178 A Scholar and a Gentleman
13 January 2010- The last year in college always evokes some inescapable feelings of loss. We are growing old, time is running out... for the lazy weekdays we will never again have, for the excuse of youth to do crazy reckless deeds, and the friends we may lose when we leave. Today's outfit pays tribute to the institution of school we all hate, but secretly take comfort in.
By the local standard of university dress code, the classic English preppy style is an oddity and not the norm. It took courage to be so blatantly outrageous, but I am glad I didn't hide and went ahead with my strange little outfit. In my blazer, oxfords, and swept-back hair, I look half the schoolboy, half the gentleman. It was an outfit of contradictions - playful yet serious, masculine yet feminine.
And certainly it was an outfit whose essence could only have been brought out through the use of brooches. I pinned these not only to my shirt collar and blazer but also to my bag (above, right). Both brooches on my clothes are made by yours truly; you can see more pictures of the gramophone and dog brooch here and the ribbon lace brooch here.
There were actually not two but three badges on my bag; the lilac ribbon belongs to a separate brooch I've pinned beneath the military badge. On Awards Day I presented each of my youngest plush toys with one of the three badges. "This is not fair," muttered Big Ed bear, "You are always playing favourites with the lamb."
Like the buttons on my blazer and the brooches on my attire, my ring was a rich antique gold. The jaws of the panther closing around my finger was an emblem of power and higher authority. Not entirely appropriate for a schoolboy girl to wear perhaps, but I felt it would match my outfit. At this present moment however, the ever mischievous Max (Where the Wild Things Are) has gone off playing the fool while wearing my ring on his head. "I'm going to a masquerade party," he says. Alright, Max, so long as you bring it back!
P.S. The sight of my bare legs may have surprised you perhaps. Well I've said earlier on in this post that the outfit was "masculine yet feminine", and herein lies the feminine quality in this outfit... the blazer is no ordinary jacket but a dress!
white ruffle puff sleeve shirt last worn here (inner) - gift from Edmund's mum, altered to liking
dark red racerback last worn here (inner) - American Apparel
long black blazer dress with pointed hem front - Ministry of Retail
dog and gramophone brooch - self made
lace brooch with ribbon last worn here - self made using ribbons, scrap leather, and Belgian lace pendant
panther ring last worn here - Candypulp
black bag - gift from mum
badges on bag - Pirate Parade (military brooch), the rest are gifts
ivory jazz shoes last worn here - South Korea via EarlGreyParty