How to be a peasant in the city
Sometime last week I wore this outfit for no particular reason at all. I bought this Urban Outfitters dress about a year ago and I tried to wear it in a cool mod girlish style in the Fall 2010. I don’t have photographic proof but I am as honest as any scout girl. I badly wanted this dress to look cool. I was then experimenting with all kinds of full skirts because…my hips are not wide enough! But the memory of having worn this dress in the style that I did with the little beret and looking so awkwardly like the Brooklynite who loves the fantasy of Paris but has not yet been to the real Paris made me I shun it to the back of my closet.
But, the other day I had decided to give it a whirl and thought it would look pretty hip with these rad oxfords from Ruche. I love these oxfords because they were comfortable on the toes and on my wallet. I hoisted the dress over a striped white shirt and threw on some boisterous necklace {also from Shop Ruche} made out of some material that looks like porous rocks that you might find – I imagine for I have not yet had the pleasure of fainting – in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. They look like they have been painted with various dyes. I may or may not have fantasized that they were original handicraft from a Native American tribe. The tag on the jewelry did not say this but we can’t expect the vendor to provide everything!
Anyway, I thought I was looking pretty fresh until I spotted myself in the bathroom mirror at Whole Foods.
Why do I look like I’m here to milk a cow? I asked myself. {I’m in expert at monologues because I was an only child for 14 years so lots of quality time with all the versions of myself I could make without actually becoming schizophrenic.}
Looking at my campesina likeness in the mirror, I saw that my hair had been arranged in a way that suggested those female coiffures in the old country westerns. I don’t generally spend much time on my hair so I’ll chalk that up to chance. I usually wear my hair however it wants to be worn. Whatever shape it presents this morning is what we’re going with.
So, I continued my shopping. I went blithely through the aisles gathering fresh fruits and vegetables and laughing at myself like a happy farm girl.
And, then I had a vision of Beauty from Beauty and the Beast. In the vision I was Beauty. Beauty was my likeness in the mirror. Sure I have pores and my eyes don’t take up one-fifth of my face, but pretty darn close.
This may be why some folks who have found a certain look that works for them repeat it in various colors. I guess I could do that, but then where would the fun in fashion be?
4 comments
April says:
Aug 23, 2011
I think it comes off as more school inspired than peasant, but in a nice way. It’s not costumey at all.
Though, Belle is the best of the Disney princesses, so there’s no shame in rocking her look.
oisercage says:
Aug 23, 2011
April, I was in fact hoping for school marm and yes beauty was the best. She was such a smart-ass and I appreciate that she knew some things were more important (daydreaming, a good tea party with your candle host) than cleaning ( snow white).
Loren says:
Aug 23, 2011
This dress is lovely. I can see the ‘peasant’ look but I think it still looks great on you. The necklace and belt take it away from being ‘to cute’.
Marie says:
Aug 27, 2011
this outfit could be passed off as one of the uniforms the SISTERS imposed on their students except for the length and the other accessories.However, in that first top picture, it is a knokout. You and the dress compliment each other.It is stylish. City people don’t really have many chances to see a real peasant girl in her outfit, but some peasant outfits can put some city folks to shame. This dress can be one of them if worn by the right person.