Sunday, September 9, 2018

Better Late Than Never


Would you believe that after all these years writing about style, this is literally the first time that I am actually aware of the Fashion Week happening in New York as we speak? I can't explain it other than being preoccupied with other things in life, but honestly, high fashion just didn't interest me (though I watched a few shows in retrospect, and I even have favorites). Anyway, that was until just now - I can feel a change coming. In previous years, I haven't watched any new shows nor read fashion reports, but I am going to do it as soon as I finish writing this post. The realization, or better yet, an almost palpable feeling suddenly dawned on me, that with all the people excited about style and fashion, it must be a pretty amazing event, with all the energy building up around the world of expressing ourselves with clothes... I feel like I want to be a part of this energy, so I am going to dive in, start educating myself and getting some inspiration too. Better late than never.

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Meanwhile, I put together an outfit that might not be everyone's cup of tea and might not get a green light from some seasoned fashion gurus, but I am a student of style and a child at heart who wants to play and explore, without worrying about making faux pas. If it is a fax pas, so be it. My goal with this outfit was not being perceived as trendy or knowledgeable (I'm neither! I'm purely intuitive when it comes to style!), but rather being perceived as relevant - as in self-expressive and aware of fashion as a form of art. 


You might have seen this floral dress in Spring (along with some classical Spring poetry) HERE, and I wore this thrifted embroidered denim jacket too many times to mention (last time, in APRIL 2018). I wanted to add a touch of Fall to my outfit, so I added a sturdy leather bag (one of only two purchases I made during the biggest sale of the year at Nordstrom, but we can talk about that some other time). And finally, I wanted to add a bit of edginess to the otherwise very lady-like outfit. I chose these chunky sandals paired with sparkly socks. From my perspective, it just had to amount to a bit of magic.


This outfit was good for a day full of family adventures. First, we went to an antique mall - and that was Anya's request! She is inspired to redecorate her room, and since my home is a bit like a junk shop itself, she was able to find quite a few treasures, without the need to spend any pennies on them, so finally my hoarding habits started paying off, haha! She didn't find anything that she would love to add to her room at the mall at this time, but it didn't stop Justin and me from adding a beautiful watercolor painting of Tacoma's Union Station to our art collection, and a little hand-carved wooden box made somewhere in the former USSR (I can't always identify correctly - there are too many styles in my home country).



Then we headed off to Nordstrom to get something for my growing girl which made her extra happy, but I won't reveal all of her secrets. And after having a tasty lunch in our favorite Thai place, we watched a musical play by the wonderful local theater Hi-Liners, where all the actors are children and youth. I wasn't familiar with the piece - Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods, all I knew was that it is considered a modern classic. We enjoyed it a lot! Hi-Liners truly do an amazing job guiding young actors, and their performances are always highly energized and inspired, which makes them some of my favorite ones in our area. We had to leave early, unfortunately, right after the first part which we at first mistakenly took for the end of the play (it's a long one!), but I would definitely watch it again and do recommend you to check out this theater and see if you can still catch this performance - especially if you have children or teenagers.

Anya and I had our own runway show that evening. Don't we look fashion?

The performance took place in Burien, near this charming old school. We have already taken photos here before - read my post from SEPTEMBER 2015 where I talk theater, and also discuss the issues of demolishing old buildings (and my outfit isn't bad either, if I may say so myself).



We found this painted rock in the school yard. Funny that I was considering wearing a rainbow skirt that day... I love rainbows as an amazing nature phenomena, as a meaningful personal sign (do you believe in signs?), and as a beautiful fashion statement, considered trendy these days. When I wear my rainbow pieces, I am pretty sure some people far from fashion trends take it as a social statement. I don't mind, really. It's all okay with me. A rainbow is a rainbow, and love indeed is love.


Photos by Justin

Love, peace and fashion!
Natalia

Linking with Patti's Visible Monday and

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20 comments:

  1. You and Anya both look so cute! I've always loved rainbows and totally agree---love is love <3

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  2. as a boiled in the wool fashion expert (haha!) i APPLAUD to that outfit!! standing ovations!
    :-D
    your *day full of family adventures* sounds wonderful - and does look anya grown up! wow. and yes - love is love - in every "color".
    tons of hugs and a big rainbow for you! xxxxxxx

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    1. Thank you, my dear Beate! I am sooo delighted and humbled! And I adore your expressions - "a boiled in wool expert"! :) Lots of love!

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  3. I am very interested in Fashion and trends. It makes me always smile to look Fashion Shows (online)
    I like your mother daughter pic so much! You both look amazing and you style the sock trend perfect Natalia :)
    Much love, Tina

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    1. I am pleased to hear it, Tina - from the fashion fan as yourself!! <3

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  4. I'm not really into fashion and trends, and I often have no idea about the current trends. I like what I like and if it's in fashion, that's purely by coincidence. I am more influenced and inspired by the blogs I'm reading. And that includes yours! I love your sense of style. Not many people have a natural sense of style, and you're one of the lucky ones who has it in abundance! Total love for your outfit, including the glittery socks! Love the mother and daughter photo, you're both looking fabulous. Lots of love xxx

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    1. It is such a wonderful compliment, thank you so much, dear Ann! I am very much like you - I don't follow fashion trends, but since I enjoy looking at other women's blogs, I become aware of trends. I think trends are simply opportunities to think about old ideas in a new way. That's their whole purpose (aside from sales, of course). We don't have to follow anything, but we can use anything as opportunities to create something fresh. Lots of love!

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  5. I love that you play around with clothes and have so much fun doing it. I love your outfit (and Anya's) and the graffiti backdrop is utterly wonderful.
    I've never had any interest in fashion but I love street style - I'm an avid people watcher and love seeing what the cool kids are wearing years before the labels pick it up and water it down.
    I won tickets to London Fashion Week years ago and must admit it didn't excite me at all. xxx

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    1. Thank you, dear Vix! Like you, I appreciate creativity and art - and they come in many different forms and sources, one of which is fashion. Undeniably, some of the fashion designers are true artists - that's what I'm talking about here. I don't enjoy crowds, so I have no interest in going to a fashion show, but I enjoy exploring and educating myself. Lots of love, my dear!

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  6. Sounds like a full day of family fun. I do really like the photo of the fashion girls together. I do rather like your outfit and those sparkly socks.
    I quite like to take an online peek at the various fashion week shows around the world, as much for the theatre of it all than for the clothes themselves. Enjoy.xxx

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    1. Thank you, dear Jill! Yes, I agree, peeking into the fashion world is very interesting (or, it is becoming interesting to me). Lots of love!

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  7. What a great day you had, mother and daughter. Your girl looks pretty fine and seems to be as creative as her mom.
    Your dress is a hit! I nearly never follow Fashion Week news, cause I like most of my style and could never (and would not like to) wear most parts of the presented onces. But indiviual ideas are the best - always. Have a great time!Hugs, Sunni

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    1. Thank you, Sunni! My daughter is super creative - far more than me, really, but she is still a teen and is emerging into herself (come to think of it, so am I - not a teen, but emerging :)... Fashion shows have tons of individualistic ideas which we can use as inspirations, without having to purchase anything. But of course, to each their own. Each of us is more advanced than majority in certain fields that interest us, and it's all OK, that's exactly how the world works - bakers bake, fashion designers create fashion. <3

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  8. As you can imagine, this outfit is very much my cup of tea. That embroidered denim coat is to die for and the perfect compliment to your beautiful dress.
    New York fashion week is overrated..The crowds are intense and the weather is often terrible as is the case this year.
    That said watching emerging designers is quite satisfying. I am well aware of the fashions of establish designers, and I am inspired by them. However, it is thrilling to witness the talent and the humble quality of emerging designers.
    ❤️❤️❤️
    Elle
    https://theellediaries.com/

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    1. Thank you, Elle! It's an interesting topic, so many different opinions around a fashion week. :) I guess I meant to say that it occurred to me (I almost physically felt it) that what happens during a fashion week (no matter in NY, London or anywhere else) or any fashion event - MANY people who are crazy about this particular slice of life come together to celebrate it. Good ideas, bad ideas, old ideas, new ideas, experienced designers and "freshmen" of fashion, rookies and profies... ALL of them bring their own energy into the mix, and it is exciting and amazing. On the top of which, there are many new things happening, such as plus size fashion industry coming to rise, women learning to love and accept themselves, the society is learning to look at the whole picture, and like you said - new designers introducing themselves to the world. All this buzz! For the first time, I personally found it fascinating!

      Lots of love!

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  9. Yes - better late than never! I have still never been to a fashion show, but it has looked like so much fun. Love your sparkly socks! xx Maria

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  10. Both of you look lovely in your outfits. I like to follow fashion weeks, but this week I haven't had any time to do it.

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