the baseball cap

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I’ve mentioned before wanting a baseball cap but could never quite find something that suited me. What I really like is that broken-in look that caps get when someone actually wears them a lot, curves the bill, ideally the bill gets a bit frayed, etc. I don’t care so much about the color or logos as the look; classic/vintage baseball shape, nondescript, Everyman’s cap. So, I reasoned, it would be great if some friend with too many hats anyway just gave me an old one. For years this seemed reasonable, and I left no small number of hints about how reasonable I thought it would be. I’d given up but IT FINALLY HAPPENED! A friend gave me a hat!

A baseball cap can be such a strangely feminine touch. You can throw it on with anything; dress it up a little, dress it way, way down, take it in a sporty direction, a butch direction, an editorial direction. It always adds for me (on others and on myself) an air of friendliness and approachability. It seems more likely that I would be asked for directions, randomly smiled at, that kind of thing. There’s also something inherently wholesome about them, not least because properly worn, you should be outside. [Here I run into problems because once it’s on…I can’t exactly take it off. A curly hair thing.]

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I love it.

What’s a governor’s club? Who cares!

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I’d also like to make a case here for the exposed, unadorned neck. A young, healthy neck is decoration enough, in so many cases, especially as in a case like this, with such a clean, abundant expanse of skin showing. It can be a shame to break up that expanse, even more so than with the wrist, for me, as there is such an appealing, intricate arrangement of bones and tendons around the clavicle and the base of the throat. [Am I losing you?] I think the play of light in these varied hollows can be stunning, as good as or better than jewels – a simple presentation of the occasionally lovely human body. Have oiled up here with some Nuxe Huile Prodigeuse (and sunblock), which is phenomenal.

Strapless sweetheart bodysuit from MotelRocks (via asos), Paris Blues shorts*, Skagen watch, Mexican bone bracelet, amber ring, Converse.

*I am into white shorts. With the cap I really wanted to wear [more casual] cut-offs but I realize I don’t have white cut-offs. Project.

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And of course a baseball cap is the quintessential American accessory. Happy 4th of July.

x

 

aquisitions: Bass Thea oxfords

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Speaking of bright yellow shoes, I got another pair. I’ve been looking for a pair of oxfords for a while, and was looking specifically for a two-tone pair in beige and brown, or honey and dark brown, or some other variation of brown and more brown …but I came across these first. Bass Thea Oxfords. Yes. Bass. Like the old school boot makers (founded in Maine, I just learned, like myself). Who knew they were making totally cute (I mean, well, some of it) women’s footwear now? With good arch support?

I wouldn’t have predicted that I would go for a shoe like this (a floral print shoe?) but I think this print is charming; just the right scale and level of busyness, and it goes perfectly with the shade of yellow it is paired with.

♪ ♫ The Flying Neutrinos – Mr. Zoot Suit ♪ ♫

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I think these are a great example of a shoe that, in not particularly matching anything (that I have, at least…except my other yellow shoes), could go with everything*. They could make an unremarkable ensemble instantly dapper.

I really want the weather to improve so I can break these out.

*Like my turquoise/orange Converse:

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