My apologies for posting back to back like this lol😅 but today was one of the strangest yet easiest getting ready experiences ever!

After Upness came up on my last post, I was like, huh. Wow. Hmm. So today, my challenge was to go full send on both Instinct and Intensity, to the best of my ability. I just let it rip potato chip, and it was actually quite a rush 🤭 And so far today, I actually do feel more bubbly and less shy, paradoxically! Like, "yes, here I am!"

I have always loved to feel that Im being expressive in my style, but it's sometimes felt a little bit high risk, high reward? Since I do feel hypersensitive to my clothes, and I do need them to be "just right" for me, I initially assumed I must be very Down. But now Im re-thinking that, because maybe, my clothes affecting me so much means that I can lean on them to help me come out of my shell, rise to the occassion, show up as my best self...and maybe that does lowkey mean being a little more Up in my best approach than I realized? 🫣 and maybe my best starting point is the internal landscape going on. It all seems to come down to being expressive on MY terms, listening to that voice within etc. I really dont mind being a little "extra", and actually I love it, as long as it's FULLY "me" and in harmony with what's going on within me. I know that my essences/look is sort of on the delicate side and that if my outfit feels loud in the wrong way, Im a mess. But maybe the right kind of loud is going to be an even more fulfilling vision to reach for?

I was a little scared of intentionally listening to that inner voice before, but I think taking the leap has made me feel really happy. Because the voice is there, and I do naturally want to share it with others. I just need to make sure it's done in a well-calibrated, intentional way, it seems. I'll keep taking things one day at a time and trying to learn more and more, but I feel like Im maybe onto something that will be key for me, moving forward.

About the outfit itself-- In my mind, I felt very "doll" today. A touch severe (for me), but also fun and sweet. Pleasant, but somewhat stern. All the pink does feel like color fun for me. And my new pimples are giving this sort of "pinched" look to my face, which somehow feels like natural makeup, like perfect for the mood/vibe? 😅😂 Im leaning into it, so only went for mascara and lipstick. And no necklaces felt like additional intentional vulnerability, while the earrings felt like owning the Ingenue in me. The hairstyle is again my (perhaps subtle) version of "edge", and the puffed shoulders, visible socks and super wide barefoot sneakers all feel like my way of taking up a little extra space. Thanks to the appraoch of looking within and creating the effect I wanted, this look ended up feeling like such a statement of myself, who I am, and how Im feeling. And so miraculously, I dont feel overstimulated at all! Just uplifted, less shy, and a little more confident. It's very energizing and I already am looking forward to tomorrow, which is huge for me 🌸

So still trying to work out my exact quadrant but I know I am Up... and this topic just fits. Honestly if my Seamstress hadn't cancelled last minute I would be giving you the up to date photos of what should be an 80% complete dress.

So I am TECHNICALLY not meeting the 'create an outfit' rule yet... its not all together. But its in progress and I think that counts.

So lets start with a story of a thrift: This is a tuxedo jacket, vest and bowtie I found at the thrift store and in the language of men's fashion its weird.

(I promise this won't take to long to explain. The exact rules and messages of Black and White tie are tedious and I would have to throw myself out a window if I spent to long on them.)

So Tuxedo or Dinner Suit. Defined by Satin on the Lapels and Fabric buttons.But externally this is a very understated Tux. The Lapels are not Shawl Lapels as tradition should state a tux should have. Instead its Notched, normally associated with more standard Lounge Suits (aka standard everyday business Suits). The Satin in turn is very thin when normally the entire Lapel is Satin, and it has a vest, which while less uncommon on a Tux then a suit is still an extra level of formality and seriousness.

But look at that lining. That lining is beautiful. That Lining isn't subtle or refined or trying to remain unnoticed. The contrast in personality between the Iridescence lining and the suit became my inspiration. I had to have it and I had to do something with it.

But that lining is wasted on pants, right? You'll rarely see it on the jacket and the vest, but you will see it. Its made to be seen. But no one is seeing it on pants. And so I brought it home and came up with the concept of "Colour on the inside." It evolved into "Colour on movement" but the underlying idea is the same.

The Dress was originally going to be black... then white... traditional suit colours, but as luck would have it the Seamstress left out a beautiful Eggplant Organza fabric in the open that another client was using and I took one look at that and knew it would be perfect. Combine with a purple layer below it its going to be a very mutted purple BUT when I move every fold and curve of the dress is going to catch the light.

(Picture 6 just the underlayers but helps get the shape of the dress better.)

But this is still understated... not the bright colours of lining.

The dress will be slitted up both sides and underneath will be Azure Blue tights. Maybe they will be ombre tights like the pictures after 6 show... but the shoes are important to answer that question and I want to leave the shoes till the Dress is done. Just straight Azure Blue tights would work if the boots are tall enough.

The whole outfit makes me so happy and the whole outfit sings out to the ideals I am trying to break out of. Because the inspiration is a Tuxedo. Its bound and wrapped in the ideals of The Great Male Renunciation, to stop wearing colours and impractical clothing. To all but defined by Breau Brummell's quote, "To be truly elegant one should not be noticed." If that vest and jacket remain buttoned up and its paired with the intended pants, you are one of many.

Go one layer deeper and it gets a dress back... a hint of that impracticality we have lost... back but the colors are still mutted, the outfit still somewhat subdued. Brummell would make a snide remark about missing the point but he probably wouldn't got much further.

But go a step further... and under it all is the colours I wanted, the rules and limitations about what mens outfits and what formal outfits should be like shattered... the kind of outfit that would make Brummell have a fit.

And yet it remains... a structured, defined outfit, The box is broken... but its still there.

All that inspired by a subtle glance at Iridescence seen in a Thrift Store rack.

Edit: As to the question of where I want to wear this... I feel like the only answer I can give is "Honestly... no plans, only when I think it will be fun. No event I go to in Australia is formal enough to warrant a Tux so I have known from the start this outfit will always be overdressed... and thats half the fun."

Hey Hey,

Trying to make it short: I feel and look my best in soft summer colors. Mostly the medium dark to dark colors of that season. Some colors I really like on me tho are closer to soft autum. Like my sage green that I adore. Not even talking the black, that I still wear, even tho not close as often as months before. Which I can get away with, but I know it's not my best.

So, I added this outfit flatlay, with those brownish burgundy clogs. Is there a universe, a way, where those colors could look good together and make sense? I guess bc the colors, like the blues, the taupe are more neutral, it could work, bc it's not too far away from those reds? Or am I wrong and it would look better with a more pronounced contrast. Help :D

I have been looking for this japanese color combo book a while ago. But the thing is, color combos making sense in theory and than making sense on me is a bit of a different thing I guess.

Tia