The name for this little figure came while I worked on her. I knew I wanted to make something very glam and glittery (it was Christmas, after all!). The phrase all dressed up with nowhere to go got stuck in my head. But I decided that my little princess would go everywhere.
I used to live outside a small town in northern Greece. Something that struck you when you went into town, were all those dressed up women. Full make up, blowdryed coloured hair with tons of hairspray, high heels, loads of jewellery and Gucci or Chanel handbags (fake). They were not going anywhere but to do their everyday shopping. Maybe having a coffee with a friend or picking up the kids from school.
When you met the same women in a wedding or christening, they were even more dressed up: Evening gala dresses and bigger jewellery, professionally done hair (preferably an attempt to be blonde), ditto make up and nails like claws. Open toe shoes they could hardly walk in.
We, the ethically correct group (mainly North European woman who had ended up this place even if we didn´t really like it) would raise our eye brows and smile condescendingly.
All dressed up with nowhere to go.
Some people just do not know how to dress appropriate.
Because we, in our jeans and sweaters, with hair in a pony tail and hardly any makeup, we knew the correct standard. Or, should I say, put our culture´s standard above the local culture, equalizing the north european dress code with good taste.
Ironically, our style, that we liked to think off as casual, but elegant, often was interpreted as poor by locals. If we could afford to wear more expensive (or rather, expensive looking) clothes, why didn´t we?
I was once stopped at the entrance to Benetton. The shopkeeper literally blocked the door and told me:
Everything in this shop is very expensive.
A (North European) friend of mine was married to one of the wealthiest men of the area. He was always wearing a suit and drove a Mercedes, but both the suit and the car were very old. Since he was the owner of the biggest shopping centre in town and a huge villa by the sea, he could get away with it. There was still no doubt about what really counted, the amount of money he´d made in life.
And the tights and t-shirt wearing wife?
They believe I am his Albanian cleaning lady.
When I think about it now (older and wiser), I feel slightly embarrased for judging these women for how they dressed. (Or how anyone dress, really).
When a new day is the same procedure as the day before, why not spice it up with clothes that make you feel rich, abundant, important, beautiful, special, artistic - or whatever you want to feel like.
When you know you´ll never be invited to the Oscars, BAFTA or a gala dinner with the royal family, why not live out your inner glamour queen at the closest to a red carpet event in your life.
You´re unlikely to find me dressed to the nines. I´m sitting here in my wool lounge pants and Aragan sweater, with three pair of wool socks to keep my feet warm. In the hot Spanish summer my wardrobe choice is based on what feels the most light and breezy. From time to time I try to make an effort, but soon fall back to old dress habits, ruled by sensibility.
However, I have started to appreciate all of you who do not follow the boring dress codes. Who put your own style and definition of fashion before practicality. You make the world a bit less gloomy. More fun!
This little sculpture, that can be bought from my webshop, is an invitation to get all dressed up and go everywhere.
If that is what your heart calls you to do.