I hate "sets". I abhor when things match. I particularly detest earring-and-necklace sets. So prim, so fussy. So unimaginative. You can buy the set; just don't wear the pieces as an ensemble.
Sets just look too careful. Too studied and well-mannered.
I have never bought a "set" of dishes. At most, I buy two of something and "mix and match". Homogeny irks me. As does symmetry.
I once went into a friend's apartment, and above his fireplace, he had two identical sconces, one on either side of four framed pictures (all of the same size) that were divided into sets of two each. Everything was sedately and precisely lined up. It gave me a headache. I had to almost sit on my hands to keep myself from rushing over to the pictures and tilting one so it would ruin the perfect alignment.
I like things hodge-podge. Mish-mash. Pastiche. Patchwork. (I'd say "eclectic", but that word has been tainted by its over(ab)use in desperate personal ads.)
Perfection rankles me. I prefer to be among things (and people) that (who) are off-center, slightly askew. "Off".
Give me Isabella Rossellini and her slightly crooked front teeth. Sophia Loren and her face that, when examined feature by feature, isn't classically "beautiful" but when regarded as a whole is spectacular.
Because "perfect", to me, isn't.
fresh-baked at 03:22 PMCan we make a "set" exception for scarves and gloves? Be reasonable, woman!
Offered by: Kelly on November 17, 2002 03:36 PMNothing is set (uggh) in stone, of course, Kelly.
Although I don't really like scarf and glove sets (especially when they're packaged that way), they don't irk me that much. If, however, both have the same pattern, and that pattern is conspicuous (i.e. bold stripes), I must say I still cringe.
Offered by: Jodi on November 17, 2002 03:57 PMP.S. I also don't mind sweater sets, but again, only if they're not patterned. There is NEVER an excuse for intarsia knits; for instance, if someone's wearing a skirt with a pattern and the accompanying sweater has a bit of that pattern woven into it ... well, you may as well just hand me a bottle of ipecac.
Offered by: Jodi on November 17, 2002 04:01 PMNot even a twin set?
Offered by: Mad Genius on November 17, 2002 04:21 PMYes, MG, twin sets are fine! (See my "P.S.", above.) I even wear them, as I told you a while ago. (Remember the dark gray cashmere stunner that I told you about? Yes.)
Offered by: Jodi on November 17, 2002 04:28 PMAww...but Jodi, you're breaking their little hearts!!
Offered by: aaron on November 17, 2002 07:17 PMAaron, those may be a set, but, because they aren't EXACTLY the same.....they work.
I like my candlesticks to be of varying sizes. They can be the same style...but, I like variety. And, I like to mix in other candlesticks for flavor. More pleasing to the eye.
Offered by: Joan on November 17, 2002 07:25 PMYes, Joanie! Exactly.
I actually got a little sad over the "little hearts" thing. And their faces.
Hello, I am retarded. Thank you.
Offered by: Jodi on November 17, 2002 07:26 PMI guess the set of gift cards from BR, Barneys, J Crew, Pottery Barn etc etc would not be good?
Offered by: sally on November 17, 2002 08:53 PMHow do you feel about Chess sets?
Offered by: Kevin on November 18, 2002 08:17 AMI have friends that have a million magnets on their refrigerator. As if that isn't irritating enough... they're all lined up perfectly. Of course, everytime I leave their house, they have to spend an hour re-aligning the little turds.
I'm perfect in my imperfection.
Offered by: chari on November 18, 2002 01:20 PMJodi, you might want to read the entry I just posted about Bloodroot, a feminist restaurant and bookstore in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where the silverware and the plates are all different.
Offered by: Ĉmilius (Emilio N Fischman) on November 18, 2002 11:35 PMI'm with you. Sets and symmetry are just too control-feaky, and usually make me think that a person doesn't have much faith in their own sense of style. It takes a work and panache to take unrelated items and make them work together, but it's worth it, and it's going to be more personal that the set of matching prints bought at the local mall of hell.
Offered by: mike on November 18, 2002 11:39 PM
