Midsummer’s Eve: Match Made in Seven
Welcome to the monthly edition of Match Made in Seven! We are an international group of fashion bloggers who meet virtually once a month. One of us chooses a theme each month, and that can be anything: a book, music, a color, a movie. And then we all style an outfit based on that theme.
This month’s theme was chosen by ME and is “Midsummer’s Eve.” See my post about the theme below…and be sure to take a look at my fellow bloggers to see how they have interpreted the theme this month.
Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style
Debbie of https://www.debbiestyleslife.com/
Darlene of https://aquamarinastyle.com/
Sonja of https://www.yustsome.nl/
Anna of https://www.muttonstyle.com/
Emma of http://www.style-splash.com/
And now for this month’s theme: Midsummer’s Eve
Until a few years ago I really never knew anything about Midsummer’s Eve. It’s not an American holiday and other than Shakespeare’s play “A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream,” I’d not really heard the term used.
Six years ago I went with some friends to a “Midsummer’s Eve” event at Old Westbury Gardens. I’d had no expectations of what this would be…and I was charmed.
The event started in the early evening when the garden is normally closed. So, you got to view (and photograph) the gardens when the sun and light are low, which is the loveliest time. The gardens were illuminated with lanterns and ribbon streamers. Dancers from The Isadora Duncan Dance Foundation were dressed as ephemeral fairies and flitted their way from one garden to another, with choreographed dances at special places. It was all so lovely.
I made a slideshow from the pictures and videos I took that night.
It really made an impression on me and I always wanted to go back in subsequent years but it just never happened. So – I opted for a Midsummer’s Eve theme for my turn this month to try and recreate just a bit of that lovely holiday.
What is Midsummer’s Eve?? The summer solstice, June 21, is the longest day of the year. Wayyyy back in the day, knowing that the days would become shorter from then on, people were afraid that the light might continue to decrease until it was gone completely, and so on the eve of the longest day, they built bonfires to “warm the heavens and hold the heat in the sun.”
Midsummer’s Eve (also known as St. John’s Day in some religions) became an annual holiday at which villagers would gather around the bonfire to sing, dance and pray. Women and children would make chaplets (floral wreaths worn on the head) out of St. John’s Wort to wear during the ceremony.
For my contemporary take on Midsummer’s Eve, I’m wearing a floaty white maxi dress from Avenue, a pink floral headband I picked up somewhere, and some beaded bracelets. I added the ribbon wand as a mini-Maypole. In some culture’s rendition of the ceremony, they dance around the maypole instead of fires.
My due date with Katie was May 1, May Day, a day celebrated by dancing around the ribbon-bedecked maypole. Sadly, she hung on until May 5, Cinco de Mayo – fun, but not nearly as charming. For one of her early birthdays (maybe third?) May Day was her party theme and we had a maypole in the yard and my sister made the most beautiful cake with a maypole in the center. If I knew where anything was in the new apartment, I would share the pictures here.
So, a few days late, but Happy Midsummer’s Eve, y’all!
What I Wore:
- White Avenue Crochet & Gauze Maxi Dress, size 22/24.
Thank you to my dear friend Stacey for photographing me for this post.
This post contains affiliate links, which means that I may receive a small commission if you click on them and/or buy something as a result of clicking that link.
PS: Cavorting is not as easy as it looks. Just sayin.’
julia
Awwwww! So fun and pretty! You are so sprightly! Dave’s birthday is April Fool’s day so take that as you will. I can totally see you at a future one cavorting sprightly and I hope you get back to it so we can all see it on the blog!
bettyewp
Sprightly! Ha ha!
Pauli
Bettye!! Absolutely charming…don’t even know where to start. You look absolutely BEAUTIFUL in your ensemble and it seems to be so “you”….that shines through in your smile. You couldn’t have picked anything more perfect; your theme could easily have been “the enchanted forest”! Thank you for the beautiful images and inspiration and joy. Hope you continue to feel better…be well.
bettyewp
Thank you, Paula! I do feel I should carry a ribbon wand with me wherever I go 🙂
Debbie@debbiestyleslife.com
You look beautiful in your white sundress, Bettye!! I enjoyed reading all about Midsummer’s Eve in your post, as well. I’m afraid I didn’t do as much thorough research so it was fun to read your post. Great theme choice!
bettyewp
Thanks, Debbie. I’ve been out all evening so haven’t had a chance to check out everyone else’s posts…
Debbie Stinedurf
You look absolutely breathtaking my friend & you so nailed the theme! Your video was so so beautiful! I would love to go to an event like that…I might have a small obsession with fairies…
Debbie
http://www.fashionfairydust.com
bettyewp
Oh, it was such a lovely event. Now it’s moved onto another big garden up in Yonkers and admission is $65!!! It was $12 when we went! I loved all the children in their fairy wings, dancing right through the performances…it was just the sweetest thing.
Marceline S Miller
You look so wonderful!! You made cavorting LOOK easy! What a lovely idea you had.
Sarah
Love the theme and these magical, whimsical images!
bettyewp
Thanks, Sarah! It’s fun sometimes (SOMETIMES!) to step WAY outside yourself and just be silly and fun. We laughed SO MUCH during the whole thing. We were right by a bike path and people were riding by the whole time. looking, like WHAT THE…?!?
Marceline S Miller
And the slideshow! Thanks for that!
bettyewp
Oh, thanks, Marceline. I loved that evening and I love the slideshow (if I do say so myself, ha ha).
Heather
I love this! You truly look like a natural cavorter 🙂
bettyewp
Ha ha, I wish! Light on my feet I am not! There are a LOT of blooper shots from this escapade!
jodie filogomo
Girl…just this theme shows how creative you are and FUN!! Although the cavorting is harder than it looks I bet. Especially barefoot….LOL!!!
Gorgeous in every way, shape and form!
XOOX
Jodie
bettyewp
Thanks, Jodie xoxo
Darlene
Bettye, what a great post!! We both chose white dresses, which cracked me up! I researched a bit about Midsummer’s Eve but learned even more from you! Your video is charming and so is the story behind the theme. Well done, my friend!
xx Darlene
P.S. When I heard your theme, I kept thinking of the scene in Outlander where the “witches” dance around the standing stones on Beltane! Sound familiar?
Nancy
Oh this is so perfect Bettye! You think Midsummers s Eve straight away as you see the first photo! Fabulous, you really captured this one! And my goodness, how good does that dress look on you!
Pauline Starsmore
Very pretty pictures, your hair is looking very pretty now, I am shortly to start some Chemo treatment and am really worried about the ‘hair bit’.
bettyewp
Oh, Pauline! The “hair bit” is emotional…but as soon as I made the decision to just shave it off, it was better. The worst was when it started coming out in horrible clumps. Shaving it allowed me to take control of the situation. AND…there is nothing more glorious on a hot day than driving around with the windows down and No Hair!
Hugs.
Sonja
This is heaven Babe! You totally rock this look! I think I never saw you so soft and gentle… everything is in place.
bettyewp
Thank goodness everything is in place! Ha! I was trying out a strapless bra for the first time (since many many pounds ago) but at the last minute I threw the straps back on cuz I just didn’t have complete faith in everything staying in place!
Emma Peach
You captured Midsummer’s Eve perfectly Bettye! You look amazing in the long white dress and your hair looks lovely!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
Susan
I’ve always hoped to spend at least one Midsummer’s Eve in Stonehenge. If I ever get there, this is the dress I would wear. It was made for forest frolicking. You look beautiful.
bettyewp
Yes, you must go and frolic and send us pictures!