Tuesday, August 9, 2011

SUNFLOWERS & SUMMER

Before anything else, let me express my concern for fellow bloggers based in the UK as well as my dear friends from University.  I hope you remain safe with property intact in this period of near-anarchy.

It feels superficial to issue a blog post after that.  But maybe we could do with a little sunshine and lingering moments of summer.  This post is about Sunflowers and how they carry a bit of both.

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A few days ago, I walked into Whole Foods and there they were, smiling and bobbing at me.  "Will you, won't you join the dance?"*  the Sunflowers seemed to ask.  Is it just me or do you also see their eager faces framed by sunny bonnets?  Perhaps I'm reading too much Lewis Carroll.







I haven't fallen down the rabbit hole.  It's just that certain objects lend themselves naturally to anthropomorphism.  Truly!


I wanted to capture these sunflowers' essence before they faded.  (Since I took these photos a few days ago, they are now sadly drooping in the vase.)  It's the same feeling I have that summer is slipping by so quickly, and I want to savor every last ray of sunshine.

Sunflowers
Photo: The Foolish Aesthete

Sunflowers, for me, are also inextricably associated with Vincent Van Gogh.  Van Gogh must have found them cheerful, even in a half-wilted stage.  He painted sunflowers while eagerly anticipating the visit of his friend, Paul Gaugin.  He had such high hopes for establishing an artist colony then. Sadly, that visit turned out to be disastrous and led to his missing-ear phase.


"Two Cut Sunflowers"
Vincent Van Gogh
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art
Such a short, sad life, filled with brilliant images.  Fortunately for us, we still get to share in his visions through the paintings he left behind.  So long lives this, and this gives life to thee as Shakespeare declared in Sonnet #18.

I pause for a moment of self-reflection.  Curious!  This is what I look like?  Funny how a different looking glass can offer a distortion from the feedback we're accustomed to.



World events and these sunflowers are putting me in an introspective mood.   But I hope the Sunflowers' sunny faces spread a bit of cheer.

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Cover up: Urban Outfitters
Platforms: Report
Necklace: gift from sister
Photos: The Foolish Aesthete, except for Van Gogh painting

* from Lewis Carroll's "The Mock Turtle Song" 

32 comments:

  1. Lovely post. I am a sucker for sunflowers too, they are absolutely beautiful and remind me of all things good! Glad that you broke down and bought some, I have always wanted to grow them.

    The Internet Garbage

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  2. beautiful images, especially the second last one.

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  3. Thank you for the sunshine and sunflowers (I used to grow them every year, but not for some time now) they will always be welcome. All safe and well here thank goodness. Thank you for your concern. Xxxx

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  4. Great outfit! I like the color pairings.

    goodbadnfab.blogspot.com
    style and musings of a LA fashion lawyer

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  5. Those are some hot shoes lady! What i love about sunflowers are that they follow the sun so visibly. Its fun to watch them change throughout the day.

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  6. great post and beautiful photos..hoping for things to get better in london

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  7. wow these photos are beautiful - i love the color of this dress and that necklace - stunning xx

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  8. I love sunflowers. They have a way of making people happy, I believe. I also think they have a way of adding to the remark-ability of photos, as demonstrated above.

    Just gorgeous, really.


    Lots of love from Sydney,

    x Kel

    talking closet camaraderie

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  9. Gorgeous pics! Love the dress :) Happy Wednesday xx

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  10. that was such a great post; that first picture is stunning. xo snadra

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  11. You look amazing! I love the dress :)

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  12. Sunflowers are my favorite! Gorgeous photos!

    Xx

    http://chelseasgirl.wordpress.com/

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  13. @Ta - Meant to tell you that I had just showered from a swim and was in sandals. I only reached for these heels when I decided I wanted to mix teal into the color palette.

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  14. Sooo amazing! Loving it.. I too hope everyone is safe in the UK!

    ~Angel

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  15. I love Van Gogh's paintings. I watched a documentary on him called the power of art ( it can be found on youtube if you're interested) and it actually reduced me to tears. yes I cry during documentaries it would appear. His art is truly special though I didn't quite understand it before I knew a bit about his life and disorder. Also, I absolutely love how you paired the burned orange dress with the turquoise heels!

    The Pink Monocle

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  16. WOW,such a beautiful dress and amazing shoes!
    http://chiccastyle.blogspot.com/

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  17. Depression the riots in London. On a happier note; I adore sunflowers. Painters are enchanted by the sunny and happy sunflower.
    I know I'm happier with a vase of sunflowers on my table.

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  18. What a lovely post! You're totally right about England.. so hard to understand but must be so scary to be there right now.

    I love sunflowers as well, give the summer feeling right away! Such a shame it has been raining in Amsterdam for amonth now so I havent seen a real one, but I love your photos!

    And your dress is really pretty :)

    XOXO
    Steffy / http://www.bohemian-bubbles.com/

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  19. Love your heels :)

    pinklemonincrystal.blogspot.com

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  20. I appreciate your acknowledgement and thoughts towards the events in London. Sometimes I feel like we fashion bloggers forget there's a real world beyond our outfits. That said- you look lovely! I am a big lover of sunflowers too, so cheerful, and you and they have just brightened my day! xo. -Bella Q
    the Citizen Rosebud

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  21. You look absolutely adorable. Love the blue shoes!

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  22. i love those pics and you look great!

    Love,
    www.chicksinfeathers.co.cc

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  23. What a beautiful post girl and inspiring too! You look amazing - I like especially the blue sandals. I hope that everyone is safe in UK too, my young sister lives there and I'm hoping to hear from her soon!

    Have a beautiful weekend! =(^.^)=

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  24. Beautiful photos, sunflowers always brighten my day!

    http://www.fashionhacks.blogspot.com/

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  25. Lovely photos! And I love all your whole colourful look! so pretty! xx

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  26. beautiful dress!
    kiss Erika ♥

    www.myfreechoice.net


    Come to visit my blog again..

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  27. I love sunflowers, they are so beautiful, like a little suns :)
    You look beautiful. I love colour of dress, so wonderful.
    Lovely photos darling!

    xoxo Ra

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  28. What fab pictures! And even more fab outfit. You look great!

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Dear Fellow Aesthetes, I love hearing your thoughts. I think the other readers find them valuable too! Much love xxx

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