The thoughtful Dresser

On the weekend I was hanging with Rachael, and she came across this article in a fashion mag, just a small corner that wrote about this woman's book. I thought what an amazing title so I googled her and the review in the London Age was amazing so I bought it and have been studying it all week.

Not only is this book about history, back to the 1800's but it is about how women and men coped with life during some of the hardest times in history..

Eg. A madame was captured in northern France for harbouring allies and was sent to Ravensbruick concentration camp, whilst inside she befriended a lady who worked for Schiaperelli design house. Thus when she was eventually set free her striped uniform had been contoured to fit her elegantly so even though she wore it, it didn't wear her..

Hairdressing salons still operated with minimal supplies to keep women's hair coiffed during and after the war. Just the act of having their hair washed and dried and set gave that woman the strength to go on to get life back to normal. After the mass rape of women in Berlin, women walked 12miles and came to a village, the hair dresser had 1 mirror and 1 hairdryer, he set about to wash their hair numerous times to get all the mud out of their hair. Though when he was finished those women had something of themselves back.

In times of travail it is known that the concept of fashion has helped society move on, rebuild and renew.. There are many examples of such stories in this book. It validates that the human spirit finds something of itself liberated through this individual form of self expression and distraction. There is more to fashion than what is portrayed in magazines etc, it is food for the soul, the desire to be a woman is always strong.

The first department store was the first step towards women becoming independent, without necessarily needed a chaperone. Women's public places were now beauty salons and department stores. Working women were put into proximity to nice things, perfumes, nice clothes etc which got them away from just domestic service. This was one of the many stepping stones to eventually allow women to vote..

So this book proves on paper that fashion has a very important place in life.. A tool for rebellion, liberation, expression and therapy.

There are many inspirational thoughts about fashion in this book I am sure I will drawing from it inspiration for many topics to come..