Spectator Pump

I like the aesthetic of spectator pumps: white, black, perforations.

As promised, I am showing you old clothes and accessories.

You saw this dress last summer. The necklace was a gift from The Photographer.

Directrice must wear her clothes more than once
Directrice must wear her clothes more than once

Where is the Spectator Pump?
Where is the Spectator Pump?

Are you wondering when I will show you a spectator pump?

Surely you know me well enough to know that I don’t wear pumps. And also that I fear looking like an extra who has escaped rehearsals for Anything Goes.


I am the spectator pump: white, black, perforations.

I am the Spectator Pump
The Spectator Pump is I

This is a visual metaphor. I am not actually a pump.

Do you see?
Do you see?

The necklace is the heel cap. (This metaphorical pump is a very high heel.) Come closer and take a look.

Somewhat closer view
Somewhat closer view

Close up
You may want to click on this photo to enlarge the image;
you won’t even need to come closer

When The Photographer travels, he often brings back a little giftie for me. He found this necklace in the gift shop at MOMA. It piqued his interest because of the manufacturing process: it’s 3-D printed. He thought it would appeal to my taste because it’s asymmetrical, plastic, and a little futuristic. Ah, to be understood!


Magnetic clasp; so easy to manage!
Magnetic clasp; so easy to manage!

Well done, Photographer.

I will direct all of you to the design studio’s website — N-E-R-V-O-U-S — where there are additional pieces, some of which are even more elaborate and compelling (though priced accordingly) than my necklace.


A preview:

Elaborate
Elaborate
Compelling
Compelling

Now on to the toe cap of the metaphorical pump: my shoes.

These have been sitting in my closet for years. I’ve never been able to decide if they are too heavy for summer wear. I’ve made up my mind: They’re fine.

My shoes
Shoes can only be worn in the summer because they have open toes, so it’s now or never

These shoes are higher than my typical platform sandals. I nearly fell down only once while taking these pictures. That’s not bad for our first trip out of the house.

Quite something
Quite something

To finish off today’s musings, the futuristic necklace is paired with a different neckline and color just to see.

Equally effective when framed by black
Equally effective when framed by black

This dress is ancient
This dress is ancient

Don’t be alarmed! This sundress is solely for evening and weekend wear — no working with those strappy straps.

Have a fantastic weekend!


White Dress: Loup; Black Dress: Theory; Necklace: Nervous System Smooth Kinematics 116N; Shoes: Taryn Rose; Bag: Kate Spade

14 thoughts on “Spectator Pump”

    • I love this dress, too, Laura. It has smocked stitching under the bust and at the waist — but over time (and many cleanings) the elasticity has disappeared. I had Fatima re-stitch it a year ago (with elastic thread) but the stitching has again stretched out, so she is going to put some actual elastic in those places. Regardless, this dress has been a cookout, baseball game, and beach vacation standby for ten years!

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  1. “looking like an extra who has escaped rehearsals for Anything Goes” sounds like a pretty good summary of my style goals sometimes, actually.

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    • Hahaha! Me too Lisa. Enough two-tone shoes to sink a ship, but I do have the excuse that I’m a swing dancer – which is also an excuse for an excess of fringed dresses… possibly.

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    • Ha! To be clear, my fear is not of Anything Goes in particular, but of looking like I am wearing a costume. My greatest fear is of looking like a dancer who cut out during the filming of Pat Benatar’s watershed music video, Love Is A Battlefield.

      Reply
  2. I’m confused! You wrote, “Surely you know me well enough to know that I don’t wear pumps.” But you love block heels! Aren’t those pumps? What’s the difference?

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    • A fair question, Bette. I think of pumps as having a slender heel — so much harder to walk on, so much pressure on the ball of the foot — greater than 2″ in height.

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  3. I would forego the shoes, but they are lovely to behold on you. I need to lessen my chances of falling, not increase them, no matter the beauty of the shoe. It’s like when I wear my Dutch clogs on gravel or cobblestones… it’s just too dicey.

    I really dig the dress – the white one. The roughness of the unfinished, frayed openings makes the necklace make sense. Well done!

    Reply
  4. Those outfits on you are AWESOME; necklace and shoes are a smash out of the park. The handbag earns its keep right there. Really those should be worn often and well as only you could do. Kate

    Reply

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