Tomorrow was an art installation at the V&A at the end of last year. It was totally inspiring and had (in my opinion) a huge impact on the contemporary art world. It was created by the artists Elmgreen & Dragset comprising of scenes from an unrealised film. It was set in an apartment which hadn't been redecorated for at least 50 years - an example of past decades as a backdrop to contemporary artifacts. Now, we're seeing art stands echoing the same sentiments - the stand at Frieze Masters by gallerist Helly Nahmad must have been inspired by Tomorrow. And as we look to the past a new book with the title, "The Gown" by Jo Ellison has just been published. All the above showcasing a bygone age coming back to life.
This is so relevant to me as I loved Tomorrow and also Helly Nahmad's stand. This is where it applies to my life - I've suddenly been captivated by the idea of buying "a gown". OK, this is a new phenomenon to me, as how often does the occasion to wear a gown really occur? A cocktail dress? Yes yes yes! Gown... Let me think? Very rarely...
I do have long evening dresses which, when black or white tie dictates, I wear. Although seldom is this the dress code (in my life). We now have "Lounge Suit" - it seems men prefer that. But a gown - I'd love a gown. I would wear it instead of a cocktail dress. Listen - if I can wear a Tiara, I can wear a gown! Why not? Just have to find one now! Would like a colour, but the first one I've seen is black, long-sleeves, very low back and beautifully draped front. Mmmm... What about a very full Crinoline-shaped skirt, ankle length? Possible... I'd have liked pale pink, (not Little Girl Pink, but soft). Nothing! OK, will keep you posted.
I have seen the most beautiful chiffon with couture embroidery. You can only imagine how expensive that is! The embroidery is like works of art. I suppose I can always hang it on my walls when not wearing it. Then, it's an art investment and an item of clothing! I just love the Two-For-One idea (first seen in my local Waitrose).
Just heard the sad news that Oscar de la Renta died. I have a couple of his outfits and have, funnily enough, just started wearing his skirt again. OK, the reason for this is I just had it "eased" (let out) so now it fits. Now, before you all say, "Yes - I thought Francine had put weight on", his clothes I bought when I was going through my divorce (anyone who's ever been through anything traumatic like that knows it's either eat or starve. I coudn't eat, so went down to a US size 4. For me - very small). Hence the need of easing. Anyhow, all is well now and I've been wearing his skirt and loving it! He made gowns aplenty and many of them truly beautiful creations (this blog is dovetailing so well).
In life, not all things are equal. If they were, I for one would definitely be donning more than one gown this Gala season. So when we look forward, we should always remember to look back,
"Tomorrow Never Dies".
Happy Shopping!
Friday, 24 October 2014
Friday, 17 October 2014
Food and Fashion - the solution is clear (plastic)
Can you eat in your clothes? No, I'm not on any non-prescription drugs and this is a very serious question. The story so far...
I have a pale pink Dior skirt purchased in June pre-season, which I love. High-waisted, superbly shaped and below the knee. I wore it in Leeds to a couple of dinners. Yes, a speck of chocolate dessert fell off my napkin. So on my return to London I hot-footed it to South London to my cleaners. Cleaned, I picked up the skirt only to be asked, "What was the stain?" Chocolate, I replied. "No, it can't be - we got that out." And yes, that stain they had removed. But towards the bottom of the skirt at the front there appeared a mystery stain that I had absoloutely no recollection of. So now, after numerous opinions and thoughts I'm going to have a flower design embroidered and sequinned over the stain - my homage to the Dior embroidery and sequinning this season. And as I can't get it done in Paris, I'm on the hunt for someone to do it (just found the Royal School of Needlework- hopefully they can help me).
Back to the title. As all this was going through my head I realised that I also have a pale lilac, silk new cocktail dress which will be getting it's next airing this week and I'm positive this dress will be going NOWHERE NEAR FOOD! To my dear friends who witnessed the first outing of my lilac dress, well - it was a Joy To Wear and so complimented! Also, as I spoke of earlier, the trials and tribulations of eating in clothes - I was so careful - the dress and I came away with a totally clean slate - result! And then I remembered my new pale pink and yellow jumper that on it's first outing got a drop of red wine on the sleeve as a drip from the bottle when my glass was being poured at dinner. My hostess wanted to buy me a new one but I felt it wasn't right to allow her to replace it. A trip to my South London Cleaners was undertaken with much speed. So now I've discovered why everyone in fashion is so thin - they never eat or go anywhere near food in their clothes for fear of stains. Come to think about it, my summer dry-cleaning bills are so huge, and what with white being everywhere next spring I better start saving. Although a thought juts occurred to me - can I get someone to make me a full-length clear plastic apron coat that I can slip on so you can see my outfit whilst I'm eating but I'll never stain another item of clothing. Because I can't pretend to eat or not eat at all, dressed up. So I think this is my only solution. With my dry-cleaning bills the way they are, just think - if I didn't have tyem I could probably start buying Couture.
Happy Days...
PS: I'm going to use this blog to apologise to you all. Why? I hear you ask. What can Francine have done to produce such actions?! Well, dear readers, I missed a footwear trend. Not possible! Well, yes it is and has happened in my own back yard, so to speak. We start off with the concept of "boots", yes. No - that's not it. These, dear friends, are climbing boots. Yes, you read that correctly - climbing boots. I went to to a drinks/dinner party this week at the home of my great super-stylish friend. In her own home she had finished off her outfit with climbing boots. These are no ordinary climbing boots, but Marc Jacobs climbing boots. Now, I really didn't understand on the evening, or get a very good look at them (too many people around) but when my Bible, American Vogue arrived the next morning I, with great delight, began to flick through and yes - you guessed it, the first fashion spread had the climbing boot all over it. Forgive me for this oversight. I'm going to try a pair on for you and report back. I should point out that many years ago when the Timberland craze hit, of course I bought a pair. Stil have them. They're almost pristine. So uncomfortable (to me unattractive). I think I may have worn them twice. So don't let's hold our breath for me to buy climbing boots. But ignore this trend at your peril! Just remember - they're not real climbing boots, but achieve great heights in anything, the right footwear is never the wrong decision.
Happy Shopping!
I have a pale pink Dior skirt purchased in June pre-season, which I love. High-waisted, superbly shaped and below the knee. I wore it in Leeds to a couple of dinners. Yes, a speck of chocolate dessert fell off my napkin. So on my return to London I hot-footed it to South London to my cleaners. Cleaned, I picked up the skirt only to be asked, "What was the stain?" Chocolate, I replied. "No, it can't be - we got that out." And yes, that stain they had removed. But towards the bottom of the skirt at the front there appeared a mystery stain that I had absoloutely no recollection of. So now, after numerous opinions and thoughts I'm going to have a flower design embroidered and sequinned over the stain - my homage to the Dior embroidery and sequinning this season. And as I can't get it done in Paris, I'm on the hunt for someone to do it (just found the Royal School of Needlework- hopefully they can help me).
Back to the title. As all this was going through my head I realised that I also have a pale lilac, silk new cocktail dress which will be getting it's next airing this week and I'm positive this dress will be going NOWHERE NEAR FOOD! To my dear friends who witnessed the first outing of my lilac dress, well - it was a Joy To Wear and so complimented! Also, as I spoke of earlier, the trials and tribulations of eating in clothes - I was so careful - the dress and I came away with a totally clean slate - result! And then I remembered my new pale pink and yellow jumper that on it's first outing got a drop of red wine on the sleeve as a drip from the bottle when my glass was being poured at dinner. My hostess wanted to buy me a new one but I felt it wasn't right to allow her to replace it. A trip to my South London Cleaners was undertaken with much speed. So now I've discovered why everyone in fashion is so thin - they never eat or go anywhere near food in their clothes for fear of stains. Come to think about it, my summer dry-cleaning bills are so huge, and what with white being everywhere next spring I better start saving. Although a thought juts occurred to me - can I get someone to make me a full-length clear plastic apron coat that I can slip on so you can see my outfit whilst I'm eating but I'll never stain another item of clothing. Because I can't pretend to eat or not eat at all, dressed up. So I think this is my only solution. With my dry-cleaning bills the way they are, just think - if I didn't have tyem I could probably start buying Couture.
Happy Days...
PS: I'm going to use this blog to apologise to you all. Why? I hear you ask. What can Francine have done to produce such actions?! Well, dear readers, I missed a footwear trend. Not possible! Well, yes it is and has happened in my own back yard, so to speak. We start off with the concept of "boots", yes. No - that's not it. These, dear friends, are climbing boots. Yes, you read that correctly - climbing boots. I went to to a drinks/dinner party this week at the home of my great super-stylish friend. In her own home she had finished off her outfit with climbing boots. These are no ordinary climbing boots, but Marc Jacobs climbing boots. Now, I really didn't understand on the evening, or get a very good look at them (too many people around) but when my Bible, American Vogue arrived the next morning I, with great delight, began to flick through and yes - you guessed it, the first fashion spread had the climbing boot all over it. Forgive me for this oversight. I'm going to try a pair on for you and report back. I should point out that many years ago when the Timberland craze hit, of course I bought a pair. Stil have them. They're almost pristine. So uncomfortable (to me unattractive). I think I may have worn them twice. So don't let's hold our breath for me to buy climbing boots. But ignore this trend at your peril! Just remember - they're not real climbing boots, but achieve great heights in anything, the right footwear is never the wrong decision.
Happy Shopping!
Thursday, 9 October 2014
North, South, East, West
It's been so long since my last blog and so much has happened that editing out the good from the bad may take some time! So I hope you're not in a rush...
Looking back at my notes, I realise that this blog took shape weeks ago. I was commenting on the similarity between high and low fashion. But I really feel we should discuss the North, South, East, West style divide. Having just been back in my home city of Leeds for two weeks I was well placed to see what people were wearing. Very, very little colour was seen. Black seems to still rule the day and a very casual uniform is still acceptable attire. I visited a "Designer Fashion Shop" and the rails were full of 95% black and the other 5% - grey bits, a couple of white blouses, one blue and one red dress. Oh, and I think a printed jumper! And wait, I'm thinking... No, that's it! I tried on a pair of Posh Spice (Victoria Beckham) Boyfriend jeans. Not bad, good shape, soft and they had stretch but I couldn't part with my money. I'm thinking - we'll see...
The hysterical thing was that the owner was trying to persuade me that ripped jeans were definitely the way to go (not for me or my age). I think not. Never mind that "Everyone in Paris is wearing them". She told me this as if this information would make me part with my money. Mutton dressed as Lamb! 16/61...
A few months ago, I spent at least 2 and a half hours in the Harrods jeans department trying on various styles, and was looked after by an exceptional salesman and still I walked away with nothing. Am I Jean resistant? Then, on my way back to London, I went to Bicester Shopping Village and on the 3 October women were still wearing open-toed sandals with no sense of irony or a pedicure in sight! OK, yes it was warm but really?! My second cousin and I were, quite frankly, horrified!
Back in London, a charity fashion show and lunch on Monday. I wore my divine red coat-dress with a cerise skirt underneath and winter-orange shoes (yes, there is a vast difference between Spring and Summer orange and Autumn and Winter orange). To me, Black looked like the staff and truly one woman, in an adorable black Dior dress, did actually resemble the waiting staff. And then there was the Fashion (I use this term very loosely) Show. They used Real Women as models, which I must say was an extremely brave move on the part of the Real Women, and I now think I look pretty good in swimwear - thank you! Because seeing other real women in bikinis in a nightclub with extremely unforgiving lighting takes guts. Never mind watching it!
So, the "Fashion" was from a shop in Stanmore. Less has never been more for them! Animal print, studs, sequins, roushing, leather, lace, applique flowers, all in one outfit? Really!? My super-stylish lunch companion exclaimed, "Francine! Don't look!"
So there you have it. Never mind the different tribal dress codes. I've witnessed that crossing a room can take you from American Vogue to Hello Magazine and, dear friends, the other side of the room really did love the clothes which must be applauded. We raised significant funds for a very good charity. On reflection, maybe an abstract print bodycon mini-dress is the way to go?
Anyone know how to program Stanmore into my SatNav?
Happy Shopping!
Looking back at my notes, I realise that this blog took shape weeks ago. I was commenting on the similarity between high and low fashion. But I really feel we should discuss the North, South, East, West style divide. Having just been back in my home city of Leeds for two weeks I was well placed to see what people were wearing. Very, very little colour was seen. Black seems to still rule the day and a very casual uniform is still acceptable attire. I visited a "Designer Fashion Shop" and the rails were full of 95% black and the other 5% - grey bits, a couple of white blouses, one blue and one red dress. Oh, and I think a printed jumper! And wait, I'm thinking... No, that's it! I tried on a pair of Posh Spice (Victoria Beckham) Boyfriend jeans. Not bad, good shape, soft and they had stretch but I couldn't part with my money. I'm thinking - we'll see...
The hysterical thing was that the owner was trying to persuade me that ripped jeans were definitely the way to go (not for me or my age). I think not. Never mind that "Everyone in Paris is wearing them". She told me this as if this information would make me part with my money. Mutton dressed as Lamb! 16/61...
A few months ago, I spent at least 2 and a half hours in the Harrods jeans department trying on various styles, and was looked after by an exceptional salesman and still I walked away with nothing. Am I Jean resistant? Then, on my way back to London, I went to Bicester Shopping Village and on the 3 October women were still wearing open-toed sandals with no sense of irony or a pedicure in sight! OK, yes it was warm but really?! My second cousin and I were, quite frankly, horrified!
Back in London, a charity fashion show and lunch on Monday. I wore my divine red coat-dress with a cerise skirt underneath and winter-orange shoes (yes, there is a vast difference between Spring and Summer orange and Autumn and Winter orange). To me, Black looked like the staff and truly one woman, in an adorable black Dior dress, did actually resemble the waiting staff. And then there was the Fashion (I use this term very loosely) Show. They used Real Women as models, which I must say was an extremely brave move on the part of the Real Women, and I now think I look pretty good in swimwear - thank you! Because seeing other real women in bikinis in a nightclub with extremely unforgiving lighting takes guts. Never mind watching it!
So, the "Fashion" was from a shop in Stanmore. Less has never been more for them! Animal print, studs, sequins, roushing, leather, lace, applique flowers, all in one outfit? Really!? My super-stylish lunch companion exclaimed, "Francine! Don't look!"
So there you have it. Never mind the different tribal dress codes. I've witnessed that crossing a room can take you from American Vogue to Hello Magazine and, dear friends, the other side of the room really did love the clothes which must be applauded. We raised significant funds for a very good charity. On reflection, maybe an abstract print bodycon mini-dress is the way to go?
Anyone know how to program Stanmore into my SatNav?
Happy Shopping!
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