11-8-2026 MY INSPO: frock me, baby!

 the deviously fashionable time traveler

my future mother-in-law always sends me the coolest instagram accounts with the most eccentric fashion styles. this time, she sent me adrienne reine's instagram profile. scrolling felt like watching a silent film or stepping into an ancient museum!

on her about me post, adrienne describes the 1780s and 1920s/30s as her fave fashion eras, but she also doesn't limit to just dressing like this: "while i have favorite eras, i refuse to limit myself to one era or mode of dress". she further explains the importance of understanding history through fashion and music, and understanding the highs and lows of past and future. "historical accuracy has never been my goal, and it never will be. it is historical believability. to wear imperfect clothing that show signs of use. mixing pieces from decades prior, along with a contemporary dress or ensemble. to not be afraid of wear, of changing with your clothes. because that is the difference between wearing a costume and wearing clothing".

adrienne started wearing vintage in middle school, and she stated: "it doesn't matter if i stay at home, step out to the grocery store, chase a train, go to work, or meet someone for the first time". with all this, she does dress for the appropriate weather and occasion. adrienne even wears her historical garments to work, and employers love the attention for detail. 

not only does adrienne have a good eye for vintage pieces, she also sews and is an illustrator, doing commissions. she has numerous hobbies, like writing and animation.

when asked "do you have a t-shirt and jeans day?", adrienne explains she actually feels less comfortable in such outfits: "the fitted nature of my garments is very supportive, and it helps me to stay motivated and confident in my own skin. it is snug and safe... and as a neurodivergent individual, this is what helps me feel the most regulated in my daily life. every layer has a very important reason to be worn, even if it looks like a lot to the modern eye!".

adrienne's faq addresses the elephant in the room: "how do you confront presumption and judgment in the public eye?"

here's what adrienne says: "it can certainly be frightening to step outside the box of conformity, especially if you fear perception. 

[...] you cannot please everyone and it is foolish to try to. 

[...] sometimes it can be tiring or exhausting to be a subject of judgment, especially when eyes do not know the weight of what they perceive. however, if you pretend to be someone you are not, people fall in love with an idea and it can lead to even more judgment! especially if you sacrifice yourself to please others. but if you are unapologetically true to yourself, those who are meant to be in your life will love you as you are".

this is more than what one may believe is cosplay, this is art. from the intentional styling, and research to various eras, to the locations of the photos, so detailed and thought out. the filters used almost appear as if taken by a sepia-toned vintage camera! 

i love when people are totally unapologetically themselves, and i love when people aren't wearing trendy fits. adrienne inspired me not only to take an extra peak at the antique stores, but to take a risk. i really resonated with the following statement: "as an eccentric woman, i am already treated with verdict and invisible expectations." so why not enjoy all the clothes i have and wear them how i want to, when i want to?

enamored by the vintage frocks, i pulled out some aged articles from my own closet, and i styled outfits my way, but with reference to, and inspired by, adrienne:

"it can be uncomfortable to be seen as foreign or alienated.
however, i would rather belong to a couple of people who are comfortable in not belonging, that to stand in a room with people who don't know who they are and what they hold in their hearts.
those who sway based on convenience, who do what is polite and not what is right or good hearted.
normality is a concept that only exists when people allow it to be considered as such.
and what is normal is not always what is right.
people may create presumptions or judgments, but only you can decide what is good in your heart to do.
even if it's silly or weird... don't let anyone sway what brings you passion and purpose in life.
be the change you wish to see in the world"

not your grandmother's lace

on the other side of the planet, my mother urged us to read the following article about a croatian designer, antonija bucić. per my mom's words: "you never know, she might be inspiration for your wedding dress!"

the article from croatian news portal dnevno.hr showcases the latest dress antonija created, made by vintage doilies (pictured above). you might've seen balkan memes such as this one:

i'm sure many of my friends can relate to their grandparents' or relative homes in croatia (and most balkan/slavic countries really) are decorated with various doilies. hell - even sib and i inherited doilies from our mom and aunt, and like these memes, display them on top of our dvd player or in the foyer table. 

what antonija did was turn tradition into a contemporary dress, made with about 200 various doilies.

the article further explores the history of crochet in croatia, as well as antonija's creative process. the dress took years to make, as she needed to source old doilies, wash and steam them, then connect altogether. however, as tedious as it sounds, antonija has experience in similar processes. she studied at the university of textile technology in zagreb, and there researched the history of crochet in the balkans and explored the revitalization of the textile process.

from her runway collection notes not your grandmother's lace (2022/23), translated:

the materials to create the collection, which inspired the whole collection, were sourced through the club 'sharing is caring'. among the material and clothing articles, there was a large number of hand-crocheted textiles such as tablecloths, curtains, coasters and such, but also unused and discarded textile meant for sewing. through research on dating these items and even the type of work can be closely tied to the late eighties and nineties, as evidenced by the magazine "svijet" [transl: world], which, in that era, showcased modern and luxurious women's clothing with patterns featured in the editions that women could make themselves. the collection asks where this once incredibly popular crochet disappeared from the ex-yugoslavia area? it was a household staple and incredibly popular. could these and similar - neglected, "shabby" and outdated items and fabrics transform into something new and modern?

i love the mix of tradition and modern, especially when it has such cultural
value. many friends participated in folklore groups, and while i didn't care much for the songs and dances (sorry), i always admired each traditional garment and outfit, each representing a different area of croatia. from the red lip to pigtail braids, frills, lace, and raw material such as wool and linen these garments tell a story of our mothers, grandmothers, and ancestors dated all the way back to the 7th century.

i realized i have seen antonija's work before, as she designed the outfit for our best eurovision performance: baby lasagna's rim tim tagi dim:

i remember being so obsessed with his look, the traditional lace mixed with edgelord leathers and screamo vibes. what a better way to showcase our country than with a twist of modern and traditional, what a better designer to bring the idea to visualization?!