What does one wear to fall in love?

One summer when romance was blooming, Princess Tatiana was carefully packing for a holiday rendezvous in lands far, far away. She consulted the oracles to ascertain the climes and culture of that exotic country, so that she could be sure to bring with her suitable raiment.

Everything she chose was the best her slender purse could afford, for although she was a princess, she had fallen on hard times. Still, there were pretty dresses of silk and lace, and liquid silver; delicate sandals for dancing and beaded purses; deliciously impractical lingerie – and daydreams.

Will you choose your prettiest garments already soaked in happiness…?

A romantic moment on a dusky terrace, by George Barbier for ‘Falbalas et Fanfreluches’, 1921What will you wear to fall in love? Will you like Tatiana choose your prettiest garments already soaked in happiness, or like one of her friends find yourself discarding your customary sober colours and donning bright hues to express your joy? Would you be content with your existing wardrobe and its attendant comforts, or would courtship be the perfect excuse to indulge in a shopping spree?

Princess Tatiana wore a cream lace top that magical evening a lifetime ago when she tumbled into love. Already it was a favourite, but it was then imbued with new memories. And although autumn came and her fairytale romance withered like a summer rose, the pretty lace top still hangs in her wardrobe, waiting perhaps for a new summer.

It’s Valentine’s Day. Come tonight it’s the perfect excuse to wear something pretty, something you love – even if you’re not in love. Have a happy day! 

Scroll down for more romantic notions of 1910s and 20s fashion.

‘Le Jaloux’ by Georges Lepape

A boating scene, by George Barbier, for ‘Modes et Manières d’ Aujourd’hui’, 1914

Doeuillet dress, by André Marty, for ‘Gazette du Bon Ton’, 1913

The Count of Orsay’s Pumps

These satin d’Orsay pumps are pretty trifles I came upon by accident in a charity shop during a visit to my parents. I was waiting for my dad to pick me up from the train station, and only had time for a quick circuit around the shop.

The sun was winking on the marquise shaped rhinestones when I snatched these up from the shelf and saw that miraculously they were my size. They are only a tiny little bit worn, and I certainly could not leave them behind, for surely there is something irresistible about bejewelled shoes?

…surely there is something irresistible about bejewelled shoes?

D’Orsay pumps take their name from Alfred Guillaume Gabriel, the comte d’Orsay (1801–1852) who invented them. He was a distinguished and handsome man; an accomplished painter and sculptor; friend of Lord Byron and Benjamin Disraeli; and an expensive arbiter of fashion. Pumps were at that time commonly worn by men, and he realised that cutting away the sides of these shoes would make them fit more snugly. A dandy such as he would have been most concerned to present a polished appearance.

Since then, men’s heels have lowered, and it is women instead who don the count’s namesake, the d’Orsay pump. 

Bangs for my Buck

So I finally got my hair cut! I’ve been talking about it for months, but yesterday morning I stopped dithering and picked up the phone to make an appointment.

I hadn’t been to the hairdresser for years, but I knew exactly where I wanted to go: Lady Marmalade. Years ago I read in a local paper an interview with a hairstylist who loved to cut bobs. That piqued my interest because I have worn bobs many times in my life, and the quaint name of the salon stuck with me long after the clipping fell off the fridge.

…he curled my hair with a slim straightening iron – novel!

Although I wasn’t planning on getting a bob (not right away, anyway), I did know I wanted bangs – a much lovelier description than a fringe – and around shoulder-length hair. I was happy to have layers, I told Alex; beyond that I was amenable to suggestion. In the end he didn’t cut any layers around my face, but he curled my hair with a slim straightening iron – novel! I hope I can replicate that look.

I loved it. “Such a different look!” I exclaimed. My curls bounced as I went out the door, the idea of a bob somewhere in the nebulous future.

~

Everyone knows it can be a scary prospect trying a new hairdresser, but I came away from Lady Marmalade so happy. It was a relaxed experience: Alex (and Bridget who washed my hair) greeted me by name; they chatted just the right amount and made me laugh; and after I refused all offers of tea and coffee, Alex offered me a glass of wine. “Now you’re talking!” I answered. I highly recommend the salon if you’re in the neighbourhood.

What I Actually Wore #0045

Serial #: 0045
Date: 20/09/2010
Weather: cool night, about 14°
Time Allowed: 20 minutes

Monday evening is usually not a going-out night, but I had two events scheduled: the 2011 Season launch at the Melbourne Theatre Company, and a reunion dinner at a Nepalese restaurant with an old friend who hadn’t seen her martial arts club buddies for the better part of a year. Quite different company at each event, and I wanted to look respectable for each.

The outfit started with the boots – and they had to: these were major boots after all. A male friend exclaimed at the end of the evening when I rose from the dinner table, (to paraphrase an old Aussie film), “They aren’t boots – those are boots!” It was the height of the over-the-knee boots that dictated the length of my skirt, and I tried on more than one. I finally chose against the black option, and went with the taupe pointelle knit. It was still slightly too long, so I had to roll it up at the waist.

A male friend exclaimed at the end of the evening, “They aren’t boots – those are boots!”

I deliberately chose a coloured knit top to pair with it (after discarding a black, then a tomato red, and the black again). I am not usually this indecisive! I liked its structured shape, and the puffed and pleated sleeves – a design more usually seen in blouses than soft knits. The colour, ‘air force blue’ as Wikipedia describes it, is not my best, so I decide to wear my white fur pompom scarf to brighten my complexion.

As a final touch I tied on a tan leather obi belt, although it serves a more functional than decorative purpose: it holds up my skirt, which is a little big! I shrugged on my trusty beige wool coat with its double zips and rushed out the door.

Items:

Knit: Stella
Skirt: Ojay
Coat: Obüs
Scarf: Ginger & Smart
Belt: Urban Originals
Boots: Zoe Wittner
Earrings: Baku
Ring: NGV giftshop
Watch: Kenneth Cole

Fashion Fail!

Vintage 1980s polkadot tiered dress, by Hammels. John S. // DreamCanvasToday my friend Rapunzel and I were going to go to a couple of fashion exhibitions that were on in Melbourne. We strolled up to the second floor of the NGV International and stared in open-mouthed surprise as we realised that the Lace in Fashion exhibition had ended already. I was gutted. How could I have mixed up the dates so badly? I – when I love lace so much! Even the exhibition catalogues were sold out.

Never mind, we consoled ourselves; we could go to the other fashion exhibition on at the Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square: Australian Made: 100 Years in Fashion.

No such luck. We stared in dismay at the temporary walls barricading the entrance to the fashion gallery. We’d missed this one too!

We saw some photography exhibitions instead; I had chai latte and a raspberry macaroon (Rapunzel, coffee and date cake), and amused ourselves by taking Hipstamatics everywhere. The afternoon was not a total loss. 

However, below is a sample of what we should have been seeing this afternoon.

Evening gown of silk, Vilene, acetate, nylon, polyester, metal, cotton, by Hall Ludlow, 1954.White muslin dress, bodice part lined in black chiffon, guipure and filet lace, by Beer of Paris, 1912.