Spring Style diaries: go-go city fairy
- Valentina Danaus
- 10 ene 2023
- 5 Min. de lectura
Style diaries (/staɪl/ /ˈdaɪəri/) is a section of anecdotes and reflections on personal style inspired by current trends and my life. Join me for a dosis of inspiration as a review my current obsessions and style muses. Every section includes a shopping guide for similar pieces.
Fashion is an instant language
Miuccia Prada.
Out in the streets of Madrid, the trees were blooming and scaring the cold away. In my wardrobe (and head) the winter gloominess was still reigning and in desperate need of some spring cleaning. February-April 2022 was a time of deep reinvention for me in every way, and as it usually goes my clothes were the ones to pay for it.
Not to worry, the eventual result was worth the struggle, but in the meantime, as I typically do, my first instinct was to find some remedy for my state in the words of inspiring thinkers. Smarter people than me that is.
Throughout the years I have gathered a fair amount of female role models I recur in times of crisis and my most recent discovery has been corporate lawyer, big sister, and magical wise social media genius @mahamaven who has the most healing, beautiful page online you must visit if you need some advice. Her inner confidence shines through her words with such power that just listening to her talking about her shopping list might as well fill you with some healthy feminine energy. Plus she has fantastic style.
But going back to that divine feminine energy we have all been hearing so much about online and in every spiritual conversation. What actually is feminine energy? And why does it seem that so many of us have a deep wound related to it?
Much like a lot of spiritual or self-help terminology that gets filtered out into popularity through some viral video, the concept of the divine feminine has been shamelessly commercialized and repackaged into some sort of self-care nonsense which leads to overspending. Up there with anti-aging gimmicky products.
But if you look deeper the idea of reconnecting with your own definition of femininity, of dissecting all the repression and shame that surrounds what has been typically marketed as “for women” holds immense power. One that many women have discovered to be the key to navigating a man’s world. Playing the field but protecting the heart. It reminds me of my all-time mantra by Maya Angelou: “The woman who survives both intact and happy must be at once tender and tough”.
Many of us have spent years mastering that tough part. And it might just be we have forgotten about the tender part. I could not possibly get the entire message across but I can redirect you to some great resources about it. The Glow Up Secrets, The White Mic Podcast.
However even with the clarity about what feminine energy truly is I kept running across the struggle of defining activities that made me feel connected with it. Surely there must be more to it than glitter and pink. And here is where a great video by @mahamaven led me to the realisation which cleared my mind and my wardrobe:
As many as there are women there are brands of femininity.
Meaning that feminine energy is vastly multifaceted and you are bound to relate to some aspects of it more than others. This will of course change in different stages of our life and although it is hard to reduce such an abstract context you can start to pinpoint some characteristics or imagery that can connect you with a particular feminine archetype.
Do you envision a soft life watching the sunset from a country house on the prairie? The luring power of a siren in the ocean? A night of partying in the city in a sparkly dress?
I find that a lot of the frustrations pertains women express around the concept of femininity is a set of stereotypes attached to it that seem to qualify or disqualify us. You do not need to go about your life dressed like Elle Woods in her perpetual pink outfits, a nature guru that transcends vanity, or a sensual femme fatale dressed for revenge. But you can explore the traits of all of these arquetypes to build your own definition of authentic style.
I guessed that is what I attempted with all of these. What visual identifiers and daily activities can I include in my life to make me feel connected to my very own feminine energy?
STYLE BREAKDOWN:
After some experimentation I landed on the clumsy yet accurate term of “go-go city fairy” which combines the free spirit of the 60s go-go dancers, my city girl fantasies to be an editor for a fashion magazine and the whimsical touch of a fairy of the flowers. A balance of all the versions of a dream “me” I have envisioned throughout my life.
Key pieces: 90s ankle length dresses and skirts, satin and lace, corsets, fun shoes, low backs, ornate nature inspired jewellery, Art Deco details, assymetric necklines, statement coats and knee high boots.
Color palette: marigold yellow, orchid pink, pink lace, sage green, emerald, honeydew, crisp white, ivory and black.
Bonus points for…skinny scarves, kitten heels, beret (or headbands) big flower brooches (or scarves).
Apart from my feminine energy journey some great inspiration was to look back to the style identity of some of my fashion icons that embody this energy such as Audrey Hepburn, Jane Shrimpton or Catherine Deneuve. I love how they combine elegance with playfulness, I guess that’s the main lesson I carry with me: Never be too outrageous that it feels like a costume, but never too simplistic that I forget to have fun.
I also love how their style feels like a continuation of their character, not like something detached from who they are. For a more modern references I really like Olivia Palermo, Dakota Johnson and Elsa Hosk. I love their use of unexpected colors or style combinations and how it always feel exciting but cohesive at the same time.
All in all there is something funny about how I inadvertently prepared myself for the “rom-com” aesthetic boom that outlets like Vogue are already reporting on. I could not be happier with the return of the classic fashionista to the big screen. I also had the chance to play around with it more in a short-film I made with one of my best friends: “El Método Celeste”where we used several pieces from my own wardrobe. (Can you spot the 30 going on 30 polka dots coat?).
Now I would like to leave you with some more inspiration straight from the runway, and as I promised at the beginning a shopping guide to try some of these styles for yourself. 💌
RUNWAY INSPIRATION
Some inspiration from Saint Laurent Spring 2021 Ready-to-Wear Collection
Credits: Saint Laurent via Vogue Runway
SHOPPING GUIDE (no affiliated links. Just doing it out of love for fashion )
Disclaimer: I know the lists consists of high range products with an elevated price but I want to be committed to never including any fast fashion brands on the blog. So please grant me some patience while I source for ethical options at a cheaper price (that are not second-hand. Thank you 🧸).
Hope you enjoyed this diary post. Let me know your own version of what makes you feel feminine. Read you soon 💌. You can find more inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram.
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