of pleats, poetry and pangs

on my flight back from tokyo, i managed to catch almost the entire film (they did a system reboot so i lost a snippet of the story. i might watch it in the cinema if it comes to us. half the time, i couldn't really make out the poet and his bright star's sweet nothings.

 

 

i was truly tickled when i saw this outfit. i really mean no offence to you or your craft, Janet Patterson and Abbie Cornish. i do find the collar ridiculous although the details are remarkable. the empire dress style of the 19th century was not universally flattering, i'm afraid. again, i want to state that i have nothing against big women. when i first read about the film in the inflight entertainment book, i thought the casting of the main leads a little 'wrong'. i found out later that Miss Brawne was "small".       

     

^the Spencer

^one of the outfits in which Miss Brawne doesn't look like a giant next to her beau. i love the getup, esp the shoes. Mr Keats looks like a small boy, no? love that hat on him.

^lower necklines suit Abbie Cornish's carriage better.

 

^i like the striped double-breasted design of this dress. i wish i can sew.

Darling Valentine,

I'm not sure if you should have a kiss for your violet enchantress eyes, or a whipping!

Yours,
the suitcase

My love has made me selfish. I cannot exist without you — I am forgetful of every thing but seeing you again — my Life seems to stop there — I see no further. You have absorb'd me. I have a sensation at the present moment as though I was dissolving — I should be exquisitely miserable without the hope of soon seeing you. [...] I have been astonished that Men could die Martyrs for religion — I have shudder'd at it — I shudder no more — I could be martyr'd for my Religion — Love is my religion — I could die for that — I could die for you. (Letter, 13 October 1819).

i really don't have much to offer except those thoughts above (although i know next to nothing about fashion too). maybe my experience was marred by the setting: i don't do very well in planes. i find the love story in The Village more impassioned, more romantic; the dialogue's perhaps not quite as refined but nonetheless as beautiful as poetry (whatever poetry is). the words of Edward Walker are more meaningful and indelible to me. but i will say that Abbie Cornish is an excellent actress. i think i just need to watch more to hone my observation skills.       

 



Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art —

Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night

And watching, with eternal lids apart,

Like Nature's patient, sleepless Eremite,

The moving waters at their priestlike task

Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,

Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask

Of snow upon the mountains and the moors —

No — yet still stedfast, still unchangeable,

Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast,

To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,

Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,

Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,

And so live ever — or else swoon to death.

credits:

images of love letters

text

official site