The last time I wrote about Jo March, Style Icon, was January 2020, shortly after the release of Little Women. In so many ways, a simpler time. It marked the beginning of my love of vests and waistcoats, which endures. But as I was looking around for inspiration for my summer 2022 style adventures — and having a hard time visualizing my ideas — guess who popped back into mind?
Jo March.
Okay, so a lot of the outfits she wears in the most recent movie are more fall/winter than summer, but bear with me. My spring looks have been heavily leaning into the Historian avatar (inspired by my obsession with all things Ralph Lauren), but for summer, I feel like I need to pull more towards the Bohemian again. For the past 2 years, my Bohemian avatar has been centered around colour and pattern (key word: eclectic maximalism), both things I still enjoy, but I want to make a bit of shift now towards something softer and more romantic. Some of Ralph Lauren’s prairie/boho pieces fall in line with this aesthetic which I continue to struggle to articulate — I’ve seen the term “high country” used in a few places, but I’m not sure if it’s well defined enough. I’ve never been a fan of Wuthering Heights but when I say “romantic” in this context, that’s what I mean: gothic romance that’s all about wild, wind-swept places not dark forests and creepy castles. Think billowy nap dresses not sharply tailored black.
Now, you might say: what does Jo March have to do with it? And I’m sorry, but my brain works in mysterious ways. The heroine I see in my mind’s eye populating my prairie gothic romance would dress a lot like Jo March. Long skirts (or dresses), flowy robes, cropped jackets, waistcoats, Edwardian style blouses, roughhewn fabrics (heavy cotton, linen) mixed with soft ones (velvet, silk), patchwork, a little bit shabby chic, not too buttoned-up.
In general, I feel like I find my footing once I have a clear “character” in mind for my avatar. For the Historian, that character has been Diana Bishop in recent years. I have a very clear idea of what Diana would wear (in my opinion) and that’s helpful to me in visualizing and choosing my own outfits (when I want to tap into that avatar’s style). And, maybe, Jo March will become that character for my Bohemian avatar this summer.
There are definitely some common elements between my spring and summer style, but the latter takes those elements and loosens them up a bit – quite literally, I need looser/airier layers for summer. Less blazers, more robe-like duster coats. Less wool, more linen. You get the idea … hopefully.
Here are a few inspo photos I’ve been saving up:
As I mentioned, I think a lot of my current clothes will work nicely with this new direction, and I have a fairly short list of items I will be looking to add (secondhand, of course) to my closet to complement them. This includes: a white cotton prairie-style maxi skirt or possibly dress (airy but not see-through), a patterned silk waistcoat, a floaty robe-style long duster or two (could be dresses, as long as they’re the kind that button all the way down so they can be worn open), and some boho-style wide belts. I’ve starting keeping a written list of things I’m hoping to thrift — both for summer but also, looking ahead, for fall — in the hopes of manifesting my luck or, at least, keeping myself focused on these things (and ignoring other cute stuff that might distract me, always a danger with thrifting).
Your description very much reminds me of the image of Lizzie Bennett standing at the top of the cliff with her skirts whipping around her- in form if not in exact clothing replica.
It is, as the kids would say, a vibe
Totally! It’s that *vibe*, for sure.
At the end of the day, that’s what fashion is for me — a tool to express a mood or tell a story. I like the idea that, over the years, the stories change (even though many of the clothes stay the same).
I feel your talents are so good and a loss to the theatre costuming world – would you consider volunteering ?
It’s something I would *love* to do once I’m retired, if there was an opportunity. I do not have any formal training though, which I feel would be a disadvantage. But even volunteering backstage as a helper would be fun!