Women in the Picture, by Catherine McCormack
This week I listened to this exceptional book that is basically translating or reevaluating the way women have been depicted in art through a female gaze, rather than the patriarchal, almost always misogynistic, overly sexualised and demeaning male gaze.
I pondered whether to share the book because, summarized as above, it feels quite niche and the theme might be seen as inaccessible and lacking in general interest. That is until you actually start listening, because it’s so far from that.
Source – The Birth of Venus, by Sandro Botticelli, one of the many iconic works of art discussed at length in Women in the Picture, referenced heavily in pop culture, from TV ads to Beyonce’s Instagram posts.
The big concepts and historical and theoretical revelations of the author are beautifully brought to life through everyday examples that can’t fail to make you remember and relate to them, from TV ads for shaving razors or formula milk, to Beyonce or Cardi B music videos, from movies old and new and series like Killing Eve, to Instagram and influencers. The works of art used as examples are also most of them very well-known, even if the title doesn’t always sound familiar.
Needless to say, the book, published earlier this year, has received raving reviews from experts and media alike! I hope you give it a go.
The Dilettante Magazine
I’ve been holding off on sharing this exquisite find par excellence for a few months, while I was waiting for the publication of the first issue of The Dilettante Magazine. Out yesterday in a digital format (soon in print too!), it’s a source of riveting history and creative culture for the curious-minded. I encourage you to peruse it as it best pleases you, I myself intend to do just that over the weekend.
I was thrilled to contribute to this first issue with a selection of Miss Onion’s Exquisite Finds that money can indeed buy, from the gorgeous manuscript books below to incredible castles and mansions in Italy! You can find these on pages 18 and 19.
Be sure not to miss The Dilettante’s beautifully curated Instagram feed of art and words, a major and constant source of inspiration!
Manuscript Books
Featured in The Dilettante Magazine, as mentioned above, were some gorgeous manuscript books – exquisite prints of the original notebooks or scattered sheets of paper that eventually became some of the most beloved books of all time.
It is fascinating to see the scribbles, the words that were cut out or underlined, the breaks in the writing flow – much better than any interview with an author on a promo tour. I would love to own a few of these, like Mrs Dalloway, Lady Susan, Alice’s Adventures Underground, Frankenstein, Madame Bovary…
I think they would look very refined aligned on a shelf, but they would also make for a brilliant gift too, don’t you agree?
Meg Ryan Fall Inspiration
Source – This picture is perfection
I swear I hadn’t recently seen one article or even one picture of Meg Ryan wearing any of her iconic autumnal rom-com outfits when I started thinking about this and longing to re-watch When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail and the rest of Nora Ephron’s timeless productions. But the moment I decided to do a bit of research, I discovered that it is a big thing and it has been for years. Of course it has, its major fashion inspiration and new platforms like TikTok are only just enhancing it in a different medium.
Source – I love all the cable-knit sweaters!
The bottom line is that these outfits, thirty-odd years down the line, still speak to us (and to young generations!), still inspire and tempt our sense of style and passion for fall fashion. This is editorial gold and deserves to be celebrated year after year. I won’t go into praising the characters Meg Ryan plays and how these book-loving, difficult, confident and stylish women have made cinematic history, and I also won’t mention Meg Ryan’s many envy-inducing hairstyles…
Source – Perfect working from home outfits
No, all I wanted was to share with you some images you’ve probably seen dozens of times before, which doesn’t make them any less exquisite finds! And perhaps you too will cosy up this weekend (re)watching this classic?
Wood Mystique, by Estée Lauder
After years of looking for this perfume in airports and stores to get another sniff and remember what was it that I liked so much about it, I finally decided to ‘blindly’ order it online. My only previous encounter with Wood Mystique, by Estée Lauder, had been a few intoxicating hours spent in the back of a car with a friend who was wearing it, but I couldn’t forget it.
Reading that this was the first unisex perfume ever created by the brand and designed specifically for the Middle East explains why I’ve had no luck finding it in Europe. It is perceived as a fragrance for fall and winter, and a new autumn perfume is exactly what I was after. Unsurprisingly, I love it and can’t bring myself to spare it, for I want to wear it even around the house.
I have a number of other perfumes I’ve tried and loved over the years, but I want to explore more in the future and I think I will find the pyramid of notes on Fragrantica very useful! It is available for pretty much any perfume you can think of and, by breaking down the tones, can help you discover exactly what you enjoy, find other variations of the winning combination, new favourite notes, as well as notes to avoid!
Paper Flowers
Source – All images via Emmeli Kimhi on Instagram
These. Are. Paper. Flowers. Can you believe it? I think they are gorgeous. I don’t like artificial plastic flowers at all, but these carefully crafted paper creations by London artist Emmeli Kimhi are something else entirely, guaranteed to look perfect all year round.
What do you think? Would you replace your fresh flowers with a bunch of these?
Rare Word – Quaintrelle
This week’s rare word comes courtesy of The Dilettante, because that is how I got acquainted with it, and even though I might still not know how to pronounce it, I know now that this is what I aspire to be! A quaintrelle, a woman who emphasizes a life of passion, expressed through personal style, leisurely pastimes, charm and cultivation of life’s pleasures.
Learn more about its etymology, indulge in this beautiful extended explanation of the word and join me in striving to be one every day!
If this letter has offered you a moment of inspiration, kindly forward it to others who might enjoy it too. And if you have been forwarded it, indulge in all previous Miss Onion’s Exquisite Finds and subscribe to the weekly letter.
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Merci!
