I have just returned from a trip to Scotland. Lovely blue skies, sunshine, crisp and cold, and exactly what the doctor ordered!
While I was there, I visited V&A Kimono - Kyoto to Catwalk exhibition in Dundee. Yes, a little strange considering Scotland is the home of tartan, kilts and sporrans but fabulous all the same. I was really fortunate that it had moved here, as I’d missed it when it had been showing in London.
The exhibition started around the Edo period in 1600 and told the story of the kimono right up until the present day where in Japan, young people are reinstating it, albeit with a modern twist, into every day wear as they are worried it will only be worn for formal or ceremonial occasions and consigned to history forever. Anyway, the main point I wanted to make here was something in the descriptive text that caught my eye.
The kimono is basically a straight up and down garment and, historically, bore no relationship to the physicality of the body wearing it. Today, when we purchase clothing we examine cut, construction and styling to flatter our physical form. Maybe we emphasise a small waist, breast or curvy buttocks. This didn’t happen in Japanese clothing. What mattered more was the pattern, embroidery or fabrication. This is how the wearer would express their gender, wealth, status, taste and sophistication. Interesting!
Anyway, that takes me nicely onto what I wanted to share - a segue if you like.
Last November, I was also in Scotland and came across a magnificent Edinburgh boutique called Frontier Woman
https://frontiers-woman.com
(and BTW they also have a men’s store)
I purchased a raincoat, cashmere jumper and a pair of trousers and walked out of the shop wearing the entire ensemble. That’s how much I loved it.
Guess what. My first port of call this time around was the same store. Despite it being a year ago, they remembered me. Some would say that’s not surprising - haha! My eyes fell immediately on a long, oversized winter coat. It was the only one of its kind in the store. I quickly tried it on and it was like the proverbial Cinderella slipper - though a coat, if you see what I mean. It fitted like a glove (or in Cinderella’s case a shoe). Basically, it was MADE FOR ME and had my name written all over it.
BUT there was a small issue - or more than one if you’re my husband who happened to be there too.
Firstly, the price. It wasn’t too expensive but probably double what I normally expect to pay. That was perfectly fine if this is your one and only winter coat, but I do NOT need another coat. I am a collector of coats and I love and covet outerwear. Perhaps you’re the same? I feel safe and cosy nestled in a great coat. Plus it covers up a multitude of whatever else I’m feeling about my body, outfit etc etc. It’s a safe place to snuggle away and hide, if you want to. Or you can swirl around and show it off, which is exactly what I did in this little beauty.
Secondly, the colour. It was a tweed mix of black and green. In the daylight it’s almost forest green, and there is a lot of it as it’s a huge garment, with loads of fabric.
So, instead of buying it there and then, we went for a coffee to discuss. This is very unusual for me. If I want it, I buy it, but I’m trying to be more discerning and lessen any possibility of accumulating unnecessary clutter in the wardrobe. My husband took the very wise option to stay schtum. He knows if he argues against something, I’m likely to buy it just to spite him. What I did instead was to find it online.
The coat is a French brand - Soeur - with the name ‘Berlin’ which seemed synchronistic as it’s one of our favourite cities which we will be visiting in January. It also came in navy - happy days. However, when I looked at the 2 coats on the website, I made an interesting discovery. Logically I should, hands down, have bought the navy one. I love blue, not so much green. The green one, though, had more of a ‘street-style’ vibe. The navy seemed more ‘special occasion’.
As I wear jeans most of the time, I reasoned the green one would definitely look better. The tweed effect made it look a little rough around the edges, and slightly lighter in texture and that’s what I was after. I’m not someone with a polished sense of style, and as the coat is so large, I think the navy would have literally swamped me with its depth of colour within the fabric.
My word of the year has been ‘OPEN’ and this is telling example of how it has successfully worked for me. The coat has not been off my back since I went back to buy it- and yes - wore it straight out of the shop. Maybe this garment, that has no relationship to my physicality, has more in common with a kimono than I first thought. After all, the expression of who I am, and what I want you to know about me, is tied up in the texture, fabric and energy of the garment. And, I’ve been getting compliments about it ever since. Interestingly, the sales assistant told me that a well known actor (Hollywood no less) had also purchased one, and she has a physicality that is absolutely nothing like mine either in colouring or shape. Think red hair and curves and you’ll see what I mean but, strangely, I can still see her wearing it and looking superb in it. Do you see how these two vastly unrelated garments, the kimono and the coat, may share something unique when it comes to us getting dressed. Amazing.
Here’s the Thing: Energy. It’s a strange thing to describe when it comes to what we wear but both of these examples show how the same garment, either in a different colour or fabric, or with a different body inside of it, will change the entire energy of its overall look and feel. Bear this it in mind when you make your clothing decisions. It may change the way you view your future purchases.
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