Sunday, March 24, 2013

I wouldn't mind the rain it's what it does to my 'do...

Yuck, all of us in the PNW are being tormented by crappy weather, rain, wind, and cold temperatures.  But what really ticks me off, is that everyone assumes that because you were born in Canada you can stomach sub-zero temps and are genuinely surprised when you're as pissed as they are...sheesh!  Time to get the sun lamp out and crank it up to Super Nova, (though I don't want to look like the Nazi at the end of Indiana Jones!)

 Today was a culture vulture day.  I realize that I have seen more museums in Seattle in the 2 short years that I've been here than I have anywhere else ("Oh, Versailles was in France?!' Callow youth that I was.)


His later label.
I went down to MOHAI (Museum of History and Industry) in SLU (South Lake Union) (they like their acronyms in the PNW!).  The crowd for the talk: Only Fashion Spoke Here: Celebrating John Doyle Bishop’s 100th Birthday was so interesting.  There were young hipsters to painted up old dollies who had probably shopped at his boutique in their prime. As it turns out, he wasn't a designer but a very savvy retailer and merchandiser.  He was also apparently quite charismatic and had a number of friends among the fashion glitterati in New York.  That's how he was able to bring back the latest fashions to the West Coast.  Some of the members of the audience had brought clothes they had either bought or inherited from his store.  It all lead to a very impromptu fashion show.  There was one lady with a black swing coat with 3/4 length sleeves.  If there hadn't been so many witnesses I could've taken her...she looked weak.  But I digress...

Clara Berg, Curator @ MOHAI
The fun part was afterwards we got to see some of MOHAI's clothing and textile collection with a special focus on the clothing that bore John Doyle Bishop's label. The curator was really good but I was a bit disappointed that she didn't really know her sewing terms and was reluctant to let some of the people in the audience wade in on the discussion.  (Okay she didn't let me wade in on things!) It was exciting to see a real Dior couture piece up close and be able to appreciate all the thought and work that goes into those pieces.  It actually made  me a bit nostalgic for those days when every town had a "good" dress shop where you went for something special.  As a child, I used to love the luxurious feeling of the fine fabrics, knowledgable sales ladies, and playing with those paper lips that they used to provide in dressing rooms to protect the garment (dating myself) from lipstick.  Do any of you remember a special store or a time when you went with your mom and the way it made you feel?




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