Story Board: Heat Wave

Etsy.com handmade and vintage goods
lethilogica

Story by Su Wu

Published on June 18, 2012 in Shop

lethilogica

On nights like this, the sidewalks give off a slow heat, releasing the energy of the day, and you wonder what happened to the late afternoon, to the 7:30 sunlight that already looks like yesterday, and where all these people on the roof came from and whether they are really having a good time.

[Clockwise from top left: 1940s enamel and amethyst necklace from Mercyvintagenow; Vintage braided puff sandals from 20twentyvintage; Rockabilly ivory dashed sunglasses from HipKittyVintage; Orange and grey Turkish towel from OrganicTextiles4all; Vintage sisal hot pink striped bag from secretlake; Pin-up 1950s playsuit from TravelingCarousel.]

Think about the lovelorn jet stream following the sun, and all the air sinking down into you, and crushed ice with mint, and how no one ever calls a heat wave “the dead of summer.” On really hot days everything slows except for the blood rushing to your skin and the water rushing to your skin, and your organs wake up from a nap and wonder where everyone went.

[Clockwise from top left: Vintage leather short overalls from OakStreetVintage; Copper sun necklace from shivika; Primitive three-legged stool from sevenbc; Natural shea butter and carrot oil sunscreen from SoulSisterSoaps; Mini lightweight charcoal grill from Appagare; Gorgeous old straw hat from midcenturyz; Cut-out floral espadrilles from the industry.]

There’s a repressed summer inside, an artificial chill, accompanied by a low wheeze that doesn’t sound like freedom, like nothing is really cool when you have to give up so much for it. They say crime increases when it’s really hot out, and maybe it’s the type of bravery that accompanies discomfort, that nothing sits quite right.

[Clockwise from top left: Vintage Swatch from MimisClayCreations; Vintage Emmanuelle cropped bustier top from MagicPumpkinVintage; Navy star napkins from knifeinthewater; '80s Geometric shorts from irievibe420; 1970s table fan from VintageEuroDesign; Lacquered George Briard ice bucket from blueflowervintage; Yellow and black polka dot flats from SweetLoveVintage.]

Or maybe it’s these summer nights, when the heat has retreated and we’re salt-skinned survivors of the sun. We feel invincible and solid again, the flat-out joy of the faintest breeze, giving off slow heat like the sidewalk.

More Posts From Su

Su Wu of I'm Revolting continues to compile a list of the things, places and misinterpreted philosophies that somehow manage to coalesce into a well-lived life. These narrative-driven collections will find you stealing out of your alternate personas' closets.

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  • PopLoveCouture

    Shai Wallach from PopLoveCouture says: Featured

    For all the sweat, sunburns and dehydration, there's no time of year more full of fun, excitement and freedom than summer. It's the one time of year where your can wander around in short-shorts and a neon tank top and no one blinks an eye.

    339 days ago

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