Amiable's Blog

WIW: Seasons Challenge 1

September 14, 2015

This is a pretty lateral interpretation, I know.  But I love the photo of the poppy field, and the nostalgia that poppies invoke.  I didn't realize until I googled it that to associate poppies with "remembering" was an Australian thing.  I have no idea where I got it.  Here's the Google statement:

The Red Poppy has special significance for Australians. Worn on Remembrance Day (11 November) each year, the red poppies were among the first to flower in the devastated battlefields of northern France and Belgium in the First World War.

Anyway, because of Poppies and Rememberance, I decided to wear  a shirt that has special significance to me.  I spent the summer of 1999 in Cameroon, West Africa.  I lived with some missionaries just outside a small village for seven weeks.  During that time, the town tailor made this shirt for me as a gift (Actually, I think a different merchant ordered the shirt for me from him, as a gift).  I've kept it since, and even though I rarely wear it, it brings back special memories, and I enjoy keeping it.

So today, for the poppies, I paired my Cameroon shirt with gray jeans that used to be skinnies on me but are now more boy-friend fitting.  And my happiness factor is high!

Thanks Diane for terrific inspiration!

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Posted in the What I Wore category
This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

20 Comments

  • replied 8 years ago

    Oh, what an absolutely fab way of interpreting and using inspiration! I love your lateral thinking Amy! What a lovely story.

    I really like how your hair picks up on the burgundy/brown tones in the print of the top and the Birks and pants look relaxed and casual. Great job!

  • MsMary replied 8 years ago

    Wow, you look amazing! I love how you took the inspiration and made it your own!

  • CocoLion replied 8 years ago

    At first I kept searching for the red in your outfit, but after reading your story it makes perfect sense.  Love the top, it looks perfectly current here the way you've styled it with rolled jeans and Birkenstocks.  

  • Word Lily replied 8 years ago

    Aw, how fun! I don't think I fit in the shirt that was made for me when I was there (and I'm not sure I'd wear it anyway; I'm recalling huge puffed sleeves). I'd forgotten we were there the same summer.

  • Style Fan replied 8 years ago

    I love your interpretation of the poppies.  What a lovely story.  Your shirt looks right on trend to me.  A bit boho and great with BF jeans. 

  • MTBGirl replied 8 years ago

    Very nice Amy! The shirt is lovely on you and even more so hearing the sentiment tied to it.

  • Angie replied 8 years ago

    Killer way of interpreting the photo. Very lateral. Like the burgundy hair, Amy. 

  • Tania replied 8 years ago

    Great interpretation. 

  • Aida replied 8 years ago

    Amy what a wonderful way of interpreting the photo! Your pretty hair provides more than enough red to the look :)

  • TraceyLiz65 replied 8 years ago

    Love the wonderful story that goes along with your shirt.  Perfect for this inspiration. 

  • Joy replied 8 years ago

    What a great story to go with your outfit. Kansas City has a fabulous WWI museum. To enter one walks across a bridge and the area below is covered with poppies. You must do a day trip or weekend to see the place. There are lots of hands-on displays and things that would interest children about 8 or 10 and up.

  • Suz replied 8 years ago

    What an incredibly sensitive and clever way to interpret this photo!! 

    And that shirt fits Angie's "sentimental" category to a T. 

    The thing is, it also flatters you incredibly well, especially with your new hair colour! It's a lovely, lovely keepsake -- and will never date or go out of style. You are right to hang onto it and I hope you find other ways to wear it. It fits with Angie's blog post about long-lasting wardrobe items as well. 

    I don't know if the association with poppies is particularly Australian. I thought perhaps it was Commonwealth? In Canada, we wear them for Remembrance Day as well. I think you call it Veterans Day in the US? Anyway -- it is a Canadian poet who wrote: 

    In Flanders fields the poppies blow
    Between the crosses, row on row,
    That mark our place; and in the sky
    The larks, still bravely singing, fly
    Scarce heard amid the guns below.

    That's just the first verse; there are several more. Many Canadian children have this poem by heart. Including my DD. 

  • Windchime replied 8 years ago

    Wonderful idea to bring your Cameroon shirt into your interpretation of the poppies picture! It's a beautiful, one of a kind shirt and looks amazing on you. I really like how you've styled it here with your dark pants, sandals, and bracelet.

  • amiable replied 8 years ago

    Thanks everyone! 

    I found this shirt, oh, maybe 6 weeks ago, packing to move, and thought "I should wear that".  But this is my first time doing so.

    Hannah - I'd forgotten we were there the same summer too.  Now I'm trying to remember if I met you before that summer or after?

    Style Fan - It amuses me how this shirt is suddenly on trend again.  I doubt it was on trend back when I got it, but now I can wear it and look perfectly current.  

    Suz - remembrance, and Veterans day, is special to me - partly because it's my birthday, and I've always loved poppies for their association with my birthday (plus, I'm married to a veteran).  I was surprised this morning to have Google tell me it's an Australian thing - so I'm glad that it's broader than that!  (And beautiful poem - thank you for sharing it!)

    Aida - I didn't think at all about my hair bringing the red in to the picture - I like it!  :)

  • Maneera replied 8 years ago

    What a beautiful story and an equally lovely shirt! It's the perfect interpretation for this outfit.....which I feel is rather special :)

  • Nebraskim replied 8 years ago

    You have done a beautiful job interpreting in a personal way.

  • Jaime replied 8 years ago

    Terrific interpretation and great shirt, styled excellently!

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 8 years ago

    What a creative interpretation and a nice story, Amy. Thanks for reminding me of the association of poppies with remembrance, especially of veterans. I may have to work in some of that aspect when I try to put together an outfit for this photo!

    Anyway, I like your special shirt and the way you've paired it with the boyfriend jeans and sandals. You've rejuvenated an old favorite.

  • Ankita replied 8 years ago

    I think this one is a somewhat 'special' challenge post and I absolutely love how you interpreted the picture.... thank you so very much for sharing that story with us :)
    The outfit in itself is beautiful, I love at how airy and relaxed the fit of each piece is, yet how striking the colors in the blouse are...not to miss your gorgeous hair color :)

  • Word Lily replied 8 years ago

    If we met at camp (I think I recall you saying P told you to look me up, but I don't recall the interaction / didn't know it was more than mundane) it was the summer before this; you did music for a week, maybe?

    But for the most part it was after 1999 that we got to know each other, at least.

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