With Thanksgiving 2009 in the bag and my feeling a bit more like one, I have had a precious moment to reflect.
The fete commenced Wednesday night with the requisite - if you’re a New Yorker, a bit whimsical, and have a brood of kiddies – visit to the Macy’s Parade balloon blow-up headquarters on the perimeter of the American Museum of Natural History. What a blow out! Indebted to a playful Blogher contributor and friend Suzanne Reisman who hosted a party for the event, the hubby and I experienced our first rain-soaked, festive gathering of thankful Manhattanites who, like me, worship Papa Smurf.
Big Daddy Smurf
Arriving home late, we shifted into pack-for-the-6am flight-to-the-in-laws-in-Chicago mode. In an out of character move, I gave no advanced thought about what to wear for Thanksgiving. Game plan: go with the gut. After all, that’s what a good part of the holiday centers on. Amongst an abundance of dresses, tops, shoes, tights and accessories, I stuffed the luggage full of whatever seemed right. With the last zip of the London Fog travel gear, we were off.
As dawn broke outside the window of seat 24B, it, well, dawned on me that something unusual had happened. I turned to hubby, poked his shoulder, and shouted with a fusion of awe and glee that I think I had dressed like a turkey. Huh, he says?!
What-if holidays we dressed the part?
Thankfully it was not a literal interpretation, rather a mere channeling of the Thanksgiving spirit, but it was a significant “coincidence” that warrants an extra forkful of sharing.
* The layered ruffles of the J.Crew dress with iridescent purple and chartreuse hues look a tad like the plumes of feathers on the turkey’s bodice, right?
* The striped turtleneck could be mistaken for the wings or tough dark skin on its legs, no doubt?
* The patent leather brown oxford shoes with the talon heel, could they not be the bird’s feet?
* And, c’mon, the rose scarf hanging loosely around the neck? Is that not the turkey’s wattle?
When the ensemble that emerged from my suitcase was fully arranged, I and my wattle had a glorious gut-busting laugh.
On this What-if Holiday, I continue to be thankful for the freedom to express and the abundant ways that one can go about it.
My muse
A turkey impression that I can't believe I am posting
Displaying my turkey flair
It reminds me of a recent visit with mom to see the exhibit “Rare Bird of Fashion: The Irreverent Iris Apfel” at the Peabody Essex Museum. Iris is a rare bird, summoning the spirit of her interior life and making it visible to the world. Her audacious expressions rejuvenated my spirit, leaving me with that extra boost of chutzpah to go out into the world with all my feathers splayed.
Click on the links above for an amazing application that allows you to curate Ms. Apfel’s wardrobe for yourself! A perfect opportunity to play What-if I . . .?
