Let the record reflect that The Photographer labeled this set of photos “Bonkers Sleeves.”
The record shall so reflect.
Let the record also reflect that The Photographer is not paid to provide impertinent commentary.
The record shall so reflect, but shall also reflect that The Photographer is not paid at all.
A couple of years ago, a rare sprint through a brick-and-mortar store lodged an image in my mind: a rapturous cream colored top with white fil coupe sleeves. I should have stopped and examined the mannequin more closely to determine what I was seeing — one top or two, made by whom, at what price? Was it really fil coupe? Or was it dotted swiss? Or possibly feathers? But instead, in my haste to return to my hidey-hole, I was only left with impressions.
Internet searches provided no answers, leaving me no choice but to bring the thing to life as best as I could.
And thusly began a quest to re-create the spirit of the image in my mind.
You can read about my feeble attempts and Fatima’s rescue here.
I will only add that there should be a word — maybe there is in Finnish or German? — for the co-mingled emotion of relief and delight that a person with vision but no skills feels when she is told, without judgment, by a person with skills that the vision is not only attainable, but understandable. If any of you know this word or would like to take a stab at a fabricating such a word (I really do think a Scandinavinian or Germanic sound would be best), please do! Share in the comments.
The point of this post — linguistic challenge aside — is to show you how versatile the disembodied sleeves are.
Here they are in late summer/early fall, worn with ivory linen trousers. Even though I bought the wrong size (regular rather than petite) and have to roll them at the waistband (to shorten the rise), I love these pants. They become deliciously rumpled and soft over the course of the day.
Come closer to inspect the action in these sleeves.
And now a totally unrelated story.
Last year, the Photographer asked me what I wanted for my birthday. After giving this significant thought, I told him, “I want a One Pie tee-shirt.”
For those not in the know, One Pie is a fabled Maine company that produces canned pumpkin puree. It’s a regional product, sold in New England. When I saw it in a D.C. grocery store in 2023, I was elated. There’s no place like home! I bought a can and put it on my desk to admire while I worked. The One Pie label is iconic (for home-baking New England natives who love pumpkin pie) and has not changed in decades.
A few days after hearing my heart’s desire, The Photographer told me, “One Pie doesn’t make tee shirts.” My response? A long, L-O-N-G, steady look.
The lesson: When you push people, they can produce!
Ivory shell: Victoria Beckham; Disembodied sleeves: formerly an Endless Rose top; Pants: Anthropologie Colette Pants in Linen Edition; Sandals: JCrew (see similar without a lug sole from G.H. Bass and with a lug sole by Bared); Bag: Coach (old, but so wonderful; Coach should re-issue); Tee-shirt: created from a digital photo of a One Pie label using Vistaprint
Puffy sleeves are seductive as are cumulus clouds, whipped cream and marshmallow fluff. I like all of these things.
The one pie tee shirt must have taken considerable time and effort as do the very good pumpkin pies you make.
Cookie–Making the shirt was pretty easy, actually. I scanned in the One Pie front and back labels, sharpened them up with Lightroom, and used Vistaprint to make the T-shirt.
But yes, I thought it was pretty clever of me to put the recipe on the back!
My husband made me a tee shirt, which he gave me for Christmas a couple of years ago. He even created the art featuring a vintage school bus. He was inspired by a story I told him about my childhood, and the gift was a total surprise. Like yours, it was home! it was nostalgia!
I like your bonkers sleeves.
The recipe on the back of the One Pie shirt was a true stroke of genius—you must never wear a jacket over it, EVER, unless you plan and execute a clever reveal. And the puffy sleeves are *mwah* superb! You and Fatima should start a design house…
Ok but have you tried the sleeves with the One Pie t-shirt? Everything in here is delightful. I agree with Marie about the recipe on the back. Clever Photographer!
“…deliciously rumpled and soft over the course of the day…” Just something I aspire to.
I miss you Directrice… I miss your posts. I hope you are well!
Directrice, we miss you! I hope you are well.