Poetry + Fashion

Poetry is perhaps the genre most willing to be combined--with prose, visual arts, music, advertising, conversation, etc. Perhaps because it requires no more than a vague textual element--and sometimes less than that--to be included in its "ranks."

Then let us consider fashion as a realm to conquer, and seek out the successes of such a pursuit. Like Mallarmé's La Dernière Mode, for example—"one of French literature's greatest enigmas"—a fashion magazine written under multiple pseudonyms at the height of M.'s literary powers.

I lent my copy to a friend, but otherwise I would pepper in some quotations of Mme de Ponty on the seasonlessness of jewels. Or more on her theory that: "A fashionable woman does not suffer financial pressures, because Fashion has, precisely, full power to defeat them...The ‘bon ton’ of Fashion, which forbids it to propose anything aesthetically or morally disgraceful..."

Where do these fields combine, and what strange creatures reign over that glittery Venn intersection--?

Here's where it doesn't get exciting:
this Clothing Line --> Poetry Fashion

Here's where it gets exciting:
this Tumblr --> Fuckyeahmenswear

This is only a challenge in the sense that every question is—and challenges the answerer to appear before it, to mirror its punctuational ¿? with an exclamatory ¡!.

Former Vogue editor Diana Vreeland's letters seem to respond with an indirect answer:

"I am extremely disappointed to see that we have used practically no pearls at all in the past few issues...I speak of this very often -- and as soon as I stop speaking the pearls disappear...We are on the verge of a drastic emergency."

The poet Lawrence Giffin's "Spinoza's Ethics" seems to respond with a direct answer. And I'm going to respond to my temptation to include the full poem here, by doing that:

Spinoza's Ethics

Black stretch velvet of rayon, silk, and spandex (not shown) cropped to let the sequined scoopneck sleeveless shell of pure silk georgette peek out beneath the hem of black stretch silk and cheetah-print, ruffle-detailed fitted spandex of rose and tan French taffeta, beautifully hued russet, and gold brocade of polyester and rayon with a regal stand collar over classic short-sleeves in golden silk and chocolate polyester of rayon, wool, and spandex, black rayon, and silk burnout velvet with piano fringe, silk charmeuse sleeveless scoopneck shell, and Asian-print silk burnout velvet mandarin-collar and black silk velvet with multicolored beading on an emerald green classic skirtsuit of wool and silk with seaming, two-button detail, and softly curved lapels in sheer floral-print silk over a sleeveless silk dress in black with red border print on ivory pure silk with smocked waist and tie detail over fluid brown silk white cotton crochet bolero jacket with sequined edging and sheer white mesh lining of white sheer lace of rayon and nylon with portrait collar, scalloped edges, and three-quarter sleeves trimmed with black suede and taupe, pink, red, and green floral embroidery of petal-soft featherweight cashmere (specify Rain or Black) and sheer red silk over black elastic-waist silk of stonewashed cotton and spandex with multicolored rhinestones decorating silk chiffon with velvet ribbon inset detail and velvet back-slit rayon and silk (specify Chocolate or Black) or classic with pleated detail imported of triacetate and polyester camel and black scroll-print cashmere with cascading ruffle-edge detailing in Italian wool tissue crepe in dark ginger magnolia print on cotton and silk knit jewel-neck of Italian wool and beautifully draped cashmere double-faced wool in oatmeal and ivory in polyester, wool, and supple suede with seam detail (specify Red Maple, Chocolate, Cedar, or Black) of finely knit rayon and Lycra of viscose and wool of toffee melton mélange of pure Italian wool, wheat merino wool, camel hair, and spandex of rayon, nylon, and spandex in a supple suede panel-blocked three-button blazer with full lining printed matelassé of cotton and silk and white shantung pants of polyester and pima cotton with detail in a winter white mock-turtleneck of imported cotton and pink finely knit with black tulle ruffle trim, interlaced satin ribbon, scalloped edges, faux-pearl of cotton, and removable corsage detail of rayon leopard-print in pure camel and red lightweight ruffled-edge cashmere of whiskey brown knitted natural mink from China of wool, acrylic, and alpaca with black ribbed wooden-bead detail mesh inset of rayon and cotton across mahogany brown fluid full-leg pants with cheetah-print single-button long cardigan with brown trim and matching scarf and brown fit-and-flare pants of Italian leather encrusted with crystals and rose logo detailing on black quilted leather with detachable dyed rabbit-fur collar with scalloped trim, delicate smoking, and ruffles at the wrists of classic black stretch silk crepe detailing black rayon with ivory silk waterfall-hem turtleneck and autumn suiting must-haves in refined wool flannel pleated ivory and grey scroll-detailed chenille shirtdress of rayon, silk, wool, and Lycra in black crocodile-embossed leather white cotton voile shirt with stand collar and ruched detail of pumice and a geometric-print of pure silk and ribbon-cut brown leather pink cashmere with crystal kitty detail on a classic fisherman's sweater in plush cashmere with rolled-edge detail and baby-cable cashmere with ribbed sleeves and back over espresso wool knit asymmetrical top and matching pants and wheat bouclé shawl-collar micro-stretch jacket in chocolate godet-pleated crepe of pure Italian wool (specify Nouvaeau Blue, Camel, or Heathered Grey) in an oversized, deeply V'd boyfriend sweater (specify Malachite, Hazelnut Heather, or Black) with broken-cable detailing (specify Toffee Apple, Nori Green, or Wheat) with seam detail (specify Artichoke, Blood Orange, or Chanterelle) with contrast whipstitching (specify Plum/Garnet or Espresso/Putty) with a contrasting black bateau-neck underlayer in petal-soft cashmere with detachable hood and elasticized drawstring in a vibrant mix of colors and patterns complemented by hand embroidery and faux-coin accents of heathered black mélange linen glistening with cubic zirconia accessories beautifully draped in red and black dash print with twisted bodice detail.

The impossible outfit is the one most suited to the emperor. If we can't wear it, then it doesn't exist. Put it on.