Hear/Say

The last two days have been very rainy and Seattle-like. Today rebounds with sunshine galore.

Tomorrow, we’re heading off to China! But so much prepping– the area we’re visiting in Shenzen is the Luo Hu Commercial district. While a hotspot for foreigners, it’s also a maze of trickery to maneuver in order to get out alive, with your wallet and valuables fully intact…

Gypsies in Rome might be desperately cunning, but the mass of Chinese are a formidable force– beggars working in packs, vendors aggressively locking you in a room with their DVDs, or dogging you to come visit their shop. While I know being Asian is a definite advantage here, I wish my Chinese weren’t so broken– and perhaps forceful, clear, sharp with wit and edged like a sword (for bargaining purposes only.) Or that I looked more intimidatingly dangerous. I suggested we rub dirt on our faces to look strange and catch them off guard, but Tina artfully ignored that comment.

And a silly– er, maybe not so silly as I’m starting an online boutique– thing to think about: WHAT TO WEAR? How do I blend in with the Chinese? Shall I wear my dirtiest socks and soiled shirts to look forlorn and helpless in my bargaining tactics? Borderline bum would be chased out of the store; can’t sport the Mary-Kate dumpster chic (I say this with starry-eyed admiration, believe me– she is quite crafty in the creation of her own forlorn image, caffeine in hand, etc.) (or her stylist is, at any rate), but can’t sport anything near Olivia Palermo blingity bling. I guess I can wear my regular pants and flannel. The light grunge look usually falls under the radar.

But how self-obsessive of me to think: “How can I hide my irresistible glamor, my hopeless attraction”– more likely, no one will notice or care that I’m there.

To be sure, a terrible introduction to the look/logo of A Curious Society:

They’re showing the world how comfortable their skin is: style reflects how they wear the clothes; how they choose the clothes, and not the other way around. Their inspirational creativity springs from being themselves despite the different ways they interact with those around them. Constantly throwing together outfits to work any occasion, curiosity has them reusing and reinventing pieces to show their fresh, young attitude. Smart layers, relaxed, flattering silhouettes, and mixing textures and colors in unique and interesting combinations has these ladies starting or redefining trends rather than following them. To them, fashion isn’t a scheduled trip to the mall, or a regular check off the fad-list, but a spontaneous, artful way to express their role in a curious society.

Keep you posted!

Graceee