The Last of the Winter Snow?

The Snow is fading away in my part of the world and I have adopted a pose of melancholy in retaliation, partly out of bitterness and partly out of a strong desire to be contrary (I do not like the wet and the cold when there are no breath-taking fields of pure white to make up for it. Vivement le Printemps!) I have taken up, with great affectation, the reading of Thomas Hardy's 'The Return of the Native' and have spent days in my darkened room listening to Brahms rather too much. Do not misunderstand and choose to believe that I do not like Thomas Hardy and Brahms anyway, but consider it a sort of cumulation of mildly depressing yet intellectually stimulating diversions and maybe a form of cerebral snobbery, since I was not going to spend a couple of weeks listening to angsty teenage 'emo' music... Brahms and Thomas Hardy fool people into thinking I am cultured.

This post is another rather lazy one - simply a few pictures from an old editorial I decided to share. These were taken by Ellen von Unwerth for Vogue Italia in October 2002. The model is Natalia Vodianova and she looks wonderfully Russian is this series of photos. Fur and Ice abounding as she plays the part of a Fairytale Princess trapped in a beautiful, frozen ice (not to mention some beautiful outfits you would be mad not to wish to be trapped into)

These photos are very atmospheric and reflect my mood. Ten years after they were taken, it is the perfect time to share them, n'est ce pas?

It is worth noting that those books are in remarkably good shape for having been left on a shelf covered with snow. I once accidentally dropped a book of the poems of Robert Frost from my bag into the snow when I was getting out of the car. Having not noticed, I left it there. When I found it the next day, it was more than a little waterlogged. Physics. Snow is water. Books do not like water (at least mine do not, but then again, I am not a magical Russian Princess)



Natalia Vodianova gazes wistfully out of the window. Either that or she is silently fuming at someone or other.
 

I cannot say I am not worried about some water damage if that fires stays lit for much longer. It cannot be good for the walls and floors of this beautiful room for all the snow to melt away too quickly after having been there for so long. On the other hand, I must say, an admirable job was done in preventing the painting from getting frozen over. It is the only item in the room which is not!

 

 

 

PS: This is a (Relatively, though not really) new song by Kimbra, who I think, in terms of pop singers of this generation, is rather underrated. Not only do I rather like the song, which is mildly secondary to me when it comes to anything but classical and jazz, I love the dress she wears coupled with her cute hairstyle and make-up.

 

Latest Song Crush: Come into my Head / Kimbra

 

 

 

 

Thank you for reading. Do follow and Please Comment.

 

 

 

Frolicking around in the Snow...

Greetings to you all! Here to post, and hoping it will cheer me up after a freezing cold day accompanied by headache and swelling in the jaw area. Yippee for me.
Anyway, though I am feeling utterly miserable and am experiencing a good many symptoms of fatigue, I am posting these photos which I took yesterday.

What was my aim for this outfit? Well, I wanted to show the contrast between the whitness of the snow and the darkness of the coat as well as showing off my gorgeous cloche hat, "Chic, no?" and gloves... also, to some extent, giving me a good reason to go outside when any sane person would be happy looking at the snow, sitting on the sofa and drinking a cup of hot chocolate. Honestly something I should have done.

The Snow that never drifts —
The transient, fragrant snow
That comes a single time a Year
Is softly driving now —

So thorough in the Tree
At night beneath the star
That it was February's Foot
Experience would swear —

Like Winter as a Face
We stern and former knew
Repaired of all but Loneliness
By Nature's Alibi —

Were every storm so spice
The Value could not be —
We buy with contrast — Pang is good
As near as memory —

Ignore the fact that the video says 'Richard Burton' instead of 'Richard Harris'. Minor mistakes in the editing are worth it for the sake of superior quality. Anyway, I hope you enjoy because this scene does sort of mention snow and I wanted to share it. The music is beautiful - as is Vanessa Redgrave - and Richard Harris presents it so wonderfully. Sadly, this is a new discovery of mine. Camelot is not one of the musicals my Mother bred me on during my childhood.
On a last note for this video, do you not think Vanessa Redgrave's facial expressions are simply perfect?

Here are a couple of vintage pieces. A Vogue Cover of which I do not know the date (if you know, do not hesitate to comment) and a French Advert for the Mont Blanc.

I tied these in because they sort of went well with the theme I had set by wearing my cloche hat. I simply adore cloche hats, and I love the sophistication they give an outfit.

Mont Blanc is the monarch of mountains;

They crown'd him long ago

On a throne of rock, in a robe of clouds,

With a diadem of snow.

Thank you for reading! I would love to write more, but I have pledged solemnly to attempt to tidy my room, and my throat is hurting terribly again... and my sister is shouting because a poor little mouse, probably very hungry, has nibbled at her dress. I understand where she is coming from but, to be honest, it was not a very nice dress to begin with. Too tight. Too short. It did not flatter her figure and I think the mouse might have done her a service.

Please comment and do follow if you like!

Oh, and the poems are by Emily Dickinson and Lord Byron respectively.