscellaneous collection". In the last September post, I decided to bring you a potpourri of my outfits, suitable for a transitional season. I wore these ensembles either in Spring of this year or in Fall a couple of years back, and even prepared photos for publication, but for whatever reason changed my mind and did not post them before, with one exception, when I posted and then changed my mind and deleted that post (yes, my mood can be that changeable - women, eh?). In this mix, I threw together a bunch of colors, shapes and styles; some leaves, petals, and even some bark; and a few classical paintings to make my potpourri more interesting and palatable. Have I stirred up your curiosity? No more introductions then - dive into my recipe!

Pot Pourri, 1897 by  Herbert James Draper (1863-1929)

Part One: PETALS

I wore this pansy dress with a long textured sleeveless jacket and bright magenta suede loafers last April. Not sure why I wasn't satisfied with this outfit. Now when I look back at these pictures, I find it rather lovely. (I wore this dress slightly differently HERE.) For a more Autumnal feel, I would change into velvet booties, perhaps olive green or burgundy, how royally they would look!

Magnolia from Point Defiance Park (April 2017)

Part Two: SPICES

Last May, I wore this crazy mix of patterns and textures while living in a castle (if you don't know about My Life in a Castle, read HERE). It was surprisingly warm weekend, so I mostly wore a summer dress or these linen pants with a matching kimono (HERE), but evenings were still quite cool, so I was glad that I brought extra layers with me. I used the rope belt from my linen suit to give myself a little waist definition, and wore black socks with my sandals (smart additional use of summer footwear). My ring and earrings are cinnabar, bought at different times and different places. You can see this tapestry coat (it actually is made of a woven fabric - it isn't a print) in other combinations HERE and HERE, and this poncho sweater HERE.

For Saint Dorothea's Day, 1899 by  Herbert James Draper (1863-1929)

Manresa Castle in Port Townsend, Washington (May 2017)

Part Three: HERBS & BARK

A Young Beauty Holding a Bouquet of Flowers by Fritz Zuber-Buhler (1822-1896)

This one was from October 2015. Rust and green together is one my favorite color combination, and I was longing to create. The dress and hat are from an inexpensive brand Charlotte Russe. My shawl is a Russian platok that my parents bought in Russia and brought while visiting us a couple of years ago, and my booties are very old (10 years or so), from Spanish brand Pikolinos. The earrings are really unique - they are hand-carved from birch bark, traditional Russian folk art example. 

Part Four: LEAVES

What can be more natural than painting women with flowers...

or painting women playing a dress-up, right?

Dressing Up by Fritz Zuber-Buhler (1822-1896)

And the final part of my potpourri - another Spring outfit which, thanks to layering, as well as saturated colors, actually reads as rather Autumnal. See what I've done here? I wear a T-shirt under my sleeveless dress (also shown HERE and HERE) and a cardigan of a similar mustard green color, and I can be as warm as I need. I also had a light scarf and denim jacket that early April day, in case I get cold. The photos were taken on our walk in Point Defiance Park, after which we hopped on a ferry to islands, just spontaneously... that is another reason why I love taking pictures - they really do bring back vivid memories of our days!

With these images of a blooming Spring garden, I leave you to enjoy my colorful and fragrant potpourri. I'm very curious what ingredient was your favorite? Or you, like me, appreciate the mix?

You see, what the Merriem-Webster dictionary does not know yet, is that a person's style can also be defined with the French word potpourri. A miscellaneous collection, a mixture of things, not exactly well thought out or even sorted out, gathered mostly at a whim, and living together in a "jar" - this writer's closet. Perhaps a little strange, uneven, sometimes trendy, other times out of fashion, and certainly unlike any other potpourri out there.

Linking with Visible Monday.

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SUPERSEAL, our new bilingual book, is coming in 2017!

Illustration by Andrei Lialin

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