“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.” JRR Tolkien
I didn't design my autumn capsule with Nour and the Merchant with hobbits specifically in mind, but I guess hobbits are never far from my mind as my final pieces fit a hobbit wardrobe quite well. Hobbits represent so many good things and I always think they go hand-in-hand with cottagecore and slow living because they value mindfulness; they value food and company and coziness over success or fame. Aside from a few adventurous Tooks, the average Hobbit is quite a content creature. This doesn’t mean hobbits aren’t clever or brave or loyal, or unable to “shake the towers and counsels of the Great.” Too often we think that because we have chosen less or quieter lives, we are less. But we aren't lesser merely because we have taken a different route. Rather it means that by and large like hobbits, we might have prioritized other things over domination and power and wealth. I also like the cozy outfits and imagine hobbits would focus on ethical and slow fashion; they would be careful with what they added to their wardrobe and wear pieces for years and years.
“There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” JRR Tolkien
Nour and the Merchant was intentionally inspired by Lord of the Rings with her latest collection. She designed pieces with all the groups of Middle Earth in mind--Rohan reminiscent dresses, Hobbit-y skirts (like the Rosie skirt I'm wearing today), and even some Elvish bodysuits and skirts. I love that Nour & the Merchant is a slow fashion brand that considers how the clothes are made, fair wages, sustainable materials, etc, but it's also a very fun brand. Cristina designs fairytale inspired clothes and keeps them wearable for every day. It's not all dramatic tulle princess dresses (although there are a few of those) but instead clothes that make you feel a bit special without turning too many heads. My favorites are her Hobbit pieces, the perfect cozy trousers, this classic plaid skirt, and a cute wolf-button blouse. All of these pieces can be dressed up for a more dramatic look, or paired with more classic/simple clothes for a more casual outfit. P.S. I know my ears are more elf-like than Hobbit-y but it's my first time wearing fake ears!
*pictures edited with Elderberry preset from my Dark Cottagecore Preset Pack*
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