Djuna Barnes amusing short story The Terrible Peacock (1914) details the brief undoing of city reporter Karl, who is despatched by his editor in search of a woman more dangerous than Cleopatra, thirty-nine times as alluring as sunlight on a gold eagle, and about as elusive. This woman with electrifying green eyes and bright red hair, who has been allegedly setting hearts and eyes fluttering in Brooklyn, is always outfitted in slinky green silk, found at first by Karl clad in a dress that undulated like troubled, weed-filled water as she moved. He immediately falls for this Aphrodite of the Sea-Foam, all but forgetting about his date with Lilac Jane." Its a satisfying contrast: insipid-sounding pastel shades set against a sinuous green goddess whose lure quite possibly spelled destruction. Although there might be an adjacent, vampier kind of effect were she were clad in another color like red, The Peacocks green dress suits her exaggeratedly erotic persona perfectly: conjuring images of sirens, folkloric enchantresses, and the thrill of untouchable desire
The bridal dress had a simple, sleeveless silhouette with flashes of silver sequin embroidery throughout the bodice and skirt
Why it works: Tonal harmony without being boring Best styles: Suede desert boots, gray sneakers, wool loafers When to wear: Office casual, art galleries, urban exploring Vibe: Modern, minimalist, architecturally aware Perfect for the man who finds matching black-on-black too predictable
Winter styling is all about texture, layering and warmth as an embellishment and a short dress can be incredibly stylish and seasonally appropriate with the right additions, suggests Teresa
