LUXURY AND ELEGANCE TAKE MANY FORMS
As I walk through this world I am always intrigued by different people's definitions of luxury and elegance. For me, luxury is a state of mind: freedom, a feeling of ease and well-being and an accompanying pleasing aesthetic. In terms of clothing, it is being gifted the opportunity to wear something truly special that makes you feel 100% comfortable in your skin and allows you to express the brightest and most magical side of your soul.
SPITTING CAMELS AND FLAT TIRES IN THE SAHARA
The inspirational seed for Tiger and the Monkey was planted 30 years ago on a desert adventure in North Africa. Very few Americans were going to North Africa at the time but I craved the exotic and unknown (what could be more fun?) so my ex-husband and I set out to live the dream. A few parts of it were not so dreamy, including the time we were in the middle of the desert – having been driven there in our car, by a local who knew the territory. No idea how he, or anyone else for that matter, knew where they were going as it was just flat desert until we reached the dunes. Once there, we did the only thing you were supposed to do which was to ride spitting camels into the sunset. Night was falling and upon our return, we learned that 2 tires on our car had gone flat. Not good, as the hands at the outstation told us via hand and eye gestures we had no spare at all and that no one could come get us for two days – oh, and no room to stay in the smoky hut...
We had very little money with us to hire any sort of transport – a camel maybe?? Or a big chicken?? and no idea where we were other than 2.5 hours away from the town we started in so it’s not like we could just get on a “highway” and walk. My imagination got the best of me and I was sure we would be buried in a sandstorm and not found for several years. I wasn’t looking my best so that was a consideration as well – if only I had my makeup bag- lol. After what seemed like an eternity, my ex who was sort of a handy guy when it came to things automotive found a way to fix the two tires and get us back to town. Hallelujah. That situation was not luxury. However, the next day…
BEDOUINS IN KAFTANS EMERGING FROM THE SANDS
We risked another trip into the desert and the feeling and images of that day are forever burned into my being. The sun was rising over the Sahara, we were drinking a coffee at another little desert outpost and three of the coolest cats I’d ever seen emerged from the desert in full desert nomad regalia. Layers of diaphanous white fabric blowing in the wind and head scarves/turbans that went on forever. They were also filthy from their travels, but this just added to the mystique. They were still amazingly elegant and gave off the coolest vibe in addition to the most interesting stank! For me, this was a lesson in how practicality and comfort can emerge as luxurious elegance. After this experience, all bets were off and I told my ex that in my next life I was going to design kaftans and look that cool (while being clean) every. single. day. My next life is here and Tiger and the Monkey is the manifestation of that experience.