Rose Tinted x

22-Women-Welders-World-War-II

(Women welders from World War II)

 

There are some clothes that my mother hates…but I love – Utility wear comes under that heading.  I suspect it’s a generation thing..my Grandmother hated brass beds associating them with poverty, the Husband’s mother hates our wooden floorboards preferring her perceived luxury of fitted carpets.  Then there’s the ongoing discussions between the benefits of a free-standing kitchen rather than a fitted one.  We definitely see things with different eyes depending on our subliminal associations.

 

 

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I love a good Chore coat, like this one from Toast.  But my mother would see small, grubby, repetitive work with a touch of coarse.  Clothes reduced to their bare essentials with aprons and housecoats abandoned for their practical purposes because the undercurrent of domestic containment is just too strong.89c16336741b9818c1aad428b42b6458

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But for me there’s an intrinsic quality – I embrace the practicality, the structured comfort, the soft detailing, the wholesome vintage charm.  Instead of servitude and drudgery it represents a time when we took pride in making things from scratch..when it seemed there was more space to breathe.

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(Also from Toast)

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(By Sisters by Sibling SS14) 

Of course,  you could just see them as brilliant coats, perfect for layering in this bridging the weather time till the lazy days of summer truly hit…

Laters, Kate x

19 comments

  1. .virginia.romo.

    I love the “Toast” things, all of them. How well put, all that about interpreting depending on subliminal associations. Generation is a factor, of course, and nationality too. I see it all the time. Being a foreigner you are exposed to that in your choice country and in your own “real” country.

  2. dievca

    I love the first coat, the clean lines — almost a hint of an untied Kimono when looking at the back.
    I ran into the clash of two cultural views, yesterday. I have a pair of slouchy, tapered pants. Cozy. My Brooklyn Hipster friend went ga-ga over them and my Brazilian friend hated them enough to say something directly. I see both of their points. XO

  3. rubyfoot

    That first coat is a must-have!
    (And whilst we’re on the subject, can anybody could point me in the direction of a denim shift dress, knee length, elbow length sleeves and patch pockets)

    • Maison Bentley Style

      I am looking for EXACTLY the same thing! If I find it I will shout – I do have a dress that is the ideal shape, and if all fails I’ll get it copied (vintage of course) …it is SUCH an easy dress to wear..why aren’t there more of them? xxx

    • Maison Bentley Style

      They had another one in earlier..and I was secretly hoping it would be in the summer sales..but I think the bugger has sold out already! Sometimes one just has to leap…arghhh! xxxx

    • Maison Bentley Style

      I agree…I can just imagine how beautifully these would age..I would also like one in that french blue that’s not quite navy that also fades so magnificently… xxx

  7. The Fashion Huntress

    I definitely agree that it’s probably part of a generational/cohort difference. I guess I never thought about carpet vs wood floors, etc! But, I’m with you- I really like the coats, especially the last two!