Striped Tights and Other Tales

March 4th, 2008

Doodles, sketches from last night and a work in progress laid out on the bed where I'm working this week. Ah and a bit of my sparkly shoe. :-)

A lot of you seemed to like the stockings that my leaping lady is wearing below. I have some tights with stripes like that, but they're totally worn out. I wore them into oblivion sometime in my mid-twenties, although, I still have them. As I was sketching the idea for that painting I realized I wanted her to be wearing some funky clothes. I had been inspired by Maddie's wardrobe earlier in the day. Every so often she shows bits and pieces of the clothes she wears and I realized the other day that I was longing for some of that creativity expressed in my own clothing.

Back in high school, I had a style that was far from fashion forward. I liked slightly unusual clothing, kind of quirky. I often wore a necklace with beads in different colors that said love in different languages. I wore oddball little baby-doll dresses over leggings and some wild patterns, and a silly hats. I wouldn't even call the clothes attractive necessarily, but they were things I liked and it was a way of expressing myself.  Somewhere along the way, I lost touch with that. 

I think it may have something to do with my occupation and activities more recently. I was a nanny for 6 years and being around kids and two dogs all day had me wearing clothes I wasn't worried about ruining. In the last two years of nannying I was also attending massage therapy school and that called for comfortable clothes that I could move in and wouldn't mind if they got stained with oil. Then there's my dislike of shopping, my hesitation to spend money on myself, the occasional hand-me-downs that keep me going, and the fact that a lot of things I own get wrecked by cats kneading me or paint and glue getting on everything. I look at my clothes and I see a few things with personality and the rest just blah. Sweats and jeans and hoodies, oh my! I have a great collection of fun socks and some lovely handmade jewelry that I've been picking up here and there over the years, but my clothes are no fun at all.

It's not that clothes are that important. I realize that. But there's something to be said for wearing things that make you feel good and alive. It's a self-respect thing. A self-care thing. And especially in the gray days of March, historically not one of my favorite months, we all need some color and quirkiness.

So when I was painting the leaping lady, I ended up putting her in blue shoes, inspired by the blue shoes above and then I was thinking about Maddie and unique and quirky, but beautiful clothes, when I painted her stockings and dress. I wasn't thinking of any outfit in particular, but when I went back to her flickr album I saw this one which is sort of similar! The tights I mentioned are like hers, pink and black. But I'd love some orange ones. :-)   p.s. You can buy Maddie's gorgeous photos on her etsy shop here.

13 Responses

This post feeds all my senses. I love your description of your clothes overtime. I used to have striped tights and believed that I could NEVER have a bad day when I was wearing them. I am glad to find maddie’s link. Her pictures make me believe in spring.

Love posts about clothes! I’m a vintage clothing gal myself, as you know. Love them! :)

Oh Leah, I am literally DRINKING in your words and images and inspiration this morning! I’m embarrassed to say that it’s been awhile since I’ve been able to read your blog. That does not, however, mean I haven’t been thinking about you. Actually, I think of you every day and now I see why! There is such incredible energy here!! Oh, I LOVE IT!!!! :)

You have filled my spirit this morning in every way possible. Gosh, I love it when that happens! :)

As for Maddie’s photography…I am truly enjoying seeing how it as inspired you. Isn’t she amazing?! I think it’s wonderful to acknowledge the ways in which we inspire each other–because it’s true, we certainly do! :)

love you!
j.

Good post that resonates with me. Once a hip fashionista now I’m a boring 40 something. Time to dress up the wardrobe. I bought yards of sky blue poplin, electric green satin and a print fabric with a combo of the same two colors and a touch of red for a great new trench coat for spring. Wish me luck.

Time to jazz up the wardrobe indeedy do.

Clothes don’t make the girl, Leah! :-) My girls are full blown in the “I can dress myself stage” now so we end up with some crazy outfits. They are also very big on tights. Sometimes we’ll just go with it. On a very rainy day a couple weeks ago, we went to the playground inside the mall wearing our Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty costumes–the same costumes purchased for Halloween so they are not in the best of shape since they are worn almost daily. I just posted a story and pic on my blog about the latest outfits they wore to the zoo.

http://happyshackdesigns.blogspot.com/2008/03/behind-camera-im-gonna-miss-this.html

I totally get what you mean about the fashion statements going out of the window where comfort, not wanting to spend money on clothes, and not wanting them to get ruin during daily tasks! Thenther is the winter weather to content with. I am a jeans and long sleeve top girl with knee high socks and boots girl – most likely to be found in a cardigan at this time of year and wrapped in a blanket for a good measure!

Loving your sketches too!

How could you not be inspired by the gorgeous, oh so fun clothing of Maddie! I look at it and see that i need to get off my butt and get me some fun clothing. I know it is true that the clothing don’t make the girl, but it is also about showing your creativity in every way, including the first impression that others get of you. This old world could use a little bit more whimsy and fun :) .

I feel i always have to look ‘professional’, as a teacher, (and that will not change), but the weekends are my time… time to get going on this. A friend of mine is a masterful seamstress (i am not), and i can’t wait till she has some time to colab with me and make some fun stuff!

Wow… longer comment than anticipated. Sorry bout that hahah

This was so interesting/funny to read because I totally get what your saying. I loooooove patterns and funky colors but would never dare wear them, lol. I threaten my family that someday I will I’m going to even go so far as to dye my hair blue.
Kidding of course.
Can’t wait to see what you come up with Miss fashionista. :)
a.

Just found your blog and how lovely to have done so! :) Thank you for having the challenge for ‘08. I’ve taken a button and would love to participate! I’m doing this already in a way, so it fits so nicely. I can’t wait to explore your blog some more. :)

Wow, it’s amazing how things connect. I just popped down from your post about Project Runway because in Canada we’re still a few weeks away from the winner – oh, my! And I was reading this post and you mentioned Maddie and I popped through to her site and guess what? I just bought one of her photos! It arrived yesterday. Wild.

I’m with you on the importance of clothes as a matter of self-respect, self-care and also self-expression. Sometimes I think we can feel like it’s not okay to make these things a priority because they feel superfical or materialistic. But I think what you’ve written shows why it’s important. And I always say that no clothing is neutral and if you’re going to walk around not naked, you might as well enjoy what you’re putting on your body!

I keep trying to find a uniform of sorts so I don’t have to choose or think about what to wear but that gets too boring. I end up never in style which I don’t care about anyhow but I do try for clean and in good condition. That’s the most my family can expect from me and they know it.

A couple of days ago, I was walking in our downtown neighborhood and passed a couple on the sidewalk. She was wearing these FABULOUS black knee-high boots with pants tucked into them, large shades, chic hair…it was just a great look. And I thought: wow…I used to dress like that…and then realized I was schlumping around in jeans, hooded sweatshirt and comfy sneaks. (I was out for a walk, after all.) I used to be such a fun dresser…what happened?! I think 5 years of shorts and flip-flops morphed into lazy clothes once we got to California. That…and 13 years together…eh…I don’t need to wow him anymore. Ha! :)

I love how something quirky and simple like striped socks
can inspire an entire and delightful and
just stunning painting such as yours ~ i love that she
is leaping up out of the painting ~
just a soaringly happy image:)

For some reason I can completely picture you
wearing stripey tangerine socks:)

You are such a delightful and engaging artist
~ I am in awe of your artistic mind ~ so
fresh and alive and original:)

(hugs!!!)

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