I was shopping online at www.katespade.com and came across a wonderful little book called My Mother's Clothe's by Jeannette Montgomery Barron and have also linked you to Barron's site under this particular book's name. What a treasure for so many reasons, but mostly how she has reflected upon so many beautiful memories of her mother tied to fragrance, classically beautiful designer frocks like her mother's gold Yves St. Laurent jacket (gasp)! If I could only find something so lovely. Here is the thing, I remember so many items like this that I adored too like my of my grandmother's vintage teal-colored tween coat which I stupidly sold many years ago because I could not envision myself wearing it. Now I could just kick myself! I love how Montgomery described the impeccable care her mother took for her clothing with "tissue stuffing the arms". I often wonder if my daughter too, will look back at the love I have for fashion and beauty finds and my own unusual way or organizing and storing things. I wonder if she will remember the beautiful perfumes that line my dresser. I look at my pieces now and know exactly which will stay throughout the years. And, my daughter has begged me to save my Manolo's and Choo's which I think is kind of funny, but she will likely remember how excited I got when I was holding one of those beauties in my hands!
This is a beautiful little book and I have flipped through the pages over and over. I love the photographs and how she indexed the designer pieces in the back. You can tell she must of loved her mother dearly and while fashion does not make us, I do think in many ways it defines us in how we see the world or how we feel deep inside. I know how fabulous I feel when I can put on a DVF cherry red dress with classic black sling-backs.
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| photo by Jeanette Montgomery Barrett |
One last note, on page -22- there was a photo of her mother's Bill Blass tiger print jacket which reminded me of a jacket from Ann Taylor that I have been dreaming of and finally purchased with their 40% off sale. It is a new item, the leopard jacquard jacket at $228. It is stunning and as the author is now wearing her mother's jacket with jeans, I will hope that this one I recently purchased will hang around for awhile too!Do you have an item or two that you love and will likely have in your closet for many years? Do you have a piece from a beloved relative?
Happy Holidays everyone...
Happy Holidays Chris...Wonderful post that brings back lots of memories for me as well. I loved going through my grandmother's closet and surely have her style in mind when I purchase classics. I remember wearing a navy velvet jacket (much like the J.Crew schoolboy style) that she gave me, or the times we went shopping for pocketbooks. "Buy the best" she would say. Her daughter (my mom) loved quantity over quality and what my dad referred to as "ice cream pastels". A bottle of grandma's perfume sits on my dresser - although she's been gone for years! My "favorites"...a 1970's Ann Taylor pleated skirt in a whirl of color splashed on a navy background. It still fits. Also, a classic Liz Claiborne mohair red and black lumberjack style jacket from the 80's (no big shoulder pads!). I still wear it! I was also recently given 3 pairs of perfect vintage shoes from a nearly 80 yr. old (very stylish) workmate...Red Ferragamo loafers, Brown Suede Gucci heels and black patent Joan and David. Thanks for your inspiration (great Ann Taylor jacket!) and encouragement. I love stopping by to see what you're up to!
ReplyDeleteDear Chris,
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you like my book--thanks so much for blogging about it!
Wanted you to know that there is a website just for MY MOTHER'S CLOTHES.
It's: www.mymothersclothes.com
Merry Christmas!
All Best, Jeannette Montgomery Barron
"itzru", I love that you received shoes from an older workmate! How fantastic is that?! Thanks for sharing some of your memories as well. I too was inspired and this book helped remind me of so many special people and things.
ReplyDeleteJeanette! What a thrill...thanks for your note! I will definitely check out your site for My Mother's Clothes. I just loved all of the photography especially your family photos. There is something very mysterious and beautiful about other's pieces and photographs. I love wondering about about the people I see in old photos and what their lives were like. And in this case, I was just amazed with your mother's sense of style and those things that helped to define her. I think that my children or whomever ends up rummaging through all my clothes, handbags will likely think that I was a bit "eccentric" as well. While I have a wonderful corporate "day job", I also have an idea an hour and work tirelessly on things that move me creatively. And, I love my clothes and unique little treasures too, Can you really fall in love with a handbag? I think so, and as I further explored your mother's things, she definitely had a love for the "unique". After all, they are extensions of us.
Thank you for writing this book. I absolutely love it!
Merry Christmas to you and I wish all the best for you.
Chris
Merry Christmas to you :-)
ReplyDeleteI've seen this book online. Looks interesting. How sweet to receive a note from the author.
Beautiful post. I'm off to search for this book now. I frequently check your blog but rarely post (yours too - gigiofca!). What a special treat to have the author comment. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteHappy holidays, Chris!
ReplyDeleteI think it's nice that your daughter is telling you to save your shoes. Reminds me of one of my friends back when... Her mom had saved a lot of the grandma's clothes and shoes. Fast-forward a lot of years, and the dresses and the shoes came back in style. I recall borrowing a pair of black suede sandals from her that belonged to the grandmother. I felt so stylish in them! (they looked similar to the crosstown peep toes from JC, which are in my shopping bag right now, surprisingly). ;)
I would love to read this book in the near future! I remember so fondly watching my mother put on her lipstick and compact, and I wanted to be just like her. I can still remember how beautiful she was and how sweet she smelled. I have quite a few of her pins and my grandmothers; of course they are all back in style and I love to cluster a few together on a cashmere cardigan. Please post more pics of your beautiful Collie!!
ReplyDeleteThank you all for sharing such wonderful memories! Happy New Year... I will post more pictures of our beautiful collie "Gordon" soon!
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