Jackie's Stylings: fairy tales

Whoa! It has been a long time since I've posted anything here. I can't promise I'll be posting any more regularly at this point but I thought I'd write a post about something I think I do pretty well: layering up to keep toasty warm! I've never been a fan of the cold which is funny given that it's not like I was born in a tropical place (Canada) and that I willingly chose to live in Newfoundland for several years (now that's a lot of snow!). I blame my hatred of cold temps. on family vacations spent in warmer climes during the coldest part of the winter. My dad worked (still does) on ships so he would often have only 2 months off during the year, and my mom, him and I (and sometimes extended family like cousins, grandparents etc.) would take a vacation together. I'm grateful for winter days spent in sundresses and sandals, but it may have made me a little soft when it comes to dealing with cold weather :) If I had my way, I'd happily live somewhere that was 85F all year long!

The other reason for this post, besides sharing my layering "skills", is to show off the charming knitted hood my cousin's girlfriend made for me (Go Ashley!). I love it so much!

Here's the hood with the buttons all added. I love the chunky knit, perfectly peaked hood, and of course, the color! It fits great as a cowl or shawl, or pulled up over my head.

Ashley left this knitted beauty without buttons so I could find the perfect ones, and I think I did. I scoured the internet and found some little wooden apple buttons I liked at M&J Trimmings on 6th Avenue in NYC. When I finally went to the store to take a look at them in person, I spotted some Little Red Riding Hood buttons too. I was pretty excited about my finds (and the Alice in Wonderland buttons I found...for a different project).

See how nicely this hood can be worn as a cowl.

And here's what the hood looks like pulled up from the back. I feel like an urban Red Riding Cap!

Pro Tip: If you come in from the cold and are still froze, DO NOT immediately jump into a hot shower. Let your core temperature rise slowly, by taking off layers bit by bit, drinking hot beverages and warming up to the temperature indoors. I got this little electric fireplace when the heat in my building was off for a few days/nights and it's really great at warming up a space. On especially cold days, I like warming myself up in front of it when I first come in from outdoors.

Stay warm everyone and dress for the weather!

Outfit Details:
Coat: Plenty By Tracy Reese
Knitted Beanie: Anthropologie
Red Hood: Handmade by Ashley
Scarf: Melanie Lynne
Pants: BB Dakokta (fleece lined faux leather and they are pull on...Yes Please!)
Tights: Hue
Leg warmer/sparkle socks: Hue
Gloves: Uniqlo Heat Tech (I wear these under other knitted gloves and often add in a hand warmer between the layers)
Long sleeve undershirt: Uniqlo Heat Tech
Sweater with faux peterpan collar: Anthropologie
Striped cardigan with bow on back: Anthropologie
Long fringed cardigan: American Eagle
Boots: Ugg

Style and fashion inspiration comes from so many places, but for me one of the most enduring might be literature. Literature from childhood, timeless stories, especially continues to have an impact on the pieces of clothing that I’m drawn to. I’d been thinking about the influence of literature and film/TV on fashion a lot lately…you can’t help but notice store windows and magazine covers showcasing looks inspired by The Great Gatsby, Mad Men, Game of Thrones, and so on.

Recently, I visited the New York Public Library’s exhibition The ABC of it: Why Children’s Books Matter (blog post here). It got me thinking about how important children’s literature is for adults, as much as it is for children. We grow up on the words and images found in children’s literature, our imaginations expand, our personalities develop….perhaps, that’s why those stories stick with us. So, it’s not surprising that they resonant with other parts of our lives as we age. From Haute Couture on the runway, to Polvore sets and Pinterest boards, it’s clear that many of the characters we grew up with are still inspiring our wardrobes as adults.

In terms of style, I may not wear a whole Alice in Wonderland costume/look on any typical day of the year, but I certainly find myself wearing details reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland. Tulle skirts, smocked dresses, frilled socks, an over-sized bow, polished Mary Jane shoes, checkboard tights, a heart shaped locket, sometimes just a particular color combination…these are storybook details brought to life in fashion.

Here’s a look at some of the children’s literature that have had the biggest impact on my personal style.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

"Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Image source for John Tennel illustration for Alice in Wonderland (1865)

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LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE

"The real things haven’t changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong." Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House on the Prairie

Image source for cover of one of the books in the Little House on the Prairie Series

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GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES

Example: Little Red Riding Hood (actually referred to as Little Red Riding Cap in the Grimm’s version)

"Once upon a time there was a sweet little girl. Everyone who saw her liked her, but most of all her grandmother, who did not know what to give the child next. Once she gave her a little cap made of red velvet. Because it suited her so well, and she wanted to wear it all the time, she came to be known as Little Red Cap." Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Little Red Cap

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LITTLE SNOW WHITE

‘Oh, Queen, thou art fairest of all I see. But over the hills, where the seven dwarfs dwell, Snow-white is still alive and well. And none is so fair as she." Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Little Snow White

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THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ

“‘If we walk far enough’, says Dorothy, ‘we shall sometime come to someplace.’" L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

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HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN FAIRY TALES

"There was once a King’s son who had a larger and more beautiful collection of books than any one else in the world, full of splendid copper-plate engravings." Hans Christian Andersen, The Garden of Paradise

Illustration from The Garden of Paradise and Other Stories by Hans Christian Andersen

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THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA

"Once a king or queen of Narnia, always a king or queen of Narnia." C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

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ANNE OF GREEN GABLES

"It’s been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will." L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables