THUMBELINA FEAT. PRINCESS POLLY
Ever since I can remember, my step-grandfather on my dad’s side always called me ‘thumbelina.’ This nickname was an obvious nod to my small stature (I’ve always been petite), but is also a reference of Hans Christian Andersen’s teeny character. The story follows, you guessed it, a tiny fairy named Thumbelina who was born from barley seeds and given to a woman from a witch. This woman was yearning for a child. Sound familiar? It definitely has some Brothers-Grimm meets Sondheim vibes. Thumbelina has adventures with flowers, mice, and nature, also preceding none other than Alice in her Wonderland, which also feels all too reminiscent as well. Thumbelina definitely reminds me of all the cottage, fairy, ballerina-core vibes we’ve been seeing lately in fashion, so I put together this look as a nod to them all with a little bit of an edgy twist.
I started this look with a basic white turtleneck and paired this Princess Polly Anaya Oversized Sweater in Beige overtop. I paired a vegan leather skirt underneath (linked here in a brown shade) and finished the look off with black fleece-lined stockings, legwarmers, and my platform Uggs. The true star of this look, IMO, is this amazing leather flight jacket I scored from a boutique up in New Hampshire, Cotillion Bureau. I’ve had my eyes out for a chocolate brown jacket just like this one for a while now, so it was truly fate to stumble upon it at that store. I feel like it really edges up the balletcore look and gives it all the autumn/fall vibes! I finished off the look with my Prada Tessuto, and these really cute small velvet ribbons that, you guessed it, I cut from a spool I got on Amazon.
Thumbelina, but make it 2023.
Leaving you with a quote from the bard featuring one of his tiny, but mighty fairies:
“Over hill, over dale, Thorough bush, thorough brier, Over park, over pale, Thorough flood, thorough fire; I do wander everywhere, Swifter than the moon’s sphere.”
[Midsummer Night’s Dream 2.1]
Cheers, - A. Martine xx
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post script ///
This past weekend was my best friend from middle school’s wedding! It was pretty amazing to witness, and every detail was absolutely perfect. Couldn’t have imagined a better day. Sharing some snaps, click to the right to scroll!
