Playing with Blue and Yellow
I have a constantly-evolving list (typed out in the ānotesā section of my iphone) of looks that Iām ~feeling~ for Spring and Summer this year. Among other things, the list includes:
bikini tops in the shape of seashells
patchwork 80s Sharif bags
and photorealistic vegetable prints (I didnāt say the list made sense).
I actually do have a few vintage barettes, but most of the list is aspirational. However, the idea that keeps floating to the top of the list is the Ā idea of a rich, creamy, buttery yellow shade for everythingāa shade that is almost completely absent from my wardrobe.Ā
To be frank, itās hard to find things in pretty shades of yellow that have aged well. Itās a color thatās prone to stains, wrinkles and obvious pilling, and when Iām out thrifting, I often only find it splashed across stretched, dated tees from 5-10 years ago. Iāll spot a perfect, sunny golden banana color and realize Iāve grabbed a pair of childrenās leggings. Itās NOT an easy color to find secondhand.
Blue, on the other hand, is. A solid quarter of my wardrobe is made up of pieces in varying shades of blue, all found in decent-to-excellent condition. I salivate over teal, periwinkle, and navy, over shades from powder to royal.Ā
When I finally got my hands on a suitably yellow piece (this skirt, which I picked up for ~$5 at an American Apparel going out of business sale in late January), I was momentarily at a loss for what to wear with it. Black seemed too harsh, and my pinks and reds felt too summery for early spring when I held them next to the daffodil pop of the skirt. Blue was the key.Ā
I had the afternoon off of work one day last week and put together a few looks with my flippy little summer skirt! Havenāt worn any of these anywhere besides my apartment stairwell yet, but as it warms up, hopefully they can all get more wear.Ā
Thrifted crop, scarf. American Apparel skirt. Wolverine boots.Ā
SUITABLE FOR: Seeing a weekend matinee of some lighthearted new off-off-Broadway comedy. Perhaps getting a baked good of some sort afterwards.Ā
Thrifted jean jacket, blouse. American Apparel skirt. Wolverine boots.Ā
SUITABLE FOR: Going to awkward first few hours of a minor gallery opening party, specifically while itās still light out (sunny yellow just feels wrong for going out at night). Perhaps grabbing a glass of cava afterwards and discussing the absurdity of contemporary art with your wealthy best friend.Ā
Thrifted top, American Apparel skirt, Tretorn sneakers, ribbon (seen here in the role of āchokerā) swiped from my sewing kit.Ā
SUITABLE FOR: Going to Coney Island on the first TRULY warm day of the year; conning men into spending vast sums to win prizes for you at various carnival games; ditching the men, throwing the prizes in the trash and getting absurdly large soft-serve cones with your wealthy best friend.Ā
Thrifted blouse, pumps. American Apparel skirt. Stretchy piece of random gold wrapping string from beneath my dresser worn as a choker.Ā
SUITABLE FOR: Attending your wealthy best friendās swanky daisy-themed bayb-gender-reveal party on the Upper East Side; revealing that you, too, are pregnant; dramatically telling all the guests that the father is your best friendās husband, but that youāre madly in love with your personal trainer and that youāre running away to the Maldives with him (the trainer, to be precise); fleeing to a waiting SUV, never to be seen by UES high society again.Ā
Thrifted blouse, Converse sneakers, American Apparel skirt, sewing kit ribbon choker.Ā
SUITABLE FOR: The same UES heiress returning for Governorās Ball looking for at least a few hours of lighthearted fun, seemingly incognito, back from the Maldives after a rocky breakup with her personal trainer. Sheād revealed that she was never pregnant and it was all a ruse to steal the spotlight and get attention from her lovely, accomplished best friend, of whom she was madly jealous. This best friend spots her at the festival, recognizing the telltale daffodil yellow of her favorite skirt, and rushes to her, embracing her.Ā āIām so glad youāre back,ā she sobs.Ā āBeing sober and pregnant at a festival is terrible.Ā ā They laugh and hold hands. The ashamed, not-pregnant heiress reveals that sheās been going to a therapist. The two women purchase coconut waters.Ā
SUITABLE FOR: The not-pregnant heiress has discovered that sheās actually harbored intensely romantic feelings for her best friend all along. Sheās discovered a lot about herself in therapy. She decides to broach the topic with her best friend one day, knowing sheāll regret it forever if she says nothing. Sheās seen how her best friend has wilted in her marriage; her best friendās husband is rich and cruel, frequently absent, with a never-ending supply of suggestions forĀ āimprovingā her friendās life and appearance. Itās the hottest day of the summer, and the not-pregnant heiress slips on her favorite skirt, the one thatās seen her through so much with the woman she loves. She wants to look cute and romantic and accessible. She steels herself for whatās to come.Ā
Thrifted blouse, jacket. Nine West boots. American Apparel skirt.Ā
SUITABLE FOR: Two years later. The heiress stares into her closet in the early morning light. The bedroom lights are off and small snores come from the bed behind her. Sheās got to hurry to get to work on time. She has a job at a publishing house now, helping to develop emerging authors. Itās been two years since she and her best friend realized they were deeply, surprisingly, inconveniently in love; two years of madness and bliss. She glances back at the bed, smiling softly at her sleeping wife, and hears her stepson stir in the next room. Looking at her watch, she grabs her favorite yellow skirt and some practical boots. Itās a chillier day than usual, summer turning into fall, so she grabs her raincoat. She turns, leans over the bed, and kisses her wife, who stirs.Ā āYou sleep,ā she says to her wife.Ā āI have to go. Iāll get breakfast together and drop him at preschool.ā Her wife blinks and smiles.Ā āI love you in yellow,ā she says.Ā
