This season’s Firenze4Ever theme was Obsessions. As women, we’re overly obsessed with so many things that our lives sometimes end up paralyzed by the ridiculous standards society places upon us; but even more paralyzing are the unobtainable standards we place upon ourselves. Perfect body, perfect face, perfect wife, perfect mother, perfect career, perfect friend, perfect cook…the list is endless.
The three looks I styled explore these obsessions, the first of which is the concept of the Stepford Wife. We may find the idea of wife-in-servitude as archaic, but in fact we’ve now placed the perfect wife benchmark upon ourselves. We’re told we can do it all and have it all when that’s, of course, unrealistic. We want the career and the children and the husband, and we WANT to be at the top of our game in all these areas. I recently found myself feeling guilty for not making dinner from scratch on a particular night because I had just come back from a business trip and spent the day catching up at work while volunteering at my kid’s school out of guilt for missing the play when I was on said trip. I know in my mind the guilt is not only unnecessary but harmful, and yet, it’s still there.
Mary Katrantzou Calligraphy Candy Printed Bustier Dress ($3,220)
Nightmarket Crystal Pearls Necklace ($348)
Fendi Mini 2Jours Bag with Bird Detailing ($2,220)
René Caovilla 50MM Embellished Suede Sandals ($980)
This leads to my second look, the obsession to find balance as a woman. This is a big one, and I had fun depicting this idea with an overt and salacious scene. She’s wearing a gorgeous Balmain jacket, fitted and buttoned up, then below she’s essentially nude. This is the ultimate male fantasy, whether it be the sexy librarian, the naughty school girl, or the seductive nurse. It’s basically the idea that she’s fit to take home to mom but even better to take home to bed. I’m turning this around on ourselves, though, and asking how far we go as women to fulfill the fantasy. One word? Instagram.
Moschino Cotton Fishnet Mini Skirt ($470)
Balmain Two-Tone Cotton Boucle Jacket ($4,208)
Dsquared2 Plisse Ruffled Cotton Poplin Top ($840)
Lulu Guinness Chloe Perspex Clutch ($385)
Casadei 110MM Open Toe Leather Boots ($1,650)
My last look is the woman we are when everything else falls away. This is when we say, “F it.” Just let everything spill out, gut and all…when we are with true friends after having one more drink than we should have. We are vulnerable and exposed, seeing ourselves clearly without all the BS, and we are happy. These are the images we don’t post, and yet, they are the truth.
Clover Canyon Rose Matador Printed Neoprene Top (€ 201)
Faith Connection Plisse Silk Lamé Skirt ($2,556)
Hipanema Platine Bracelet ($178)
