Today I'm digging deeper into the special occasions box, and I'm sure glad I did, because I found one of my favorite (albeit wrinkly) garments of all time. That's right, folks:
of all time.*
When I found this shirt, appropriately in the "special occasion" section of Nordstrom, I had one of those little indrawn breath moments, followed by a happy puff of exhalation and delight. It is the first time I thought to use the word "confection" to describe a piece of clothing, but it seemed to fit: airy, translucent silk that felt as delicate and immaterial as spun sugar.
I was a training athlete, weighing two stone more than I do now, most of it muscle. If anyone told me back then there was a shirt that would make me feel light and magical, I would have scoffed, then probably threatened to arm wrestle.
Now that I look at it with more self-awareness of my personal style, it's no surprise I loved it. It has all of the usual Aya elements that show up over and over in my clothes: fluttery impractical sleeves, curving hem, corset-shape, even a
shirt shell! Good find, 20s me!
I thought for an 'evening out' look I could wear it with dark wash jeans and a pair of low-heeled sandals. That's a thing, right? I totally think that's a thing I have heard of. Only instead of an evening out, it's a spinster day in, playing with bicyclic compound models and looking at reaction mechanisms. Crazy thing is, I can't even complain. I'm enjoying the subject material. :D
Here are my shoes. I bought them for my friend Meghan's wedding. I thought I should wear some nice shoes, even if only out on my balcony.
You can see how accustomed I am to wearing narrow heels. Graceful!
And here is a selfie I took when trying to get a closeup of the beadwork. Turned out odd because of the light difference indoors/outdoors, but I decided I like it.
*And to demonstrate how much personal opinion can fluctuate, my mother finds it merely 'meh.'
Magic shirt: Rimini (old, Nordstrom)
Jeans: 7 for all Mankind dojo cut (gift, brother)
Necklace: Claire's (very old)
Shoes: Kenneth Cole Reaction (old)
