Saturday, August 8, 2009

Two Shadows In The Shadow


Yesterday, instead of blogging, I cleaned my room and put all my clothes away for the first time all summer, then lazed around and went out for Chinese food with my friends. It was really, really nice.

My fellow bloggers, if you are ever about to apologize for going out and living your life instead of focusing on your blog, please don't. Life is greater than blogging.

I think I subconsciously went for a model-off-duty vibe here (at least, as much of a model off duty as I can possibly look): loose white tee, skinny jeans, simple jewelry and makeup, and my new favorite item, this navy blazer.

These boots are probably the most ridiculous item I own. I feel like RuPaul when I put them on. I've only worn them out of the house once before, and that was to a glam rock party, so I was also wearing sequined leather pants and a gold vest. But for some reason I felt the urge to wear them out last night.

Also - have you seen my glasses before? I can't remember whether I've worn them on the blog before, but here are my glasses. They make me feel intelligent and nerdy. I will never, ever get contacts.

I have been majorly digging Pablo Neruda lately. I bought this book earlier this week and have been devouring it fervently. Every poem is printed in Spanish and English, and I like to read the Spanish aloud to myself even though my accent is probably horrendous. This poem, "The Stolen Branch" is my favorite so far. All his work is so lyrical and beautiful, I really want to buy 100 Love Sonnets next.

Vintage blazer and bag, Target tee, PacSun jeans, thrifted boots, gifted watch and chain worn as bracelet

The Stolen Branch ~ Pablo Neruda

In the night we shall go in
to steal
a flowering branch.

We shall climb over the wall
in the darkness of the alien garden,
two shadows in the shadow.

Winter is not yet gone,
and the apple tree appears
suddenly changed
into a cascade of fragrant stars.

In the night we shall go in
up to its trembling firmament,
and your little hands and mine
will steal the stars.

And silently,
to our house,
in the night and the shadow,
with your steps will enter
perfume's silent step
and with starry feet
the clear body of spring.

35 comments:

Parapluie said...

I love the blazer!

Aya Smith said...

Oh, your hair is a dream! How do you get it that way, I wonder :) LOVE it!

indigotangerine said...

i love your glasses! They look great on you. And your blazer is pretty fabulous.
Thanks for sharing the poem. It is beautiful.
-indigo

WendyB said...

That second-to-last photo is adorable.

Κατερίνα said...

i like your outfit very much and your glasses too becuse are similar to mine, i am going to change them now though. Anyway i enjoy your post and your pictures!!!xx

Ninnu said...

Is that your natural hair? I think it's absolutely gorgeous :)

Ninnu said...

Is that your natural hair? I think it's absolutely gorgeous :)

Amelia said...

Yeah, I definitely feel that model vibe. I love the bag. Lovely post :)

Anonymous said...

the blazer is really cute. i love the gold details. the purse is really cool. it sort of looks like an old camera bag. you look really good with glasses! those boots are really cool. i love the chunky heel.

Erika said...

I love Neruda.

Valeria said...

i love you hair, boots, and purse everything is gorgg

peace and love,
le reve

Georgia said...

Well said! I, also, love chinese food.
Nice bag.
It would be mine

bee said...

what a cute bag! i don't think those boots are ridiculous btw! they are great.

Fashionisaparty.com (Suz) said...

nice blazer :)
xx

a b c chick said...

You are SO adorable, and I love your outfit. It's so clean-cut and simple! Lovely!

Anonymous said...

The outfit's retro but basic at the same time.
Great job!
XX.

iris said...

Hi! I just discovered your blog.

I love Pablo Neruda!!!:) I don't know if you've read "Muere lentamente". It's my favourite poem of him!

I copy it to you here in Spanish and then in English, in case you haven't read it:)

PS. Your hair is gorgeous! :)

Muere lentamente
Pablo Neruda



Muere lentamente quien se transforma en esclavo del hábito, repitiendo todos los días los mismos trayectos, quien no cambia de marca, no arriesga vestir un color nuevo y no le habla a quien no conoce.

Muere lentamente quien evita una pasión, quien prefiere el negro sobre blanco y los puntos sobre las "íes" a un remolino de emociones, justamente las que rescatan el brillo de los ojos, sonrisas de los bostezos, corazones a los tropiezos y sentimientos.

Muere lentamente quien no voltea la mesa cuando está infeliz en el trabajo, quien no arriesga lo cierto por lo incierto para ir detrás de un sueño, quien no se permite por lo menos una vez en la vida, huir de los consejos sensatos.

Muere lentamente quien no viaja, quien no lee, quien no oye música, quien no encuentra gracia en sí mismo.

Muere lentamente quien destruye su amor propio, quien no se deja ayudar.

Muere lentamente, quien pasa los días quejándose de su mala suerte o de la lluvia incesante.

Muere lentamente, quien abandona un proyecto antes de iniciarlo, no preguntando de un asunto que desconoce o no respondiendo cuando le indagan sobre algo que sabe.

Evitemos la muerte en suaves cuotas, recordando siempre que estar vivo exige un esfuerzo mucho mayor que el simple hecho de respirar.

Solamente la ardiente paciencia hará que conquistemos una espléndida felicidad.

_____________________________

Dies slowly
Pablo Neruda

Dies slowly he who transforms himself in slave of habit,
repeating every day the same itineraries,
who does not change brand,
does not risk to wear a new color and doesn't talk to whom doesn't know.

Dies slowly he who makes of television his guru.

Dies slowly he who avoids a passion,
who prefers black to white
and the dots on the "i" to a whirlpool of emotions,
just those ones that recover the gleam from the eyes,
smiles from the yawns,
hearts from the stumbling and feelings.

Dies slowly he who does not overthrow the table when is unhappy at work,
who does not risk the certain for the uncertain
to go toward that dream that is keeping him awake.

Who does not allow, at least one time in life, to flee from sensate advises.

Dies slowly he who does not travel, does not read,
does not listen to music, who does not find grace in himself.

Dies slowly he who destroys his self love,
who does not accept somebody's help.

Dies slowly he who passes his days complaining of his bad luck or the incessant rain.

Dies slowly he who abandons a project before starting it,
who does not ask over a subject that does not know
or who does not answer when being asked about something he knows.

Dies slowly he who does not share his emotions, joys and sadness,
who does not trust, who does not even try.

Dies slowly he who does not relive his memories
and continues getting emotional as if living them at that moment.

Dies slowly he who does not intent excelling,
who does not learn from the stones of the road of life,
who does not love and let somebody love.

Let's avoid death in soft quotes,
remembering always that to be alive demands an effort much bigger
that the simple fact of breathing.

________________

Lucie said...

Ahhhhh, your too amazing. How do you just throw such chic outfits together and look fabulous everytime? Thats without mentioning your photos!

Love it!
Lucie x

Sabrina ♥ said...

i love your whole outfit ! fabbbb

Grace said...

Your hair looks so fantastic.

Love Grace.

Electric Lady said...

that poem is hella precious, cute hair btw :)

thingsIlove said...

Oooh, your hair is amazing! Great poem.

Ashley Wilkins said...

Love the outfit!

Unknown said...

I always apologize when i feel like i need'nt, thanks for saying its ok to live your life!
XOXOX
Libby
http://fashionconfectionairy.weebly.com

Sarah said...

These pictures are so pretty, and your outfit is so cool! And that's a lovely poem. Thanks for the Born Ruffians recommendations! That's insanely cool you saw them. And your France pictures are also incredible!!

Nubiasnonsense said...

Your hair is so cute! Nice blazer and bag

And Pablo Neruda is a great read

GISELLE said...

You just made me feel tons better about putting off my blogging. Thaaank you, miss.

Also, your hair is amazing! I love curly hair. Your bag is great, too.

Isabel said...

You have the best hair EVER. True facts.

Christina said...

Hi Annie! Thanks for stopping by my blog! And yay for flats because it's something I can wear for a while and not have completely aching feet.

I gave them to her because she said she needed a pair of flats too for school. She said she's a senior in HS and needs to look like one haha :]

And I love your navy blazer-I've been hunting for one but I can't seem to find one I really like. I love your blog, totally going to follow.

-xtina
http://www.thisisxtina.blogspot.com

Helen said...

that blazer is awesome! i really want to hop on the blazer bandwagon.

Sophia said...

Your hair is SO COOL. And I want your blazer :)

Sylvia said...

WHY ARE YOU THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL/MODEL EVER?? The second and the fifth pictures are amazing. Your glasses look extra pretty on you, too. I just don't know what it is but A+.

Aline said...

great outfit...you have the best hair!

test said...

nice outfit and great choice of poem.

neftali said...

If you want more on Neruda, check out http://www.redpoppy.net/pablo_neruda.php
about a documentary on Neruda and the bestselling edition of translations, "The Essential Neruda"

"The call for a more accessible collection of Neruda's important poems is answered with City Lights' The Essential Neruda, a 200-page edition that offers 50 of Neruda's key poems. The editors and translators know how to extract gold from a lifetime of prolific writing. If you want a handy Neruda companion and don't know where to begin, this is it."
– The Bloomsbury Review

"What better way to celebrate the hundred years of Neruda's glorious residence on our earth than this selection of crucial works - in both languages! - by one of the greatest poets of all time. A splendid way to begin a love affair with our Pablo or, having already succumbed to his infinite charms, revisit him passionately again and again and yet again."
– Ariel Dorfman, Pulitzer-prize winner author of "Death and the Maiden"

" ...The Essential Neruda will prove to be, for most readers, the best introduction to Neruda available in English. In fact, I can think of few other books that have given me so much delight so easily. At only 234 pages (bilingual), it somehow manages to convey the fullness of Neruda's poetic arc: Reading it is like reading the autobiography of a poetic sensibility (granted, the abridged version)."
– The Austin Chronicle

Paz,
Mark