Saturday, April 16, 2011

a night at the opera



My brief absence here was a cause of the arts - the operatic arts, to be exact. I don't know if going to the opera is what the "cool kids" are up to these days, but my new opera habit just goes to show what kind of kid I am! On Sunday I saw "Die Fledermaus" at my university, and then spent a lovely Thursday evening with fellow Minnesotan art bloggers at the Ordway Theater in downtown St. Paul, watching the Minnesota Opera's production of "Wuthering Heights."




I hadn't read "Wuthering Heights" beforehand and now I don't think I'd like to! The story is so dark, so dreary and hopeless...and so, only naturally, I adored every second of it.




I've never been to a theater production quite so much like a movie before! They used a special type of screen effect which allowed for eery lighting overlays and a whole ton of creepiness. The entire production was breathtaking, as was all the music and singing (which was composed by Bernard Herrmann of Psycho, Citizen Cane, & Taxi Driver fame). I was suprised to learn that this was the first time in 30 years that this particular opera has been performed!




Photo credit to Michal Daniel & the Minnesota Opera


Also at the event was a girl named Caitlin who is the editor of the up & coming Crooked Teeth Magazine which you definitely should take a look at! There might be a surprise in store related for the next issue....!




Anyways, since this is a fashion blog, I should stop dorking out about the opera and instead discuss what I wore to it! After I got home from class and a Target shopping trip on Wednesday, I began this skirt! I'd bought the fabric a few months ago and just never got around to actually making the garment. I spent the entire night and part of Thursday working on it. The fabric liked to curl up around the edges, so setting the waistband in and hemming the bottom ended up being a nightmare! In the end, since time was running out, I decided to forego a "professional" look and settled for semi-shoddy craftsmanship.


I paired the skirt with a vintage blouse, my new-ish belt from Motel Rocks, my faux leather H&M jacket, and a black lace slip. I actually wore black booties to the event. I let my date choose & he went for the booties, but now I wish I'd worn these gold ones! They make the belt pop better. The purse is Nine West from Macy's, which I got for something ridiculously cheap like $16. Sales are my best friend and also my worst enemy.




Ever since that incredibly dark production, the weather has taken a turn for the worst. I woke up this morning to snow on the ground (welcome to Minnesota) and today is horribly drizzly and gusty. I should have predicted this. I took the entire week off from work, and the weather always gets absolutely horrid when it knows I'll have a chance to be out in it!




Furthermore, last week I woke up with my throat absolutely swollen up and I couldn't swallow or talk. I skipped class and opted for the doctor, which ended up being a good choice because I was diagnosed with both strep throat and mono/glandular fever. They had to take a blood test to determine the mono, which left me lying in the office bawling my eyes out like a little baby. I'm so terrified of needles and blood! Anyways, needless to say, my energy is absolutely spent & I wish I could spend the days lying in bed sleeping, not running all over the Twin Cities. But if I must be running around, at least let it be to the opera!

19 comments:

Whimsically Stuffed Shelves said...

So so so so, gorgeous!
I love the style and color of your heels, they are just to die for!
&& that little bag is just too darn cute. The op of red in this is just genius!

<3

shinythings63 said...

I just stumbled on your blog the other day, and I love it and your style. Exemplary :)

Unknown said...

You inspire me to be pretty!
You're awesome, just thought I'd tell you!

XOXO

Anonymous said...

Amazing velvet skirt, Im totally in love.

Cynthia

Erika said...

The leather and the velvet are perfect together, great mix of textures!

Miriam said...

Great job on the skirt, I really like the curly unfinished edge! Great styling with the belt and leather jacket :D

I hope you feel better soon!
M xo

Sara said...

your outfit is so adorable!

http://sarassweetstyle.blogspot.com/

tess said...

Sorry you aren't feeling well, but your skirt is so sexy! I love the short cut and vibrant shade of red. It really pops despite the weather.

Don Andrew Halvorson said...

I read your blog every now and again, and I believe less and less that a girl such as yourself even exists. You can find so much culture in the same town that I find myself reaching for anything. A girl with such classic tastes that is gorgeous and apt at writing and interesting, for god's sake interesting.

So, if you really are who you write yourself to be, I think you are a wonderful fantasy of a girl.

Alexndra said...

I'm in love with your gold shoes and your skirt! And your lipstick matches it all perfectly.

Lizaboo said...

Love this outfit, especially the combination of all the different fabrics. It looks so vintage and cute xx :o)

Unknown said...

Oh my gosh, well I hope you get better, strep throat and mono/glandular fever sound awful! Anyways, I love your outfit, you look so pretty and badass. I love your skirt, you did a great job on it! And I love this look with the gold heels, but I'm sure the black booties still looked wonderful!

- Meanz (Koi Story)

Laura Natalie said...

saying 'i love this' is kinda usual from me, so im just gonna say how amazing you look again :)

im just wondering... who's taking the pictures of you?

Michelle's Style File said...

Gorgeous skirt- in fact you have A LOT of gorgeous skirts!

x
Michelle
www.michellesstylefile.blogspot.com

Marley said...

That's so cool, I've always wanted to go to an opera. Hope you feel better soon <3

(oh and the captcha is CATTIME, haha. thought it was cute :3)



creepy style blog

Jilliebeanie said...

I saw you there and wanted to introduce myself, but never got the chance - drat! There is always next time. It was SO dark and creepy and wonderful! Agreed.

Ashley said...

Your skirt is absolutely wonderful! And I've been there, done that with the needles and blood tests. I had some nasty bug this time last year that wasn't strep and wasn't mono, it was just horrible mystery disease. Luckily I got over it....I hope you recover soon, too! Be careful and take care of yourself. Members of my family have had mono; it can be dangerous!

cowbiscuits said...

you look amazing love that skirt xx

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry you're not feeling well! I had to comment because I love going to the opera!! When I was younger I used to think operas were super boring, but I went just recently to see "The Marriage of Figaro" (I hope I got that name right) and I really enjoyed it.
My favorite shows to see are definitely ballets though.

Also, I love reading wuthering heights. Super creepy and dark! Jane Eyre is kind of similar.

Joe