(Casual daily outfits for early spring.)
It’s April, but this spring has felt like an extension of winter so far. It’s finally warming up and you can definitely tell that summer is on its way to Central Texas, but we had weeks and weeks of very fickle weather, with cold temperatures in the mornings and lots of sun in the afternoons. I got by with a uniform, and I realize now that I was inspired by my new, properly fitting shoes. I guess I started planning my outfits around my shoes, and who hasn’t done that before?
In my first outfit, I’m dressed to play basketball with the boys at the local recreation center over Spring Break. I wore comfy, if somewhat baggy jeans, a v-neck tee from Everlane, my favorite black cardigan, and my casual black shoes. After seeing this picture, I realized that those jeans were too big, even though I lived in them all winter, so I sent them away to ThredUp.
The second outfit is a bit dressier, and I wore it to run errands and have lunch out with Ryan. I wore my favorite Paige jeans, a lace top, and my neutral flats for a more put-together look. Still very casual and comfortable, though.
The third outfit was for a Saturday morning full of errands, and I wore one of the Raven and Lily tees I purchased earlier this year, along with my trusty cardigan, the Paige jeans, and dressier black flats.
And I wore the last outfit for a pizza lunch with Ryan and the boys one Sunday recently. It was cold that day, so I broke out my old bootcut jeans, another Everlane tee in a different colorway, and my fancier black flats to dress things up a little.
All of these outfits are variations of the same uniform, and I’ve found myself gravitating toward a more relaxed style lately. But I’m looking forward to adding skirts and dresses back into the mix as the weather continues to improve.
(Title card via Wikipedia.)
Ryan and I are always on the hunt for shows we can watch together, and “Top of the Lake” fit the bill quite nicely. I’m not usually one for crime or suspense, and you won’t catch me watching shows like “The Walking Dead.” I typically shy away from stories of violence and murder, but I love “Call the Midwife” and find the birth scenes each week to be realistic and respectful. I’ll take babies over zombies any day, I guess.
I’d read about “Top of the Lake” in various places and wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but we decided to give it a try on Netflix. The show is actually a mini-series of seven episodes, and no further seasons are planned. Jane Campion, the writer and director of The Piano, created this New Zealand-based series that features Elisabeth Moss (“Mad Men’s” Peggy Olson) in the main role as Detective Robin Griffin, who is visiting her sick mother in her old hometown when she’s asked to work on a case involving a pregnant twelve-year-old. What Moss’ character uncovers is shocking, to say the least, and she is warned by a local spiritual leader, played by Holly Hunter, that the investigation will bring Griffin to her knees.
That advice proves true, and what follows is a series of discoveries that reveal a history of long-established rape culture in the small lakeside town. Moss’ character is not exempt from the unspoken acts that occur there, and we soon learn of a terrible event in her past that shapes the process of the investigation and her connection to the missing girl.
In many ways, “Top of the Lake” is similar to Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo series, which Campion cites as an influence. I watched the original Swedish version, three films in all, and haven’t seen the American version. I also tried reading the books and couldn’t stomach the violence, though I understand its importance in explaining crimes that Larsson was trying to expose. “Top of the Lake” conveys a similar message, I think, and while I was shocked at the old boy mindset of this New Zealand town, I was incredibly impressed with Campion’s creation of a strong female lead. Moss’ portrayal of the police detective is fearless and determined, almost to a fault, but she’s also vulnerable and still reeling from the experiences of her past. She alone can save the missing girl and expose the truth within the town, and that’s what appeals to me most about this story.
“Top of the Lake” doesn’t end with a nice and simple resolution, and I felt both horrified and intrigued by the questions left unanswered. That’s why I’m watching it again right now with the subtitles, which help to capture the nuances of the New Zealand accent and explain the things I missed the first time around. Campion lets viewers come to our own conclusions about a few key points, and in the end, it makes for really smart television.
A few articles that I found interesting about “Top of the Lake” include this interview with Jane Campion, this piece about rape culture within the show, and this post about Moss’ role in the series. And my mom just reminded me of this true story about Pitcairn Island, the home of the descendants of the Bounty, where something eerily similar to “Top of the Lake” actually took place for many years. I’m not certain if Campion intended her show as a commentary on this situation, but given the circumstances, it seems quite likely.
If you’ve seen “Top of the Lake,” I’m curious to hear what you thought of it.
(Nest in a teacup vignette.)
This was a regular week, but I’ve been battling terrible allergies and an endless cough lately. I think my abs are getting a workout from all the coughing, and I’m really looking forward to feeling more normal. The weather is warming up this weekend, so that should help things. Tonight is brew night and we’ve got a few small errands planned, but nothing big. Relaxed weekends are my favorite. Here are some things that caught my eye this week.
Allie sent me this powerful documentary about a single mom working to make ends meet. It’s a really great film, and the Q&A after is also insightful. (The free viewing period has ended, but you can watch the film on HBO.)
And then I found this shorter documentary, which is equally as riveting, and follows a group of women in Austin as they undergo weight loss surgeries. Here’s the Q&A for All of Me. I love documentaries.
“Same Window, New Views.” A beautiful post about marriage.
A stunning apartment in Brooklyn.
A great rundown of the Hobby Lobby Supreme Court case.
Because “more sex equals less crafting.”
An interesting conversation about stay-at-home parents.
Have a wonderful weekend!
