Autumnal Equinox, Coats, & Tea

There's a chill in the air. A weather change has taken place with the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox has signaled a change of seasons. Leaves are turning a golden brown and there's morning dew on the lawn each day. A friend nearby reported freezing conditions at her place this morning and is spending today completing harvest of her garden produce, as two more nights of below freezing temperature are forecast. These are the kinds of days when tea is best taken hot and when one starts finding jackets and coats that have been lining the back of closets for the past six months.

Speaking of coats, my mind wanders to coats and fashion. As a child, sis and I had a "good coat" that lasted one season, usually more. Two years out of a "good coat" was considered the norm. It was not a jacket, but a full-length coat that went well over the dresses that we wore to church and school. A jacket was needed for casual wear, but casual meant hiking, working in the garden, or camping wear. It was rare that a jacket was worn around town, to school, or church. On a daily basis, when we needed warmth, it was our dress coat that we wore. Is that how it was for you as well? Sis and I had simple coats, sometimes adorned with double-breasted gold buttons or a zip-on hood. In those days, fur was starting to go out of fashion unless it was fake and fuzzy! 

I used to enjoy looking at pictures of women in coats from days gone by. I still do! Such fashion flair they had! A coat was a very important item in the wardrobe! In the top photo you can see two pictures of Aunt Pansy. She always had such style! Her fox cape and muff were in high style, I'm sure, but would not be politically correct in our day. The second photo is one I rescued from a sale bin at a local thrift store. I have no idea who the people are, but the photo just seemed important to save and treasure. Look at those fashionable coats! I wonder what the occasion was for this photo op? Do you think they went inside for afternoon tea? So much to wonder about.

Think back in time to all the coats you have owned. Which was your favorite? And why? Can you describe it?

What are Your Colors?

For many years I've carried a small plastic photo sleeve in my purse.  It contains "my" colors and wallet size photos I've saved over the years to help me remember a hairstyle or color.  I know this post is really going to date me, because knowing your "colors" has gone out of fashion these days.  But in the 80's it was popular, partially due to the book "Color Me Beautiful" by Carole Jackson.  Ms. Jackson taught how to determine which season you were:  spring, summer, autumn, or winter.  Those who were summer or winter had blue undertones to their skin and could best wear cool colors.  The intensity of the cool colors they could wear would depend if they were a summer or winter. Warm colors were spring or autumn, and belonged to people who had yellow or warm undertones to their skin.  Most make-up artists disregarded the color selection approach to fashion, saying that it didn't matter what colors you wore because your make-up could be altered to create beautiful skin.  This was an argument that didn't make much sense to me because most of us don't have a make-up artist at our beck and call.  Neither do we want to have to correct our skin tones by make-up for a casual day at home or about town.  Wearing "your" colors does an amazing job of enhancing your skin tones and creating a total look that unifies how you look without depending upon foundation, blush, and added glow.  When wearing "your" colors, you'll find that people complement you over and over again for looking beautiful.  Instead of complimenting your dress or blouse, you'll find they are complimenting you because of your total look. There have been knock-off approaches to color analysis.  Some approaches to color theory divide colors into twelve seasons.  Essentially, all use the same principles of cool and warm, but may apply it in a little different manner.  Color analysis can be a helpful tool for everyone, not just adult women.  Growing daughters who are eager, but yet too young to put their fingers in the make up pot for appropriate wearing can find that wearing the the colors best suited to their skin tones can enhance their natural beauty without make up.  Teaching them proper skin care (from nutrition to moisturizing) coupled with wearing their colors can do amazing things to an early teen's self esteem.  Men can benefit from color analysis as well.  My husband had his colors analyzed in years past, and it has been very helpful when choosing the suits, shirts, and ties that look best on him.  Although many men may think it unnecessary and insignificant, I'd like to say that it costs no more to purchase a navy suit than it does a taupe one, or a gray one than a black one.  But, the color of the suit really can make a difference with the man.  Sometimes people will wear a favorite color or get stuck in a rut when it comes to colors they wear.  Fashion dictates that some years one color is "in" and the next it is "out".  It's easy to get caught up in what a designer somewhere dictates, but if you have a plan and stick to it, you'll find that dressing and coordinating your wardrobe is so much easier when you keep your colors in mind.  When color analysis first became popular, parties were held where an analyst would determine the colors of each person in attendance.  By color draping the individual could observe the transformation that took place when they were wearing the colors best for their skin tones.  I recall one co-worker who always looked stunning in black suits and dresses was horrified to discover that her only wardrobe color was totally incorrect for her.  I don't think anyone could ever change her mind, but imagine how much lovelier she could have been in colors that enhanced her skin tones rather than fighting with them.  


Have you had your colors done?  What do you think?  Are you pro or con regarding this fashion art?  My the way, my color season is "summer".  What is yours?   


     

Easter Parade

In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it,

You'll be the grandest lady in the Easter Parade.
I'll be all in clover and when they look you over,
I'll be the proudest fellow in the Easter Parade.
On the avenue, Fifth Avenue, the photographers will snap us,
And you'll find that you're in the rotogravure.
Oh, I could write a sonnet about your Easter bonnet,
And of the girl I'm taking to the Easter Parade.
 *

Written by Irving Berlin 
* 

Natalie

Linens and Lace

The days of yesteryear. A wardrobe was a valuable commodity for any woman. Each piece was held in high regard and was carefully stitched by hand or treadle machine. Quality workmanship was essential, as there were not discount stores to buy a quick replacement if stitching wore out. Each outfit was carefully planned and accessorized. And extras were the exception, not the rule. The result, some very well dressed women! The stories of Laura Ingalls Wilder and the emphasis given to sewing her wedding trousseau has always held much fascination for me!

Miniatures and Dolls

Have you noticed that sometimes it's the little things that are the cutest? Do you remember being attracted to objects in miniature as a child? A child's size tea set, a baby hairbrush, a toy iron that really worked, or little rolling pins and pie pans to help in the kitchen --- all were objects that inspired me as a child and drew me into the "child's work --- of play". As I grew older, like many girls of my era, Barbie dolls became a vital part of my life. The tiny objects became even tinier! Tiny high heels, buttons on sweaters that were hardly bigger than a pin-drop, and real nylons with the thinness of a pencil were all little things that had to be tended with care so they would not get lost. Little boxes or a toy dresser or closet kept all Barbie's necessities in a contained place. Hours would be spent, organizing and reorganizing Barbie and her belongings. My mother seemed to enjoy the Barbie stage as much as her daughters did. She would knit and crochet tiny sweaters, coats, and sweater dresses for our dolls. Hand-sewn garments, jackets, and hats were lovingly stitched with her own hand. Our Barbies had very few store-bought clothes. They were too expensive, and besides, the one's mom made were even better! I remember trying my hand at a few Barbie garments as I learned to sew, but oh --- they were so much more difficult than normal sized clothes. Even the larger sized baby-doll clothes were small enough that they caused me stress as I learned to piece and seam. Somehow, mother always got it right and whipped doll clothes galore out in short order. All these memories, and simply because Paula recently obtained an old-fashioned McCall doll pattern for her shop. A tiny package, small scaled pattern pieces, and delicate details, like smocking, make this a doll fashion fit for the best of dolls! Memories of days gone by.

Enchanted

Although there are many objects d' art to enjoy at Maryhill, this is my favorite. I suppose I find it enchanting because I am a seamstress and the detail in this gown is magnificent! Rich embroidery and rhinestones artfully decorate this beautiful dress and it's very long train. This dress belonged to Queen Marie of Romania. She wore it to the coronation of her cousin, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia in 1896 (shown in the photo on the right) and also to the coronation of her uncle, King Edward VII of England in 1902. You can be sure she was enchanting in this beautiful dress!

The dress features a low-cut and sleeveless bodice. Nine panels make up the skirt, flaring and draping in a gored fashion. The gown is heavily boned (which is probably how the Queen was able to fit into such a tiny waisted dress). It was cinched in the back by a drawstring , beautifully presented. Lace frills and gauze bows set off each shoulder, draping for sleeve-like effect. The fabric is gold lame' that is woven of silk and metallic threads. Embroidery of basket-weave is raised and padded, featuring shafts of wheat and large bows. Arm-length evening gloves and a Order of Office worn on Queen Mary's left shoulder, and her royal jewels, would have completed the ensemble when worn.

Enchanted, beautiful, exquisite: a beautiful gown.

This post is especially for my friend, Nikki, from The Scarlet Rose Garden, because I know she loves vintage fashion! Nikki, this one is 'very' vintage for you! Please excuse the the reflections in the photos. Photography was allowed without flash, but the glass and the back light made it difficult!

Click on the photo for a larger view.

To Japan with Love

A sweet friend lives across the ocean from me, one who has read my blog faithfully since it's inception. How blessed I have been to meet her in person - twice! We have shared afternoon tea, conversation, and the wonderful pipe-organ recital of her daughter, Bethany. Toshiko encourages me with her words and teaches me new things about life. How interesting it is to learn about other cultures and customs. Toshiko's home is in the country amongst rice paddies and other agriculture. Recently, though, she took a trip to Tokyo and took time to spend some time in what I call the garment district and she calls Nippori - town of fabric. What delight! I loved her descriptions of things seen in the pictures and will share some of them with you so you can enjoy a virtual armchair tour of Japan from wherever you are. Toshiko says:

"The fabric place is just awesome. There are many small shops. Not big at all. The shops are mostly old and have bare walls. BUT there are so many varieties of materials there. Materials I've never seen! And so inexpensive. I enjoyed visiting all these shops. Often times they sell cotton for a dollar for 1m (1yd is 92cm, 100cm is 1m). They are not the best quality in Japan but good enough for everyday thing. Some places sell more expensive materials from overseas."

"One shopkeeper told me they used to be wholesale shops. Individual customers couldn't buy any. They sold like half a roll or for a whole role. Now they made the place to be inexpensive, varieties of kinds, and some of the shops sell the same yardage as from Japanese pattern and sewing books."

Many fabric rolls were displayed right on the sidewalks. What was unusual about this is that the space they were stored might not be close to the shopkeepers store. The honor system is well and alive in Japan! According to Toshiko, some of the signs shown in the collage above said:

The yellow sign said "Please go to pay at the third shop from here.

The blue sign said "Please don't take these " and "Please don't take these to the next door shop, but take the to our shop - HAPPY. Please take them to HAPPY" (I thought they are saying not to take them home, but they meant not to take them to the next door neighbor).

The town of fabric consists of 92 associated shops with fruit, flower, and other shops interspersed. The assciated shops sell not only textiles in raw form, but shops for jeans, clothing, beads, hats, buttons, belts, and quilts. Awww, wouldn't it be fun to visit there?

Toshiko and I have been enjoying conversations about kimonos. They are held in high regard and are quite valuable. Our discussions have led to modern clothing designed and made with elements of the traditional kimono. In the collage above, you will note a Japanese Hoari jacket. It is an American version of the Japanese design. It was a photo from a local quilt show and had an attached note that said that the length of the sleeve is made according to the age of the individual (the younger you are, the shorter can be the sleeves). I am not sure why, but I like the concept! Toshiko's experience and expertise doesn't mesh with the Americanized version of the attached note, though. She says that all kimonos have sleeves of the same length.

Thank you, Toshiko, for sharing so generously with us!

Photos are by Toshiko@2009 and her son, Joel@2009.

The Hat Tradition

Were you born in the days when it was proper to always wear a hat when you went out? My mother had a few hats, but I don't remember her wearing them very often. It was becoming stylish, in her early 20's, to go without. But my Grandmother always wore a hat when she went out. Her name was Katherina and she was a proper lady. A farm wife, I only knew her as a widow who lived in a little house next door to my aunt and uncle. Grandma was ill and unable to walk, so a part of her 'wardrobe' was her overstuffed chair or wheelchair, at least as far as my child-eyes registered. But, when she felt well enough, she enjoyed going to church with the family. Her attire was so extremely old-fashioned to me, and therefore very interesting. Add to that fact her tendency to forget to speak in English to her little granddaughters who knew no German, and she made for a most wonderful Grandma! Her church attire was always thick stockings, a flowing dress of some sort (sometimes of rayon, other times of cotton), a sweater (always a sweater), and solid, black, 0ld-fashioned shoes (they reminded me of the shoes of the fine ladies of the 1800's --- I always wondered where my aunt even found them to purchase for Grandma). This ensemble was always completed with a hankie tucked into her sweater sleeve and a wonderful hat! I'm sure they weren't extravagant, but to my child-eyes, any hat worn to church was la-tea-dah! Velveteen, hat pins, netting, and a flower or two. Grandma's hat usually covered her black hair that was tucked into a bun and hairnet at the back of her neck. Grandma never changed --- the memories remain constant and sweet. Because of Grandma's influence, sister and I enjoyed the pretty Easter hats that our mother would buy for us each spring. Such memories --- and all because of a hat.

Photo: Elm Street Antiques

Little Red Shoes

 

Yesterday I received a letter from my favorite cousin's daughter, a lovely woman who was once the two-year-old flower girl in our wedding. She was announcing the birth of her baby daughter, Samantha Paige. What a cutie! The little one looks just like her mommy did when she was a baby! How exciting to have a new little girl in the family. Of course my mind set to work, thinking about an appropriate and special baby gift. Something handmade by me was the first criteria --- and for that I'm sending something embroidered in an appropriate theme for a new baby girl. Something girly to wear seemed in order as well, so I searched for just the right little outfit --- a sweet little green dress dotted with red roses, covered buttons, and tiny fabric ruffles. A hat to match and cute little bloomers came with the dress. The outfit was completed by the cutest pair of vintage red shoes that I found at my favorite shop on Elm Street. I was delighted to have an opportunity to buy them! I've been admiring them for awhile.

This got me thinking about red shoes. I love red shoes! I think every woman should have at least one pair! There is something beautiful and appealing about red shoes; shoes that make you feel beautiful and accessorized to perfection. Although I don't wear my red shoes often, I always make sure I have at least one pair in my closet. They seem to perk up an outfit that might be just a little too conservative otherwise. They go well with black or navy, and look great with both a suit and dress or jeans and jacket. I seem to have more than my 'one' necessary pair right now. Such fun!

I thought it would be interesting to do a little research about 'red shoes'. What is their meaning? What to they exemplify? Generally we think if Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz when we think of red shoes. Her shoes represented magical powers and the value of there being 'no place like home'. But 'red shoes' can also represent dancing and a little girl named Karen in the tale by Hans Christian Anderson (1845). A wickedly scary fairytale, the happy ending is supposed to justify the middle horrors of the tale. Other fairy tales also incorporate 'red shoes' into their tales and you can read about them here. In the process of my research I came across a beautiful blog named Red Shoes. It's interesting --- showing the work of an artist who crafts such quirky things. If you look at her blog, be sure to note the children's flashcards used as wall art in the master bedroom. Hers is Q for queen and his an F for father. So creative! Lastly, we must not forget the most fashionable of the candidates running for the vice-presidential office this year. No matter what your political persuasion, you can't deny that Sarah Palin's shoes are a statement, to be sure. I understand that they are her signature --- red shoes!

Do you have a pair of red shoes? Do you wear them often? What do you wear them with? Why do you like them? Do you have any interesting experiences to share about your red shoes? I'd love to hear about them! Comments welcome!

[I am really enjoying the comments to this post. Thank you for your fun reactions and stories! I'm wearing a pair of red shoes today. What about you?]