Happy Monday! I hope your week has got off to a good start. Did you know that today is National Absurdity Day? No, neither did I until Shelbee told us that was the theme for November’s Thrifty Six post. I didn’t even know there was such a thing! Not surprisingly, it’s a day all about celebrating the absurd.
The real philosophy of absurdism has its origins in the works of the 19th century Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. Its premise is that humans are all searching to find meaning in a meaningless universe. As the years passed, this philosophical concept gained popularity and became the touchstone for a movement in theatre and literature, primarily in Europe. The plays focus largely on ideas of existentialism and express what happens when human existence lacks meaning or purpose and communication breaks down. One of the works from this time, “Waiting for Godot”, is based entirely around a pair of characters waiting at a tree for their friend, Godot, who never arrives.
Absurdism can be difficult to define since it is by its very nature anti-establishment and anti-order. Embracing absurdity simply requires us to bypass all the tacit rules that we tend to adhere to. I’m all for that! What started as a philosophical movement called absurdism has bloomed into this marked calendar event.
The dictionary definition of absurdity is “the quality or state of being ridiculous or wildly unreasonable”. Some of my outfits could be described that way (according to my husband anyway!). I could have thrown caution to the wind and gone completely over the top for this theme. However, sometimes you can over egg the pudding. (This sparkly outfit is a prime example). Anything fluffy, furry, frilly, flouncy, shiny or sparkly immediately appeals to me. And of course, it has to be colourful!
Irregular Choice always comes up with the most absurd and utterly fabulous designs. Alas, a lot of them are not compatible with my foot problems. However. these flat boots are a cross between cowboy boots and Wellingtons. They are called the “Croydon Cowboy” and they’re a riot of colour, animal print and glitter! I bought them on eBay several years ago but haven’t worn them until now. I’ve got a few pairs of Irregular Choice shoes and boots (including some from a charity shop). They are quite expensive full price, so I always look on resale sites. These were unworn in the box.
To let the boots take centre stage they needed to be worn with skinny jeans. Not just blue skinny jeans though – they would not have been in any way absurd! But these Barbie pink jeans fitted the bill. I teamed them with a bright vintage shirt and a green coat and hat. I was tempted to wear a very extravagant pink faux fur hat but that wasn’t preloved, and I wanted the majority of the outfit to be second hand…that will have to wait for another absurd outfit!
SHOP THE LOOK
Marks and Spencer coat (eBay, similar, similar) | Freddy skinny jeans (previous PR product, similar, similar) | Irregular Choice boots (eBay, some on Poshmark here, similar, similar) | vintage shirt (eBay, similar, similar) | Nala bag (similar) | Moschino sunglasses (similar, similar) | Love Rocks earrings (similar, similar) | Yaa Yaa London ring
“For Absurdity Day, I have finally styled this strange sweater turtleneck with sleeves. I am not sure what this thing is even called. I guess it’s kind of like a dickey but not in any traditional sense of a dickey. It is just a turtleneck with sleeves. No bodice. A dickey is just the bodice, I think. So it’s the opposite of a dickey. A yekcid?
Whatever it is, I find it rather absurd. It is by Zara and I found it for a few dollars at my local thrift shop last year. I thought it was so weird that I just had to have it. But then I never took the time to figure out how the heck you wear it. I layered it over another thrifted Zara piece, not a very absurd dress, but the print is a little bit out there. My wooden zebra necklace and cowgirl boots were also preloved. And I was absurdly pleased with how this outfit turned out!”
“I concentrated on unusual items, and this chartreuse-colored trench dress that I found off of Poshmark is one that I struggled with when I first received it. It didn’t hang right and was totally wonky. I almost gave up and purged it, but after a bunch of changes to it, I wore it as a duster in the past and this time as a dress.
I customized the boots too by using some shoe polish to make the darker blocks and then I added a dress extender to the look. Plus, I handknit the purse!!”
“I don’t have any one piece in my closet that’s particularly absurd, so I made it my mission to put together several thrifted items in the hopes that the overall ensemble would satisfy this month’s theme. I think I succeeded with this teal monochrome look! Where would I actually wear it? No idea, but boy did I feel fabulous (and appropriately absurd) while taking these photos. The faux fur jacket and velour jumpsuit were both thrifted while I was studying abroad in Scotland, and I topped the look off with a fabulous green heart statement necklace that my parents bought secondhand for me for my birthday.”
“I don’t like absurdities in fashion. Just like I don’t like funny clothes. Like funny socks etc. Terrible. (although I do buy them for Gerben, lol) So I interpret this theme in my own way. Namely with this absurdly cheap and perfect coat. From Vinted. I love this coat! When I bought it it was as good as new. And for an absurd bargain price.
The size is perfect, it doesn’t wrinkle at all and I think it’s totally cool! Everything about this coat is perfect. The pockets close with a button, it has shoulder pockets, the belt has a buckle, it’s double breasted. Everything I want from a coat! It’s totally absurd!”
“Absurdity Day is November’s T6 theme and what’s more absurd than pink and green faux fur!
There’s a trend this season for brightly coloured fluffy coats so when I saw this one, I thought I’d grab myself a piece of the action…
Not only are the colours totally outrageous, it’s got massive hearts all over it; definitely not for the fainthearted!
It goes with nothing, denim is the only thing I can bear it with apart from this Kelly green pashmina which also goes with nothing!
It’s a strong look, not sure it’s my look, I’m calling it ‘fashion through the prism of absurdity’…”
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These boots, Emma!!! They are amazingly absurd in all the right ways! I love how you’ve styled them with the pink jeans and the green jacket! I agree…plain blue jeans would never work! I think you have definitely created a totally absurd look!
Have a fabulous week!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Croydon cowboy?? My goodness, you British have the best names for things! What did Pete say about this look, lol. Fun theme hey!
Those boots are so interesting!
Jennifer
Curated by Jennifer
OMG, Emma, these boots are everything! And so perfect for this absurd theme. I love this whole colorful outfit on you. I think you are right that skinny blue jeans would just not be absurd enough. The pink are perfect! And your hat, coat, and blouse are equally fabulous! I think we might need to do an Absurdity Day post every year from now on!
Shelbee
Didn’t know that was a day! But you all look ready to face it! Love the boots Emma, don’t they look super cool. Jacqui x