[madameshawshank]

am the proud owner of The V&A desk diary for 2008...thought I'd start writing in the mustn't forgets...

and that got me browsing more...a little faint here, a little faint there...

if you click on the photo in the link..you'll get a sort of closer look at marcelle Chaumont's beautiful hand-painted organza design..the diary has a super duper closeup of the bodice...look like fine fine fine pin tucks....gold painted bows...simply gorgeous...

http://www.vandaprints.com/image.php?id=207672&idx=5&fromsearch=true

isn't it wondrously odd to be drawn to a particular period in history...oh oh oh the 1950s!!!!!!!! (not in all things...however the evening dresses are something else again)...a tad keen on 1920s too
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"I've never accepted the external appearance of things as the whole truth. The world is much more elaborate than the nerves of our eye can tell us." - James Gleeson

[Donna]

Madame, several years ago we did a home exchange in Granville, in Normandy. Christian Dior spent most of his childhood there in a lovely home with a serene garden overlooking the sea.

http://musee-dior-granville.com/

The home is now a museum and is filled with clothing he designed. All ab-so-bloody-lutely gorgeous! I would have worn any one of the outfits in complete comfort today. Truly the definition of classical! There were a couple of kind of far-out things from the seventies, when we all lost our heads for a bit - but for the most part, just timeless, classically beautiful clothes.
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L'appetit vient en mangeant. -Rabelais

[Griffin]

[madameshawshank]

Darlings..my beloved husband had a tartan suit.....slightly flared pants...oh the cuffs...shoes to go ...heeled and those sort of beesting fronts...

and the jeans I recall...flares with silver stars appliqued..

long hair long beard...

he used to go to schools and speak about savings...there was school banking then...Commonwealth Bank...once, in a kindergarten class, he asked 'Do you know who I am?"...one bright little poppet said "Jesus"..

enough of the '70s for one day.

Donna, I had only time to wave to Granville...can you imagine having to bypass? We were to be somewhere at some time...alas...ah well and all that...the colour of the house...so so pretty...
_________________
"I've never accepted the external appearance of things as the whole truth. The world is much more elaborate than the nerves of our eye can tell us." - James Gleeson

[madameshawshank]

still on fashion...Judy allow me a little wander off the topic..still within cooee of it

"Christian Lacroix The Diary of a Collection"..exquisite book..I was going to write..especially page...

'n then thought especially all pages...

let's get dressed to the nines and party!...Griffin..where shall we party?

neither hot nor cold temp...just right temp for dressing to the nines methinks
_________________
"I've never accepted the external appearance of things as the whole truth. The world is much more elaborate than the nerves of our eye can tell us." - James Gleeson

[georgia]

Can anyone tell me how long this exhibit will be at the V&A? Not far enough into 2008 for me to plan a visit to ma tante, but I can hope...
Thanks...

[madameshawshank]

georgia ma dear..you have until January 6 2008
_________________
"I've never accepted the external appearance of things as the whole truth. The world is much more elaborate than the nerves of our eye can tell us." - James Gleeson

[georgia]

Grrrrr.....not possible...but thank you, anyway, madame....(i must stay stateside to await a new granddaughter in january...not a bad trade, eh??)

[madameshawshank]

georgia, you could always buy the book from the museum's online store..I've heard that it is truly an exquisite book...'n you'd have the lovely memory link with the babe....

go on...do it!
_________________
"I've never accepted the external appearance of things as the whole truth. The world is much more elaborate than the nerves of our eye can tell us." - James Gleeson

[gingerpale]

Anybody remember the paper dress fad in the '60s?
I had one--a huge black & white photo of a rose on a white sleeveless
A-line. The armholes sort of rotted away, I tried to cut them bigger but eventually they got too big for decency!

[Griffin]

Georgia,

I got the catalogue and it is a lovely book with lots of very readable text and fabulous photos in. So it is one way of seeing the exhibition without actually seeing the exhibition! The exhibition was pretty fabulous tho'... sigh! You women have all the fun with clothes!
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Confusion comes fitted as standard.

[georgia]

Madame and Griffin...you are very persuasive, and I may just do as you suggest...though, at this moment, the thought of purchasing yet another present (even for myself) is enough to make me faint! I could ask Santa...(Also, at 35 pounds + shipping, etc., with the US dollar in the toilet as it is, that book is likely to cost nearly $100...less for the paperback, but not much...)

But it is tempting...

[Griffin]

Georgia,

The paperback costs £25, so if you like I could get hold of it for you and send it. You would pay me four original sonnets + 3 limericks for p+p. This is of course on the Cyrano Lunar Economic Exchange model.

Of course the subjects of the sonnets would be up to you, tho' anything on food or costume or cats would be good. Otherwise the subject is entirely up to you. Sigh, I wish we did use poetry for currency, I would be a whole lot better off!

Or I could send you my copy and get myself another. Debbie, same goes for you, tho' I know you were going to get your brother to get you one.
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Confusion comes fitted as standard.

[Griffin]

[madameshawshank]

imagine if Griffin was Prime Minister of Great Britain!!!!!!
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"I've never accepted the external appearance of things as the whole truth. The world is much more elaborate than the nerves of our eye can tell us." - James Gleeson