La Petite Mort
Where’d you get that?:
We’re halfway through September, and you know what that means — only two weeks until October and the official kickoff of ~spooky season~. I’ve been getting a head start on the Halloween spirit with this creepy tee from Etsy store Mermaid Hex. It features the Morton Salt Girl, except instead of a yellow dress she’s wearing a cloak, and instead of an umbrella she’s carrying a scythe, and instead of being a little girl she’s the Grim Reaper (Mort-on salt — get it?) I love the design and the sleeveless, raw-edged cropped style of the shirt, especially since the weather over here has been heating up instead of cooling down. Rest assured I’ll be wearing it well into the holiday season.
I’m obsessed with:
MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM FAIRIES SET OF 5 - LIANA HEE
Over the summer, I attended a performance of New York City Ballet’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The dancing was of course exquisite, lithe and ethereal, but what I was really drawn to were the costumes — sheer, diaphanous skirts of tulle and chiffon, pearly gossamer wings, floral wreaths and ivy sashes. And the forest backdrops were just as magical — all dense foliage, creeping vines, and pinpricks of light reminiscent of fireflies.
I’ve been following the work of Liana Hee for a while now; she’s a designer and illustrator who’s worked for Disney and has the most adorable art style. So when I saw she had painted a Midsummer Night’s Dream series that perfectly captured the charm and whimsy of the ballet, I knew I had to buy the prints. Liana infuses Titania and her fairies in waiting, Moth, Mustardseed, Peaseblossom, and Cobweb, with so much light and liveliness. Rendered in her joyful, vibrant style, these fairies look ready to float right off the page. I hung them all together on my bedroom wall, and sometimes when I’m half-asleep I swear I can hear the fluttering of wings.
On my wish list:
I like to think I have a fairly healthy level of self-awareness. I know my strengths and weaknesses, where my limitations lie. So what the hell am I doing coveting a monstera plant?
First of all, I don’t have a green thumb. I have the opposite of a green thumb. I’ve brought home more succulents than I’d care to admit and had them shrivel up on me. Succulents, the most low maintenance plants you could possibly own!
Second of all, it’s so...basic. Monstera is everywhere, from hip hotels to chic boutiques, omnipresent in any Instagram shot tagged #apartmentgoals. It’s printed on phone cases and wallpaper, bedspreads and bikinis. Am I really the kind of person who’s so easily influenced by influencers?
The answer is yes, yes I am. Despite all that, I still want this dumb Swiss cheese plant. But don’t worry — I’m not so far gone that I’d actually take the plunge. I don’t need another death on my conscience.