A new home for an English garden
On a trip to NYC in 1975, at a long-forgotten boutique in Greenwich Village, I bought an empire-cut, slightly bell-sleeved, calf-length dress made in England (by a defunct label, C'est Moi). The dress is made entirely of pieced vintage silk scarves of fine quality. Constructed with harmony of scale and colour, it hangs as if one piece, swishy and supple.
The saleswoman told me that Anne Byrne, the ballerina then married to Dustin Hoffman, had bought the same dress. True or good sales pitch? I wore it to parties, weddings, and soirées for at least a decade.
If that dress could talk, it would say "Champagne on the terrace, darling."
By the early '90s, I'd gained weight in the bust, and, unable to part with its magic, stored my divine dress and occasionally loaned it to friends. ("No hanky panky in the dress", I warned, though there was probably some out of it!) Through decades of closet clean-outs, the dress stayed.
Our son Etienne's beautiful partner Tash inherited her mother's eye for textiles, and is an avid seamstress; I offered it to her. The dress fits perfectly. She's using its matching wide sash as a belt, I wore it around my neck à la Isadora Duncan.
A closeup of the florals and geometrics:
I'm delighted that the "English garden" has passed into hands that design (she even drafts her own patterns), and she's a lover of florals. Here's Tash in one of her own designs, in which she's mixed floral and stripe:
And she dyes; here, she's preparing shibori, a joint project with her artist uncle Nick:
You can see more of Tash's work at TashenkaSews.
And so, my adored English flowers have found a new home almost 40 years later!
A dress that transports you with joy is worth springing for. At the time, it was by far the most expensive item I'd ever bought (and probably still is, adjusting for inflation), but what a life that dress has had, and will now have, on Tash!
Comments
In June, my new daughter in law chose to wear my 38 year old wedding dress. I never thought it would be worn again and sometimes wondered why I was keeping it.
I also have a cousin who wore her mother (my aunt's old wedding gown and looked splendid in it. And the cousin wasn't a young bride; she was almost 40. Her teenage daughter was in the wedding party.
Susan: Did she restyle it or wear as is? Such a sentimental touch.
materfamilias: She is a very special young woman; the whole family feels lucky.
unefemme: She is indeed, and though I could probably have given the dress to friends or vintage dealers over the years, happy I waited for the right person.
Marguerite: Before I give something special, I try to sound out if it will be appreciated and worn- I learned that lesson from my mother, who was forever giving family members things they did not really want. But maybe it's a matter of timing and she will 'grow into' them?
lagata: Wedding gowns are among the things most likely to be kept but not all survive long storage in good shape.
Anon@ 9:32: I'd say, keep the remarkable items that show superior workmanship and exquisite design. Keep the sentimental, even if not at that level, at least for awhile. I presently have two items like that:
1. A 55 yr old Scottish cashmere bolero appliqued with tiny hats, my mother's. In perfect condition but will take someone tiny to wear it.
2. Two fairisle cardis knit by my MIL for my twin sons, infant size.
I remember most of the outfits I wore for special occasions and this English Garden dress would certainly stand out.
I am going to pop over and visit her site....
C.
Cathy w.
She wore my dress as is without restyling. My dress was a classic in every way--A Priscilla of Boston silk organza dress with a short train and a long veil. It was high necked, longed sleeved and close fitting. She looked lovely in it.
Kathleen
And how incredibly heartwarming to have your son's beloved to wear a piece of clothing so dear to you.