I know this is a sewing blog, but can we talk about fashion-related fiction? I tell you — if there is “dress” in the book title, I’m all there for it. Two books by author Jade Beer came up in my library feed and I read them both. They are lovely quick reads if you love vintage fashion. These days I’m catching up with old classics of English literature —- just finished The Count of Monte Cristi, all 1500 pages of it. No wonder my sewing has slowed down somewhat.

If you’re into reading epic books, the “dress” books are a nice respite. Here is a very short review of the books, and info on the dresses intertwined in the stories.

The Last Dress From Paris by Jade Beer:

This story focuses on an illicit love affair between the British ambassador’s wife and a French man in 1950s Paris, and connects each major event and interaction between the two characters with what the woman is wearing at the time; and it is all Dior Haute Couture. We’ve all felt that connective tissue between a major event in our lives and what we were wearing that day — don’t you? I won’t be a literary critic, although some thoughts swirled around in my head while reading it; I found some holes in the plot, but that is just my opinion. Also in my opinion, the Frenchman is somewhat of a lech; but you can make that judgement should you decide to read it.

Some chapters begin with the name of a particular Dior dress —- Monsieur Dior used to actually name his couture creations in the 1950s — and I had fun trying to find an image of the actual dress online or in books. Since I do not want to be a spoiler, I will only add images of the dresses mentioned in the book.

The Cygne Noir (Black Swan):

The book is written in a back-and-forth flashback format, and Cygne Noir is the first dress introduced to the reader where we find the heroine being helped into the intricately made dress by her faithful “lady’s maid”. There’s a description of how the maid hooks up Alice into it with a bunch of complicated closures built therein. It is from the Fall-Winter 1949-50 season. The fabrics are black silk satin and silk velvet. Would you use a combination of those fabrics in one dress? Each is tricky to sew even when used on its own. But just look at the spectacular look Dior created — even though a challenge to his pattern makers and expert seamstresses!

The Bagatelle:

Another intricately made dress in pink silk crepe is a deceptively simple silhouette. It is from the Spring-Summer 1952 line. I mean, the tucks laying evenly on the body, and the pleating in the skirt — no small feat achieving that. Look at the closeup of the shoulder and neckline — looks like the upper cap sleeve is cut in one with the dress shoulder and separates about halfway down the armhole area. Hmmm. Are your creative wheels turning?

The Mexico:

From the Spring-Summer 1953 line, the “Mexico” is made in black and white printed silk organza in a wraparound manner. I am not understanding the bodice front, though. The big red fabric rose finishes it off with aplomb! I want to wear some version of this dress — how should we try and get that look which is similar but age-appropriate at the same time! I dare you, and myself.

The Debussy:

The Debussy is a spectacular gown (not sure about the season). This one is said to have belonged to legendary British ballerina Margot Fonteyn. Wonder how much it weighed, being beaded all over.

The other dresses in the book are named Esther, and Toile de Jouy, and the fabric of the Toile de Jouy has a touching aspect in the story of Alice, the British Ambassador’s wife. I won’t spoil it.

The Memory Dress by Jade Beer

This story is a heart-warming story about a seamstress who (along with her husband) was on the team who created a dress for the late Princess Diana in the 1980s, designed by the late designer Catherine Walker. She is now suffering from dementia and a lovely neighbor begins to take care of her, thereby unraveling her story.

I have not been able to find an image of the real Catherine Walker dress. It is described in the story as being pink sheer fabric with floral embroidery. Well, I will not be a spoiler any further. One question: why is the dress blue on the book cover?

I’ll end here, and will post a post next week — trying to keep to my weekly schedule (grins sheepishly). Yes, I have been sewing, just not for myself since the blue shirtdress in November.

Keep warm in body and spirit, friends.

Samina