The Quiet End of All Things
The end of the year is a time of stress and loudness and running around, sweaty and annoyed. Miraculously, I feel calmer and calmer as December approaches, quiet and serene. I’ve given up on achieving some things that no longer seem necessary. I’ve become almost relaxed about work. I think of flowers and calligraphy.
Even when dressing up, I now long for restraint and simplicity. I’m sure it’ll pass, but colours do not interest me, I want to wear black and white and if I’m feeling adventurous, maybe grey and silver. I’ve returned to my past love of 20s, but it’s the sad eyes of Clara Bow, not the ebullience of flappers that I’m drawn to. So there might be a dropped waist or a brownish lip or a smattering of feathers to slightly enliven the severity of the palette, but nothing frivolous.
Iris fragrances pair beautifully with this state of mind, as they are often elegant and disciplined. My new love, Naomi Goodsir’s Iris Cendre is perfect for a shimmering silver gown and I need to write about this soon, when the love is still fresh. The lipstick I’m wearing is the genius Farouche by Chanel, as wearable as a moody brown can get. I bought it especially for the shoot and forgot to take it with me when I left. But this is how it is. No need to get upset.
All clothes by the darling Aldo Järvsoo, pictures by the magical Tanel Veenre, hair and make-up by the lovely Marina at Glow Studio.
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I just have to say that this is a perfectly beautiful post. Praise to you and the other artists involved. This is the mood /mental state I exist in most of the time……life has dealt me a great sorrow that can never be “fixed”. I find great great comfort in quiet beauty and grace, however it crosses my path. I agree that iris scents fit this mood well, but as I was reading your words and enjoying the artistic portraits, I was mentally smelling my favorite, L’Heure Bleue. Thank you for this.
Dear Avonne, thank you so much. I’m sad to learn of your sorrow and can only wish that you’ll find that comfort in beauty and grace when you need it. And you have inspired me to wear L’Heure Bleue.
Ha ……..seems that the Department of Redundancy Department has sneakily added an extra “great” or two to my comment. Probably the universe reminding me not to take myself so seriously…….
🙂 Or your subconscious wanting to make something crystal clear.
You look stunning Anniky. What fabulous hair. And clothes. And makeup.
I love those moments, when all is quiet and calm and cool. It’s such a natural part of the cycle of things, the trees losing their leaves only to turn their attention to their roots until the sun returns and colour saturates the world again. As it will. 🙂
Thank you so much. And you make a perfect point – I would be the first one to go mad if I had to be calm and refined all the time. But feel it from time-to-time is wonderful. And healthy.
Well gee, I can’t add anything to Avonne’s and Lynley’s comments except ditto! What lovely sentiments…I need to up my game!
So I thank the three of you for providing a moment of serenity here through your heartfelt words and also the lovely vision of you, Annikky. I have the feeling I will revisit this post often …
Thank you, Holly. I must say I’m very happy with the result as well. It was done without much planning, almost in passing, but somehow it turned out exactly as I imagined. I was lucky to work with some exceptional people.
You look stunningly beautiful….and I concur with all that was said above…..finding serenity, equanimity and simplicity in my life has become my life’s mission…thank you for reminding me to stay the course….
Thank you! I’m sure I’ll be back to my usual hectic life soon, but currenty, the calmness holds.
Thank you for such a beautiful post, and calming thoughts. I always love grey and silver but interestingly have always thought of them more as zen and related to the sea, and you are so right that they of course hark back to the 20s. The feelings you summarise in your post seem entirely appropriate for the short dark days and bare branches at the moment, and you look entirely stunning.
I must admit I find myself drawn to baroque richness at this time of year such as richly coloured velvets- somehow it seems an antidote to the cold and grey (or to perfumes that remind one of spring). Of course, the joy is that our moods change all the time, and thank you for sharing your calm mood which has imparted a sense of calm on a tired and frenetic Monday afternoon.
I’m usually exactly as you describe during holidays, I love brocade and velvet and I think – if not during this time of year, then when? And as you also say, I might still get into that mood before the end of the year, I am very fickle. I have a full-length red velvet dress that makes me think of Russian fairytales, I might build a post around that.
And thank you, of course.