Sunday, July 27, 2014

Bluegrass Rediscovered


I am all about ease and comfort these days - and my style reflects it. Justin and I went to various cultural events in the past week or so - we watched Evita, a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber performed by Ovation, a local musical theater, and Twelfe Night, or What You Will in the beautiful Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island which we enjoyed a lot, though I will admit it is difficult for me to understand the language of Shakespeare. That was all in one short weekend, and I dressed up for both occasions, though we forgot our camera, and I don't have photos to share. This weekend, we attended another fun event in a park - Bluegrass Festival held 8th year on Bainbridge where I discovered that I loved bluegrass music all along, not even knowing what exactly it was.



My outfit originally contained more layers - I had a long underskirt with lace (actually it was my white skirt from this post) and a green camisole underneath this airy folk style blouse. I also had other shoes with me. I loved my layered boho style outfit so much, and was really looking forward to a shoot on location. But it got too hot too quickly for this fair skin bluegrass music lover. Lots of sunscreen, lots of water and icy cold smoothies, lots of umbrella hiding from the heat of the sun, and all the underneath layers just had to be removed. The outfit photos were taken after we had already left the festival, in a shady area of the park. I couldn't bear the thought of adding back more layers for the photos - sometimes, there are ideas of styling, and there is living. :)



I am finding myself very much into tiered skirts now and wear them a lot this month, admiring their easy femininity. This one is a thrift find from Goodwill - the brand is First Option, the label says "made in USA", I believe it's from the 1990s. I adore its sophisticated print and subtle colors! Why did I avoid wearing skirts like this one when I was younger? I suspect I did not like the country feel of them, little miss fancy pants. Now I enjoy them to the full - in country or city:

Photos taken at Des Moines Marina - a fine place for a leisurely stroll, crabbing or a cup of clam chowder. 



Meet the newest member of my clutch family: Meow!

My favorite band happened to play in the very beginning of the music program yesterday. Of course, I did not know yet that they would become my favorite. North Country is their name, very inspired musicians with amazing energy between them. They just released their new CD.




All I knew before yesterday was that I loved some kinds of American country music, and not others. What I did not know was that the kind I liked is a very distinctive sub-genre of American country called Bluegrass. It is cheerful high energy music that originated in Appalachia, with lots of influences from Irish, Scottish, Welsh and English folk music. If you like me don't know terminology well, you'll recognize this type of music with an intricate somewhat Celtic feel to it, played on such instruments as fiddle, dobro, guitar and banjo. Just yesterday I realized that it is the very music of my childhood, oddly enough, performed by the Russian Bluegrass band Kukuruza (means "corn" in Russian) which my brother and I used to like as kids. If you're interested, here is a very popular Russian folk song (I adore it!) performed by Kukuruza in Nashville back in 1990s. Isn't it great!?


Photos from Battle Point Park, Bainbridge Island

Justin, a.k.a. The Real Adventure Man, who knew the difference between bluegrass music and other kinds of country music all along, and probably told me about it only about two bazillions times, before we decided to get tickets to the festival where I learned this difference from the experience.

And that is all about my little adventures in Bluegrass. What about you guys? Do you like tiered skirts and folk music? Any new cultural or sartorial discoveries or, as in my case, rediscoveries this Summer?

Skirt - thrifted (Goodwill)
Lacy blouse, denim vest & jacket - Chico's
Animal print sandals - Crocs
Other sandals - ages ago via TJ MAXX
Cat clutch - tapestry pouch by Laurel Burch via TJ MAXX (only $4.50 for such cuteness!)
Jewelry - Russian birch bark (the ring was carved by my brother Andrei)

Linking up with Visible Monday!

31 comments:

  1. Oh I love this peasant skirt and the ways you've styled it, Natalia. Thanks for sharing with Visible Monday, xo.

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  2. Enjoyed your post!! And the outfit and skirt is so much fun!

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  3. The peasant skirt is so much fun to wear. I remember I made one for myself when I was 15 :).
    You look great btw, I like your smile. You exude happiness.
    New discoveries: I watched the movie "The Master" with Seymour Hoffman. He is great in it, no question.
    Also, I enjoy working in a consignment store. So entertaining :)
    Thank you for your post. I enjoyed reading it.

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    1. Thank you, Oksana! You've made my day with your sweet words! :)

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  4. Sounds like you have been having a great time out and about. The skirt is fab and perfect for hot weather, sometimes the hot weather dictates fewer layers and you just have to go with it. The clutch bag is very cute and how lovely to have a ring your brother carved. xx

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    1. I am slooooowly learning - no layers, Natasha, no layers! :))))

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  5. I have a couple of tiered skirts. One is camouflage that I got for $2.50. It was my first and only came purchase. I also have a black one. I like the ease of them too. The dockside community where you are strolling looks heavenly. And I love the yellow polish.

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  6. Even without those additional layers I like this look so very much. I have a couple of this type of skirts myself. Find them very feminine and comfy. Your new clutch - ohh, what a beauty! Just my kind of thing!

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    1. You love cats - I can see why you loved the clutch, Olga! :)

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  7. I remember wearing tiered skirts (gypsy skirts, we called them then) back in the 1970s when I was a teenager. Some had extra layers of petticoat underneath, and some just had a lace panel at the hem, to look like another layer! And then the 90s did them again with the whole boho look. I do think they're pretty, great for hot weather, and the print of yours is beautiful.
    It sounds as though you have been busy enjoying all sorts of cultural experiences, Natalia. I like a bit of bluegrass, and hearing any music played live is fabulous. I find the connectedness of different countries' folk and traditional music fascinating, they sound so similar. Miles apart, yet so alike - it's wonderful! xxx

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    1. Fusion can be really fun, and yes, I am always amazed with the similarities too!

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  8. it sounds like a very cultural weekend!
    you and your T.R.A.M. look happy about so much nice music and open air festival feeling!
    i like all handmade music, be it folk, country, brass, jazz or classic. but if to much electricity/electronic is involved then i lose interest and it starts to annoy me. so despite i´m not a hardcore bluegrass fan i would have a great time there....
    great that you find a kind of skirt in which you feel comfy and chic in the hot weather! i wore this skirts in the late 90´s hippy revival, deep on the hips with a sari top and bare midriff, lots of indian jewels and bells around my ankles. oh my.
    now my to go skirts are the dirndl skirts (you guess already) - light with peasant blouse and sandals or dressed up with heels and a little jacket/tailleur.
    hugs&kisses

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    1. Oh I would love to see your hippy/boho look, Beate!

      I am not a huge fan of any particular kind of music, actually. But I am very curious and I truly appreciate drive, inspiration. When I hear it, I can fall in love with the type of music, the piece or with the musician (oy!).

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  9. I love how we really take advantage of our summers in the Pacific NW and get out, you are a true testament of that. Do you know I tried to plan a last minute get away in WA for next weekend and could not find anything available up there where I could bring my dog? I promise to get up there and when I do I can't wait to meet you!

    Have you ever seen the movie Down From The Mountain? Oh if not you have too, all the big names in blue grass real mountain music. I do love it because I was first introduced to it by a client of mine in TN. That music ran through his veins and to hear him talk about about it was enticing. I love the honesty of the music and how it really was a family thing.

    I think you can totally rock these skirts. I have one and it's bright pink and I have only wore it once, I think it's a weird length for me. I have been loving anything cotton and short these days, rompers too, when else would I ever wear them living here.

    Have a wonderful week honey! Hugs to your sweet family!
    Xxxxxxoooooooo

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    1. I did not know that of course! There were doggies at the festival - looking for shade, poor critters! I'd love to meet with you, just let me know - I can find some fun events for you perhaps? I'm pretty good at it. :)

      I haven't seen the movie. Is it happy? Then I'm up to it. :)

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  10. I love your outfit! I would definitely raid your closet and borrow that one! As you know I love layers, but like you there is some heat in which I just cannot tolerate them. Now, onto the music. I am listening to the Russian Bluegrass at this moment and quite enjoying it. Celtic music is very popular in Canada so I enjoy that too but have always felt I disliked bluegrass. Like most things, it's quite difficult to state that I like anything of a certain category as I'm bound to love some and dislike others. I prefer a balalaika to a banjo any day, and usually dislike the music I know as Bluegrass. I did like A Man of Constant Sorrow from the movie O' Brother Where Art Thou? a movie I also thoroughly loved. http://youtu.be/08e9k-c91E8
    It sounds like you have been doing some really fun things. I would love to have access to professional theatre and especially Shakespeare! I'm just going to come and live with you next summer. ;-)
    Love and Hugses!
    xoxo

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  11. Now that looks like a fun festival. Bluegrass is popular with a lot of the older rockabilly generation here. I like the Russian version.
    I don't mind a bit of folk music, the Green Man festival we sometimes go to in Wales is folksy with psychedelic undertones. Here the (male) fans tend to favour tweed and flat caps, which is quite a good look.
    Your tiered skirt is gorgeous, I adore the cat bag and even Jon's walked past and remarked on your lovely yellow nails. xxx

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  12. Hello Natalia!
    Summer isn't great! lots of festivals here as well and I'm able to enjoy them now
    Your festival looks like great fun - Love your skirt and styling perfect to enjoy summer and all that great music

    Hugs

    Ariane

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  13. I love Bainbridge Island! My sister talked me in to riding my bike around the entire thing with her back in the early 90s. She is an exercise addict, me not at all. I was neck and neck with the last guy in the group and that trip is when I discovered dehydration and nausea. She laughed at me until she fell on the railroad tracks on the way back home!

    I have to say that I've never been a folk or country music enthisiast but I love all outdoor music events. I'm happy that the bohemian look over the decades has always been my favorite summer style. It looks great on you too!

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  14. This is a gorgeous skirt on you and I also love that embroidered white blouse. It seems like you had so much fun and enjoyed so many different cultural experiences. I love theater and I'm so glad that you got to see that. It's always good to discover new kinds of music. Have a wonderful week.
    XX, Elle
    http://mydailycostume.com

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  15. Sounds like you have had a great time , looking just the part in your boho tiered skirt. Bainbridge Island looks like a wonderful place to visit. Enjoy all that summer has to offer.

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  16. Natalia I love your skirt a lot. It is beautiful and looks fantastic on you. You sure have been having a great time. xoxo

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  17. Great post and lovely skirt! Love how you've shown its versatility with your many looks!

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  18. Oh heat! petticoats and layers aren't always compatible in it, I do miss wearing mine, but I prefer not to overheat! you look divine in your outfits, both stylings of your boho style skirt are gorgeous and the marina! wow! it's stunning, so perfect for a walk - the bluegrass music is excellent, what a great day, it is such feel good music and so good to listen to on a beautiful day like that - we have a music festival coming up and I'm hopeful I can convince my lot to go *fingers crossed* x x x

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    1. That's it! A Summer style secret has been revealed! No layers - that's the whole secret. :)))

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  19. Wonderful outfit! And I can imagine how fantastic it was to see all the plays and performances! x

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  20. So pretty... this look so suits your romantic nature! I'm just guessing that, but I'll bet you do have a Romantic side ... the kind that identifies with the arts and culture of that painting and literary period? Anyway, you look lovely. Can't go wrong with a white blouse!

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    1. Hmmm, romantic side! I sure have one big time, Jan! You read me like an open book! :) I can't say that I relate to that period of literature or art though, not really. Romantics were fatalists, and I am definitely not.

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  21. This style of skirt is so in again right now. I love it on you and I especially love that clutch.

    We did go to an interesting art exhibit last week called Sanatorium. It was interactive with "therapists" on hand. I was able to create my own museum of hypothetical lifetimes using small objects and placing them onto a board to reflect my life. It was really fun and insightful. I need to write a post about it. I'm off to Amsterdam in a few days though so I'm pressed for time.

    bisous
    Suzanne

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