Category: shopping

So how could I forget, but I did! In Paris I went fabric shopping. First, I had bad guidebook directions so instead of walking out of the metro and turning right, where I would have run into all the fabric stores directly, I believed my guidebook and trekked waaaaaaay up the Montmartre hill only to find lots of tourists and a view of smoggy Paris. Once I’d made my way back down the hill I did find the fabric, finally. The only thing that I found that was new and exciting was, as I’d suspected, printed cottons in some really good approximations of 18th c. indiennes. I hemmed and hawed and finally went for a red and blue floral print on an ivory background — they did have something that was a dead ringer for this toile de jouy, but I decided it was too busy for my taste.

Now I’m in London and shall be off tomorrow to the V&A to see the Maud of Norway exhibit and then in the evening shall be meeting “Kate in England” (who posts on this site). Then Tuesday I have my appointment with the Museum of London, where I’m hoping to look at the construction details on 1780s zone gowns.

Bonjour from Paris where the keyboards are wacky! In Bruxelles I went to the Musee du Costume et de la Dentelle, which was, as reported, small and relatively unexciting. Mostly lace, of course – it was Brussels – but about 10 gowns. One really nice early 1900s gown in sea green silk taffeta with a pleated front pigeon bodice and pleated belt. Also some interesting 18th c. gowns, including one robe a l’anglaise that looked converted from a francaise – it had a round skirt, but open bodice with stomacher and fitted bodice back.

Much more exciting was to get together with Philippe, a Belgian costumer who is all alone in a wasteland of non-costumers. We had fun looking at corsets and other costumes he had made, and pawing through his extensive fabric stash, much of which he’d gotten in Paris.

Today we arrived in Paris, and went to the Marche aux Puces at Saint-Ouen to look (not buy!) antique corsets — but of course as soon as I got there I was very sad not to be able to buy the E450 late 19th c. corsets, and started trying to rationalize how I could afford one… luckily sense prevailed and I bought a 1923 fashion pouchoir instead to sate my costume lust.