Medieval legend has it that a woman of the purest heart could summon a unicorn if she was alone in the forest—that the rare beast would lay his head in her lap if her heart was true.
I’d like to think that there are gems as rare as unicorns out there in today’s world, and people whose souls seek adventure and the beauty in the world can find those treasures, or those treasures may find them and lay themselves at the seekers’ feet. These prized diamonds in the rough can come in many forms: for the fashion/lifestyle blogger in me, they appear in the form of a good book, article of clothing, a new place to travel to, or an exciting event. All of the above fell in my lap in the last week:
The Destination and the Event:
My new and dear friend, Mari who is as captivated by fashion and art as I am (if you haven’t already, go check out her fashion blog!), invited me to this magnificent evening soiree at the Huntington Library in San Marino: Member’s Brushstrokes: Beyond the Gallery.
In the midst of covering red carpets, film premieres, and fashion parties over the last few months (which are precious memories themselves that I would be happy to recap on the blog on a later date), this event was one that stood out among the rest, because I felt transported from the hustle and bustle of daily LA life. The greenery of lush gardens on a 19th century estate just outside of Pasadena, California seemed to shut out the rest of the world, the string quartet on the grounds blocked out the cacophonic sound of Los Angeles traffic, and the live painting demonstrations (including one by Los Angeles artist extraordinaire, Robert Vergas) really made the night feel like something from a past time. The whole affair reminded me of a modern version of the 18th century French parties depicted in rococo paintings hanging inside the Huntington Library museum. Which, by the way, Mari and I had the privilege of seeing after hours with so little people in the building that it was like we had the whole place to ourselves. A night at the museum, indeed!
The Clothing:
I wandered the botanical gardens in a lace top from Zara, in a green the shade of plants that encapsulated me. This outfit was like the garden I walked through in more ways than one: yes, the leaf-green top, but also the entire look is a meadow of different textures: from lace, to a tan-colored knit skirt from Calvin Klein, to polka-dot black shoes (also from Zara). The pieces are all so different, but come together poetically, as did the landscape.
The Book:
I’ve been a dedicated fan to STARZ’s Limited Series about the Tudors and their predecessors: The White Queen, The White Princess and The Spanish Princess. Well, these are television adaptations of historical fiction novelist, Philippa Gregory. One of my good friends from high school, Joy Ofodu (who is now a powerhouse at Instagram!), had recommended her books to me because she knows of my fascination with history and the British monarchy, but I did not get around to reading them until this month. I am reading them in the order Gregory herself recommends. Let the following line tempt you to pick up the first book, and also circle back to the unicorn motif woven throughout this post:
“He saw her, asleep like a nymph, as if she were growing in the wood herself, at the foot of the tree as if she were a bank of flowers, her green velvet dress outspread, her brown bonnet like a pillow under her golden hair, her face as peaceful in sleep as a blossom. He stood waiting, uncertain what he should do, and as he watched, the unicorn went forwards, lay down beside her, and placed its long head with the silver horn gently in the lap of the sleeping maid, just as all the legends had always said it would.” – Lady of the Rivers, Philippa Gregory
What is your unicorn thing or memory?
Keeping it Krischic,
Kristin Vartan
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Keeping it Krischic 