Elegy for Cecilia Tallis' wardrobe

Dress: Giorgio Kauten, thrifted;

Shoes: Tayla platforms, Target;

Bracelet: gift.

Thanks for the shopping ban support, everyone -- it does mean a lot to me. 

Here's the dress that prompted the ban. It wasn't that it cost very much -- in fact, I thrifted it. But I did feel a little guilty after the purchase because I realized I was going for, yet again, another floral little summer dress, and I have about 5,000 of those already. 

I've thought long and hard about the psychological factors of why I seem to go for these kinds of wispy dresses, and I think I finally know the root of it, or at least, one of the major influences. I've fallen really hard in the last couple of years for vintage pieces, and it's because of the movie "Atonement." The last year of purchases have helped fuel this Cecilia Tallis Syndrome I seem to have, in which I try to fulfill this fantasy of wearing what Keira Knightley wore in "Atonement." Subtle florals, green, floaty fabrics -- it's all there in this dress. (And now that I think about, these outfits seem to evoke that film too - I, II, III, IV) 

I wish I was kidding, and I know it seems incredibly silly, to blame purchases on a 2007 film and to idolize the wardrobe of a fictional character. But I guess it isn't too dissimilar from, say, wanting to live like the images in an Anthro or J. Crew catalog. It's all about succumbing to a fantasy which becomes less elusive with the more you search and spend. I think I've finally stared my own wardrobe fantasy down long enough to halt the increasing dress collection. I guess I'm atoning for my spending (see what I did there? Harhar).

Okay, I hope this wardrobe musing didn't sound too crazy. Do you find outfit inspiration from the arts -- movies, paintings, music videos, book illustrations, etc. -- and do they ever influence your spending purchases?

Happy Friday,

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