thegirlwiththemouseyhair (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thegirlwiththemouseyhair) wrote2013-11-11 10:14 pm
thegirlwiththemouseyhair) wrote2013-11-11 10:14 pm
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Inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray...
Well, I'm on a big Oscar Wilde thing again and am trying to make a whole fad on my flist of re-reading The Picture of Dorian Gray. I re-read it; a few others of you darlings have been doing so or expressed an interest in doing so, so I may as well try to make a whole trend here. I feel so cool. I also haven't done one of those "Looks inspired by..." things in a long time, so here are looks inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray.
"Rose-red youth and rose-white boyhood..."
This look draws on the scene when we first see Dorian and he's young, innocent and pretty ordinary, but with unspoken passions that will eventually come to dominate him and his life. Red, white and grey are a play on the quote and these themes (and, naturally, the surname Gray). The roses bracelet also reflects the quote and the first line of the novel, while the mirror of course reflects the obsession Dorian soon develops with his own beauty.
"The world has changed because you are made of ivory and gold..."
I wanted this look to reflect the glamour and innocence or at least perceived innocence of Dorian's life - and of course that beautiful quote (which is also in Velvet Goldmine!). The flower earrings recall the elaborate buttonholes of the time and the elaborate, beautiful flowery language of the novel; the key bracelet alludes to the way Dorian keeps his portrait locked away in his attic and his dark secrets locked away from society, and of course the quote gave me a built-in colour scheme.
"Culture and corruption"
This look reflects the novel's (and Dorian's) glamour but also darkness, hence edgier touches like leather and studs and the darker colour scheme. The classicizing laurel ring and amber pendant allude to Dorian's fascination with the pomp and luxury but also the decadence and cruelty of various legendary historical figures. The brocade skirt reflects the luxury and glamour, while the more textured, "plebeian" scarf adapts the muffler and disguises Dorian is said to use in his double life. (Also, it got effing cold here, so I literally cannot imagine an outfit without a coat and scarf right now. I think these outfits reflect that preoccupation.)
"Nothing makes one so vain as being told that one is a sinner..."
I just want to note how much I love Lord Henry, or Harry, as his friends call him, and how I cannot see him as an evil character at all, though I know some readers' interpretations differ. Like the earrings a couple looks ago, the orchids allude to the elaborate buttonholes of the time. The peacock ring refers to the Aesthetic Movement's interest in peacock feathers and other natural symbols of beauty, while the clutch of course refers to the 'yellow book' in the novel.
"He is all my art to me now..."
As much as I love Harry, I really love Basil Hallward. (I feel like he's one of the only completely sympathetic characters in this novel, and I really feel for him. Also, I find he's easiest to get right (and make sympathetic) in adaptations, even when they go largely off base? Anyway...) The quote reflects the two things he's really devoted to in life, his art and Dorian. I wanted this outfit to be casual and more ordinary, accessible and easier to relate to and of course to reference his profession and role in Dorian's life and in the novel.
"Rose-red youth and rose-white boyhood..."
This look draws on the scene when we first see Dorian and he's young, innocent and pretty ordinary, but with unspoken passions that will eventually come to dominate him and his life. Red, white and grey are a play on the quote and these themes (and, naturally, the surname Gray). The roses bracelet also reflects the quote and the first line of the novel, while the mirror of course reflects the obsession Dorian soon develops with his own beauty.
"The world has changed because you are made of ivory and gold..."
I wanted this look to reflect the glamour and innocence or at least perceived innocence of Dorian's life - and of course that beautiful quote (which is also in Velvet Goldmine!). The flower earrings recall the elaborate buttonholes of the time and the elaborate, beautiful flowery language of the novel; the key bracelet alludes to the way Dorian keeps his portrait locked away in his attic and his dark secrets locked away from society, and of course the quote gave me a built-in colour scheme.
"Culture and corruption"
This look reflects the novel's (and Dorian's) glamour but also darkness, hence edgier touches like leather and studs and the darker colour scheme. The classicizing laurel ring and amber pendant allude to Dorian's fascination with the pomp and luxury but also the decadence and cruelty of various legendary historical figures. The brocade skirt reflects the luxury and glamour, while the more textured, "plebeian" scarf adapts the muffler and disguises Dorian is said to use in his double life. (Also, it got effing cold here, so I literally cannot imagine an outfit without a coat and scarf right now. I think these outfits reflect that preoccupation.)
"Nothing makes one so vain as being told that one is a sinner..."
I just want to note how much I love Lord Henry, or Harry, as his friends call him, and how I cannot see him as an evil character at all, though I know some readers' interpretations differ. Like the earrings a couple looks ago, the orchids allude to the elaborate buttonholes of the time. The peacock ring refers to the Aesthetic Movement's interest in peacock feathers and other natural symbols of beauty, while the clutch of course refers to the 'yellow book' in the novel.
"He is all my art to me now..."
As much as I love Harry, I really love Basil Hallward. (I feel like he's one of the only completely sympathetic characters in this novel, and I really feel for him. Also, I find he's easiest to get right (and make sympathetic) in adaptations, even when they go largely off base? Anyway...) The quote reflects the two things he's really devoted to in life, his art and Dorian. I wanted this outfit to be casual and more ordinary, accessible and easier to relate to and of course to reference his profession and role in Dorian's life and in the novel.
no subject
And I really do need to reread that book. I said so a few months ago when I was helping a friend of mine with an essay about it, but then I completely forgot, so I should go dig my copy back out. Then I can pull out actual examples for my 'Lord Henry isn't evil, he just talks big with ideas he's never going to follow through on and no one but Dorian ever actually listens to him' ramblings.
no subject
And I hope you reread it so I can say I started that whole trend. Read! Lol. Also, so with you regarding Harry. I just see him as not really serious in much of what he says and never involved in any life or death evil. He's probably a playboy type who's experimented with whatever drugs were available in that context, and slept around a lot, and his humour is cruel but he's also clever and gets all the best lines, and I interpret him as more of a witty and fun dandy-ish character, in keeping with most of the dandy figures in Wilde's plays. As I said, no life or death level evil or anything. By the end of that novel he and Dorian are worlds apart, and I think the notion that he is somehow responsible for "poisoning" Dorian (... with a book...) is highly ironic and rather hollow as a claim.
Anyway, so much love for that novel...
no subject
Ha, I think my friend's work on dandies and the media is starting to rub off on me terribly. She was talking the other day about dandies being ultimately unsustainable and I just want to run with that and blather on about Wilde's writing with that perspective, but again... I actually need to reread first. And I shall!