I can finally see the shape of spring. The weather is disoriented as it tends to be here in April, but the crocuses are OUT, which is the first good sign that we are nearly there. Next comes the forsythia, and by the time I spy tulips and daffodil, my winter clothes will be happily tucked away in favor of lighter fare. The perennial roadblock of spring dressing is waking up those sartorial nerve endings dulled from months of uninspiring winter options. This is a familiar challenge, so I have a reliable therapeutic routine at the ready. It’s not exactly brain surgery, but it helps, and it begins with a spot of research/moodboarding.
I’m an emotional dresser, so my style tends to ebb and flow with the tides of my moods, but a couple of things remain consistent: I don’t like my clothes to feel fussy unless I am dressing for an event, and I place a lot of importance on the balance of yin/yang. When I am adjusting an outfit, if it leans too far femme, my instinct is to add a masculine element, and vice versa. I’m currently on week 2/3 of a seminar on the Animus with a Jungian analyst, so that definitely influenced my rabbit hole this season.
Jung defined the animus as the unconscious masculine side of a woman, and the anima as the unconscious feminine side of a man, each transcending the personal psyche. He described them as mediators between the conscious and the unconscious and the gatekeeper to true spiritual life. There is a LOT of discourse around the binary of it all, and I acknowledge the limits of language and cultural understanding in this area - Jung was an imperfect teacher after all - but there is such richness in a union of opposites (see my feelings on the Dionysian/Apollonian forces). Because, of course, the truth is, we all contain both anima and animus, and self actualization only comes when we find our balance.
Jung’s term for this balance was Syzygy which, in astronomy, means a conjunction or opposition of celestial bodies. I can’t help you with cosmic, romantic or spiritual alignment, but I can give you a peek into my stylistic Syzygy moodboard for spring!
When I am truly down a rabbit hole, it becomes very fluid and I found myself flowing…
through runway menswear from Raf Simons, Ann Demeulemeester and Hed Mayner…
to Miguel Adrover, a designer who is very well connected to Syzygy…
this image of Cher on a talk show…
Perry Ellis Spring 1993, the panned grunge collection that got Marc Jacobs fired (and made him legendary)…
some menswear detail shots full of texture…
a screenshot from the 1970 film Puzzle of a Downfall Child (one of my favourite Faye Dunaway roles!)…
Then I became ensnared by several images of jewelry designer and Saint Laurent muse LouLou de la Falaise - she evidently made friends with her animus!
Perhaps there’s something in the water, but most French women seemingly have an innate sense of Syzygy, which may be why North Americans are obsessed with cracking their style codes. More examples of individuals with integrated style: Sade, Lenny Kravitz, Sarah Linh Tran, Erykah Badu, Mick Jagger, Mary Kate Olsen, Rihanna.
My rabbit hole end result may be eclectic, but it feels right: relaxed, grounded, a little haute bohemian, with lots of volume, layers and jewelry. I don’t think getting dressed will earn me individuation, but it is part of the journey - aesthetic self expression helps me tap into my internal spirit, and externalizing the Animus is my version of Syzygy!
Spring Syzygy wishlist
tremendously large pants aka something I can’t get enough of: a stunning option in camel woven silk by Baserange, who always shock me with their reasonable price points, or the new Uniqlo U Easy Curved Pants - sold out in the beautiful dove grey but still available in natural
Substantial silver jewelry to add friction to any outfit: these Jean Paul Gaultier chunky pierced hoops fit the bill. As does this absolute bruiser of a silver chain bracelet, this Ethiopian silver coptic cross pendant or this Robert Lee Morris puffy cross chain
Rachel Comey Ennu skirt - is this the perfect summer skirt? The silhouette and fabric really strike the balance and I could see myself wearing this every day
Toronto brand Sample double ribbed undershirt - everything these two make is freaky and special, and I will be putting in my order as soon as the warm weather hits.
A collection of roomy and unpretentious linen tops and jackets by Eskandar: cream cowl neck sweatshirt, patch pocket coat in a deep damson plum purple, grey collared tee, flocked silk jacket
I love a shoe with robust hardware - I can’t get my hands on the Bally Payat boat shoe in my size (or price range), but the Tory Burch pierced mule wedge has been beckoning me for months. Also very curious about Maguire’s Soria model with the addition of a pair of their shoe clips (I will be holding out for their restock of the silver spiral)
a swath of fabric to drape about the shoulders neck and head (commonly known as a scarf): some great mucky tones from Massimo Dutti, brighter hues on Etsy
personally I would like to affix this French Ecclesiastical embroidered Agnus Dei to the back of a jacket but that’s just ME
The next step is a spring wardrobe edit and a playdate with my closet! Let me know if you’d like me to bring you along…
Cher!!!
I love these recs…those tan silk pants are perfection. I’m curious what type of jacket you’d put that embroidery on.