Romance and Rayon

White House | Black Market, 92% rayon, 8% spandex white cowl neck, empire waist, bell-sleeve top c. 2001-2002

I used to call this my “angel” top; It was the perfect date, dinner, and dancing companion and reminded me of my true hero at my freshman-in-high-school-self time – Claire Danes as Juliet in the excessively Pop, room-spinning, car-chasing, gas-station-and-fireworks-exploding, late 90s remake Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet as only Baz Luhrmann could make. Claire Danes was simple and innocent, beautiful and serene, and wore an angel costume to her parent’s ball the night she met her star-crossed lover, and I, too, felt when I wore this top, I was of course that much closer to fate, love, and Shakespeare himself. I wanted to be swept off my feet in this top! I wanted to look like a Grecian angel, and I convinced myself I did when, at the time, my long, chestnut, doll-like curls rolled over the cowl at my neck and draped across my chest with the same ease as the fabric. I of course wasn’t oblivious to the hints of wedding dress whispers that this top used to give me; I was 16, what else did I want other than to marry my first real taste of puppy love boyfriend? (that and the freedom to be out after midnight…) Why wouldn’t I have entertained the idea of getting married in a wedding dress very near in shape to this top – it just screamed romance! I still love the neckline and bust, as it was flattering to my figure and collarbones, and who knows, maybe someday you’ll see me in a wedding dress with the same qualities, just probably not with the same Romeo...