Songful Style Link Party #21 | “Meet Virginia” by Train
It was my turn to choose the song for this month’s music meets style challenge and I went with an old favorite, Train‘s 1998 pop hit “Meet Virginia”. You can read all sorts of details about the song and the band in my post, Songful Style | “Meet Virginia” by Train.
I have been listening to this song for 25 years and it only recently occurred to me how strongly I relate to this imaginary woman named Virginia. In fact, the lyric that hit me with the most profound punch was this one…
"You see her confidence is tragic But her intuition magic"
I have failed to listen to my intuition on many occasions in life. And again, just recently, I have realized that my intuition is magic and I definitely need to have more faith in its powers. As I am accepting this superpower called intuition, it is actually helping to shift my confidence from tragic to something that is also a bit magical. And let me tell you, my confidence has definitely been quite tragic for most of my life. But, in the words of the great Elton John and Bernie Taupin,
"Don't you know I'm still standing better than I ever did? Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid And I'm still standing after all this time Picking up the pieces of my life withoutyou[all the bullsh*t] on my mind"
Hmmm. That might be my next song choice when it’s my turn to pick again…
But let’s talk about Virginia for now.
Virginia definitely sounds like an intriguing woman and while I relate to her emotional status, I don’t think she is someone I would enjoy hanging out with. First of all, she really seems to scream a lot and potheads don’t like loud noises. She also smokes a pack a day (of cigarettes, I assume), drinks coffee at midnight, and apparently she steals stuff, too. Three things I would never do. Also, I am very much the opposite of Virginia in that I do make compromises, I am not a big fan of babies or surprises, and I go barefoot when I exercise. Also, I do not and have never ever wanted to be the queen of anything. And I do enjoy being alone. On the rare occasions that I feel the need for screaming, I generally don’t pull at my own hair like a complete lunatic. Okay. Maybe Virginia is less intriguing and more lunacy. But I don’t judge. Wear your heart on your sleeve, if you please, Ms. Virginia.
Virginia also owns no dresses and I have a closet that is bursting with them. I am similar to Virginia, however, on a few things. My hair is absolutely always a mess and I do appreciate a good rip on the President. And that might be where our friendship would end…with messy hair and making fun of politicians.
Being the complete opposite of Virginia, I still wanted to style an outfit that would earn Virginia’s stamp of approval. We know that she wears high heels when she exercises so I built my outfit from the feet up wearing leggings, the essence of exercise clothing, with high heeled sandals. But what do you wear with leggings and high heeled sandals? A oversized tee like I wore for our “Heart of Glass” post? Perhaps. But I don’t have one that is suitable for this song. A dress over leggings always works but Virginia doesn’t wear dresses so I wanted to steer clear from that genre of garments.
You might be thinking now, “But you are wearing a dress.” Ah-ha. I am not! I am wearing a matching nightie and robe set!
I have owned this adorable little sleep set for probably 20 years and I have never worn it. I have never been able to let it go because the floral print is just so darn pretty. The other day I was cleaning out my pajama drawer and found the nightie. I took it out and was just about to cut it up to add to a rag curtain when I decided to try it on one last time. It looked so cute as a sleeveless tunic but it has gotten way too cold for bare arms. So I dug out the matching robe and together they look like a cute flirty dress. But they feel like I’m wearing pajamas. Because I am wearing pajamas!
I think Virginia would absolutely approve of wearing high heels with a nightie and robe. Don’t you agree?
About Songful Style
Songful Style is an ageless style challenge series hosted by Suzy of The Grey Brunette, Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, and Marsha of Marsha in the Middle. For this series, each month we will share a song with the lyrics and video and we invite you to use whatever aspect of the song that inspires you to create an outfit.
It is similar to Style Imitating Art where we use artwork to inspire our outfit creations. Except Songful Style gives you lyrics, music, video, and album artwork to inspire your fashion creativity. You may even find inspiration in a memory triggered by the selected song. It is all open to your own personal interpretation and just a fun way to discover new music and get a little bit more creative with your wardrobe.
Anyone is welcome to join us on a permanent basis or you can just play along without any obligation to do anything other than feel inspired. We are flexible and fun and just want to find more ways to play dress up because it’s what we enjoy doing!
We will be posting on the last Monday of each month and will announce our song choice for the following month at the end of each post.
Be sure to check out how my songful friends have styled their outfits inspired by Train’s “Meet Virginia.”
- Marsha of Marsha in the Middle
- Suzy of The Grey Brunette
Featured Favorite from Songful Style Link Party #20 | “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri
Claire of Claire Justine
If you would like to join us for next month’s Songful Style challenge, we will be hosting a link party on November 27, 2023, featuring our outfits inspired by Marsha’s song choice, “Flowers are Red” by Harry Chapin. I will share more details about the song in about two weeks. Until then, happy styling!
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Joining these Fabulous Link Parties.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.
16 Comments
Marsha Banks
Shelbee, this was such a fun way to interpret the song! I love that all three of us did something completely different! I hope you wear your nighty and gown as a dress over and over again because it looks so good. I have no idea what I’m going to do for next month, but I love Harry! He was gone too soon.
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Marsha! I thought it was so cool how we took three completely avenues for styling this song, too. I will definitely be wearing this nightie and robe set as a dress when spring returns. It is too cold now! I think for Harry’s song, I am going with red florals. I have a lot of red florals to choose from! But I might go more for multi colored florals because not all flowers are red like that dumb teacher in the song insists upon! Haha. Great song choice!
xoxo
Shelbee
Di
Love the song you chose this month for Songful Style-your outfit is a great interpretation!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Di! This was a really fun one to style!
xoxo
Shelbee
Nancy
Ha ha, I never know any of the music you come up with! But I love to know what kind a music you love. So I’m going to listen to it now!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Ooh, I hope you like the song, Nancy! It is one of my favorites. I have very eclectic taste in music and listen to almost every genre.
xoxo
Shelbee
Suzy Turner
It’s a nightie??!! OMG I would never have known, Shelbee!! I freaking love how you created this look…going from heels to leggings to nightie lol…that’s so well…I guess it’s so you! I love how you think. So creative! I can also totally relate to owning things like nighties for 20 years and never wearing them lol. I would totally do that!
Big hugs
Suzy xx
PS The Elton John song would be a great choice by the way! I love that song…it’s already stuck in my head lol x
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Suzy! Isn’t it a fabulous nightie and robe set?! Actually, I think I never wore it because it never really fit me properly. It is a size XL and I am the thinnest I have been in 25 years, wearing generally a size medium (or a smaller size large), and it fits me perfectly right now. So it is a very small size XL! I will definitely be wearing it as a dress when the spring returns in 6-8 months! I think Elton John will definitely be making an appearance for a future Songful Style post!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jennifer
You look great in that dress!!
Jennifer
Curated by Jennifer
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Jennifer! It’s actually a nightie and matching robe!
xoxo
Shelbee
Your True Self
Hi, Shelbee – You cracked me up talking about how you’re actually the opposite of Virginia and she would approve of you wearing your pajamas. LOL! So I barely understand how you chose your outfit based on the song, but I get the first half (leggings and heels.) Intuition is big right now, getting ignited in most people I guess, hopefully. So maybe you chose your pajamas by using your intuition. That’s an inspiration! Thanks – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Hahaha, thanks so much, Angie! I barely understand how I got where I got with this outfit! I suppose the connection is that Virginia and I are both a little quirky! While we have not much in common at all, I think she is the kind of woman who might wear a nightie and a robe as an outfit. Is it magical intuition that led me here? Perhaps! LOL
xoxo
Shelbee
Amy Johnson
I would never believe in a million years that you were pjs! That’s amazing! It looks fabulous!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Hehehe, thanks so much, Amy! I can’t get over how cute this set is as a dress! And now it has new life since I never wore it as pajamas!
xoxo
Shelbee
Patrick Weseman
Looking so very nice there.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Patrick! I appreciate you!
xoxo
Shelbee