Unconventional—

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always loved things that are different . . . mysterious, whimsical, bohemian, offbeat—things that are considered unique — not new so much as just straying from the ordinary.

Even though we aren’t frowned upon for doing our own thing anymore — well at least in those places that are blessedly liberal — many of us still find ourselves towing the fashion line.

Case in point  — dare I say it? — all these hideously huge necklaces that corporate retail has pushed for the last few seasons — they’ve become — well — conventional.   And I suspect they’ll end up hidden in the bottom of a drawer somewhere when the fashion industry suddenly decrees we should all wear  tiny necklaces.

And speaking of  ”haves and must haves”, alas, even fashionistas get confused — in one issue of a well-known fashion rag, I saw a list of “must haves and get rid ofs”  that contradicted their own advertisers.  The very style of clothing they were telling us to dump was being advertised in a huge full page ad —

So I believe in finding your own style — by definition unconventional — and for that we have much inspiration!

Think George Sand, the famous novelist of the 18oo’s—and Chopin’s lover — who took a man’s name  and wore mens clothes, scandalizing the society of her day.  She was unconventional —

Katharine Hepburn and Marlene Dietrich wore mens’ clothes too — it got them attention in the 1930′s just as George Sand did in the 1830′s —

Carnaby Street, London in the 60′s, a revolt a against the buttoned down and crinolined 50′s—

And then of course there were the much maligned, but fabulous in my book, hippies — who dared venture into their own mythic, magical fashion and highly unconventional landscape —

In jewelry there was of course, Coco, who invented “costume jewelry”  — unconventional —

More derring-do from the Flappers, who in a departure from long heavy Victorian styles wore their dresses short and cut their hair even shorter—

And Isadora Duncan  (before the flappers dreamed of baring their limbs) threw off her corset and danced barelegged and barefoot upon stages all over the world—to the consternation of some and the cheers of others— extremely unconventional —

The 80′s gave us Annie Hall and Madonna, definitely unconventional—

Alas, today we have Lady Gaga—who does a good job of appearing unconventional . . . is she, or isn’t she?

. . . in the end I think being unconventional is really a matter of allowing ourselves the freedom to be who we really are  —  where the poetry of our souls dwells, uniquely and mysteriously within each of us  . . .

Morning in Calabria

Posted: July 7th, 2010 under Uncategorized.

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