make-believe: ice skating.

December 6, 2012
iceskating

When I was in 4th grade, one of my friends had her birthday party at Wollman rink in Central Park. It was a big deal. Hermès hosted. In celebration of their 10th anniversary in 1993, Hermès invited every 10 year old born on December 7 to a big ol’ birthday bash. A gaggle of us skated, minimal longterm damage was done to our ankles, and we went home donning enormous silk scrunchies and singing Christmas carols.

The only trouble with this birthday party was my disappointment in the limitations of my wintertime wardrobe. Where, oh where was my rabbit fur muff? My smart little cloak and long full skirt? My valise? Instead of being the graceful Victorian ice skater of my fantasies, I was decked out in a fluorescent hand-me-down jacket and mismatched sweater: a vision in neon and roses.

Turns out that as an adult ice skating still gets me fantasizing about upping my sartorial game. Here’s the current version of what I’d like to wear. Pockets filled with salted caramels, included, and an adult-sized version of those skates, please.

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19 Comments

  • Reply Allison December 6, 2012 at 2:16 pm

    Crying with laughter. And empathy, of course.

  • Reply Rebecca D. Martin December 6, 2012 at 2:19 pm

    Oh, I love this one. I want to wear that sweater – all of the outfit, really – every day (sans the skates, of course).

    • Reply Erin December 6, 2012 at 4:52 pm

      Me too. I want to dive right into that sweater!

  • Reply Kiersten December 6, 2012 at 3:39 pm

    I love that outfit!
    And I completely know what you mean…I took ice-skating lessons when I was younger. I always saw these girls in the olympics wearing beautiful skirts and dresses, and always wished I could do the same. Instead, I was wearing two pairs of pants and the puffiest pink jacket in all of Pennsylvania.
    <3 Kiersten

    • Reply Erin December 6, 2012 at 4:52 pm

      Totally. I ice skated in snow pants more often than not!

  • Reply Daniella C December 6, 2012 at 4:48 pm

    What! Tell me that Hermés skating bash is a real story, lol. That's awesome. You have me wanting to layer up and head out to a skating rink now!

    • Reply Erin December 6, 2012 at 4:50 pm

      Ha! Yes! That part wasn't make-believe at all!

  • Reply anabela / fieldguided December 6, 2012 at 5:17 pm

    Haha! My earliest memories of ice skating involve my dad dropping me and my brother off at the rink for hours while he went to work! The ice rink was my first babysitter. Your Hermès party sounds THE BEST.

  • Reply amiechristo December 6, 2012 at 7:23 pm

    I have such a range of skating outfit memories. Since I was born in winter, almost all of my birthdays were spent skating. Big, thick jackets and puffy snow pants and really, it was a wonder I could even move! (I remember I had a great matching maroon set when I was in first/second grade. XD) I also did speed skating and now THOSE are outfits to want to wonder what happened to your fantasy about. Skin tight and neon is how it goes and man, we all thought we were classy. :p

    • Reply Erin December 6, 2012 at 7:37 pm

      ha! amazing–superheroes on ice!

  • Reply forefrontfashion December 6, 2012 at 7:31 pm

    firstly, i love the word valise
    second, can you believe they've RETIRED the samantha doll?!

    • Reply Erin December 6, 2012 at 7:38 pm

      i *KNOW*. so sad.

  • Reply Shoko December 6, 2012 at 8:02 pm

    can't wait to go ice-skating! this is perfect inspiration 🙂

  • Reply Ann December 6, 2012 at 8:52 pm

    There's something wonderfully old-timey and romantic about ice skating. And oh, how I envy those who skate well and so gracefully!

  • Reply sweet harvest moon December 6, 2012 at 10:39 pm

    Ice skating is so much fun!

  • Reply Lindsey Louise Bales December 7, 2012 at 4:33 am

    oh gosh, what a cute post! i adore the inspiration here.

    lindsey louise

    hellomrrabbit.blogspot.com

  • Reply Jasmine Brink-Li December 9, 2012 at 8:12 pm

    That sweater is gorgeous. I'll take one! And it is a goal this season to actually hit up the ice rink. Last year wasn't cold enough!
    xox

  • Reply Connie | Daydream In Color December 14, 2012 at 3:46 pm

    That sounds so fun! I have a super romanticized image of ice skating in the wintertime too. That would definitely make the perfect outfit!

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