Did I ever say how MUCH I loved the Opening Ceremony x Where the Wild Things Are collab when I actually felt it up in person? It was probably too late by the time I got my grubby paws on it as the stuff had been over-blogged and even when I did finally get round to buying a piece on sale (the Ira skirt) this posting tract had definitely died and gone to heaven.
However, I'm resurrecting it because when I did wear this skirt in reaction to this alarmingly chilly turn in weather, the number of ACTUAL sneers, raised eyebrows and grimace... a real grimace from men and women passing me by on the tube and in the streets was quite an occurence, one that I haven't experienced in a long time. And I go out wearing some fairly odd concoctions. Regardless the difference between a 'look' at a slightly outlandish outfit is worlds apart from one where someone is looking at you like you... and I'm not exaggerating here... have the words serial paedophile tatooed on your head...
(With Lucy Hutchings cuff and Fannie Schiavoni chainmail glove)
It was literally THAT visceral a reaction. One woman's eyes went from my skirt up to my eyes and then she promptly shook her head. A few men tutted under their breath as they walked by. Another woman's eyes bulged so far out in disgust, I thought she was going to slosh me with a can of secret red paint tucked away in her tote. I'm not sure whether it's the fact that the faux fur is in abundance on the skirt as opposed to a jacket/coat that was causing the reaction or were the Ira-qualities of the skirt really that realistic. Or was it a comment on 'excess' in light of political paring back... like... "We've just come out of a shaky election and you're wearing a dead beast in the form of a frou frou skirt?" Or is it the deeper, weirder conontation of a 'furry skirt' that is troubling people? So many paths to go down, so many judgement calls but the straightforward conclusion was plain to see.
(With House of Flora hat, Something Else sweater, black tights, Yokoo cowl, Acne shoes)
I should have felt like screaming "It's FAAAAAAKE!" or countering their gazes with "But... but... it's a skirt named after a Wild Thing!" Actually, no. Weirdly enough, because I had this safe knowledge in my head that it was a 100% fake skirt, I felt free to go on my merry way without having to defend the choice with some counter-PETA/"Oh it's vintage..." excuse that normally attaches itself to fur. Had I been in more of a jovial mood, I might have gone up to them and say "Wanna get touchy?" which would obviously invite even more unsavoury reactions I suppose...
Anybody with a vaguely discerning knowledge of fake/real fur can of course see that it is fake when you touch it... but this outing with the skirt does make me wonder how the Chanel faux fur A/W 10-11 collection will fare. Alright, the shaggy knits and fur-trimmed jackets aren't going to be haunting the streets but I'm betting filtered down versions might do a fairly good job of getting some reaction.
I might also add that I loved that those Chanel fur pieces were 100% fake (there were doubtful dissenters amongst show goers...) and in my head, if I were to add a furry friend to my Ira skirt, and money were no object, some of those Arctic Circle apparel-gone-kitsch pieces would definitely be my first port of call. Fat chance of course so I'll just battle with gazes on the Ira skirt for now.
