I want to sweep through the lobby of the Hotel Georges-V Paris on my way to my suite, stopping briefly at the front desk with instructions to "Do please hold all my calls and send up some caviar and cheesecake immediately" delivered in a low husky voice with heavily-accented English that startles me, not caring that my ruby red lipstick has bled into the heavily powdered spider lines around my mouth, nor that I don't even like caviar. With a dismissive yet graceful flourish of my gloved hand I disappear into the lift. Ah, Jacques, he understands my needs so well.
Would people even care that I'm wearing an old oversized coat turned inside out with a single new button sewn way off to the side near my neck to size it down and had the pockets ripped off? Or that this thrifted faux fur hat, as big or even bigger than my head, has a scarf stuffed in the crown to keep it from sliding down over my eyes? Or that the coat sleeves extend far beyond my pale fingertips? No! Rather - Non!
Did it matter that I had to dodge moneyseekers and spitters on the sidewalk and dodge puddle grunge on my way to the coffee shop? NON! Or that there were babies crying and businessmen talking too loud into the air when I got there? Um, okay, yeah, that really bugged me.
And then when I got home I worked.
Dreaming is free. If you can't dream it, it will never happen.
Where do your clothing dreams take you lately?
"Ah, Jacques, do tell those autograph hounds to keep their distance. I'm not who they think I am. And lock the door on your way out...."
Details
- coat, inside out, several sizes too big, pockets removed with button added, old
- boots, retail, very forgiving of a persnickety toe
- oversized hat, thrifted
- scarf stuffed into hat, thrifted
- Chanel sunglasses darling, hand-me-over (not to be confused with "hand it over!!")
- camera, for sudden street style photography, but I can't find subjects these dark days
I tried to post this earlier but Blogger wouldn't let me put up my photo. I had to do a workaround.
*When I say today I'm referring to last week. I have a different post for Patti's Visible Monday...
The George V is my favorite hotel in the world. :-)
ReplyDeleteI love this - very "Anna Karenina" and mysterious! Melanie, your clothes completely express you - so awesome.
ReplyDeleteYes, I was thinking a husky Russian accent would be more the flavour. Or, at the very minimum, an imitation Marlene Dietrich. Love the look! Love the drama!
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing!
DeleteNyet dah-ling. You ordered caviar and blinis.
Whatever you did dahling, it is absolutely fabulous. Tre chic!
ReplyDeleteHi beautiful!!!! LOVE the mag!!!!
ReplyDeletehugs
reva
You are ready for your close up.
ReplyDeleteConnie*
Beeautiful! Rich, elegant, thrifty! What a great idea to move a single button. Makes the front warmer too I bet.
ReplyDeleteYou write so beautifully and wear this outfit so elegantly and mysteriously! Who is that girl? I had to laugh at the comment about red lipstick bleeding into spider lines, thank God for lipliner :) I was moving through this fantasy right along with you and loving every minute of it. It's like when I was a little girl and my Mom wouldn't let me have long hair so I would lock myself in the bathroom and arrange the towel on my head and pretend I had long locks and I was glamorous. What fun would life be without being able to dream, pretend and play.
ReplyDeleteomg I used to do the hair/towel thing, too!! Now my daughter does it lolzzz!! She actually has long hair, but wants to be freakin' Rapunzel :))
DeleteAnd yes, I also <3 lipliner!
You look so chic-- like intimidating chic, which I love!!! (I don't know why, but I find it hilarious that the coat is inside out with the pockets ripped off!)
ReplyDeleteThe inside-out coat is pure genius, dahling! Will it be in your spring collection? You look seriously divine, as does that fabulous world inside your head. I just can't tell where your head is.
ReplyDeleteI love this look! And I have had the same problem with photos lately. Grrr!
ReplyDeleteyou look elegantly mysterious as a Fabulous Diva and love your inside-out velvety coat and great attitude to enjoy whatever you do with Style, you're inspiring as a dream!
ReplyDeletebesos & glamour
Ingeniously stylish deception, Melanie, I love that you turned the coat inside out and restyled it to work for you. I can just see you walking down the streets of Paris. You remind me a wee bit of Audrey Hepburn out of (my fave) flic, Charade. xo
ReplyDeleteWell, you know who I thought you were in this outfit? Miz Bagg, going to a secret meeting with her feature writers before heading off to look stony-faced and intimidating on the front row of a catwalk show. I am a little nervous...
ReplyDeleteI love the fantasy, I love the deconstruction of the fantasy, I love the huge sunnies, and the inside-out coat, and the hat that is bigger than Paris cos it's stuffed with newspaper. Sorry, a scarf. Newspaper would rustle.
Oh you have to day dream and fantasise, it's a great strategy for navigating one's way through the crap, I find! xxx
I'm with Curtise, I thought Miz Bagg was back, in disguise, having a secret liaison with Jacques. The whole outfit is fantastic of course. You could also be a cold war spy walking quickly through the grey and snowy streets to a rendezvous in a backstreet cafe. I might live vicariously through you. Daydreams are very much needed. Love what you did with the coat, you'd never know - same with the hat, which looks fabulous xxxx
ReplyDeleteas soon has i saw you i tought of Holly in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany
ReplyDeleteYou look like friggin Audrey Hepburn there Lady with the big hat and big sunnies!
I daydream a lot, I dream that I'm a Vogue Super Model, ha, ha ha, travelling the world and being bitchy...
Ariane xxxx
Oh Melanie! I do love this look and the oversized hat frames your face, which has the absolute perfect expression for your 'lobby sweeping.' Your dreaming elevates mine and encourages me to take it to another level. Thank you for the constant inspiration as we 'sweep' into 2013!
ReplyDeleteis it... Marlene....? no, but for a moment... love it!
ReplyDeleteinside out this pure awesomeness. You do look very Russian.
ReplyDeleteGreat outfit! Great ideas! Great inspiration! Somehow you remind me of a sixties celebrity, but at the moment I can't find out which one. Wish you a very happy new year 2013 with lots of dreamlike adventures and magical moments.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely reminds me of something Audrey Hepburn might wear. You look chic yet mysterious. I love this on you.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting a Russian vibe too. Definitely ice cold vodka with the caviar. And maybe a bit of Ninotchka's "I want to be alone". Fab post!
ReplyDeleteA coat worn inside out, and looking this glam? Well, dress me up and call me Sally!! What is one to do with all these legions of fans? Certainly you've kicked the door open on 2013-- look out world!
ReplyDeleteCheers from England,
Rosemary of www.foreveronthecatwalkoflife.blogspot.com
Melanieeeeeeee happy new year, I sent a truck loaded with many good vibes.... a big hug for you...
ReplyDeletemagnifique!!!! I imagine Jacque as 22 year old boy-toy who's only desire in life is to serve you!!
ReplyDeleteOooo la la. C'est tout.
ReplyDeleteTotally glamorous and mysterious. I love outfits that tell a story. Wearing something that turns the world around you into a magical tale. I'm glad I'm not the only one who floats through life with her mind in a dreamy state, turning the world into an inspiration wonderland. You articulate your inner story so well, I struggle to let the story out.
ReplyDeleteYour hat and coat are fabulous! Love the fur! And, yes I do care that your coat is turned inside out because that's brilliant, and I'm going to find a coat to do that to. Lol
ReplyDeleteJordan
http://jordansvintagekitchen.blogspot.com
Very "Garbo-esque"! Only you could make an inside out coat look so glam. I love the stories you create to go with your outfits - you have definitely inspired me to dream up some awesome outfits this past year.
ReplyDeletePlease have your private masseuse sent up, too. And champagne. So relaxing! I'll eat the caviar. I like it.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe what you did with this coat and hat. So very Anna Karenina.
Dreaming clothes? I never thought of them like that. One bucket list item for 2013 is to thrift a totally frivolous dress that isn't suitable for work :)
Superstar presence, whoo!!! The very air around you vibrates. Stupendous silhouette, undercurrents deep as pile. Tales tall as your hat and yet entirely true!
ReplyDeleteExcuse me whilst I take a moment to CRY, FREAKING CRY. My clothing dreams?!? They are taking me NOWHERE LATELY DAMN IT! Bah. They're barely keeping me warm in this stupid weather. Okay, my wool-blend cardigan is a little nicer than the ratty hoody sweater, but...oh forget it. I say NON! NON à mes vêtements!
ReplyDeleteIn other news, I am delighted by your ingenuity. I never would have guessed the coat is so over-sized. Love the caviar scenario too.
Shall we meet there for a glass of wine or would that be too much like slumming for you? ;-)
ReplyDeleteO totally read this in an outrageous accent!
ReplyDeleteAh,Madam, would that I could keep the fans at bay! They long just for a mere glimpse of you; a glance from you in their direction would have them in raptures! I know, I know, you haven't the time to acknowledge your minions, but O how they worship you! You vahn't to be alone?! i understand, I understand. But love never dies, your fans will strain to hear your every whisper, they'll yearn to touch you, or at least bathe in your aura.....you'll never excape the adoration, the worship!
You look so frigging glamORous, just divoon! A Russian princess, perhaps?! MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
XXXXXXXX
You look so glamorous it hurts my heart. The world misunderstands and loves you equally so.
ReplyDeleteThis is fabulous. But nothing less than fabulous ever graces this page.
ReplyDeleteThe stuffing of the hat reminded me of this article I read some time ago that was very amusing. I can't find it for the life of me and I only remember a few details but it was about these women that wear scarves (because they are muslim) and in their country (I don't remember which one) it is fashionable for the scarf to be high on someone's head so they started stuffing their scarves with all sorts of things, one of the funniest ones being a teddy bear!
Oh my dear, caN YOU NOT ONLY STYLE GREAT OUTFITS.... but you can bring them to life with words.... ahhh.... thank you for the delicious escape!
ReplyDeleteSo stylish... you must find a husband and go to Paris, dressed like this. And he can buy you presents. (I keep thinking of this comment you made on my blog. It makes me realize all the time I am a lucky girl. Not in the least bit because there is real love involved.)
ReplyDelete