When I was 11 years old, silly me picked up The Secret Garden from the book store because I was drawn to its pretty cover. I never touched it for a long time, it was left on my shelves till all the pages turned brown and crisp. It was only recently that I finally got to read this 1910s classic and truth is I'm finding it a joy so far.
“The Secret Garden was what Mary called it when she was thinking of it. She liked the name, and she liked still more the feeling that when its beautiful old walls shut her in no one knew where she was. It seemed almost like being shut out of the world in some fairy place. The few books she had read and liked had been fairy-story books, and she had read of secret gardens in some of the stories. Sometimes people went to sleep in them for a hundred years, which she had thought must be rather stupid. She had no intention of going to sleep, and, in fact, she was becoming wider awake every day which passed at Misselthwaite.”
― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden is an uncomplicated tale about a young, lonely, orphaned girl named Mary who found refuge in a garden – at least this is my personal understanding. I'm not even halfway through the book and it had already made me shed a tear or two. I think a part of me feel sorry for Mary yet at the same time, I could resonate with her curiosity for life and yearning for deep relationship bonds. The author's vivid, descriptive writings about nature have inspired me in many ways to appreciate my everyday surroundings too. Classics are what they are because they are able to inspire and touch the hearts of people across cultures, ages, and time.
If you've been reading my blog for awhile, it's apparent my outfits are direct reflections of the music, films, and readings I'm engrossed in at the moment. As of now, it's definitely a mix of early 20th-century fashion and music by Danish musician Agnes Obel – my god, her sounds are so haunting, raw, and distant it almost breaks my heart to hear. On another note, I'm obsessed with my balloon-sleeved dress that looks like something Snow White would approve of. Its basque waistline is everything! I found it on a Taobao store which specialises in making antique style clothing using natural and sustainable textiles. I've linked it below so do check it out if you're interested!
If you've been reading my blog for awhile, it's apparent my outfits are direct reflections of the music, films, and readings I'm engrossed in at the moment. As of now, it's definitely a mix of early 20th-century fashion and music by Danish musician Agnes Obel – my god, her sounds are so haunting, raw, and distant it almost breaks my heart to hear. On another note, I'm obsessed with my balloon-sleeved dress that looks like something Snow White would approve of. Its basque waistline is everything! I found it on a Taobao store which specialises in making antique style clothing using natural and sustainable textiles. I've linked it below so do check it out if you're interested!
I'm wearing 'Emma' dress from Taobao, c/o Loly In The Sky flats, and a vintage basket bag.
Photos by Nigel.
