Under the Roses

Greetings from Tacoma, Washington,

from the most beautiful old historic park in the city, Point Defiance! 

I've reported from this park before, telling you little bits of its history and showing the gorgeous seasonal blooms, such as camellia, sakura and many rhododendron species (MARCH 2018 and MAY 2018). But for the first time this year, Justin and I visited the Rose Garden which is definitely the most spectacular rose garden we've ever been to. So with the help of a time machine (a.k.a. Internet), I invite you to take a stroll among the roses of all forms, shapes and colors which blossom in Tacoma in early June. I hope this virtual stroll will lift up your spirit - we all need a moment to stop and smell the roses... if only I could transfer the amazing, delicate rose scent through the screen... 

I have some wonderful news to share, but first I have to let it stir for a while, so I can write more when I'm ready. And for now, truly, I have nothing else to add to Justin's inspired photography, other than just a couple of words about my outfit at the end of the post. 

ENJOY! 

Life, Style and All that I Love

Have you noticed? I changed my blog's header. There used to be a vintage picture of a lady typing on a typewriter, with the subtitle of the blog "Writing, Style and Other Treasures" (I just knew even then that I wouldn't be able to stick to only one topic). I loved blogging under that cute and quite minimalistic header, but after almost 6 years of blogging the time came, when it felt right to change. 

Modish Matrons #37: On the Beach & By the Pool

I wasn't born by the sea - I was born and raised in the very center of the largest country in the world, rather as far from any seas as could be. But even living in the middle of Eurasia, the largest continent, I was always dreaming of the sea. My first years in America were also rather closer to the middle of the continent than to any of the coasts, but no matter where I lived, I enjoyed spending time on a lake shore, riverbank or at the pool, at any season really, but especially in Summer.

Modish Matrons #36: Garden Party at Beate's

Oh how time flies. I've just barely come back from my TRIP TO PARIS, and I am now leaving again! This time, I meet my beautiful friends TINA und BEATE at the garden party of the year which Beate hosts in her cozy and luscious garden. 

Modish Matrons #35: Trip to Paris

Welcome to May Modish Matrons!

TINA invited BEATE and me to take a trip to Paris this time. I have never been to Paris, and in the light of recent events, all I could think of was the fire that destroyed Notre-Dame de Paris. You see, we come up with our themes in advance - we got them all lined-up back in December (if not November) 2018, and no one of course could predict that Paris would be on our minds so much this time of year... I must admit that it is a bit difficult for me to abstract my mind from the fire which happened just a couple of weeks ago, but it is comforting to know that at least the structure was not damaged, and with time, generous financial investments, creativity, dedication and labor efforts, the beautiful and legendary cathedral will be rebuilt. And then all of us who have not had a chance to visit the old original Notre-Dame de Paris, will be able to visit its new incarnation.

Outfits and Buildings Telling Stories

It takes time to build a unique collection, and that goes for creating a unique wardrobe as well. Some of you might remember the story of this tapestry coat (OCTOBER 2017), how doubtful I was, keeping the coat in my shopping cart while browsing Goodwill, then leaving it behind, driving back home only to return to the store to rescue this jacket the very next day. I don't know whether it is vintage or not (the label doesn't suggest vintage), but it is well made and I have no regrets purchasing it, even though I did not really need another jacket. But that's the beauty of being a collector - you certainly don't need to add to your collection, but if a new find brings you joy, then that's the right thing to do! And so this jacket joined my general collection of jackets and coats, and is now also a part of my particular collection of tapestry jackets and coats (see my other tapestry coats in APRIL 2017 and MARCH 2019). Unlike many modern pieces which only imitate tapestry (while being prints), all of these pieces are actually made of woven fabric.

Dahlia Display

Despite my honest intention to continue wearing my Summer wardrobe, Fall arrived early and settled in the mid 60s F, with clouds, rain, and even a bit of thunder. Whether it came here to stay, remains to be seen. So at least for the moment, off with cotton and linen pieces - and on with polyester dresses and cozy sweaters we go! Last Sunday, the weather was especially tricky - cats and dogs one minute (gullywasher, as Justin said), and sunshine the next one. I dressed to take a walk in a mall, since the changeable skies couldn't decide what to send onto Seattle, but while we were driving, it started looking so promising that I remembered one garden I used to love and haven't visited in several years, so we changed gears and instead of the mall, went to the garden.

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.

Our First Festival: Flavor of Federal Way

Hello my dear friends and readers,

First I want to THANK YOU for all the love and support you gave me here on the blog as well as on my social media, and via personal messages! I deeply appreciate your kind words and wishes - I read them all! I am eager to tell you everything about my experience of Flavor of Federal Way, the Multicultural Festival that we were honored and excited to be a part of.

Summer Patchwork and Back to Who We Are

Just as quilt makers collect various scraps and fabric pieces which may or may not end up being a part of a quilt, as a style blogger I am also left with a variety of "scraps" - pictures of my outfits which were sometimes created purposefully and thoughtfully, with an intention to become a "quilt" - a post about a particular ensemble; while other times happened almost unintentionally, randomly, on the way to an event (or sometimes at the event), with very limited time and/or lighting for a decent photo shoot. I collect such picture "scraps", Justin's photographs of my outfits (my form of art) and from time to time combine them to create a post-quilt with all those lovely scraps... And so I've done with this post, showcasing 5 outfits which will tell you a few more stories of my Summer. Many pictures and words!

Long After

May has proven to be a surprising month on more than a few occasions, and it brought surprises this year as well - involving unexpected trips, new cities and airplanes. But before I leave for my unexpected trip, I thought I'd stop by to say hello and share photographs we took in Tacoma's Point Defiance Park in early May. May is also the prettiest month with the abundance of blooms in magnificent Northwest gardens. I hope you enjoy the season, wherever you are! Have a fantastic week, and I'll be back soon with news stories, pictures and comments!

Live and Let Live

"You astonish me in that you can look both stunningly dramatic and also cute and adorable, two looks that don't seem possible in one person." These words my talented blogger friend SHAWNA said about me in a comment to my post, and I cherish them, because they resonate with me deeply, and I've never heard anything quite like this description, either about myself or anyone else, really. Although I remember both comments being said to me independently from one another by other people who knew me in the past years. I thought about it today and realized that blogging is what bonded these two sides of me visually - the warm, genuine and personable part of me with the bold and dramatic part. It helped me to dress that bold part more consistently than ever before. And so thanks to my style and blog journey, my whole personality started shining through.

Portland: Lan Su Chinese Garden

"It’s 16th century China, and you’re standing in the entry courtyard of the private home and garden of a wealthy family. The garden around you is their spiritual utopia, a peaceful and soothing place designed to help them escape the problems of everyday life and discover their true selves by connecting with nature." This description you'll find at the website of the Lan Su Garden in Portland, Oregon. And a very similar description you'll hear when you take a guided tour (free with your tickets to the garden). I've only visited this magical place twice, once in the middle of Winter when the persimmon tree was covered with bright "lanterns" - its fruit. And another time just two weeks ago, in early Spring, when magnolia, camellia and many other trees and bushes, the names of which I don't even know, offered their splendid blooms.

Spring Again

Spring! And Earth is like a child

who has learned many poems by heart.

For the trouble of that long learning

she wins the prize.

Her teacher was strict. We loved the white

of the old man's beard. Now we can ask her

the many names of green, of blue,

and she knows them, she knows them!

Earth, school is out now. You're free

to play with the children. We'll catch you,

joyous Earth. The happiest will catch you!

All that the teacher taught her—the many thoughts

pressed now into roots and long

tough stems: she sings! She sings!

Rainer Maria Rilke (translated by Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy)

Winter Woollies and Movies

Another rainy week in Seattle (Tacoma too), and another woolly, cozy, but still feminine outfit, that I wore on one of these drizzly days. On the bright side, Patti of Not Dead Yet Style has picked one of my recent outfits among others in her post FIVE FAB INSTAGRAMS OF THE WEEK, IN LEOPARD, RED AND BLACK - I feel so honored! 

Phantom Thread: Movie and Life

I usually try to mix things up in my blog and show you outfits that differ from each other, partly because it's visually more interesting to you, as readers, but also because it's just a natural way of things here in the real writer's closet - I enjoy variety and wear very different styles. So it feels a little awkward to show you the same jacket twice in a row, but I voted for it, and my thoughts were A) this outfit is different enough from the previous one (only the outer jacket is on repeat, everything else isn't), and B) I happened to be at the inner place right now when I enjoy repeating outfits, and I also want to blog, so bear with me.

Inspired by Vintage

If you remember the recent NOVEMBER 2017 post, you might think that this plaid skirt looks somewhat familiar, and you won't be wrong. I have been wearing my old skirt for 3 years and find it very versatile and perfect for the cold season, which led me to an idea to look for another skirt in similar lines, but perhaps in different colors. While the colors of this skirt are rather similar, I do not mind it at all - I love green and rust. The design of this skirt made it irresistible for me, but it will be revealed a bit later.

Teal with Olive Accents

Now when the weather is back to mild (low to mid 50s F), and it is gray, wet and windy, I am playing dress up more. I came to love these kind of temperatures, from 50s to 60s, it is best for layering - not too cold, so you don't wear so many layers that you feel bulky, and yet you can add something interesting to a dress or a skirt, an extra layer for warmth, texture and color. Plus, it is a good temperature to wear all my polyester dresses (which I don't have so many that I can call myself Polyester Princess, wink wink), but still I like polyester for easy care, keeping good shape and bright colors even after many trips to a washer and dryer. So maybe I could be Polyester Duchess or something like that.

A Wardrobe Formation

Early November surprised us with cold air and even a few snowflakes here and there this year. With temperatures dropping to the mid 40s, it was time to get my cozies out. This outfit is in heavy rotation lately, and I am happy to report that it contains only stuff that I have owned for years, but in a new combination. I've finally arrived at the feeling that my wardrobe is complete. If you read my blog since the beginning, you might remember that I started creating a wardrobe practically from scratch back in 2013, after a prolonged period of very low interest in clothes (let alone accessories, let alone style as a creative process). My body has been changing in the last several years in size and shape, which provided additional challenges. I was learning not only what can look good on my body, but also my tastes, preferences and my comfort zone. I discovered that when it comes to style, I've become much less conservative compared to my younger self, more curious and open to new ideas. I discovered a new born willingness to try new (to me) things and maybe even look ridiculous at times - it does not bother me now. So what if someone won't appreciate my experiments? It's only clothes!

Autumn Textures

Thank you, my dear friends, for your warm, heartfelt comments to my last post! Please know that your sincere words and our friendship mean a lot to me. I will keep it short and sweet today. As Fall progresses, I continue with my explorations of boho/folk style, the Writer's Closet version.