Comments on: Musing about clothes

By: mendofleur

mendofleur — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:35:26 +0000

I loved reading your comment and finding out where you were from. It is a very close area to where my father’s family was from, on the edge of Germany and the Netherlands, Friesland. Are you familiar with this area?

I imagine you have many wonderful brocantes that you visit. Some of my best finds were from France, including a gorgeous blue mohair sweater that I found in a thrift shop and still wear a lot in the fall and winter. I will never give it up because it is one of my favorite sweaters. I am surprised that people don’t like these clothes because there is so much one can do with them in a very creative way. Perhaps this will change over time. I would love to hear more about what you bring home from these wonderful sales in terms of clothing and fabric. You have a wonderful website. If you send me photos of your work, I would love to do a post on you sometime! Please stay in touch, Martine.

By: Martine

Martine — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:38:43 +0000

I live in the Netherlands on the German border.
Cause i join textileacademy in Belgium weekly i can easily visit thriftshops in these tree countries and every summer in France where i teach felting workshops.
Brocantes in each country are very different and depend on styles of 30 to 40 years ago. People don’t like those oldfashioned clothes anymore, but theyre often of the finest quality. I love searching for clothes and fabrics there.
This theme you started here is very interesting and perfect for the time.
I love the phrase upcycling, because thats what its meant to be, making more and better of something.
XXXm

By: mendofleur

mendofleur — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:41:48 +0000

I think you are so right, and what you wrote was so well expressed. We have become a cheap society that buys and discards all too quickly. We have lost our sense of value and regard for things. For one, there is way too much stuff in all the stores, racks and racks and shelf after shelf of things, items that never seem to last long or mean anything to us. However, I think this is changing. I think people are going back to items that are handmade or made with care. I have also noticed that the younger generation is getting back into sewing. I think everyone is so sick of all the duplicated items everywhere with no thought of individuality or style or purpose. We have become robotic consumers and I think a few of us have begun to revolt in our own quiet way. Have you read Elaine Lipson’s blog and her slow cloth principles? She is under my blogroll listed as red cloth studio.

By: debraann

debraann — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:21:04 +0000

I think that beautiful fabric will make a fabulous wrap skirt. It is a pity that many people do not know nor care about the quality of the garments they are wearing. We’ve become too much of a cash and carry, cheap stuff society. It’s not just clothing it seems to be everything. Not enough people appreciate things that are made well and to last.

By: mendofleur

mendofleur — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 01:26:24 +0000

Thanks for the information. I love layering clothes anytime. I hope you received the pdf I sent on Manon Gignoux.

By: Suella

Suella — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:21:14 +0000

Waistcoats as in vests which button up the front. One of my favorites is a Dutch one with brocade and lovely “gold” buttons up the front. That does look like thos of the 1780s or so, but not as long.

Layers are very useful at present as the weather is bitter (for England) at the moment.

By: mendofleur

mendofleur — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:35:21 +0000

I agree with you about vintage clothing. I would rather look for something from those eras any day. The fabric, design, and workmanship is exceptional compared with the garments in the stores today. Everything seems so cheaply made now and then there is the bland sameness from one store to the next. Of course you deal in exquisite pieces everyday in your business, so you have developed a keen eye for the best. I will have to see what you are selling these days. Hope you had a great time at R. Burns night.

By: mendofleur

mendofleur — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:20:52 +0000

I am happy to see you are back. I will post this wool skirt after I finish it. Then I probably will move on to some items in some of my older linen pieces for spring and summer. I also have a vintage duster that I would like to remake so I can get some use out of this too.

By: mendofleur

mendofleur — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:16:10 +0000

Thanks, Deb. I guess I should have guessed this considering how it is made. i will have to use up what I have and then reconsider ever using it again unless I can find something older. I knew bamboo was not too good, but I can’t recall where I read this.

By: mendofleur

mendofleur — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:12:53 +0000

Your comment was greatly appreciated. How nice to know others are doing this all over. Please tell me where you live. Perhaps we in America think we are unique in our efforts to buy in thrift shops, but I think it is a custom that may have a longer history than we can guess. Linen is my favorite fabric, and I puchased some wonderful old French linens at a sale that I intend to use for summer clothing. I will post on that another time. I looked at your blog too! Beautiful photos and colors. Thank you for sharing and I hope you visit again and leave a comment.