Two Birds

It has been a while since I last updated, but the title refers to how I feel about my recent visit to the Garment District. I generally don't visit vintage stores for clothing, partly because I am not too keen on old pass-me-downs, but also partly because "vintage" stuff can be quite expensive. I have to admit, though, that I am pleasantly surprised with the garment district in Cambridge. While prices are still nowhere as low as Goodwill or Salvation Army, the quality of stuff is worth the extra buck or two. Plenty of old lace, sequins, fur, and feathers - the perfect place to find a Halloween costume. Of course, I stayed away from the 100+ dollar stuff. Not only do they look shiny and fake, they are also far from interesting. Long story short, since I am lacking a costume for my polka competition anyway, I figured I would try to hit two birds with one stone and find something that could serve both as my competition outfit and as my Halloween costume. What do polka dancers wear? I haven't a clue but I figured it would involve long skirts, puffy-sleeved cotton shirts, and something like a corset. I couldn't find a shirt (perhaps a good thing since I wasn't sure I wanted to wear old tops against my skin) but I did find a fake barmaid / pirate corset and a checkered long skirt. The checkered skirt gave the ensemble a countrified air that most certainly won't cause me to be mistaken for a gypsy barmaid. But enough rambling about my costumes. On to the usual stuff...

Link of the day: www.designspotter.com
What is it: a really comprehensive design site showcasing all sorts of interesting product, furniture, architectural designs, etc. A blog-style site that calls itself an online magazine, designspotter publishes "young modern contemporary" works of well-known and obscure designers. It is easy to get lost among the gazillion products that filter through the padded site, but this is a great place to find inspiration if you need ideas, or the latest addition to your living room if you need furniture.

Artist of the day: Caravaggio (1571–1610)
Who is he: an Italian artist who is known for his chiaroscuro paintings of people with dirty feet. Well, Caravaggio didn't just paint people with dirty feet, but he was most certainly remembered for portraying people as he saw them - imperfect beings who might have dirty limbs or blemishes on their skin. In fact, his painting Madonna di Loreto caused a scandal because the pilgrims portrayed had "dirty feet and torn, filthy cap." I really like Caravaggio, considered to be one of the first Baroque style painters. He was far from perfect in both life and art. Caravaggio constantly got into brawls and could never get shoulders quite right in his paintings. But like the origin for the word Baroque, a French transliteration of the Portuagese phrase "pérola barroca" or "irregular pearl," Caravaggio's art was beautiful despite its imperfections. It is truly a shame that the word Baroque is often used negatively to describe the excessively ornate or ostentatious because the Baroque roster of painters and sculptures actually include such illustrious names as Bernini, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Dyck, and Velasquez.

Madonna di Loreto, Caravaggio, 1604-1606, oil on canvas, San Agostino, Rome

The Calling of Saint Matthew, Caravaggio, 1599-1600, oill on canvas, Contarelli Chapel, San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome