Hold the phone! What hot mess is this?
It's my hideo-marvelous™ Clover Canyon tunic.
Hideo-marvelous means "hideous yet marvelous." Though trade-marked, I hereby give you the right to use the expression freely as much as you need to. Hopefully you won't need it often.
Don't be afraid. Come a little closer to see.
I am holding my arms in this unnatural, affected pose to show you how graceful this blouse is . . . if you can overlook the print(s).
The fabric is very fluid, so the full sleeves, which end in a tight cuff, bell a little bit; the uneven, split hem has movement. The back closes very loosely; four buttons with looped button-holes leave significant gaps, so a full coverage camisole is necessary.
A blouse like this needs some neutralizing to be worn in an office setting; a black cardigan comes is very handy at times like this.
This blouse has to be the most unlikely thing in my closet, but I really love it. It's good to occasionally wear something out of character to work. [N.B. It's also good to occasionally wear something that makes you look pregnant.] You want to keep your co-workers on their toes and you certainly don't want them to take you for granted.
For those of you curious about my previous turn as Auntie Mame, you might want to check out this earlier post, as well as my thoughts on the fatal allure of prints.
Sue, you spoil me. I was chuckling as I wrote this post. Thank you for taking up my cause with Merriam-Webster. Surely it's just a hop from there to Stockholm in December? Actually, I have accepted that I am never going to win one of the "hard" Nobels. The peace prize is my best bet — so, Oslo.
Thank you, Jodie — I am very glad to make you laugh!
I must say I was shocked at first glance, but as I continued to look at the different views, I actually began adjusting to it. I love the asymmetrical cut, the pattern on the cuffs, the back view, Though I do wish a camisole were not needed. BTW, when I looked at the sweater (which I love) in close-up it appears to be Navy, not black. Is it just my iPad?
Hi Susan — You are to be commended for not just closing your browser after that first disturbing glimpse! Perhaps you're just a few more looks and adjustments away from scouring the Internet for your own hideo-marvelous blouse . . . The sweater is black. I sometimes find that colors do look different on my monitor than they look in real life.
But what do I think? I still don't know quite what to think of the blouse by itself, but I like it very much with the sweater!