In My Bella Baxter Era
Taking inspiration (said loosely) from Poor Things - giant puff sleeves, an 80s dressing gown, and oh-so-many textures.
My first newsletter on Substack was discussing the oh so genius costuming of Poor Things. I originally wrote it as a one-and-done article, but obviously it struck a chord in the fashion section of my brain and it’s been lurking in the back of my mind ever since. Spring is around the corner and while it’s still too cold to break out the slip dresses and teeny tiny shorts, I have been feeling so uninspired in my outfits recently. I usually love this cool-in-the-morning, slightly warmer-in-the-afternoon weather for getting dressed because I love layers. But I’ve been working a ton and I’m truly just exhausted, and while I try to make getting dressed the fun part of my day, it’s just felt draining recently. Another thing to check off the to-to list. So, when I restacked my original article last week, I gave it another quick glance over and finally felt a bit of a desire to play around with my clothes. In a burst of energy and quite honestly a rampage through the lesser-worn pieces in the storage closet (resulting in a carpet made of clothing), I finally felt inspired.
A disclaimer: These looks stray a bit from the film, but isn’t that what inspiration is all about? Less of a carbon copy, more of a general vibe. I pretty much never wear colors, and while I have fun, fancy pieces in my arsenal, they just aren’t really practical for the running around I’ve been doing. So this was not only a great way for me to breathe life into my lesser-worn pieces, it was also an exercise in going outside my comfort zone. Again, another disclaimer: I’m all for having a style you gravitate towards and buying pieces that fit within it, but I also encourage playing around with pieces you might not immediately grab. Thrift stores are a great way to play around without having to spend a ton of money that would be better spent on pieces with better CPW (cost per wear).
Look 1
This outfit spans decades - both within my personal wardrobe and the dates of the pieces themselves. I wear a lot of black, so the base of this is relatively in line with a classic Kendall look (black pants, belt, black top), but I jeujed it up with lots of textures. The pants are a thrifted spandex-y trouser - very American Apparel circa 2014, but with an actual zip fly and decent tailoring. The top (actually two tops layered) is made of pieces I will probably keep forever. They have sentimental value. My first foray into the grown-up fashion world was an internship all the way back in 2018 while I was in college, and even though it wasn’t paid (fashion, am I right?), I was able to pick a few samples when I left. These were two of them, and I might not wear them often, but I do break them out occasionally when I want something a little more special than a regular black button down. I just thrifted this belt from a hole-in-the-wall shop in New Jersey, and the quality is par none. Lastly, the pièce de résistance - the dressing gown turned jacket. I bought this (I think) 80s floral dressing gown (I think) four years ago at Brooklyn Thrift for a photoshoot, and just couldn’t convince myself to get rid of it. I never wear it, but I truly just think it is so beautiful. So many textures, lots of color, and a good belt.
Look 2
I sourced this vintage slip with the intention of selling it on my vintage page, but somehow it hasn’t been scooped up yet. I love the pleated neck detailing and the almost-but-not-quite sheer fabric. Another thing I never wear - pink. But this feels less daunting than the Barbie shade we saw for months. I snagged this little dickie top at Consignment Brooklyn and I especially love it because it’s a crepe fabric, not regular shirting (no steaming needed!). The shoes are another piece I sourced for the vintage shop - vintage Prada in stunning condition. Luckily, they are my size so I can use them for fun styling adventures such as this. And the sequin vest was a frantic Goodwill purchase - you know what I mean. Too many hours spent in Goodwill and things you’d never usually buy start to look Met Gala worthy.
Look 3
I bought this Saloni top on the Outnet years ago, and it’s another piece I keep every time I do a closet cleanout. It’s incredibly impractical - the seam above the bust makes it nearly impossible to lift my arms, but there is something about it that I love. The pants were actually purchased by a friend at a sample sale and didn’t end up fitting her - lucky me. They are about 8” too long for me, so I employed my Jimmy Choo Madra platform boots in an attempt to make them wearable. News flash: they are still too long. And the jacket is a vintage find from college that I took out of retirement for this very photo. I think I’ll put it back into the rotation.
Look 4
This is the most out there outfit for me. I hate shorts, and these are about as short as they can get without being underwear. But I will make this sacrifice for the greater good of this article. I loved Bella’s short look (pictured below) but I am severely lacking in this department given my previously stated distaste. This is about all I have, minus a few pairs of denim cutoffs and a wool pair that makes me look like I belong on the Newsies stage. But I tried to look at the overall elements of the look that I liked - the shorts/boots/sleeve combo. I thrifted this massively puff sleeved zip up jacket a few weeks ago, and I’ve been struggling with styling it. While this is probably (definitely) not how I will style it for daily wear, it got me thinking about it again. The belt is vintage off eBay ($9!) as I continue my accessorizing journey. And the boots are my go-to for any and all outfits. Vintage Luciano Padovan, again thrifted, this time from Poshmark, and desperately in need of a resoling.
Overall, I would probably never wear any of these outfits outside the house, but challenging myself to wear my pieces in unexpected ways helped me to look at the pieces I have in a new light. Art should inspire, and I consider the costumes of Poor Things art.
I loved this movie, so I smiled at your title. The looks did not disappoint! LOVE!
LOVEEEEEE