London: The Diana Dresses

Yeah, OK. I'll admit it. I used to have several files of clippings about Diana and Charles, beginning with their courtship and through much of their marriage. Actually, I think I still do in a file cabinet in my basement!

And I have a fairly good library on the British royals. But until today's Duchesses, no one had the style that the Princess of Wales had.

So, when we went to Kensington Palace, I was delighted to see the Princess Diana gown and outfit exhibit. (I know. Guys don't get it.)

There were many I remembered from those videos and press clips.

And some I'd never seen.

The museum did a nice job of matching up a photo of Diana wearing the outfit to the outfit itself.

(Rick and I were a little shocked that she wore this to go shopping in Bond Street!) We don't dress that well when we shop.

This was worn at the Christie's gala when many of her gowns were auctioned off.

And here it is.

The Travolta dance dress was on display...

...as was this sweet outfit she wore as a "going away" outfit for her honeymoon...

...and this one worn during an interview at Balmoral when they returned.

I liked the sketches by some of the designers.

This wasn't on display, but I remember the dress.

Neither was this, but I can imagine it on her.

They did a beautiful job with the exhibit, including videos and photos.

And I had to admire every designer who had the privilege for designing for such a terrific model. There were outfits for all occasions, from grand gowns...

...to "work-a-day" suits.

And although many of the gowns were not displayed chronologically (unfortunately) it was still interesting to see how Diana's style changed and evolved over time. From this...

...to this.

All in all, a delightful way to spend a drizzly day in London!

(And above, the "wallpaper" leading down the hall to the exhibit. And yes, available in various forms in the gift shop. And no, I didn't buy it!)

Sharing this week with:  Pink Saturday    /    Let's Add Sprinkles     /     Timeless Thursdays    

My Kingdom for a Cloche!

Alas, the Downton Abbey costume exhibit never came to my town. But through early October, those visiting Lansing, Michigan can get a flavor of the era at the Michigan State University Museum.

When I was on my recent walk and landed at the Museum, I couldn't resist going into this little cultural gem in our community. They bring in and create wonderful exhibits but I didn't expect to find two that fit me so well! (See the Chinese quilting post HERE.)

The exhibit focused on the jazz age with an emphasis on that wonderful hat, the cloche.

I can never wear the cloche. My head is too big and I have too much hair. It is not a good look. But the Downton women pulled it off so well! (I'm much better with a bit of a brim like the hats from this catalogue of the times.)

I loved the gowns that were featured, too -- lovely beaded creations with great details.

                  

Can't you see Mary or Edith making an entrance in this one?

Accessories were on display and so, too, was a small dressing table that gave a flavor of the period.

 

Several theatre seats were placed in front of a small screen offering clips from silent movies, including the "scandalous" "Flaming Youth."

And of course you couldn't have a silent film without featuring the Charleston!

We learned a bit about Clara Bow, the "It" girl and one of the hit shows of the period, "Good News."

 

The description on the museum's website explains that the American "flapper" rejected tradition and embraced more body concious styles, wearing "her newly won freedom to vote, earn and learn on her body: short dresses and clear stockings, bobbed hair, and a head-hugging cloche.

"The cloche -- a bell-shaped hat considered 'clever and smart' -- framed the face with fashionable Art Deco panache."

I confess, I would have walked out with the large Vogue panels showing Deco-period models. They were featured throughout the exhibit giving a greater sense of the fashion of the time.

 

A special piece that touched my ephemera-crazy heart was a scrapbook from the period created by a woman who attended Michigan State University.

                

It featured photos from the J-Hop, movie star photos and ticket stubs and even a souvenir bunco card!

                

Every detail, down to the books on the dressing table, fit the period.

So, if you're in the mid-Michigan area and in mood to find your inner flapper or a fashion throwback,
check out this fun exhibit.

It continues through October at Michigan State University.

And as for me... these words say it all!

This post is linked to Talk of the Town, to "Thoughts of Home on Thursday" and "Share Your Cup," where you can find other fun links to stimulate your imagination, creativity and sense of home, beauty and spring!

The Other Art Show

In my last post, I shared the art we enjoyed at The Spot, where Greg's work is being shown during ArtPrize, a huge Grand Rapids art event.

ArtPrize is a fascinating show, because anyone can get in it. It costs $50 and the only requirement in terms of the art is that the artist must find a venue that will display it. This is easier said than done. Not so hard if you know the Grand Rapids folk; much harder for some who must submit portfolios of their work.

The art at the gallery exhibiting Greg's work is terrific, and you saw in the other post that we really enjoyed ourselves at the reception where Greg told Rick to wear and suit and me to wear a dress. (That, too, is easier said than done!)

As you know, the art was beautiful, interesting, intriguing and certainly well done.

Let me also say it couldn't hold a candle to the ensembles worn by various guests. This is the gallery owner. I thought he did a fine job of elegant tuxedo with arty tie (it had colorful little spikes coming out of it.) This fellow -- Kevin -- knew how to combine formal with flair. But check out the guy in the background. We'll see him again later!

I rather liked these pants. I wouldn't have had the nerve to wear them to an occasion to which the kid told me to wear a dress, but I'd love to wear them when chilling out in front of "Masterpiece Mystery!" on a Sunday night. (Or for that matter, Sunday morning breakfast.) The shirt tail hanging below the wrinkled jacket was an arty touch. In fact, I'd define the outfit as "faux arty."

Here's a better view, with the wrinkled black jacket.

Some came dressed to the nines. I called this one Miss Bridal, Sans Veil. (Like the black jacket and purse?) And what was her friend thinking? You don't wear this dress unless you have zero boobs or hips. It's one of those things that looks great on the dummy at the store and you think "That would be perfect for me." Think again.

(NOTE: Mae sent an email with an thoughtful comment that perhaps I should have been more generous to Ms. Flower Print, saying she reads blogs about overweight women who don't want to be limited in what they can wear. I know what she means, because I'm one of them. And I agree that freeing oneself from preconceived notions about what they should wear is a good thing and worthy of respect. SO, I'll just add that in public I would have steered clear of this dress -- which would look a lot worse on me than her -- but she is fully free to wear what she pleases and not worry about what I think! And, if I had the confidence not to care, I'd probably wear it too. I think the last paragraph of this post sums it up pretty well!)

This one was pretty elegant. A slight train, an odd but interesting top hat fascinator. I'm very fond of fascinators and now I'm wishing I'd had time to whip one up before we went.

I really did like her hat. Very cute with the little flippy things coming out of it. She had some flair.

Same dress, different view. The black single-shoulder on the right was quite sophisticated and classic.

Here's our flower dress girl -- looks better from the back. But the fellow on her right -- they shouldn't have let him out of the house. And why he was wearing shorts on a pretty brisk night is beyond my comprehension. (He did have a cool hat. Inappropriate, though perhaps not -- maybe it was his ArtPrize entry and he's just not at this venue.)

Personally, I think he wanted to compete with the art. It worked. (And he did have very snappy shoes!) The fellow on the right had a traditional suit and interesting artsy hat -- I thought that was appropriate. And the girl in the middle had the body to wear her dress, which was kind of cute. If brief.

And that's a good thing, because you saw a lot more than the dress. Only someone with decent legs could wear those tights.

The woman looking at Greg's display had a striking teal gown and could wear it. That was my favorite, though you can't see it well here.

Now this couple -- they didn't seem to care about the clothes or the art.

Here's a last look at Greg. I suppose it was his artistic side that picked a checked shirt with a patterned tie. I'm still a little traditional for that (I still have emotional problems combining floral patterns with checks in decorating, which is why my house is pretty boring in the upholstery department). But look at that smile -- He looked darned cute to me. And the kid knows how to wear a suit.

In comments from the other post, some of you asked what Rick and I wore. Compared to the rest of the crowd we were either under dressed, overdressed, way too conservative or way too boring. This is us in the same clothes at Rick's cousins wedding two years ago. (Yes, I had on an old outfit. I don't do dresses except under pressure!)

Oh, to have the confidence and arrogance to wear whatever you like, wherever you wanted, no matter what the "dress code" and just not care (or, better still, think you look good). I sure don't have that confidence of style, and I wish I did. Then I would have tied a scarf around my head like Lucy used to wear when cleaning the house in the old "I Love Lucy" shows, capris -- or fishnets or flip flops, REALLY big earrings (that didn't match), stuck art rhinestones on my cheek as a beauty mark and punked my hair. And a boa.

I would have fit right in.

NOTE: Now at Chopsticks and String: "We Might As Well Win," by Johann Bruyneel and Bill Strickland -- it's about a lot more than the Tour de France!