Dreams and Outfits

Dream Interpretation: Little Red Airplane

2011-04-11T19:34:00.001-04:00

THE DREAM

I'm standing on a boat, in the ocean. A girl is standing in front of me, and she's looking at me with a look of deep love. I love her too, and I feel completely at peace, as if I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. I'm at peace with the past: everything that has come before has led to this moment.

In the sky there is a red airplane airplane with a propeller.

THE INTERPRETATION

What a beautiful dream! This dream shows you at a place of complete contentment- in life in general, and in love. Perhaps these two are interrelated as well.

This dream could be speaking about where you are now, where you soon will be, or where you would like to be. If it is either of the latter two, this could indicate that you are on the right path- that your current (or past) actions, no matter how seemingly incongruent, will bring you here.

The ocean represents great truths, adventure and discovery, mystery, and things of great importance. It's where we come from, as all life on Earth comes from the oceans. It can also represent your deepest emotions and feelings. Trying to describe the symbolism of the ocean is so difficult- it's one of those things one *feels* that goes deeper than words, so hopefully that makes sense!

As for the airplane- this could represent you and your path (transportation) through life, or the path of being with this girl, or both. Red is a bold color- meaning you are brave, and take chances, going boldly and so forth. Propeller airplanes are good-looking and stylish, old-fashioned, romantic, classic. Does this describe you?

There are many forms of transportation out there, and yours is flying. You are meant for great things. You are meant to fly.

Art: Life's Journey by Michelle Summers, My Hawaii by JayRayCreations, For My Pilot by moonflowers; Secret Haven by Luna Noche

Dream Interpretation: Backseat Driving

2011-04-04T23:27:00.000-04:00

THE DREAM

I'm riding on a bus, on my way to see someone who I care about deeply. I have a steering wheel at my seat, and am trying to drive, but the bus keeps veering off course. It's terrifying- the bus is weaving in and out of lanes, and I'm trying to get it under control.

Finally, I look near the front of the bus, and see that there's a driver up there. I realize that my steering is interfering with his driving, and I stop trying to steer. The bus driver gets the bus under control, and we ride smoothly to our destination.

THE INTERPRETATION

As you can probably tell, the dream is pointing out a situation in your life where someone else is in charge, but you keep trying to take control! Since you are going to see someone important to you, this dream deals with something or someone who you care very much about. The person in charge could be the person you are going to see, or perhaps this dream relates to an area of your life that this person represents for you.

An alternate interpretation is that this is is about an area of your life where how things happen isn't really up to you- more a matter of fate, or happenstance.

When the bus was veering out of control, you felt scared. It's definitely scary to feel like things are out of your control. You then try your best to get things back on track, which only makes things worse! It takes faith and trust to let someone else be in charge, which you find, and things then go smoothly. Help this situation along by just relaxing and letting the person, or fate, do it's thing - anyone who's ever had a backseat driver knows that it makes getting where you're going harder, instead of easier.

Remember how safe and comforting it felt to fall asleep in the backseat of the car with your parents driving? You knew they'd get you home, and you didn't have to worry about anything- they took care of it. It sounds like you can trust this person, or fate, to get you where you are going, so sit back, let the driver drive, and enjoy the ride!

Art: Greta Masks her Trepidation with a Stoic Demeanor as she waits for the Bus before her Journey by faunafindsflora; Ol' Red by simplyhue; New, by lesliepeterson

Dream Interpretation: Voice Surgery

2009-11-24T16:09:00.002-05:00

THE DREAM

The dream mainly takes place in my hometown. Many people had gotten voice surgery to give them a beautiful singing voice. There was news around town that the surgeries turned out not to be safe, doctor who performed them was being investigated. Later, I am leaving a performance at Carnegie Hall (not in my hometown), and after seeing the performances, I realized with horror that I had gotten the voice surgery too, and I was worried.

THE INTERPRETATION

Here, a beautiful singing voice represents the ability to communicate your inner voice clearly and beautifully. That is, to communicate in such a way that you reveal the truth that's inside you to others. I'm not talking about "good communication" in the superficial way of Cosmo or the Oprah show when they repeat some cliche about "communication being the key to a good relationship, blah, blah, blah". A beautiful singing voice represents communicating in a real, intrinsic, instinctual way that may not even need words. It occurs to me that many people may never have experienced this since it is pretty rare- if not, may you one day, and if so, you know what I'm talking about! I believe, though, that you have at least tasted this and you want more!

Now then, you desire to communicate on this level, and so you, along with many others in your hometown (people who you know- consider your hometown to represent your friends, acquaintances, and people you encounter in your daily life). So, you try to achieve this through a quick method- getting surgery. This could represent trying to find an easy and quick way of relating to others on a deeper level rather than the more time-consuming methods of practicing.

Are you perhaps pushing yourself or others a bit too hard to get to this deeper level? If so, you are probably consciously unaware of your current "voice surgery" method, since you were surprised to learn of it in the dream . Perhaps you realize where you are falling short by realizing that someone who is well known or who you admire (I think Carnegie Hall would represent a big performance, from someone famous perhaps), is "singing" with a false voice.

Consider your current methods for achieving your beautiful "singing voice". Meditation or similar might help in this regard...

Thanks so much for sharing! I absolutely loved this dream!

Art from top to bottom: Back Stage by DAISYDOLLS; Mezzo Goddess by EmilyBalvilet; Patient Monk and Longwinded Bear by FullFrogMoon; Beginning of Stag e- red by chanabean;

Dream Interpretation: Dog in Traffic

2009-09-11T17:38:00.007-04:00

THE DREAM

The other night I had a dream that I was standing on my street, when my dog got loose from her leash and ran out into the street. She proceeded to take a dump in the center of the busy Brooklyn street. Cars flew by, and were straddling her between their wheels (she's very small). I felt tremendous anxiety as this was happening.

This reminded me of a second dream I had a month or two ago. I was standing on a subway platform with my dog. I boarded a train, and as soon as the doors closed realized that she hadn't gotten on with me. I looked out the window of the subway car and saw her looking desperately back at me as it pulled away, shaking from fear.

THE INTERPRETATION

Who or what your dog represents is the key to understanding these dreams. If she is similar to you, perhaps in appearance or demeanor, she could represent you. My thought is that she is different from you, so she could represent something that you care about, or an aspect of yourself such as your feelings. I think that she actually represents both of these - the former in the first dream, and the latter in the second.

The first dream may mean that you were, or are thinking about leaving behind something that is important to you - this could be something "real" such as a job, or a relationship, or something more abstract like a state of mind. It could also mean that you are afraid of forgetting about or losing track of something that is important to you - such as a long-term goal or desire.

I think that in the second dream, the dog represents an aspect of yourself - your feelings. The soft, vulnerable, hidden, feminine aspect that men have within. If this is so, the dream may suggest a particular event (past, present, or future) or a fear or urge - you lose control of your feelings (your dog), and then say or do something wrong or inappropriate (er, take a dump). It seems that this happens during a turbulent circumstance (traffic). The whole experience leaves you shaken.

If the dream is of a past or present event, it may be a recap or remembrance of what happened. If it is of a serves as a warning, with insight into the situation. Namely - be aware that an emotional or unreasonable outburst may cause trouble, so try to keep your feelings in check or find a safe outlet for them.

Thanks so much for sending this dream! Also, thank you to the lady of this dream, who wrote me such a touching reply to the interpretation! You are awesome!

Art: Pause by jkldesign Brown Line by ariyamastudio; Waiting for the Ferry by ds brennan; Even at the End of the Day by obsoleteworld

La Boheme Moderne

2009-08-14T18:13:00.005-04:00

Just saw the sneak-preview photos of this shoot for Viva la Moda magazine:

The gray blouse in the top photo, and gray bloomers in the bottom photo are made by me for Dreams + Outfits - yea! The styling of the right-side outfit in the top photo seems so right that I can't imagine anything else for that blouse after seeing this.

The inspiration was sculptural, graphic, and modern. The execution seems sort of modern flapper-bohemian, what with the cream-colored hat and the piled-on necklaces, which I think are fantastic + inspiring. I also really like the idea of a long strand of pearls and a little bow necklace like the one in the photos.

There are more photos at paperflowergirl and Red Nails.

(And, more dream interpretations coming soon, soon, soon, as I recover from a sickness that knocked me out for the last week or so. Yes!)

Fashion Inspiration: Au Revoir Simone

2009-08-06T13:56:00.018-04:00

I love the little vintage frocks that Au Revior Simone, a trio from Brooklyn, wears in their videos. Light, airy, and a nice blend of lacey little-lady vintage and bohemian chic that's so perfect for the last days of summer. This is a still from their video Fallen Snow. Here are a few goodies from Etsy that they'd love:

from: santokivintage, DarkStar, DJVV, jessjamesjake

Also, thank you to the following blogs for featuring dreamsandoutfits: fazedgirl, The Scarlet Peacock, Object Lesson, Jen Ray, Fashion Me Fabulous

Dream Interpretation: My kitchen is a Mother's Love, and through it is the Garden

2009-07-25T23:00:00.000-04:00

THE DREAM

My mom died when I was young. My dad, my siblings and I moved in with my paternal grandparents. We lived in a very large two-story house and I had a very happy childhood considering the loss of my mom.

This dream began about a year after my mom passed away, so I was around 10. In my dream, I am in a very large house but it is nothing like the home where I grew up. The house in my dream is an L-shape and has a living room with a large window. I sit and look out this window and I can look into the kitchen. The kitchen is very long and at the end of it there is a greenhouse. There is no entrance to the kitchen through the house (yet it is attached) and the living room window doesn't open.

As I try to find an entrance to the kitchen, I open a door and it leads to another living room that is almost identical to the one I just left. Usually when I wake up, the last part of the dream I recall is sitting in the newly found living room. I have dreamed of this same house, to the exact detail, at least 100 times over the years. My mom didn't like to cook at all (so my dad said) nor did she care for gardening.

The other thing that remains consistent in this dream is that I am always alone in the house, there is never anyone in the kitchen, but the lights are always on. The outside of this house is never in my dreams, and I am very content, never frightened, but I do want to get to the kitchen. (I have no desire to cook or bake... trust me on that :)

Oh I didn't mean this to be so lengthy, but this dream is rather bizarre and because it is so reoccurring, I've always wondered the meaning. If I have other dreams, I don't remember them. I would be excited to hear your interpretation. Nothing would spook me or anything like that. I wonder too, do you have any thoughts why I never see the outside of this house?

THE INTERPRETATION

What a beautiful dream! This dream made me cry as I read...it states quite poetically some deep and simple emotional truths.

The house represents you- your interior life of thoughts, feelings, and emotions. The living room, I think, is your present, emotional living state. You feel comfortable, and at ease here, which is good! Since this dream is about your interior life, the outside of the house may not be relevant.

The kitchen is where food is stored and prepared (you probably would have associated kitchens with cooking, even if Mom didn't do it much, or at all), and where family meals are eaten. Food and cooking here represent comfort, love, a sense of emotional safety and satiety. The kitchen is the source of this...and given that your mom had died recently, probably represents a mother's love. Your mother's love is of course, a real thing, but is also a shorthand phrase for the type of deep-rooted, unconditional, pure love that, while more rare, can exist with another person, or so they say, with the whole world, I hear, if you're a zen master.

Further- you can see into the kitchen, and want to get in, but can't. Therefore, you know that it's there, but feel you can't "get there" or experience it. Trying to get there through the door doesn't work. This is what made me cry when I read the dream...thinking about you as a little girl, wanting to be in this source of love and being unable to.

On the other side of the kitchen, there's a greenhouse. We can call this paradise, heaven, the Garden of Eden, the fundamental state of nature- they all mean the same thing. People instinctively feel a connection with nature, as it's been ingrained in us by millions of years of evolution (and can't be erased by hundreds of years of city-dwelling). This physical manifestation of nature, the greenhouse, is a symbol for our natural emotional state- a sense of oneness, belonging, peace. Alas! It can't be described, but can only be felt! This is our emotional home, where we belong.

The greenhouse is on the other side of the kitchen so in order to get to heaven, you will go through love. This is parallel to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which is imagined as a pyramid- shaped diagram to explain that humans have certain needs, and that one can't "achieve" one without all the needs below it. This dream goes beyond Maslow and shows, in symbolic simplicity, that the previous need is a gateway to discovering the next.

My sense is that your interior state is well-adjusted, calm, and happy. This is how you feel in your living room, where you are now. Yet, like the archetype of the heroine or hero in a myth, you know there is more, and you want to seek. The start of a journey is knowing that there is a journey.

The dream indicates that you are trying to get to the kitchen, but keep finding yourself in essentially the same place (a bit changed, because all of life's experiences add more information to your psyche). Maybe you have been trying the same way of getting to the symbolic kitchen, but are finding that it leaves you in the same place as before? Ponder this, as the answer may not be apparent, and could be any number of things (ways of relating to others, to yourself, or with "things" in the environment like food, school, work, etc.).

So, how do you get into the kitchen, and then the greenhouse? This is rhetorical and is something for you (and all people) to discover. Maybe it's the meaning or purpose of life to figure this out, or at least a theme for your life, since this is The Dream, for you.

I see a parallel here between the physics of the dreamworld and the emotional interior world. What happens in both is determined by feelings, beliefs, knowledge, and assumptions. So, I can see three possible ways to get to the kitchen, implied by the dream:

1. The door: it seems that this hasn't lead to the kitchen. Maybe this door simply doesn't go to the kitchen. If there's a certain pattern in your life that seems like a search for the metaphorical kitchen, maybe that thing doesn't work, and it is time to find a new way. Or, perhaps this door could lead to the kitchen, but you believe it will not, and so find yourself in the living room again.

2. The window: There's a window that allows you to see the kitchen. In dreamland, it is possible to travel through windows, especially if you keep your attention focused on the destination (otherwise, you may get confused, and end up somewhere else). Similarly, perhaps you can go outside and go through into the kitchen through experiences outside of yourself - with another person or people, or the world. Just keep focused on that kitchen so you don't forget the goal and start wandering around outside!

3. Teleportation: In dreams, it is possible to move simply by being in the new location, knowing that you are there. Essentially, transcending the assumed reality. You can do this in dreams by learning how to dream lucidly - knowing that you are dreaming while you're asleep. This is freeing - since you realize it's a dream, you also realize that you can do whatever you want! One way to transcend in your interior space (thoughts, feelings, consciousness, etc.) is to learn how to meditate (become awake), and do it.

Now, you might say - okay, that's very interesting (ha, I hope!), but a ten-year-old child wouldn't know what Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is, or have some deep thoughts about the Garden of Eden or some-such. No, indeed! And that's why symbols are so powerful - they communicate instinctively-known truths that are beyond, and complicated by, words...

I hope this is helpful in your interpretation of the dream! As with any dream interpretation, I can just provide hints and clues...only you know what it really means!

Art: heart the hearth, by loveallaround, Jar of Golden Sprouts, by Golly Bard, The Key Keeper by thelindentree, Pyramid Houses by janicej, I predict great things by akihago, Pendant que la fenetre etait ouvert by irisschwarz

Fall Fashion: Carpetbags!

2009-07-17T11:25:00.000-04:00

Who else is feeling me here? I want one, or several, carpetbags for fall, and have been working away on the patterns. I like them in southwestern (Native American, Mexican) and 80's vintage wallpaper-esque patterns. I love 'em as travel and weekend bags, handbags, and little clutches, too.

That outfit is from last year, but that southwest carpet bag is still radical and keepin' on - except for a strap crisis which saftey pins have sorta been able to handle.

I like these Etsy vintage carpet bags:

* and, thank you to Paper Cakes Finds and The Terrible Tews for featuring Dreams and Outfits on their blogs!
* also, I have a few dreams to get to...they are coming soon!

Vintage Bags from: allencompanyinc, VonlenskaVintage, SkinnyandBernie

Fashion Crystal Ball: Airbrushing

2009-07-05T20:27:00.000-04:00

I really, really want an airbrushed bikini, 80's boardwalk vendor style, black and orange/yellow, with palm trees and a sunset.

A t-shirt dress like that would be cool, too.

I may have to ask airbrushbyjoni, the maker of this airbrushed t-shirt, if she can airbrush on a bikini. We shall see!

Dream Interpretation: Sex and Freshly Packed Snowballs

2009-06-25T13:49:00.000-04:00

THE DREAM

I used to teach Tae Kwon Do. One of the moms (Hillary) was a bit unusual, as was her 4 year old daughter (Sierra). That's the back story, so the dream, which I had when I was about 13 or 14:

I walked into the office at the Tae Kwon Do school and Hillary was holding Sierra on her hip and wearing a sweater with the initials W.I. B. on it. I asked what it stood for and Sierra pointed to each letter in turn and announced what it stood for:

Wafering * Inhadescent * Bhobs

I looked quizzically at Hillary and she told me, with a look of embarrassed cockiness, "It means teenagers throwing freshly-packed snowballs".

THE INTERPRETATION

This dream deals with your feelings about girls at the time you had it (13 or 14 years old). At that age, it seems like you were attracted to girls, but found them intimidating! Here are the clues:

The mom is wearing a sweater that has letters that stand for "wafering inhadescent bhobs". These words sound a lot like, "wavering incandescent boobs", which is, I guess, a pretty decent way to describe teenage girls from a boy's point of view- changeable, thus, hard to figure out (wavering), glowing and lovely (incandescent), and sexy (er, boobs, all the more emphasized since it's written across her chest!). Since the little girl is the one to announce this, it may mean that this is the more innocent, or apparent, explanation.

Then, Hilary, the mom, explains a deeper, or hidden meaning, perhaps dealing with a more subconscious apprehension - "teenagers throwing freshly packed snowballs". This means that the newly sexy girls have a new (freshly packed) power - to be mean, or reject you (by throwing snowballs, which are cold, and which hurt - especially freshly packed ones).

I think that overall, this is a pretty good assessment of this dream...and I try to avoid over analyzing dreams, since some symbols may be unimportant or incidental. But, I usually can't help myself, so here goes:

You were at the Tae Kwon Do school. Since you were an instructor, this was a world in which you felt comfortable and in charge, perhaps representing the end of your elementary school, or childhood years. When you reach the age of 11 or 12, you're one of the big kids at school, and you may have felt good and comfortable about this. Then, high school or middle school and girls "enter" this world, and things change.

Why Hillary and Sierra? Other than what I said above about what the woman and girl could represent, I wonder, why them? If the mom was attractive, that could be a clear link. However, you mentioned that they were "unusual". Perhaps their strangeness represents the strangeness of teenage girls.

Great dream- I loved this one!

Art: Thorns by Elsita, Snowballs Grow in Springtime by ShadedMemories

Outfit: Puffy Puffy for the Recession (and beyond)

2009-06-23T21:17:00.000-04:00

Here's what I wore today...let's see what's a-happenin' here:

1. Recession Resourcefulness: This skirt, by imyourpresent on Etsy, is actually a dress- I just folded the top under to make it into a skirt. For someone who likes getting dressed so much, I actually have few pieces - I just like to wear the same things over and over in lots of ways. Which reminds me of how they say French women dress, or how people dress (or should, I guess!) during a recession.

2. Paperbag waists: I'm usually like the guy in The Onion with the Outside Scoop column when it comes to fashion. I don't keep up with the world of fashion, as it were- I just wear what I like, and notice cool stuff that people are wearing, or selling on Etsy. I've heard this look called a paper bag waist- I wasn't actually trying to do this, it just happened when I put the belt on to keep the skirt from falling down! I do like very much these examples of the paper bag waist from Chloe and hierapparel (on Etsy):

3. Sculptural skirts: This skirt is actually *not* doing this, but I jumped in the air in front of the mirror, and loved the way the skirt looked puffed at the top, and narrower at the bottom. I want some skirts that do this all the time (taffeta, shantung, or stiff cotton), especially for fall! I'm actually working on a dress that does this a bit, so my puffy dreams may be coming true!

Dream Interpretation: Spy on the Run

2009-06-17T00:29:00.000-04:00

THE DREAM

i almost exclusively have escape dreams. people are trying to kill me or at least are chasing me. usually i'm a spy, really, and its really really like an action movie. oh man.

THE INTERPRETATION

Since this is your regular dream, it seems like this is the setting in which your thoughts and emotions about some stressful events in your life play out, and any variations in the dream may hint at what's going on at a particular moment.

Actually, you probably have many other dreams, but don't remember them. Most people do not remember many of their dreams, and since these dreams are probably scary (high emotion), or may cause you to wake up, you're more likely to remember them, alas!

The people chasing or trying to kill you may represent a specific problem in your life at a given time - either a situation, or person.

Since you are being chased in the dream, it may be that you are running from, or avoiding, what's bothering you. This could be taken literally (as in leaving or avoiding a troubling situation), or more abstractly (mentally "running" from a problem to avoid dealing with it).

If the people seem to be gaining on you, it may be that you feel the problem will catch up with you. If you're getting away, it might be that, well, you feel you'll get out of it!

Ok, now, in the dreams, you're often a spy! This could mean a variety of things (such as you are trying to figure something out), but since this is a regular symbol, I think it most likely means that you are trying to keep something secret, or more likely, feel that you're involved in a situation that you shouldn't be involved in. By this, I mean not that the situation isn't your business, per se, but rather, you may feel "in over your head".

Is it possible that you feel that life's problems, in general, are not in your control? It may be very likely, though, that you may feel this way about *some* problems, or some aspects of these problems (the ones symbolized in the dreams).

The situations symbolized in the dreams may represent either short-term or longer-term things. Try to think about anything that is a source of stress at the time you have the dream, especially anything that's occupying your mind during waking hours. Would it be beneficial to try to confront and deal with the source of the issue? While we may not have total control over everything that happens in life, sometimes just addressing a problem, brainstorming some steps to solve it, and then doing them will either a. fix the problem, or b. alleviate some stress because you'll feel more in control of the situation.

Chase is an illustration by Jon Carling, an artist whose work evokes surreal scenes, often of nature and animals (both real and imaginary). His work is copyrighted and is shown here with his permission; please contact him for permission to use his work, or to purchase it.

Coronation, Ordination

2009-06-13T11:53:00.000-04:00

It seems like the first post of any blog seems to be something like, "well, this is my blog!" or "trying this thing out...".

So, I guess this post is along those lines, but also to explain what the blog will be about. And to add a photo of me looking as mystical as possible, with beads and a headscarf and such. Adds to my credibility, no?

Dreams (interpretations), and Outfits (fashion commentary)- my two favorite things! And probably some random thoughts and observations.

Hum, I guess I did not need to specify that, since the title pretty much covers it. But sometimes it's nice to say things, even if people already know them, ya know?

So! For dream interpretations, please email me at dreamsandoutfits (at) gmail (dot) com. All submissions are confidential! Dreams can give you insight into your past, present, and future, and I happen to have a knack for interpreting them.

Let's do this thing!