Many moons ago, I simply decided that femininity and strength were not going to be mutually exclusive ideas. That’s actually one of the great secrets of self-acceptance – we can simply decide these things. And I set out on a one-woman mission to find subversiveness in beauty. Power in vulnerability. That strength exists in the delicate arch of a flower petal. That heels a weapon of mass destruction. A full skirt my power suit.
Ever since my very first Maison Murasaki piece, the daffodil skirt, I have fallen in love with the art that comes from her hands. Every stitch, every hem, every appliqué is like poetry in motion. The daffodil skirt, with her golden hue and hand-tucked flowers, reminded me of falling in love for the first time – And a girl never forgets her first. My second piece, the as fresh as a daisy skirt, mixed the sweetness of gingham with a hint of the arched eyebrow only black lace provided. Be-speckled with daisies, this skirt was no wallflower.
So, each year I wait with appliqué-loving anticipation for her latest collection to launch. When I first saw Maison Murasaki’s new collection – entitled Eye of the Sakura Storm – I saw rows of garments that just got me. They were made for an army of warrior women, ready to take on the world with their petticoats. The Sakura Fubuki Circle Skirt caught my eye immediately – never had I seen strength and femininity interwoven into a garment so seamlessly before. A quick glance over at my daffodil and daisy skirts told me it was time to let another into the fold….
The Sakura Fubuki circle skirt comes in three color ways – navy, green, and sky blue – all made to order by Maki’s careful hands. While each held its own magic, the spring blue called my name. Speckled with cherry blossoms against a perfect azure sky. I sent Maki my measurements (28″ waist for reference) and waited breathlessly in anticipation.
In Japan, cherry blossoms are called sakura – their national flower that bloom once a year. Spring is always a time of renaissance, of renewal. And though I’ve never seen it, I can only imagine a city that turns to pink. Where the trees embrace change and burst forth in brilliant force. Shortly after, almost to remind us that beauty (and life) is fleeting, the petals fall and shower the island in femininity.
While I waited (oh so patiently) for my skirt to arrive, I imagined this magical time of year. Waiting in anticipation for the trees to bloom. Reveling in the beauty of your world exploding into color. Dancing in showers of pink. Petals kissing your eyelids, swirling around your skirts. Reminding us that we are both fleeting and powerful. Feminine and unstoppable. And that, despite our individual struggles, despite the chaos in the world around us, despite whatever change that awaits us, we bloom.
when my skirt arrived, perfectly packaged as Maki is known for, I could feel the power and strength and beauty co-mingled in the very folds of tissue paper. Maki even thoughtfully included artisanal lollipops from A Secret Forest inlaid with cherry blossoms.
I pulled her out and zipped her up and she was (no surprise) absolutely stunning. She measured 28″ waist and 29″ length and fell in a perfect circle. I opted for the sculpted high waist band, with a delicate curve at the front center and cinching me in with steel spiral boning. The skirt is made out of 100% oxford cotton with a cotton batiste lining – I loved that the lining was pink. A secret you can only see when I twirl…
The magic of this skirt is definitely in the details. All of the floral appliqué is carefully hand cut out of 100% European merino wool felt. Each hand painted petal is one of a kind and dotted by hand with Japanese glass beads that stand erect and proud at the center of each cherry blossom and along each leaf. It is utter perfection – both in her creation and in what she represents.
Back in May, before Maison Murasaki’s beautiful collection made it to her website, I remember reading in fear and anger about the legislation being put in place to restrict women’s reproductive rights. And like wildfire, other states started to follow suit. I’ve seen a lot of changes in the last few years that have me fearful of the next two (and downright terrified of another 4 beyond that). And I have to admit that, despite my best efforts to fight through and find hope, I have felt powerless. Standing in a world I no longer recognize.
And about a week later, Maki emailed me about this collaboration. Shared photos of the latest piece of her soul on fabric. And as I clapped eyes on those delicate petals, it healed my heart a bit to see the beauty that still exists in the world. And I realized how much power we actually have. In our grace. In our femininity. In our anger. And I think that the anger is mounting. It is swirling and gaining strength. It’s ready to rain a shower of feminine badassery. And they are powerless to stop the storm.
He whispered to me,
“You cannot withstand the storm.”
I whispered back,
“I am the storm.”
All of Maison Murasaki’s stunning pieces are made with care and attention to detail – they are investment pieces. Heirloom pieces. This skirt is truly a work of wearable art. If there’s something on her site that (like me) you just can’t live without, Maki is amazing at setting up a payment plan to suit your budget.
If you’re interested in the Sakura Fubuki Circle Skirt, know that the cherry blossoms are raining down for only a very short time and orders are closing this Saturday. But, there are other stunning pieces on her site (I see you Sakura petal sleeve shirt) and there is always more to come. In addition to their website, you can keep up with the incredible creations that pour out of the Maison Murasaki sewing table by following along on on IG, Facebook, and Twitter.
In the meantime, go out. Bloom. Create a storm. Enact change. May you find power in your beauty today.
xoxo
Outfit Details:
Top: Two Old Beans, part of this set (similar modern)
Skirt: Maison Murasaki
Parasol: Trashy Diva (similar)
Gloves: Bettina Darling (similar)
Handbag: Alannah Hill (similar here & here)
Shoes: Alberta Ferretti, thrifted (similar here & here)
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Any items in a post marked with a “c/o” (courtesy of) a retailer mean I was provided with an item for free in exchange for a review on my blog. I always provide my honest opinion of any item I’m reviewing, regardless of whether it was sent to me as a courtesy item or if I purchased it myself. In addition, this post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you click and/or make a purchase through certain links or ads on this site, I may make a commission from that click and/or purchase at no cost to you, which helps with the day-to-day running costs of my blog.