A Modern Pioneer

I met Sophie at musical theater camp. She was six. She had a majestic, Frida-esque, unibrow, a dark bobbed haircut, and natural comedic timing.

I had just graduated from college, and was her group leader.

We ate our lunches outside. Everyday Sophie sat next to me, perched on the cement curb that surrounded the playground, her little feet dangling into the bark. I asked her, “Don’t you want to go play with the other kids?” She said no. Her family was moving to Arizona a few weeks later. What was the point of making new friends she’d leave behind, she said, solemnly.

So, instead of playing four square or kickball, or climbing the jungle gym, she’d talk to me, often about her blueberries. One at a time, she’d take a blueberry from her lunchbox. She’d pop it into her mouth, and slowly, methodically chew, her brow clenched in thought. Then, she’d deliver her verdict.

“OOOOH, that one was too sour!”

“That one was mushy.”

And on rare occasions, her eyes would get wide and she’d say, “That one was perfect!”

Earlier this year, in Italy, I wore a white dress with a fitted bodice and a long full skirt. I loved it. It felt both retro-glam, like a costume in an Audrey Hepburn movie, and practical. (It was cotton!) We returned from our trip, to Seattle’s blustery, rainy, foggy fall, and I didn’t wear the dress again. I did look at it often, usually while feeling bitter toward the (itchy) sweater I was wearing instead.

Finally, after too many days of listening to my own deep sighs, I had a thought. Why couldn’t I wear the dress? Who cares that we’re not in the Italian sun? I love to layer!

So, I put on the white dress and began to experiment. I tried on outfit after outfit, piling layers over and under the dress:

“OOOOOH, I look like I’m in 19th century Russia.”

“This one is too boring.”

“This is too weird, even for me.”

“Ew. Pass.”

Until, finally, just like Sophie, my eyes grew wide and I said, “This one is perfect!”

Let’s get into the lab.

THE EVENT: Attending a National Theatre Live screening of the play, Hansard.

THE BROKEN RULE: No white after Labor Day.

THE OUTFIT: The white dress + a bright blue band T-shirt, tied at the waist and tucked under + the reversible blanket coat I just can’t get myself to return to Rent The Runway + black tights, boots, purse and scarf

THE EXPERIENCE: I warned my husband, before I picked him up from work, that my outfit was loud.

When we arrived at Seattle Center (and found parking), I emerged from the car, all puffy white and covered in plaid. As we walked toward the Film Center, I told him that I felt like, “a modern pioneer.” His response, “Ya. I can definitely see that.”

Inside, the theater was about a third full. We found seats, and closer to the beginning of the screening, Christian got up to go get snacks. As I sat there, scrolling through Instagram, a woman came up to our row holding a large bag of popcorn. She walked down the aisle, stopped at the seat next to me, and then loudly said, “I HOPE YOU’RE NOT ALLERGIC TO POPCORN,” before sitting down. It was one of the oddest experiences I’ve had in a mostly empty theater.

My outfit, itself, proved perfect for movie (filmed play) viewing. With both the long skirt and the blanket coat, I felt cozy and comfortable, like I was actually covered in blankets.

THE CONCLUSION: I have a tendency to overcomplicate. I’m a wheel-reinventer. Every time I do something decently, the next time I feel an urge to do it bigger, better, or differently. Sometimes, that works to my advantage. Often, it just slows me down.

I’ve frequently, usually, almost-always, fallen victim to that urge here on Costume Parade. I started with this basic lab write up format. I broke one rule at a time. I documented it. Then, quickly, I felt like I needed to evolve. Now, we have Mini Labs, and Inspired By posts, and How They Build Its. I love all of those parts of the experiment, but sometimes, it’s good to remember that basic works, too. I don’t have to modern pioneer everything.

Are you a wheel-reinventer? How do you slow your roll, and remind yourself that not everything needs to be fixed?

How do you feel about today’s white-after-Labor-Day look? Do you wear summer dresses with lots of layers in the fall? I’d love to see your modern pioneer outfits, too!