Haute expectations

At the very last minute, Ting pulled a stroke of genius in getting us into the Golden Age of Couture exhibition - she knew that if you become a member of the V&A you are immediately granted access to all exhibitions, including those which are sold out...and she opted for the membership that allows you to bring a friend - moi!

It was fab. Not only do I want to get the sewing machine out, but I want to make dresses like this.  And wear them all the time. 

Tripping down in Tesco's in a Balenciaga ballgown.  Photocopying the board minutes in a Jacques Fath crepe de chine cocktail dress. All dressed up with nowhere to go.  I raided the Monsoon sale last week and it seemed that I mostly bought silk - silk dresses, silk tops.  On the face of it, this seems a teensy-weensy bit impractical as my typical day is spent in either just-about-qualifies-as-corporate wear, or today's chav uniform of yoga pants and a big old A&F sweatshirt that could fit two people in it.  But I think that it's entirely possible that I am meant to only wear silk (see earlier post about repeatedly adding the same thing to the stash - it's all silk, so maybe I better start wearing some of it. Preferably made up into garments, not just draped and pinned). Plus I have lots of Debbie Bliss Pure Silk yarn which is crying to me saying 'Knit me, knit meeeeee' loudly from the 'Preciousest Yarn' stash bag.

So while there are a number of possible patterns already in the stash, I'd also quite like to try this one... so I'll be printing this off tommorrow at work, while standing there in my not-very-Dior office attire to grab it all off the printer before people wonder just what the hell it is...

Comments

[Jade]

Agree with you there! Silk is lovely to wear, but I've never tried sewing it, except shantung silk...which kinda doesn't qualify since its not swishy enough. I'm looking forward to seeing your silk garment project.

[Thimbleanna]

Hey, maybe you could bring back the golden age??? I love those dresses too, but can't remember the last time I even wore a dress. I blame it on the fact that no one wears panty hose anymore and there's no way in hell my bare WHITE legs are going to blind anybody in the light of day LOL!

[Jenny]

Gail, good luck with sewing the dress! There's something amazing about those dresses: what's there not to like about the golden age of couture, eh? Gail, I hope 2008 is a great year for you. All the best!

[JeanieB]

Oh but Flibb - the fabric, the fabric! - how gorgeous! What will you make your dress from? There's a London Meet Up to Goldhawk Rd and Shepherds Bush market in Feb..
I wore such dresses all the time in my early 20's .. I toying with the idea of posting some nostalgic piccies ;-)
x

[ruth]

I too just loved the exhibition and ended up going twice. The pattern would be fabulous in silk, just the right thing to wear to work on a spring day with a Doris Day cardigan!