Another series I would like to introduce to Poesia Journal is The Art of Dress, where I will regularly feature brands I admire and how I live with and integrate them into my every day.

Despite how much I love clothes, getting dressed has always filled me with a sense of dread. The task of finding the correct outfit that suits both the weather and whatever occasion I am entering the public world for has always managed to overwhelm me. It can become frustrating because getting dressed should be an enjoyable experience. After all, it is an art like anything else; the things we adorn ourselves with becoming signifiers of our personality, experiences, and tastes. Recently, the fuss of it all has started to get to me, and I will end up leaving the house looking disheveled in a not-so-chic way that is ultimately the result of my flustered, frazzled approach to getting dressed in the morning.



Living in Los Angeles has added an extra layer of anxiety when it comes to dressing because the weather can be so finicky. I am freezing most mornings and so naturally I reach for sweaters and knits — but come lunchtime when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky, I am boiling. For me, layers have become essential to dressing comfortably for the inter-season confusion of Southern California.

I am a routine person and I find comfort in knowing what comes next; but applying that logic to dressing can take so much of the beauty and personality out of it. I would prefer to use the word ritual when thinking about getting dressed, acknowledging the act as something significant and sacred. I don't want to rush through my mornings in a frenzy because I can't figure out what to wear - I want to savor those mornings and utilize them to their fullest capacity. This does not mean I want to adopt a strictly utilitarian wardrobe or uniform; it means I want more out of the things I already have. Done right, the versatility and reliability of basics make dressing easier while also granting you creative freedom. The best of both worlds. 

Recently, I was introduced to the brand Brass Clothing, a basics line designed for and by women with the mission of building a more cohesive wardrobe. They just released a collection called The Layers, featuring a baby tee and turtleneck made out of the most beautiful pima cotton and wool blend. The silhouettes are simple, chic, and versatile — the perfect balance.

These two pieces by Brass have seamlessly become a part of my wardrobe throughout the past few weeks, and I have enjoyed pairing them with everything from skirts and jeans to layering under coats and sweaters. They have successfully made dressing in the morning significantly easier without sacrificing style, and I look forward to getting dressed with them in the coming winter months. 

All photos by Ed Mumford.

The Art of Dress Vol. 1: Brass Clothing

Pina Bausch, 1966Photography by Walter Vogel

I watched Luca Guadagnino's remake of the 1977 horror/fantasy film Suspiria and to spare you from me gushing over minute details of the film, I'll give you the verdict: I loved it. It reminded me so much of all of my favorite Rainer Werner Fassbinder films (the red text used for the subtitles reminiscent of The Marriage of Maria Braun) and also of Mother!, Aronofsky's equally polarizing film. All I have to say is this: if you love beauty, terror, horror, and modern dance, you must see this film. Guadagnino's take on this horror classic is stunning, and the score and cinematic homages are enough to impress any cinema buff.

While watching, I couldn't help but notice a similar influence in the choreography of Madame Blanc's (Tilda Swinton) "Volk". Swinton herself seems to be based on a very Pina Bausch-esque character, and there is no question of Bausch's influence on the artful, powerful, and terrifying modern dance seen throughout the film. Swinton, pictured below, is seen elegantly swathed in simple fabrics and open silhouettes reminiscent of Yohji Yamamoto's collection inspired by Pina Bausch herself. This coupled with the sleek pony and cigarette, there's no denying that Pina was the inspiration for Guadagnino's terrifyingly chic reimagination of Madame Blanc.

Pina Bausch was a visionary, inspiring both clothing designers and directors alike. Her provocative choreography and stage presence was unparalleled, making her a true pioneer in the world of modern dance. It makes sense that a director such as Luca Guadagnino would choose her to be the inspiration for the both the choreography and one of the most important roles of the film. Guadagnino was not the first director to be won over by the late Pina Bausch's charms, however. According to an interview in December of 2011, Wim Wenders was convinced against his will by his girlfriend to go see a retrospective of Bausch's company, Tanztheater Wuppertal, in Venice. He was immediately entranced, claiming that it "changed his life". Shortly after Bausch's passing in 2009, Wenders made the film Pina, released in 2011. It is a stunning film that celebrates Bausch's beauty, strength, curiosity, and innovation within the world of modern dance through the lens of other artists working within the field.

Still from Pina (2011) dir. Wim Wenders

Pina is available to rent here.  

Pina Bausch's Influence

Once a week, I would like to create a small list of things that strike me, whether it be visually, intellectually, or emotionally, from around the internet and elsewhere. Here is the first edition of my new weekly tradition.

1. Bevza - One of my favorite presentations from New York Fashion Week, Bevza (her full name is Svitlana Bevza), has an incredible eye and instagram full of beautiful shots of both herself, her child, and her beautiful eponymous line.

2. This cover of Behind the Blinds featuring Isabelle Huppert, the epitome of elegance and style, shot by Lukasz Pukowiec.

3. The work of Jake Silby, originally from New Zealand, currently an MFA candidate at the School of Art Institute of Chicago.

Of Interest: Vol. 1