Some revisited news

We have posted before about Lee Smith's latest novel, On Agate Hill. Now returns to this blog because the Nashville Scene publish a review with the title The Jane Eyre of Reconstruction, no less.

Molly belongs to a long literary tradition of girl heroines, from Jane Eyre to Ellen Foster, who are ultimately liberated by hardship. Unfettered by the fear of losing parental love, with no prospect of reward for conformity, the unloved child is free to cast a critical eye on social convention and hypocrisy, to define herself in opposition to them.

And, of course, our daily dose on fashion and Wuthering Heights. The Thread Magazine continues covering the recent New Zealand Fashion Week and this is Caroline Church's The Effect of the Wind collection that we presented some weeks ago.

Caroline Church's Winter 2007 show began with a surprise: the audience were turned sideways to face a stage-like runway that was decorated with bare tree branches. This, plus the Kate Bush/Nick Cave soundtrack, served to create an atmosphere of moody intensity. The show was styled by Chris Lorimer of Mint Condition and incorporated trees to tie in with the wind and wild nature setting of Wuthering Heights.

A key inspiration for Caroline Church's Winter 2007 collection entitled 'The Effect of the Wind' was the designer's house on the West Cooast, battered by the wind and howling around the windows. "

My muse is free-spirited, beautiful and motivated by impulses that prompt her to violate social conventions" says Caroline Church. "Her cheeks are flushed and hair and clothes dishevelled by the wind..."

Church’s collection was typified by a wider palate than many of the other designers had allowed themselves, and the tones of the colours chosen were more subdued: olives, greys, dark reds, bronzes. These sombre hues were brightened with the addition of Church’s trademark embroidered detailing.

The collection offered up few surprises, but provided her many fans with another beautifully detailed, exquisitely bedizened group of garments that will serve to strengthen her reputation as the queen of embroided, brocaded details on eminently wearable clothes.

Since Church’s clientele is largely made up of women with taste and money, her collection paid little attention to the trends found in other younger designers' collections. Instead, this tried-and-true collection was designed with her existing customer base in mind. Despite the forest of branches, Caroline wasn't going out on a limb or branching out too much with this one. (Kate Hannah)

Categories: In_the_News, Books, Jane_Eyre, Wuthering_Heights