014. Slow Fashion, Vivarium, and Four Things
Hi! I'm Maggie and welcome to Tender Forms Off-Camera: a weekly newsletter about slow beauty and slow living. If you enjoy and would like to support Tender Forms, you can tip me for coffee! No pressure but my caffeine intake and I thank you if you do.
This past week on Instagram, I shared my brief thoughts on a new pair of jeans I'd recently purchased to replace an over six-year-old pair. It's The Billy high-waisted rigid skinny jean in "Freaks," a medium indigo wash.
Jeans are a necessity in my everyday life. I wear them indoors, to "work" (though I've worked remotely for the past two years), and outdoors. They go with every top, and I currently own six pairs in different washes, colors, and fits. I haven't messed with my jean collection much in six years because I've never felt in want of new ones. Each serves a purpose, mood, and is reliable.
This latest addition (counted within the six) is no different. The moment I put these on, I was happy. It was as simple as that. The denim feels premium and sturdy but worn-in. While the size is big on me, it wasn't too big where I needed a belt, or too small where I couldn't breathe. It already felt like a part of me though it was my first time wearing it.
Let's talk about the number one issue that held me back from purchasing this brand for years: the price point. It's not uncommon for denim to cost this much nowadays. Half the time, we're paying for the brand name as with all fashion. The other half is perhaps justified through their sourcing, sustainability efforts, etc. The average price of Boyish jeans ranges from $168–188. On sale, they can dip as low as $45 on their site alone. I purchased mine 50% off at the online Nordstrom sale section ($84). I'm never particularly eager to pay over the $100 mark on any clothing item unless I feel the design or quality warrants the price. In the case of Boyish, I think only their sale price warrants it. The cut isn't anything truly unique. While it feels incredible to wear, washes great (no shrinking or bleeding of indigo), I just can't justify purchasing it at full price. (On sale, however, is well worth it!)
That includes despite knowing their sustainability efforts (made with organic and recycled cotton that requires less carbon and water), which I'm impressed by. The Sustainability page of their site is detailed in their efforts and a great guide to sustainable fashion and fabric in general. Just from feeling the jean's quality and how it wears, I know it will definitely pass the 6-year mark of the pair I replaced with this. That one was a boyfriend-type jean from Gap, and this one feels far more substantial.
The sizing, however, leaves me curious. I purchased this in a 29, which unfortunately is a size or two too large. I probably should have tried their "find my size" website option before purchasing it at Nordstrom, but at least now I know I'm a size 27–28*. The question is which. I imagine next time; I'll have to purchase both sizes to see which works best (or at some point, head into a real Nordstrom and try them on). *For reference, I'm 5'7", probably 135–140 pounds (we don't own a scale), and I have a small waist, wide hips, and larger butt and thighs.
Even with the wrong size, I love this pair of jeans. It's already my favorite go-to pair, and I know I'll be keeping an eye out for sales in the future if I ever need to replace another pair. And in case you're needing a new pair, here are a few sales and retailers to flag to help get you started:
I want to say earlier this month (how does time work again in 2020?) was when I noticed 'Vivarium' pop up on Amazon Prime. I watched the Apple trailer for this film early this year and was bewitched by it. Yes, trailers often don't live up to what they promise, but I'm thrilled to say this does in more ways than one.
I am not surprised by the less than mediocre reception of this film by the general public. And as with all critic reviews, they fall within love it or hate it camps. This premiered at Cannes back in May last year. And I think it being an international indie film, resulted in not much U.S. marketing or release details; hence, it randomly appearing on Prime Video.
'Vivarium' is one of those self-contained, overly stylistic sci-fi thrillers that will either make you grin from ear to ear or lose and bore you immediately. I'm hoping you sit in the same camp as me who doesn't know the definition of the title (and if you are, I strongly suggest not looking it up until after viewing). Still, if you do, then you already know a bit about the story.
The premise is simple (as with all great thrillers that unfold in mysterious and unexpected ways): a young couple is looking for a place to live. Our couple is played by Imogen Poots (Gemma) and Jesse Eisenberg (Tom); two of the reasons I wanted to watch this in the first place.
A word that comes to mind to describe this movie is: delicious. It's heady, dizzying, nauseating, and outright terrifying at times, especially if you think too hard about it. But it is just so enjoyable to watch. It's rare to find a film that can combine this style, space, and story and still transform it into something truly sensational. Everything really came together for the director, Lorcan Finnegan’s only second feature film! The music by Kristian Eidnes Andersen is also fantastic. Unsurprising considering he's composed for Lars Von Trier films, and they both hold a similar unnerving, sickening quality.
I won't give anything else away because that would truly ruin the fun. You can find out a little more by watching the trailer if you’d like (don't worry, no spoilers):
Below are a few things that I’ve been really enjoying lately; some consistently, others more one-offs but all worth sharing!
The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson via Book of the Month
I selected this for my March box, but only just started reading it. It is fantastic. I most certainly prefer fiction and have to be in a particular mood for non-fiction. I also find non-fiction much more challenging to get through because I turn on my learning brain. The reading experience feels less organic as I try to absorb and retain the information set in front of me. But Larson has excellent prose and erudition making the history incredibly easy to parse through and enjoy. It's atmospheric, and while the pace can be slightly languid, you never drift, and reading never feels tedious. Highly recommend if you're looking for a new historical non-fiction option. It's also a massive book nearing 600 pages with small type size, so if you long for books never to end, this one's for you.
Missing New York City
Husband and I almost always end our nights with some YouTube video, whether it's food, travel, or animal-related. Lately, we've been watching many recolored, uprezzed black and white footage from all over the world (Beijing, Berlin, Paris, etc.). This one, in particular, truly made me miss New York City. Anything historic New York City or has a similar nostalgic feel tends to get me. I don't miss living there, but I miss the city if that makes any sense…
Wool Felt Cat Portrait
Speaking of animal YouTube videos, the algorithm recommended this channel, and we were blown away by this woman's talent and artistry. You have to see it for yourself!
The Strongest Man In History on Hulu
Husband and I have watched countless one-off episodes and YouTube videos of Strongman competitions. So much to our delight, discovering the 2019 History channel series was the best thing this month. We're trying our best to make the season last but only have one episode left (seven total). It's fascinating to learn about strongmen from the past, their performances, and watching a modern take by four of the world's strongest men today. It will surely get you hyped and emotional. Prepare yourself for all the "aww" and "AHH"s to come.
Thanks so much for reading! I'm currently working on a few exciting beauty related items for upcoming newsletters and Instagram and YouTube. Remember, you can comment on this newsletter or reply directly to this email!
I'd love to hear from you no matter what you'd like to talk about: life, things you'd like to see more of here on Tender Forms Off-Camera, foods you've been craving, whatever. As always, Muto (this cool cat right here) and I hope you have a great start to your week!