Making Life more Beautiful
Linde Carr, Notting Hill Housing board member, has already been featured on this blog. She told me she was going to see Dior and I with her daughter so I asked her to review it. I remember the first time I … Continued
I have just been making a 1967 jacket. Prior to that a 1981 jumpsuit. It occurred to me that even if I didn’t know exactly what I was making, not having access to the pattern envelope fashion drawings, I would … Continued
The people of Thailand, living in a monarchy where democracy is yet underdeveloped, used to express their political views by donning a T-shirt. I won’t go into the meaning of this gesture, except to say it is very powerful. The … Continued
An interesting exhibition of Brock Elbank Beard photographs currently running at Somerset House. On display are some glossy portraits of men (and the odd woman) with luxuriant facial hair, often paired with fisherman’s jumpers, tattoos, piercing eyes and pipes. Yes, … Continued
While I was writing about war time fashion in Britain I wondered how the issue was approached elsewhere. And I considered what it must have been like in Germany. Obviously the people behind the Nazi project were very aware that … Continued
Utility Clothes Ever since I was a teenager I was interested in vintage clothes and one of my favourite periods was the 1940s. I used to particularly seek out the Utility brand, with its distinctive CC41 tag, in order to … Continued
From about 1860 until 1900 there was a brief and rather specialised interest in Artistic or Aesthetic dress. This movement was associated with William Morris, the pre-Raphaelite artists and modern women concerned with gaining greater freedom. In a polite and … Continued
The first perfume I ever wore – a gift undoubtedly purchased in Duty Free by my father – was a bottle of L’Air du Temps by Nina Ricci. It was real first date night stuff and at the age of … Continued
I really like the mid 1960s tailored styles. To me they always look fresh and modern, feminine but also practical and business like. Although the hats and gloves are of their time any one of these items could be worn … Continued
It seemed like a, like, totally cool idea. An animal print “jump-suit”. In my imagination I would turn up at the Chartered Institute of Housing’s posh annual dinner and look unique and elegant. With an ironic 80s vibe. I fear, … Continued