Modish Matrons #18: The Most Wonderful Time

On the first day of every month, despite the fact that we live across the pond from each other and there are 9 hours time difference between us, despite the fact that we don't speak each other's languages, and English is not our native tongue, my lovely friends TINA und BEATE and myself invite kindred spirits to come over for a playdate which became our good tradition in the past 18 months. A year and a half of our thematic link-up parties! (If you count the first 6 months when we appeared under the name MIDLIFE FUN. You can find all of our past parties under the tag MODISH MATRONS.) If you ask me, it is another good reason to celebrate during this festive season, which is the theme of our December link-up. Please add your festive outfits and visit my gorgeous friends who always delight me with their imaginative approach!

I love to dress up, and I have to admit it was a no-brainer for me to come up with an outfit for the theme Tina offered (we rotate every month). What was really challenging, to pick only one outfit! My mind was racing with ideas like a colorful illuminated merry-go-round...But when an opportunity to dress for an English pantomime presented itself, I knew that that was destined to become my link-up outfit. It can become a star of any holiday party or other festivities during this Most Wonderful Time!

You've seen all of the "ingredients" of my festive dish before, but for the first time they came together in this combination. The happy polka dots tutu skirt (previously shown in MARCH 2017) made such a great pair with my old thrifted velvet jacket with a gorgeous collar and sleeves (shown in NOVEMBER 2016, one of my personal favorites, just so you know). The bronze Mary Janes are some of my most comfy shoes, purchased back in 2013. You've seen this vintage purse in another Modish Matrons theme ART DECO just recently. There are letters inside "HL U.S.A.", and a quick Google search shows a few similar purses and articles, apparently it's Harry Levine handbags, and from THIS ARTICLE I understand they were being made from 1940s through 1960s. You've even seen already the latest addition to my costume jewelry collection, the faux pearl necklace (my dream necklace!) in my recent Thanksgiving post HERE. I am happy with the way it made friends with my Isabel Toledo domino bracelet and vintage clip-on earrings. I am happy to report all these details, because I can finally see the fruit of my style journey for the past 4 years - my wardrobe brings me joy! I now do have a wardrobe that mixes and matches beautifully, and I can dress for any occasion and for the many different moods and artistic ideas that I have!

And back to English panto which is a tradition at Centerstage, a wonderful little theater in the city of Federal Way, for the past 10 years, thanks to its previous artistic and managing director Alan Bryce, writer, director, actor, an Englishman who just recently retired from his 15 years of serving the community (read more HERE). Rare here in America, English Christmas pantomime is something familiar to all Brits. A lady who was volunteering in the theater and kindly asked me whether I was 21 years of age before she served me a glass of red, said she was originally from Dublin, Ireland, and her Dad used to bring them as kids to a panto every year. She was amazed to find out that it became a tradition here. That's exactly how new traditions establish themselves - someone has to start them first, and if they resonate with enough people, there will be more, and more, and more precedents in some time. And before you know it, a Christmas panto becomes a beloved American tradition too!

Our own annual tradition - Thanksgiving family photos!

By the Knutzen Family Theater (home of Centerstage) in Federal Way, WA

English pantomime is not exactly the pantomime we think about (read more HERE). It is filled with songs and dances, and there is something for everyone - a familiar fairy tale for kids, told in a new way, and humor referring to the modern society, pop culture and political life. There is a lot of audience participation and even more laughter - you will leave the theater uplifted and ready to take on this busy festive season, guaranteed! This year, Centerstage Theatre presents Beauty and the Beast, from November 25 through December 21. I wrote more about our previous experience in DECEMBER 2014 when my parents visited.

I was honored to receive advice from this charming lady (played by Alan Bryce himself!) who invited me to give her a call, so she could teach me, cause my make-up was (in her own words) too understated! 

"What!? Oh no, it isn't!!" - "Oh yes, it is!!"

I am wishing you The Most Wonderful Time, dear friends and readers! And even if you don't go to church or don't approve of the commercial side of the holiday, do not fret at celebrations - instead, share them! If you don't participate in the common celebrations, make your own and simply share your happy spirit with others. We all are different, we come from different backgrounds and our life stories vary a lot. But our differences seem significant only on the surface. Look deeper than the eye can see, look beyond the surface where the similarities between us are magnificent and infinitely more meaningful! No matter who we are and where we come from, we all like to be treated kindly and live under peaceful skies. We all have disappointments and we all have dreams. We all love someone and we all need love - people, animals, plants, planet and the whole universe. Instead of hostility and agonizing about our differences in opinions or preferences, let us stop for a moment and feel just how precious life is, and how we all are here together, floating in the same boat. Let us bring out of ourselves the best that each of us can offer - let us bring our love and light into the world. 

I have no doubt that you find all sorts of wonderful festive activities right where you are, be it a traditional Christmas market in Europe or it's equivalent holiday bazaar here in America. Handel's Messiah, Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker or English panto, a jazz or rock concert...there is something for everyone, that's what is so fascinating about life! What? Oh no, it isn't? Oh yes, it is!! Make this season what you like, be joyful and stay close with your loved ones! 

Happy Holidays!!!

Lots of love,

Natalia

All items are remixed from my wonderful writer's closet, 

some are vintage and secondhand.

Linking with Patti's Visible Monday!

* * *

An InLinkz Link-up