History and High Heels: Wilde Child

It was on this day in history in 1897 that Oscar Wilde was released from serving time in the form of hard labor at the Reading Gaol on the offense of being homosexual. Technically the charges were "sodomy and gross indecency." At this point, Oscar Wilde was late in his life and after having served his stint in prison he moved to France where he wrote his final work, The Ballad of Reading Gaol, and died three years later penniless and alone at the age of 46. Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was a Irish writer and poet who penned many famous works including The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest. His witty, satirical banter makes for enjoyable reading and I count him among a few of my favorite authors of all time. If you haven't watched The Importance of Being Earnest (considered his masterpiece and the play is still being performed), the on screen version is spectacular. The 2002 cast includes the likes of Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Judi Dench, and Reese Witherspoon. The hilariously quick repartee amongst the characters in incredibly outlandish scenes fuel a delightful experience for any audience.

Oscar Wilde's brave, bold nature brings inspiration to me fashion-wise. It encourages me to continue developing my style creatively and unashamedly. One way I do this is by incorporating that wonderfully "Wilde" pattern, leopard print. It is something I wear at least 3 times a week, if not more. I find that it has a way of really spicing up an outfit, making it look young and fun. There are some general rules I hold though with this, as this pattern if overplayed can become quite dreadful. If the leopard print piece is large, like a shirt or skirt, only 1 per outfit. If the piece is small, like shoes or a clutch, then a maximum of 2 pieces are permissible per outfit. Over using this eye-catching pattern can make an outfit go from fab to drab incredibly quickly, but when used tastefully it really makes your entire look pop! So go ahead and push yourself to be bold this week by adding some bold leopard print to your outfit!