i would wear the chandeliers as jewelry

We went to the opera last night. The Metropolitan Opera, to be exact. (Museum coming soon, Mom!). We've only been once before, nine years ago... when we saw the EXACT SAME OPERA we saw last night. This was not by plan. But the tickets were wonderfully free, baby, and as we've been wanting to go back for, well, nine years, we were there. Three acts and two intermissions of Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor. Actually, this time I liked it much better: it was set in its proper home of Scotland (they had moved it to Italy previously), the voices were beautiful, and the sets were really stunning (they should have been; it took them a full hour to change the sets for the third act, which we spent drinking champagne).

I like the peeps at the opera. It's surprisingly far less pretentious than you'd think, from an audience standpoint. Everyone dresses up, but they're happy about it, and happy to see that you're happy about it. They're appreciative of each other. Come to think of it, it's a very New York feeling you get at concerts-- I mean dance, and jazz, and opera, and theater. And maybe it's because you know you're in New York, generally considered to be a cultural mecca, and you're sharing the experience with like minded people. Or maybe it's because it's art; it's uplifting, and the general feeling is that you're going to leave elevated. So you're happy to be there, and you dress up for the occasion. 

But I don't get that in fashion. I've been to a couple of shows, and you most certainly dress up, but it's very catty, very strike a pose. The audience is not only there to view, it's there to be viewed and to size up the competition sitting across the aisle. I want to say that's understandable, but I don't know why it should be. Fashion is supposed to be art, isn't it? So shouldn't it uplift? ...but for a major part of the population it's demeaning and elitist. Fashion week happens here twice a year. We live close enough to the new grounds to see the entourage stomp by daily. I think you can buy a ticket, but truly, it's such a closed event, they finally had the good sense to move it out of a New York City Public Park (it closed the park down to said public for several weeks each spring and fall), and into Lincoln center... 

Which also houses the Metropolitan Opera house. hmmmmmmmmmmm.

I'm completely late to the party on these thoughts... but hey, I was at the opera last night, and I still feel elevated. 

OH MY GOODNESS looky here ruggy just plopped down a bottle of saint emilion. Lofty rant over! I invite you to uncork a bottle of bordeaux, maybe some scotch, hell, pop open a Bud, and lemme know if you figure out the whole fashion-as-art thing. 



  1. I completely agree! Fashion is an art, just as is music. However, let me say that on the music side, since I've been in the thick of it, the ones making the music are very catty! It's a very hard life always full of so many humiliating disappointments. And you don't get much help from fellow musicians either. They can be absolutely rotten to each other. But I will say, that the appreciators - the ones in the audience - is a big reason you do it. They are typically absolutely wonderful people - like yourself! I do so wish they would do Lucia here. There would be no such luck. I do so hope you enjoyed the "mad" scene. I played the duet for that scene once in college (I'm a flute player) and it was one of my favorites!

    And I would wear the chandeliers as earrings if I could too! Love your thoughts on this!


  2. sunni, i love your thoughts on this! yes-- the stage side is definitely a different story-- and honestly the audience side can get catty, too, particularly on opening nights. but it makes me sad that in fashion, both sides seem to be perpetually mean!

    i loved the mad scene. those quiet moments when the orchestra cut out, leaving only the soprano to navigate those crazy passages, it was amazing. i was holding my breath for when the music came back in! and they had her running and rolling around the stage... falling down a staircase... i don't know how she did it.

    how fabulous that you played it. you ought to start up an opera appreciation society in your hometown, you never know who else is lurking around!

  3. I just posted an eloquent, insightful response to your post but it got lost in bloggerland - so I'll paraphrase much less eloquently:)

    I've been thinking about this lately. I've never been much into fashion (hello jeans and gap t-shirts!) but as I've gotten more interested in sewing I've been paying more attention to couture and "high fashion". I think I understand better what it takes to produce a beautiful, unique garment and I've started to see fashion as art. I don't know why there is so much cattiness and elitism in the fashion world - maybe it's all the money? Or maybe it's people on the periphery of the creative process who feel like they have something to prove? I recently watched the Signe Chanel series - an inside look at Karl Lagerfield and the creation of one of Chanel's lines - and it was very tongue in cheek, really funny. So I think some in the industry can poke fun at themselves but I think there will always be a touch of exclusivity surrounding the whole thing. Sorry to ramble!

    Love your new dress!!

  4. jacqueline, i'm so sad you longer response was obliterated, because i love the short one! i think the "something to prove" aspect definitely plays into it. and i've been wanting to see the lagerfield series; it's intriguing to hear they have a sense of humor...

    ramble away!!!

