The Muse: Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nature's first green is gold,
 Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower; 
but only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf. 
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day, nothing gold can stay.
No you probably know that poem for one of two reasons, either you know that it was part of the collection of poems "New Hampshire" that won Robert Frost the 1924 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry (along side other heavy hitters like "Fire and Ice" and "Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening") or you know it because at some point you read S.E. Hinton's novel The Outsiders or more likely saw the Brat Pack film based on it.

This poem was Ponyboy's favorite, and becomes a metaphor for the unhappy plight of the Greasers, in particular the tragic figure of Johnny. Back in April for National Poetry Month we polled the teachers at my school on their favorite poems, and Frost came up again and again, this poem in particular. I discussed this with the head of the English department, saying I was surprised (Frost is not a particular favorite of mine)and he snorted in derision, dismissing this as a clear indicator of where people's taste in poetry is going, because "Frost is for babies, way too simplistic". To a certain degree I'm with him, but then again looking at the poem there is beauty in the simplicity, and yes, quite a bit of truth. You can't live in New England as Frost did, and I always have, without a deep reverence for the seasons and develop a certain cynicism about the fleeting nature of life. I think that there is a certain period of time when seasons, and the life and death that they bring with them coexist and they truly are fleeting. Those few days of spring when there are flowers bursting forth on bare winter branches with snow still on the ground. A tree that is dying and shedding golden and red leaves next to one that is still as green as the middle of summer. Anyway this dress reminded me of that, the transition between the vibrant greens of summer and the golden grasses and leaves of autumn. Its still summer here in New England but last night it went down to 49, and fall can't be too far off, which left me longing for longer sleeves and suede pumps. As for the Frost poem, having worked with students for many years now I have to confess that there is no book that I have ever seen students like as much as The Outsiders. In my district they read it in the 8th grade and have a big party where the kids get to dress up as either a Greaser or a Soc. It transcends gender, age, social groups. Its a timeless story, not too long, and written in a language that is easy for kids to understand. I have talked to kids years after they read it and they still have good things to say about ti, and many reread it. The teachers out there will tell you how rare that is. Perhaps it means that things that are gold actually do stay, in the rarest of cases.

Dress: vintage, no label, thrifted via Better Than New Consignment
Belt: vintage, no label, via Wright Square Antiques Mall
Necklace: J. Marcel
Headband: Anthropologie
Purse: vintage, Wright Square Antiques Mall
Shoes: Manolo Blahnik, thrifted via Wheeler School Clothing Sale

Change of Scenery

So I've been sitting on this news for a while, mainly because all the people who needed to know hadn't been told yet, but I've decided to make a pretty big career change and leave teaching in order to go back to school for fashion design. 

Hopefully you haven't gotten too attached to Rhode Island as a backdrop for my outfit photos because in order to do this, I'm moving to Georgia.

Starting next month I'll be leaving Rhode Island, and my job as a teacher, to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design.

I visited Savannah back in June and thought it was a really wonderful city, and I think I'll be very happy there. As of right now I anticipate having to live there for around two years while I'm attending school. I'll certainly be keeping my blog, just with a slightly different backdrop and I'll be a lot poorer while I do it!

The decision to leave teaching wasn't an easy one. I have been laid off several times, and jobs, at least here in the Northeast are not all that easy to come by. Teaching is never what I intended to do, however when I was in college, substitute teaching was much easier than working in retail or as a waitress. I sort of fell into the profession from there. And I was good at it. But I never really loved what I did, instead it  became my only option as a career. While I loved my students and the satisfaction I got from teaching, it wasn't my passion. I found myself pouring more time and effort into this blog, than into lesson planning and I never wanted to only do my job halfway. I also was afraid that I would wake up 40 years from now and find out I wasted my life doing something I didn't love because it was convenient. So I'm taking the plunge and chasing my passion. I may fall flat on my face, but at least now I'll know I've tried. I anticipate it being quite a ride, I hope you all will come along for it!

The Muse: Classic Chameleon

 Black and white, you really can't say too much about black and white. It always works, there is no occasion that it isn't appropriate for and yet it never looks dated or predictable. There's also something about it that just begs for pattern mixing, lots and lots of pattern mixing. Sure there are other classic color combinations; red, white, and blue, for example, but there are certain connotations that go along with it. Not black and white, it is truly the chameleon of all occasions  yet yet it still plays well with all those other lovely colors in your closet. I confess I do have a hard time with black and white linkups however, because I feel like with such a simple color palate the details all need to be exceptional. In reality I'm just over thinking it. There's a reason this duo is classic, and you don't screw with classics.

Blouse: Kasper & Co. thrifted via The Bargain Box
Tank: Newport News (very old)
Trousers: vintage, no label, thrifted via Salvation Army Family Store
Aquarius Necklace: vintage, Crown Jewels (Santa Fe)
Purse: Daisy Fuentes for Kohl's, gift
Shoes: Fashion Bug, thrifted via Salvation Army Family Store
Sunglasses: J. Marcel 

also linking up with Walking in High Heels in Memphis' Trend Spin Linkup: Black and White

The Muse: Wedding Bell Blues

 My birthday was spent this year celebrating someone else's special day, when my co-worker Rebecca married her long time boy toy Tim. I've known Rebecca about three years and was very flattered that she would include me in her very special day, and it was great to have the DJ and cake ready made for birthday celebrations.  I'm not sure if there was a memo I missed regarding this but the color of the day was blue. Not just the wedding colors, though they were. There were blue invitations, and programs, flowers, accent lights, even blueberry cosmos for the signature drink and my theory is that looking at their invitations before getting dressed inspired a wave of blue to engulf the wedding attendees. From aqua, to periwinkle, to navy we had a serious case of the blues. I don't know if it was a subliminal thing or if there was something in the air. Personally I just wanted a dress to match my hat. I'm a big proponent of the wedding hat, it adds a certain je ne sais quoi to the occasion. Lets be honest there are few enough occasions to wear a hat out and about, why not embrace every opportunity. I've worn a hat the the past three weddings I've gone to, and plan to continue, its my signature thing. Besides especially at an outdoor wedding it keeps you cool and helps you see much more clearly when the bright blue sky and sun are causing a glare. I think that everyone else at the wedding was secretly envious because it seemed that almost every person I talked to wanted to talk about that hat is some form. Only a select few were allowed to play with it, that privilege was reserved for my dates, a pair of fellow single teachers.

Dress: Anthropologie
Earrings: vintage, gift from my grandmother
Hat: vintage, no label, via Broadway Costumes (now out of business)
Purse: vintage, Dover, via Hall's on Broadway
Shoes: A Touch of Nina via DSW
Nail polish: Gone Grey by Sally Hansen


Wedding Venue: The Villa at Ridder Country Club

"My date" Kristen tried on the hat with gusto

 My other "date" Lindsey strikes a pose (the hat even matched her outfit down to the rhinestones!)

Rebecca and he father, she looked truly stunning. He body just goes on forever, she looks as statuesque as a fashion model in her gown. I am not a huge fan of bridal wear for the most part. I don't like how the whole industry pushes a false princess ideal. I thought Rebecca's dress was lovely and perfect for her body type ( I especially like the scolloped neckline and the delicate bustle) but more importantly it fit her personal style. It wasn't Walt Disney's idea of how a bride should look, it was our same everyday Rebecca in white lace but still clearly recognizable. I you saw how vehemently critical I am when my mother forces me to watch "say Yes to the Dress" you would know what high praise this is.

I won the centerpiece because my birthday was the closest (duh it was the same day)

Teachers can get into a lot of trouble outside the classroom as Andrea and Kristen illustrated on the dance floor....

The Muse: First Communion

 Torrential downpours prevented the taking of new outfit photos for the Real Girl Style Challenge, but luckily I had these photos languishing around from May that I never published, mainly because there is actually only one full outfit photo of me. My friend Michelle (she's wearing the blue sweater in the photo with me below) was in a panic, because she had bought a brand new white dress for the occasion of First Communion at our church (she's the director of the religious education program) and she was nervous about wearing white. She thought she might be too old, or that people would think it was strange. So to be a team player I wore white too, and as close as I could get to white with my sweater. It turns out I missed the blue memo because if you look at the picture of Michelle with Sarah (the blonde) and Lynn (with the short hair), our third grade teachers they all wore the same shade of blue. It never occurred to me that white could be an intimidating color, but it is. If it the right shade for your skin tone, does it wash you out, are you too "old" to wear white. Its a color associated with major milestones like baptism, first communion, marriage but outside of that its not really in vogue. Its hard to keep clean and requires special underwear. I can see why people don't bother. All white is even bolder, its hard not to relieve it without some print or color. Even Father (who also wore white for the occasion), says that they aren't his favorite vestments (he likes the green for ordinary time). Then why do we keep wearing white? Is it the purity factor? Maybe. I think people just like the challenge of white. Can you keep it clean? Can you keep it looking good? If you can then perhaps your worthy of the white. White is a color (or lack of color) that takes on a life of its own, full of symbolism and history before you even walk out the door. Challenge indeed.

Myself and Michelle (above)

Michelle (dir. of Religous Ed.), Sarah (3rd grade teacher), and Lynn 

Dress: Lily Pulitzer thrifited via Wheeler School Clothing Sale
Sweater: thrifted via Goodwill
Bracelet: vintage, via Top Shelf Flea Market
Purse: vintage, Stylecraft, Christ Episcopal Church Thrift Store
Shoes: Fioni via Payless
Sunglasses: J. Marcel

Father Dave Costa, Michelle, our director of religious education, and her husband Mike our grounds and maintenance man.

Me, perhaps the last time I wore all white, at my own first communion in 1996 with Father Ray Theroux (at the time I really hated that dress, but now I see it was actually pretty tasteful as far as first communion dresses go). I was a little shocked this year, a lot of the girls had some really hoochie mamma first communion dresses,  I mean really who puts a 3rd grader in a strapless dress?

My mother had my first communion and baptism dress preserved in those archival boxes, not sure what I'll do with them. For now they sit on a shelf in the cedar closet.

I remember my mother had to got to a special parent meeting where they made lease banners for us. then thye hung them up at the actaul ceremony. I was so pissed off when I saw mine, I hated pink (still sort of do) and the banner couldn't be any less me. My mother however is the consummate girly-girl. Even when she was married she had a mauve bedroom, not quite pink, but damn close. She also can't understand why I would want my banner to be anything other than pink. Honestly, Ma.

Ironically in the group photo of all the kids who made their first communion Alyssa, Erika, and I were all grouped together. Its ironic because I didn't know either of them at the time. Erika went to a different school and Alyssa and I didn't know each other until middle school. Then we all went to the same high school and became best friends, carpooling together all through high school. The picture below was taken in 2006 (Alyssa, Me, and Erika) and we don't look all that different (well Alyssa lost the glasses). Just one of those little quirks that oddly turns out really well, either way it gave me quite a start when I looked at the photo a few years ago and noticed it.