Mad Men – Betty Draper
I already wrote about the Mad Men from a Menswear perspective. But of course the womenswear was sensational too, and impossible to do justice to in a short blog post, so I am going to give the three leading ladies … Continued
Guest post – an interview with Dr Elena Rowland
Like me, Elena (or Helena as her friends call her) is a member of the Governors’ Board at a local NHS Mental Health Trust. I am always impressed by her keen sense of style and the fact that she makes … Continued
Sewing with a Plan 0.18 – Nina Ricci Vogue Paris Original 1650 – Part Three
You have already seen the skirt-on-a-camisole. Today I introduce -The Overblouse. The idea of this overblouse is to fit over the camisole and complement the skirt. In line with my charcoal/magenta/turquoise colour scheme I bought two metres of emerald-green wool … Continued
Nina Ricci Vogue Paris Original 1650 – Part Two
Does anyone apart from me, Lyn and Helen remember these? A polyester “permanently pleated” kilt, attached to a nylon jersey vest – suitable attire for little girls’ Sunday best. Often worn with an Acrylic Arran jumper over the top. Oh … Continued
Nina Ricci
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
Nina Ricci Vogue Paris Originals 1650 (1966)
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
The Midi skirt
After the sun the rain. After the mini-skirt came the midi-skirt. You might wonder how the pattern companies made their money. Selling a simple A-line skirt with four black cutting lines printed across it for five shillings and five pence. … Continued
The circular skirt – who can wear them and how to make one
I saw these amazing circular skirts at the Women, Fashion, Power exhibition last month. initially I couldn’t see any link between novelty skirts and women’s power, but maybe I lack imagination. On the other hand these items come from are … Continued
The little shift dress – considering Sixties style
The origins of the 1960s shift dress lie in the 1920s when the short, usually sleeveless, shapeless and simplified dress allowed women to “shift” around, whether in terms of work, sports or dancing. This dress from about 1926 is attributed … Continued
Guest blog – interview with Mary Harvey
Mary was working for Notting Hill Housing Trust when I started more than 10 years ago. She ran our charity shops, volunteering programme and the fund-raising team. More than anyone she embodies the spirit and values of Notting Hill. She … Continued