OverDressed for Life

Her college was so fashion conscious, she said, that all the girls had pocketbook covers made out of the same material as their dresses, so each time they changed their clothes they had a matching pocketbook. This kind of detail impressed me. It suggested a whole life of marvelous, elaborate decadence that attracted me like a magnet.

Esther Greenwood – fictional character from The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath (1932-1963).

I imagine many of ODFL readers are familiar with this book. Published in 1963 under a pseudonym, The Bell Jar is the fictionalized story of Ms. Plath’s time in early 1950s New York City where she worked as one of the guest editors of Mademoiselle magazine, although, in the book the magazine name was changed along with the names of central characters. Known for her poetry, this was Ms. Plath’s only novel. She died in 1963 of suicide.

Check back tomorrow for more on matching accessories.