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Tuesday 10 April 2012

Heathcliff, is that you?

This outfit is almost the same as in my post "I feel like Amelie," except I am feeling more sprite than sprightly. What's different outfit-wise is I'm wearing a different blouse, my red shoes, fingerless gloves, and my wonderful Ghost on a Swing pendant which contributed greatly to the Heathcliff-howling-in-the-moors mood. The darkness of the backdrop I did in a dirty photo edit to try to capture the thrill of standing in the shadows of a Gothic estate under a great rumbling sky. Sadly, there is still too much cheerfulness here.


With that expression could I be mistaken for the new governess at the gates of her lordship's manor - hopeful yet intimidated? This is "gleeful darkness." Shall I nauseate you and burst into song like Maria in the Sound of Music?: "I have confidence in sunshine..." I think a crow would have flown straight out of the backdrop and pecked my head off if I did.

Details of the outfit:
  • wool/cashmere winter coat, thrifted ages ago at Second Suit, a real workhorse of a coat
  • upcycled skirt made from a thrifted handmade dress purchased at a movie-clothing sale
  • tuxedo shirt, Zara, thrifted, Wildlife Thrift store
  • brown-and-black plaid tights
  • Dorothy shoes, thrifted, Value Village
  • Ghost on a Swing pendant from my friend Monique, also on Etsy. I love this!
  • seafoam skirt as a petticoat, thrifted, Value Village, seen recently in another post
  • knit fingerless gloves, sold as regular knit gloves at Canadian Tire automotive store but I cut off the tips of the fingers and hemmed the openings to prevent unravelling.


Oh dear, the picture up there is not a governess but a sprite from the woods, a playful temptress who lures innocents into the enchanted Dark Forest from whence they shall never return! Did you notice the cloud halo? Totally unplanned, my friends...

And I just threw this photo in there. I like the sense of dance and the old-world feeling. The cloud in this photo could be a giant feather sprouting from my beret.


Here is a closeup of my pendant, Ghost on a Swing.



Happy darkness to you. Oooo.







37 comments:

  1. Squee! I adore that 3rd pic,and I adore breaking into songs from The Sound of Music at EVERY opportunity!
    You look far too fabulous for the likes of dreary old Heathcliff!Whiney sod,he deserved a good haunting!
    The ghost on a swing is super cute,and the fingerlass (ha,was going to fix that typo,but I quite like it!) gloves are giving me the horn!
    XXXXXXXXXXXXX

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    Replies
    1. Helga - you are always having your way with words - and they LIKE it! Naughty girl! :) I must use the expression "giving me the horn" the next time I go on an inspiration walk!

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  2. Oh, the wuthering heights backdrop! Now, you lack only a wind machine.

    You thrift the most fabulous shoes.

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    Replies
    1. Don't give me any ideas about a wind machine...!

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  3. oH THE SKIRT IS SO AWESOME AS WELL AS THE GHOST ON A SWING1 ooH!
    XxX
    rEVA

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  4. Replies
    1. I wish I could have been more spooky though!

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  5. You are becoming a true work of art, my dear Melanie. Part of your own pictures. How brilliant of you!!!
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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    Replies
    1. Your positivity is always soooo welcome. It's time now for me to think of a new backdrop!

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  6. Love the hint of sea foam with the red shoes... and you expression in the second photo! Brilliant. Got Wuthering Heights stuck on my mind now. I also love your ghost on a swing necklace! xxxx

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    Replies
    1. I arranged my lights a bit better since this photo so you might be able to see the lower half of these outfits better in the future. Those Bronte sisters - aren't they the best?

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  7. Sitting at my desk at work I could hear the wind howl!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tee hee. If I had audio recording I would have liked to howl too!

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  8. Heathcliff, its me, Cathy come home
    I'm so cold, let me in-a-your window


    That skirt is so amazing. What a great upcycle! And the fingerless gloves are so 1980s, GUVNAH!

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    Replies
    1. Fingerless gloves are a staple in my spring attire. They are so goth-Madonna-turn-of-the-century.

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  9. You are theatre, pure theatre. High waisted skirt, fingerless gloves and red shoes with your expressions! Your post has the power to change the mood of an April morning - in a good way!

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    Replies
    1. I enjoy theatre as a way to better understand who I (capital I) am. Thank you for this lovely comment!

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  10. Melanie, you definitely have conjured the spirit of a governess, approaching the dark, forbidding castle of her new employer in the first photo, but then, by doffing the coat, you transform into a saucy minx, tempting her employer with a lift of her skirt! What an entertaining mini-play you've provided on a day where a smile is desperately needed...
    The high-waisted skirt looks both prim and sexy with the tuxedo shirt, and is soo flattering. Great outfit!

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    Replies
    1. I never saw the photos that way but you are right! - they do play into each other that way. I'm so happy I made you smile!

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  11. Hi Mélanie,

    Love in black and white and you are wearing your beret today!
    The backdrop is superbe! that would be me great for me on my studio door!The Dorothy shoes, are they sparkly? I can see they are red but are they sparkly like the real Dorothy shoes?

    I had a look at Monique's Etsy shop, adorable she makes and it takes a lot of patienc like she says in her description - thanks for sharing!

    Take care Mélanie

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    Replies
    1. Oh, I couldn't resist my beret with my fingerless gloves - I think they are an old married couple! The Dorothy shoes are just a shiny red pleather or maybe leather, Hush Puppies if you can believe it. They are soooo comfortable too. I fixed my lights - hopefully you can see the photos better next time. Maybe I need a new lens as well!?

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  12. Brilliant as ever, Melanie! I think FCF Shelley has said what I was thinking - so much for the innocent shy young governess, I think you are setting your cap at Mr Rochester with that sly flash of petticoat! (An alternative Bronte heroine, I'm feeling a Jane Eyre vibe more than Cathy in this photo story!)
    I love that high-waisted skirt with the buttoned-up shirt, and then the naughty flash of undergarments and red shoes to sex it up a bit. You may be a strict governess but you definitely have a naughty side!
    Little Ghost is fun. And the sepia effect is fabulous! Looks like you are doing a slightly off-kilter curtsey for the boss. Miss Eyre - have you been at the sherry?! xxxxx

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    Replies
    1. I do like Jane Eyre much better than Cathy. Heathcliff was sucky. Mr. Rochester is dishy. I should have held my riding crop (if I had one). Actually, I DID try a few curtsy poses, weird distortions with me as a big head(!) close to the camera. Miss Eyre says, "I havtha try ancurssy fur th'new mather..." and slumps onto the floor with the bottle in her lap.

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  13. Ghost. Swing. Pendant. Want.

    You are much too pretty to play the governess role, coat or not!

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    Replies
    1. Lynne, yes, I prefer to be mistress of the manor. But, uh-oh, looks like maybe I might have a chance in that second pose if I can have my way with his lordship. Oops!

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  14. In the second picture, you look the part of the painting!! I am always ALWAYS amazed to see the compositions of your shots!! Not to mention style:-) Hope you are having a wonderful day!
    -Jyoti
    Style-Delights Blog
    Let's Twitter Together
    Friend and Fan on Facebook

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jyoti! Your smile over there just rubs off on everyone!

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  15. This outfit would work equally well off the backdrop and onto the street. Thank you for my foray into the misty murky gleeful world your "governess" inhabits! I'm anxious for the next chapter; who knows what mischief she'll brew up!

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    Replies
    1. Oh, I would really looove to get some shots outdoors. It's tricky in my neighbourhood to do that with a tripod - the only way is with a willing accomplice. I always have my eye out for one. Thanks always, Jean, for your feedback and kind words!

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  16. Love how the sky clears when you lift your skirt! I think I'll try that at home.

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    Replies
    1. Ha! Your comment made me laugh! I hope it works for you!

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  17. I love your stories and photos so much. You add just the right pinch of this(suggestion of a story) and that(visual of outfit, facial expression, pose of form, and backdrop) and stir the imagination in such a good way.
    I am going to have to try the petticoat someday.

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    Replies
    1. Lisa, thanks for such positive feedback! I just discovered the double-skirt petticoat concept a few months ago and wondered why I had not done it before!

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  18. What a beautiful outfit! This is literally my most favourite composition ever; you're channelling Parisian chic not governess haha. Nothing I love more than a crisp white shirt, so classic. You have great style, I'll be back to read your posts.
    Christobel x

    http://www.calico-casa.blogspot.co.uk/

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