They say stepping out of your comfort zone can be a good thing. In some cases, I'm rather inclined to agree. In my pursuit of stylish dresses, I tried on one that I wouldn't normally have picked out. I tried on this little brown number (as I do love forest colours) as this year is already shaping up to be a scorcher and I could use some cool threads. Perhaps it was the fact that I had my hair curled that day (which for me, always makes whatever I'm wearing look 100 times better), but I skipped along home with dress in tow.
I have a confession to make....
I have a love affair with climbing trees. Back in college, it was quite common that if friends were looking for me, I could be found in one of three trees around campus. There was the grove of trees by Peck Hall, my prayer tree by the school cafeteria, and the Anime Club tree - a perfect climbing tree so large, 5 of us could fit up there at us. We used to joke that there was a homing beacon inside the tree. If one member of the Club showed up and stood in the tree, within 5 minutes, at least one more Club Member would show up. If was foolproof until one of the high-ups got the bright idea to cut half of the tree off. I still climbed what was left of the tree, but it wasn't the same. I couldn't stand on the farthest thick branch (that's right, STAND. And stand I would) like a guardian and watch the people passing below me. Which was always amusing because if a group ever passed by, inevitably the last person in the group would do a double take. Oh it was great!
I also used one of the higher crooked branches to lean on and meditate. There were times where I just needed to get away from the stress of classes, social drama, etc. I couldn't focus on the ground, too much chatter. But there's something relaxing about being up in a tree by oneself. Even if I was troubled, within a few minutes I'd have a smile on my face. I miss that tree. I miss climbing trees in general. Where I live, all the trees are very sap-ridden, tick-riddled cedars. So you can imagine my joy at finding a climable tree at Centennial Park. I shimmied up those branches faster than you could blink!
I feel like I've got a slight Michelle Dockery/Lady Mary Crawley look going on in my face below...
I felt all sorts of frolicky in this outfit. So naturally, after climbing trees I had to go for a quick jaunt around the field. (Though I'll admit, I'm not as much of a nature child to go barefoot. My soles were just too tender for that prickly grass!)
Abrea, the photographer, tried a different spin on this shoot. While the photos above envoke a warm, fun-loving atmosphere, this feels more moody, mysterious, possibly even a little fairy-tale. It's amazing what some colour changes can do.
Photographs © Abrea Garwood 2012. http://www.abreagarwood.com
Dress: Ross Earrings: Handmade by a friend Flats: Nine West via Marti & Liz
Stunning photos, I think the dress is lovely :-)
ReplyDeleteAh, so much to comment on here. Firstly, it may be a slightly vacuous observation, but that shade of brown really does suit you. The whole look once you are happily ensconced in the tree is also very much the relaxed woodland nymph, at home among the branches. And yes - climbing trees - an unbeatable pleasure. My 11 year old brother has got particularly good at it this year and now climbs right to the the top of our neighbour's copper beech tree that overhangs our garden. May trees always be climbed and knees always be scratched by bark, rather than by concrete pavements. Lovely shoot.
ReplyDeleteVigdis - Thank you!
ReplyDeleteRosalind - Oh that's hardly a vacuous comment, I feel it's helpful. It's good to know what works and what doesn't. Hah! You're the second person to mention 'woodland nymph' in reference to this outfit. I quite like it. Thank you. :)