Ophelia ~ Simone Perele
Act IV. Scene 7, the body count is rising in what many consider Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy. Hamlet’s turn is coming, but not before Ophelia, unable to cope any longer… succumbs. Her brother, Laertes listens as Gertrude describes the scene:
There is a willow grows askant the brook
That shows his (hoar) leaves in the glassy stream.
Therewith fantastic garlands did she make
Of crowflowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples,
That liberal shepherds give a grosser name,
But our cold maids do “dead men’s fingers” call
Them….
Her clothes spread wide,
And mermaid-like awhile they bore her up, …
But long it could not be
Til her garments, heavy with the drink,
Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay
To muddy death.
Beauty in tragedy is hard to fathom, yet Shakespeare does not dismiss it. Evocative, feminine Ophelia even in death is startling beautiful, even if, on the inside, darkness has enveloped her as she slips beneath her watery grave. What is this feminine mystique that appeals so much to me all the while knowing the loss of this life epitomizes the tragic doom seemingly inevitable by the play’s end? Might it be her attention to her intimate apparel, albeit of nature’s design? I think so, even if I am eminently aware that more lies beneath.
I have yet to see intimate apparel of last design, the final statement as beauty awaits the grave. Part of me never wishes to experience what must be such painful beauty. But I have seen intimate apparel that evokes the opposite, the same simple, natural beauty, full of life’s promise that is evident in the exquisite lingerie that is the Simone Perele brand.
It could be the evocative chantilly lace that defines the romantic Celeste designs . . . .
Or perhaps it is unbelievable softness that imbues the Caressence collection so much like the the softness inherent in the image of Ophelia. . .
Perhaps it is morbid to see in the essence of beauty of death’s final veil the same beauty in life’s future promise. I have always been confused by the feminine mystique. I expect that will never change.
Guest Contributors
Here you’ll discover articles by our occasional bloggers that cover a variety of topics in the world of intimate apparel.
GUEST CONTRIBUTORS INCLUDE:
BIKINI BRIEFS by Rhea Cortado
As a contributor covering swimwear and intimates for Lingerie Briefs, Rhea Cortado feels like she’s living in an endless summer. Rhea has covered the lingerie market, emerging designers, events and trade shows for the trade newspaper California Apparel News for more than six years. On top of having vast professional expertise of the subject areas, she is a truly, madly, deeply obsessed fanatic for lingerie and swimwear because both have transformative powers to put the wearer in a escapism and vacation state of mind.
Read More Bikini Briefs here…
LINGERIE INTELLIGENCE by Richard Vincente, author of the Canadian based fashion lingerie blog: Lingerie Talk. Richard’s editorials explore how the Intimate Apparel Industry impacts our global culture.
Read More Intimate Intelligence here…
LINGERIE WITH A CONSCIENCE by Jacalyn Bennett, founder and CEO of Jacalyn E.S. Bennett and Company, Newburyport, MA. Jacalyn discusses the importance of ethics and green living in the manufacturing base.
Read More Lingerie With a Conscience here…
LITERARY LINGERIE by Morgan O’Neill who is a closet academic, and like many others, was sidelined by life to earn a living and raise his family. His love of the written word came later, but continues now, unabated. When the opportunity materialized to use his creative perspective and connect the real world of intimate apparel with his passion for literature, he unassumingly said, “That would be fun.” So, Literary Lingerie was born.
Read More Literary Lingerie here…
METRO GIRL NOTES ~ Tess Mangiardi is a 19-year old college student living alone in New York City. Focusing on the challenges of being a young girl trying to make it alone in a big city, she will explore the idea of loving your body and accomplishing your dreams all within a college student’s budget.
Read More Metro Girl Notes here…
Morgan O’Neill
Morgan O’Neill is a closet academic, who like many others, was sidelined by life to earn a living and raise his family. His love of the written word came later, but continues now, unabated. When the opportunity materialized to use his creative perspective and connect the real world of intimate apparel with his passion for literature, he unassumingly said, “That would be fun.” So, Literary Lingerie was born.