Keeping Poetry Fashionable in 2022
This rainy month that introduces spring also is a spring of creativity in the form of artistic musings. April is National Poetry Month. Yes, you just read the word Poetry. The word defining the brief creative writing often brings forth a collective groan that goes up accompanied by rolling eyeballs. Poetry has fallen out of fashion, and it’s often thought to be a relic of a bygone era. In a manner this is true, but poetry can be more than words on a page. It can be bought to life and incorporated into a daily routine. We don’t mean adding reading poetry to the daily schedule.
Making Poetry Fashionable Againncare
Poetry wasn’t always an art form for the truly literary. Poetry used to be cool. It appeared in newspapers, advertisements, leaflets, and slogans. Causes we celebrate for moving society forward like the suffragette’s movement were molded by everyday poets. American patriotic poets swayed public opinion-making poetic musing partially responsible for the culture we have today.
The powerful words of the poet’s impact on the ordinary citizen have diminished. The And I Thought Ladies, a duo of award-winning poets, aim to make poetry fashionable again. The duo of poets showcases the many creative sides to poetry in a relevant way for the modern woman. They are aware that most people don’t scour the newspaper or wait for their morning poetry section on their preferred morning show because these segments/articles don’t exist. The two poets aim to take their tiny missives and bring them to life in unique ways.
Poetic Looks for Any Lady
Most people aren’t looking for a hot new poetry book but a cute look for the next addition to their wardrobe is a quest worthy search. If you don’t remember Homer writing about his chiton, peplos, himation, and chlamys it’s probably because he wasn’t a woman looking to get dressed after a two-year pandemic. Poetry and your closet have nothing in common, you say. That’s partially true.
Have you ever noticed sayings people have on their apparel? If you take the time to read other people’s clothes, or you visit the t-shirt section in a clothing store. You’ll notice elements of poetry have influenced the messaging.
During the aforementioned pandemic, the ladies expanded their merchandise into a clothing line with numerous pieces styled for vintage admirers. The clothes have clever lines from their poems or titles from the books on dresses, skirts, shoes, bags Etc. Their thought was you don’t have to read a poem to be a poetry lover, but you can wear it to decorate your life. This use of words isn’t going to change the course of history, but it could change how the wearer feels while going about their day. The words are not on the page yet they don’t lose their power be it 2D in a book or 3D on nature’s poetry, the female form.
Keeping Poetry in the Spotlight
As our everyday lives change where our mental spotlight lands vary depending on our day-to-day concerns. What we enjoy in between the moments of stressful adulting becomes more important. In other words, our guilty pleasures turn out to be more decadent. Yes, we are aware that poetry more than likely is not your indulgence of choice.
Jade and Wilnona would like to challenge that perception of their beloved writing form, by offering a reader a list of the Hottest writers. (If you’re thinking of other magazines that list the hottest celebrities, you’re on the right track) They would be remised if they didn’t include fellow poets in their publications. This year’s hottest poet Wren Ivy, an up-and-coming poetess, has its a factor to make poetry sizzle not just in its message but also in the presentation/ presenter. Her art shares the same fire as the poets of old, just updated for today’s reader. She tackles mental health, battles with weight, unemployment, grief, being a caretaker, finding the love of her life, and sibling rivalry with her poetry.
Poetic Guides to Everyday Life
Celebrating national poetry month admittedly is not on your calendar and we totally understand. We experience so much throughout our day. After a bad day, you want a refreshing cocktail or good meal. Believe it or not, you can celebrate the rhymesters this way. The poetry book, A Miss-fit guide Cocktail Soiree’s, and the LBD is a poetry cocktail book. You read that right, your next unique cocktail could be in the pages of a poetry book. Pop-poetry (a sub-genre of literary poetry) presents life lessons and even life skill improvements in a diverse literary manner. Topics can range from how to: cook, start a business, entertain guests, make cocktails, date, recover self-esteem, heal from the heartache of divorce, and find your personal journey.
Poetic Self-Care
An oasis just for you is important just to make it through one 24-hour period. Self-care is a necessity to nurture the soul. The lyrical stylings of poets are known to do just that for the mind. For the skin, we leave the metaphorical provision entering into the physical. The next words you read are not about a pop poetry book detailing a skincare regiment. (Admit you really thought it was going to be about a book) Rather, it is a meeting of inspirational poems and organic beauty skincare. Positive contemplations ward off the world’s negative influence assisting us with inner beauty. Poetry classic or new has been a force for positive change, why not individualize this for personal motivation. (Even a poetess needs great skin) In an effort to meet the needs of a contemporary lady. Vecence S.H.E. launched a poetic lotion. Each container contains poetry designed to inspire women and Earth’s Radiance* provides a booklet of encouraging poetic affirmations for a balanced start to the day. So there can be a glow both inside and out.
Rendering Poetic Justice
Words without actions are dead so says the good book. Current poets are known for their socially conscious words they are notorious for being community leaders for change. The poets mentioned at the outset are no different. The Ladies advocate for domestic abuse victims. Using their poetry to benefit non-profit organizations, is their passion, especially those which serve children and victims of domestic violence. Each year they put down their pens and try their hand at writing a new hopeful page in a person’s history through fund-raising events and charitable donations. National poetry month is a way to ensure that the change poets write about can become justice and equality served in equal measure to those who might otherwise be forgotten.
When you’re done reading this article poetry may slip your mind. The ladies would like to leave you with these simple couplets to honor poetry month:
We may have loss the timber in our voice,
believe us it wasn’t our choice.
We still have words that can be heard so listen and remember.
You are a member, of what could be.
Through our eyes may you see:
Your beauty
Both in and out
May you see our validity
Our scribes are both handsome and pretty
May you feel our words subtly
But Most importantly
Feel our change and make it the world that we loss the power to transform it to be.
About the Ladies
Jade is the 2019 Poet of the year, and Wilnona is Advocate Awarded. The Ladies are known for their quick wit, ability to laugh at themselves, and being pop poets. The duo has contributed writings to eleven books, or what they call “literary life guides with pop poetry," The And I Thought Series & The Miss-Fit Guides. Jade and Wilnona are the Co-Founders of The Inspirational Women in Literature Media and Journalism Awards, The Thoughtful Book Festival, the 25 Hottest Authors Magazine & And I Thought Literary Magazine. They have several podcasts including The Ladies’ Tales, their most inventive podcast to date. They’ve also co-hosted conferences on three continents.
Website: www.andithoughtladies.com com/& www.andwethought.om
Follow on Instagram: @andithoughtladies
Canadian fashion magazine
1) https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/2194985
2) https://blogs.ubalt.edu/welter/2022/01/29/making-merch-work-and-i-thought-ladies-shares-know-how/
3)https://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/ShipLapRecords/view/284744/
4)http://voyagehouston.com/interview/meet-and-i-thought-ladies-of-river-oaks/
Where to buy the clothes:
https://andithoughtladies.myshopify.com
*Earth Radiance is a woman-owned skincare brand that partners with The Ladies. http://earthradiance.com