I love discovering the work of talented independent lingerie designers through recommendations from friends and so was very excited when, last month, I saw Tigz Rice mention Miss Vivienne on her Instagram stories. Not only are the designs stunning, with beautiful fabrics and details, but Vivienne Lynch also makes every piece to order in her... Continue Reading →
Last summer London got hot. Very hot! And not the good kind either. It got to the point where even the most dedicated bra-wearers amongst us were dreaming of a bra-free solution to the discomfort inflicted by those soaring temperatures. Sure, I tried bras without underwires, but they still felt uncomfortable when I got sticky.... Continue Reading →
Between 2010 and 2018 I worked in an office that was extremely close to H&M at Oxford Circus. On the days when their latest designer collaboration was launching, I would exit the tube station in the morning and walk past a gigantic queue whilst wondering if I should have made an effort to be in... Continue Reading →
It was tricky to choose a second garment for my Wardrobe Stories series, but I figured it had to be something pre-loved. Something I'd fallen in love with on first sight but that had a previous owner. All of my clothing has stories attached to it, but I started this series as a way to... Continue Reading →
I found her in Beyond Retro on Great Marlborough Street, when I was looking for something to give me a 90s look for an event that I have long since forgotten the details of. I went into the shop thinking I could perhaps find a vintage slip and style it appropriately, but I quickly found... Continue Reading →
I feel like I've always known how important clothes were, but until I started studying them at university, I didn't have the vocabulary to talk about it. Then, when I had the vocabulary, I found that not many people outside of my immediate group of peers wanted to talk about clothes. I remember clearly going... Continue Reading →
As I think most of my blog's readers know by now, in addition to having a full-time job and updating this site in my spare time, I also help to run The Underpinnings Museum and undertake a bit of academic research into fashion history. I had originally been scheduled to deliver a talk on my... Continue Reading →
So, what a weird year 2020 is turning out to be, huh? I thought that this year had to be an improvement on the last one, but here we now are in the middle of a global pandemic. We're currently on week 3 of lockdown in the UK with trips outside only allowed in order... Continue Reading →
First came the dress that rustles when I move. Although it's not a party frock it very much sounds like one, and this startled me at first. I bought it second hand sometime around 2009, and the design is clearly based on a 1950s wide-collar full-skirt dress. I loved it from the second I tried... Continue Reading →
So, as you can see, my writing's been a bit 'on hold' so far this year. I'm two weeks into a brand new job with a brand new employer and have to admit that I'd forgotten how much energy and brainpower it takes to do that. It's been a great experience so far (really great!)... Continue Reading →