the lost art of...
The Lost Art of Shopping at a Haberdashery
As all veteran shoppers know well, all the very best shopping surprises to be found on the High Street can be discovered in those little-known surprises; that back street boutique or the charity shops dotted here & there. But an oft forgotten fact is that there is a sadly dying-out breed of shop that frequently holds a vast treasure cave of wonders… the Haberdashers. Few & far between, haberdashers are a closely held secret once found by over-zealous shopping mavens. But as The Lady is feeling benevolent today, she may be inclined to share a few…
As shown by Our Gok (bless his cotton socks for trying, God does love a trier), crafting need not be the realm of the Gran. It can be a vital tool in one’s wardrobe, taking a Primarni special into an indistinguishable boutique find. But it is a road to tred with care! (Gok) Haberdashers hold the means and inspiration; stacked chock full of buttons, trim, threads & any number of other amazing finds. Not to forget, of course one of the main plusses a haberdashers hold… the Haberdashers her/him-self… a veritable mine of information & ideas for future projects & ideas. The Lady has yet to find an unpleasant member of staff working in one of these establishments. All goes to prove, crafting is good for the soul! Key things to look for: buttons (ALWAYS – a garment can be made to look a thousand times more expensive merely by the snip of a scissor & the addition of an amazing button), shoulder-pads (seriously. Balmain, anyone?), trim, ribbon & basically any number of miscellaneous objects you will never have known existed before you entered the hallowed portals of a haberdashery.
Local to the Lady is the wonderful Clarks of Ramsbottom. Beware, before you step in, to park up your other half in the nearby Railway pub, should he/she be in attendance – as you may well be some time… Unless they too are a fan of buttons, cross-stitch, craft books etc etc. There is also a very lovely shop-dog to pet. Manchester-bound, there is the infamous Abakhan on Oldham Street (good selection of upholstery & suiting fabrics) & John Lewis in Cheadle who also hold frequent knitting & sewing workshops. For those down South, is of course the London incarnation: Peter Jones (where many hour of mine has been whiled away mooching among wool & zips). Nearby, a little further down the Kings Road, is the incredible, the incomparable VV Rouleaux, favourite of many a London-based stylist or two.
But of course, the creme-de-la-creme of the all-time haberdashery experience has got to be the haberdashery section of Liberty. Pay no mind to the vaulted ceiling & wood panelling of the interior architectiture, instead delve into the enormous wooden tables laden with glass jars of treats & the racks stuffed full of ream upon ream of Liberty print fabrics. A recent visit there saw The Lady’s heart stolen by the exquisite manners of the lovely Koh, who charmed away both heart & personal details as he cut my fabric selection… entrancing me into signing up for a store-card (something a Lady never does on principle) as well as purchasing sets of Liberty fabric covered buttons & belt buckles & a Liberty print hankerchief (to be worn as a cuff). Other delights included: felted needle-books with intricate cover designs, hot pink monogram pins with black italicised initials, knitted cuckoo clocks & sinamay berets. The incredible fabric selection can also be found online, so do not fear fellow country-mice, you too can festoon yourselves in sprigs of delicate florals!! Other good online portals include: Josy Rose & Bedecked. There now, don’t be saying we’re nothing but generous with our tips.
Wooing Your Beloved
As the first day of February, it seemed very fit that we address what will shortly be a very pressing to one & all – Valentine’s Day. Originally named for two early Christian martyrs, this festival has been hijacked by the Man as yet another occasion for wasting money. And who, including The Lady, would reject this valuable opportunity for letting our suitors express their love?? Flowers, confectionery, & of course a card, are all acceptable forms of currency in which to trade goods for affection. However, the selection of exactly which items are decided upon represents a mine-field of potential offences. So, here follows a guide to help assist the easily confused & advisedly cautious amongst you.
The Lost Art of Wearing Hats
Headwear used to be an integral part of the wardrobe, a lady wasn’t considered completely dressed without one. Lately hats (and other assorted head-ornamentation) have been making something of a come-back. It takes a certain sort of insouciance to carry one off, but with the variety of options now available, choosing the look that will work for you is much easier than ever before (think Blair Waldorf, not so much Peaches Geldof). Get the actual alice bands sported by Blair at Jennifer Ouellette’s website.
The headwear wary can channel Marie Antoinette (circa Sofia Coppola) and add odd bits of bric-a-brac like bows, old crystal brooches, real / fake flowers, feathered butterflies & even a bird or two. For instant hair ornamentation, Accessorize is the best high street one-stop solution. Crafty girls should ferret in their local haberdasheries to discover ^If there’s no such convenient establishment nearby, try the quite brilliant Robson & Mason or the online shopfronts of Macculloch & Wallis (a must-see should you be venturing to London) & VV Rouleaux (another one worth visiting). For millinery supplies and patterns, try Vena Cava for inspiration. And the bolder amongst us can masquerade as a film noir heroine by sporting a beret or trilby. Chapeau Claudette are a wonderful modern milliners and can be found both at Topshop Oxford Circus or at the Outland Boutique, just off Brick Lane or via their online diffusion range at ASOS.