She is the Moment – And So are You
*
As the last issue was rather philosophical in nature, this week’s gazette shall be devoted to an utterly ludicrous affair—the proper appreciation of this singular diva currently hanging on a peg on my wall.
I thrifted her from my local Savers for about thirteen dollars. She’s such a large pendant that she easily over-spans the palm of my hand. She’s not one to be stuffed in a jewelry drawer. No, this signature piece deserves to be displayed to study the fascinating combination of all her bold and subtle details. Designed by Karla Jordan, my Google lens investigations reveal that she is a vintage abalone construct most likely from the 1980’s. In some lights, her hat gleams deep pink, in other slants, an almost blazing red hue. I adore her.
However, I must admit that my other family members’ reactions have been rather mixed: “hideous, tacky—absolutely fabulous!—definitely ‘a look’ that must be planned carefully.” I suppose I can agree with all three assessments of my newfound fashionista. What is a “fashionista,” precisely? The Oxford Dictionary gives us two possibilities, a “fashion designer,” or “someone who is always dressed in a fashionable way.” And she amply deserves that title in my opinion. She pairs so well with polka dots, after all . . .
And transitions easily from such ladylike elegance to the fierce, feline charisma of leopard spots.
I wouldn’t go so far as to declare her a “neutral,” perhaps more the surprise chameleon of fashion accessories! But what of a name? At first glance, she bears a striking resemblance to a certain cinematic “Amélie,” but her faraway eye never meets another human’s gaze, lending her an untouchable air of dreamy composure. Upon deeper reflection, I believe she appears to be a lady who enjoys reading mystery novels by the poolside while sipping from ice-chilled goblets, so perhaps I shall call her “Agatha!” Yes, that’ll do nicely.
Dear Agatha, I’m glad I discovered you on the middle shelf of the thrift store’s jewelry counter. I could hardly miss you and your gaudy aura of self-possession.
Her confidence and soft-curled bob remind me of a well-loved 1951 book that belonged to my mother, The Seagulls Woke Me by Mary Stolz. Unfortunately, I seem to have misplaced my copy, so I am relying on vivid fragments of memory from my own reading.
The protagonist, Jean, is a young teenager whose entire identity has been controlled by her mother down to the last detail. She is not allowed to cut her burdensome long hair, a “mane of glory” that is always bound tightly to her head. She is also forced to wear frumpy clothing at social functions that embarrasses her around her peers—including a particularly sad “taupe” dress, if I recall correctly.
Yet Jean gains the courage to discover her own style when she decides to go to St. Kethley that summer, an island off Maine where her uncle runs a hotel. Cutting her heavy locks off to free her trapped curls, sixteen-year-old Jean embarks on a personal journey to become her true self (*and incidentally, also gains a handsome summer crush). I think every human goes through such phases of change, sometimes multiple times in our life, where we tear free from old selves and experiment with a new way of being.
I wonder if the person who owned this pendant before me felt free and gorgeous when she donned the hatted lady. Did her necklace also inspire a sassy sense of aplomb and grace as she stepped out to face a new day? This Valentine’s, may we all wear whatever makes us feel bold, or comfy, or quietly beautiful. You don’t have to dress for anyone but yourself. You don’t need to be iconic, or take pictures, or share them, unless you want to—but I hope you feel worthy of existing in your own skin as you are now.
I have almost no photos of my mother in the last decade of her life because she had low self-esteem due to chronic health problems that affected her body image. I wish I could tell her that I loved her exactly as she was, fiercely, in every moment that I had the privilege to know her.
And I want to embrace my own brief moment on Earth with all the fearless poise of abalone Agatha!
She is the moment:
Vintage fashionista queen—
Ever in style.
Source:
“Fashionista.” Oxford Learner’s Dicitonaries.com.
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/fashionista
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