Fashion advice from Jeanette Winterson

Today I REAL-ly did wear a second-hand taffeta green dress I bought from Vinnies to work. On the way from the carpark to a room of my own on the sixth floor, my silver sandals REAL-ly did start to break.

I REAL-ly did take a pair of scissors and cut off the loose straps – and now my shoes REAL-ly are hanging by a thread. The re(a)d ruby hands REAL-ly do belong to my other self, Ms. Montrose.

This villanelle is REAL-ly inspired by Jeanette Winterston and her “fashion” advice for writing words, language, books and stories – many of the phrases are paraphrased from Why be happy when you can be normal? (p. 38, 42, 6, 64) and The passion (p. 43).

Woolf was REAL-ly an obvious inclusion as she was quite obsessed with style and a notable fashion icon in and out of her time.

The darker references are REAL-ly pitch-black, things I don’t REAL-ly want to remember but capture my body without warning and steal my breath away.

In those moments, I REAL-ly don’t care if my silver sandas break – I just need to get the fuck out of there, and running words and writing with the “W” pack is REAL-ly the best way I know how.

A postscript.

My silver sandals REAL-ly did break today. One by one the straps detached themselves.

I REAL-ly did try to keep them on my feet with clear sticky tape – what a clever girl!

But as I stepped outside from my room on the sixth floor and began to walk to the carpark, it began to REAL-ly rain.

I stopped to survey the sorry sight and swore my bright pink toes REAL-ly did wave at me amidst the tatters of leather, plastic and metal that surrounded them.

I giggled; I am sure Jeanette would REAL-ly love my alterations too.