Fashion Incognito

Museum Selfie

By Laurie Bower Epps

Sorry about my delay on writing this post, but I was sick with type A flu, or Chinese flu for most of the month. But this exciting post is too good to not put it out there in the cyber universe.

Many of you that know and love me, know that I'm a classic movies buff. I adore Audrey Hepburn, and I can actually say that she's influenced my own personal style to this very date. Other power hitters for my palette for fashion include also Jackie Onassis, Nancy Reagan, and my beloved mother.

The main reason I wanted to go to Columbia, other than my friend (of course), was to go to the exhibition called "Cut: Costume and the Cinema." My dear friend and college buddy was good enough to take me. I confess, I did believe the exhibition to focus on the classic movies from the 50s and 60s that I so adore, but instead, the focus was on period pieces that are more recent. No harm done, as an English major, I'd seen them all, and I adore them too.

Fashion

With that being said, I did dress and even styled my hair up into a french twist like my beloved Audrey Hepburn.

Shaker Cardigan, Lace Peplum Top, & Pencil Skirt
~New York & Company

Big Black Sunglasses
~Lane Bryant

Black Chinese Picture Jasper Necklace & Earrings
~Magma Rocks & Creations

Classic Black Handbag with lock
~Cracker Barrel

From Sense and Sensibility

English and Victorian Literature are typically my favorites and I love how the characters from Jane Austen novels still manage to leap off the page even though it's more than a century later. Among my favorite adaptations are Emma Thompson's Sense and Sensibility, and A&E's version of Pride and Prejudice. It was such a thrill to see them in person. I especially loved the dresses of Marianne in Sense and Sensiblity and for your viewing pleasure, here's a picture of one of them up close.

As a former seamstress backstage for the ballet, I love pouring myself over the details in the construction as seen in this video.

Costumes from the Duchess

Dually noted, I bought the movie The Duchess strictly because Keira Knightly played the character Georgiana, and historically, she was known as England's "It Girl." I had read about her and was curious how her life would unfold on the big screen. What a thrill it was for me to see her magnificent costumes up close and in person.

My little one even got in on the act and loved playing dress up in their interactive, discovery area for kids where kids had the chance to play dress up with costumes that were open and able to easily be tied on in the back. She especially loved this spaghetti western inspired ranchero costume (pictured left).

My college buddy was a really good sport by going with me to a costume exhibition, and I wanted to formerly thank him here. It was an unbelievably good weekend, and so good in fact, I hope to take a trip back this spring. Thank you Leo for being there for me in a way that kept me smiling all weekend.

As for now, fashion loves, and my dear Columbia, SC be warned that I will be back. I loved reconnecting to art that I adore, and with people that I adore. My trip to the Columbia Museum of Art was a success.


Till next time, be fashionable and be blessed.

Love,
Laurie