Sixty more days of 2023 --- the time is closing in, only to open out again, at least in our minds. Is time really like that, or do we only imagine that it is? Less than a month till the start of Advent, too, and the renewal of liturgical time.
Meanwhile, it's a sunny, chilly Saturday. In Dallas, the Viking Son closes tonight in the university's production of Chekhov's The Seagull: he's Konstantin Replev. Until last night I had thought he was just designing sound for this show, not starring in it, but the rest of the progeny have set me straight. If I had known this, I might have planned my autumn travel differently, but OH WELL.
In other news, we're going out to dinner tonight for my birthday, but otherwise there's not much on. I'm drinking coffee and taking my time waking up, but will shortly go out with Dora to sample the morning air. At some point today I'll wash my hair and also my Willow dress, to refresh her for the coming week.
Wearing in the meantime, for knocking around during the day:
I haven't put on shoes yet, obviously --- will probably wear my Tari boots out to walk. But here again is one of my favorite combinations: teal Willow under my redyed Sierra, tied at the waist with the hem section of one of the merino tees I cut off to make a crop top. The blue and teal look closer in color to each other in this photo than they actually are. Redyed bamboo-cotton leggings in a kind of herbal green.
Sierra needs a bath at least as much as Teal Willow does --- look how stretched the armholes are, and I haven't even been hanging dresses on hangers. This dress feels as though it's doubled in size in the time I've had it, though I'm sure that's just an exaggeration my mind wants to feed me. Still . . . it's not just the color change that makes it feel like a different dress from the one I bought almost exactly two years ago. But it works well as a jumper over another dress, and as an apron to protect and hide my teal dress, which has acquired some little spots this week. Both Camellia, which I've been wearing as a nightgown, and this Sierra are moving steadily into back-burner spots in my wardrobe --- dresses I wear that I don't mind getting messed up, dresses that I tend not to wear as "nice" (though in fact I have worn Sierra belted as a church dress this fall).
Sierra is a cozy hug, though. I have cast a longing eye at the Eliza since our weather has turned chilly, but . . . well, I've said it before, and I'll say it again: we do not have enough cold weather for me to feel justified in buying a dress that heavy. I don't want to buy a dress that sits unworn for fully half the year because it's too hot. On the other hand, as I am anticipating having a credit burning a hole in my pocket after next weekend, and as I will probably have a little birthday money to spend, I am thinking about another possible purchase. The cobalt Sierra kind of appeals to me, and is available in my size. I'd buy a regular length this time, knowing how long the long sizes can become. That dress would be warm and comforting in the winter, but I have worn my current Sierra in the summer, too.
I really wish Fiona would appear in some more colors, though. I'm not in love with any of the current options enough to press the button on them, but I adore the style. What I'd like to do is buy a winter dress now, and then a new dress for spring/summer next year (purchases in the spring sometime). My frontrunner would be the Summer Midi, IF (and this is a big if) they added more colors. I'd adore that dress in something like a vintage rose --- I'd really love a pink dress, but not a super bright pink dress. On the other hand, I might well buy that style if it came in the berry pink that the Amalya currently comes in. Or Iris Blue. Iris Blue would probably be my most-desired color for a spring and summer dress: Easter and beyond.
But, well, right now I am buying nothing. I will wear my Willow/Sierra combo for the day, then take them off, wash and lay Willow out to dry, and wear, probably, Brooklyn for our evening out. It's been a while, and I've kind of missed her. I'm also still thinking about her as a Christmas Eve dress, and trying to resist the siren song of something like the Pine Rowena, even though, you know, that is also a possibility knocking around in my mind (even though I think I don't want a Rowena --- we all know where that road leads).
I'll try to remember to update with my date-night outfit later.
But also right now, it's time for me to put on my big-girl boots and walk the dog.
MUCH LATER:
Here's my date-night outfit.
Willow is washed and drying on the rack. Meanwhile, here is Brooklyn, whom I have missed! Wearing her with thrifted cobalt-blue merino cardigan, Snag Blueberry tights, and thrifted Birk Papillio wedges.
I'm feeling very fun, I have to say. I love this dress. I love the play of blues, greens, and teals. I like the pop of my orangey-tan shoes --- a color I wouldn't wear anywhere but on my feet, but it's a great complement to the teal tights. Nothing matches, but everything harmonizes.
I'll take a coat --- it's not cold now, but will be once the sun goes down. And the wrinkles will shake out of my dress once we get going. She's been rolled up in my hanging shelf for some weeks now, but tonight she's going to roll right on out and have a good time.