It came to my attention that despite the Summer 2020 season being canceled, the San Francisco Opera is still, in it’s own way, ON. Last weekend, they streamed Mefistopheles on their website for free, so of course I brought out a fancy dress with lantern sleeves, moisterized my spray tan, popped some popcorn, and cozied up for a solid night in.
I wouldn’t say I’m an expert, not by any means, but I do love going to the opera (I wrote about it on this post). It has all the hallmarks of something I’d be into – fancy clothes (both on stage and off), incredible music, socially-relevant productions (this summer, a Steve Jobs opera was to premier, I man, come onnnn), tasteful nudity (yes, it happens more often than you’d think), cocktails and chocolate at intermissions, no one talking to you for up to five and a half hours, all at the opera house? I was born for opera.
The only thing that could compete with a night at the opera would be a night at home, a glass of wine, and snuggling with my dog. What an unexpected gift from quarantine that I should be able to combine my love of opera with my love of lounge for the perfect Saturday night?
Dressing Up to Stay In
So, yes, I dressed myself up as if I were actually going to the opera house and reminded myself that at least now I wouldn’t have to squeeze a canister of pepper spray into my clutch should my Uber home go south. Truth be told, I didn’t even get myself a clutch. Shabby, I know; but after all, we’re living in unprecedented times.
About the dress: I am completely devoted to it. So much so that, even when though it was clearly on the small side and wouldn’t seem to zip, I committed myself to zipping that thing UP. It may have taken me 30 minutes, I may have sweated off my makeup, I may have had to unbutton all those silver ball buttons, zip myself in, then button myself painstakingly back up, I may have squeezed my torso into one of Kim Kardashian’s girdles, but when I say I’m going to something, I FOLLOW THROUGH.
[The thought occurred to me, panting and pulling at the zipper with my nearly dislocated shoulders, that I could be projecting a smidge with my crusade to get the dress on … and decided that immediate reflection on the issue would only delay my goal of zipping it up, so I tabled it. Clearly I have some journaling to do tonight.]
The dress is from an Australian brand called Thurley, and as you can deduce from the ordeal of getting it on my body, the brand: 1. Runs small; and 2. Produces nearly indestructible clothes. Bravo, Thurley!
The design really reminds me of Zimmerman, with the kerchief hem, mock neck, innumerable buttons, and lantern sleeves. It’s light, but substantial; it has shape, but it flows; sexy but kind of dorky, like Fabio-meets-Cindy Crawford. Perfect for a summer opera.
Annnnd … I called the SF Opera box office today, and they said that they’ll be doing at least three more weekends of streaming opera from their website. This weekend is Bellini’s The Capulets and the Montagues!
I’ll prepare my Spanx.
love,
Stig
Inspired by the Post: Lantern Sleeves
A handful of dresses at every (and I mean every) price point from around the web for youuuuuuu
