I have a very grand neighbour in her eighties who used to be a couture hat model at Libertys in the 1950s. She has told me she modelled hats for Mr Dior who would come over personally to oversee fittings for Princess Margaret and Society dames. She also modelled for Norman Hartnell before becoming a milliner herself but her most exciting work was with Dior.
Anonymous - I have a colleague who is doing research for a book on modelling in the London in the 1950s. I have helped her find such women as the Duchess of Bedford and Cherry Marshall. Your neighbour sounds like an ideal candidate for interview. Is there any way that I could contact you confidentially to follow this up?
I want that turban! With the demographic- so many women entering later years, when hair thins- if "serious hats" will come back? I recall my mother's closets, with those hat stands and boxes.
STILL gnashing my teeth for recently losing the bidding on a Dior hat -- horned!--on eBay. £70 quid, pure sculpture. The last one in the video was great, reminded me of Nefertiti . . .
Linda Grant is a novelist and journalist. She won the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2000 and the Lettre Ulysses Prize for Literary Reportage in 2006. She writes for the Guardian, Telegraph and Vogue. Her latest novel, The Clothes on Their Backs was shortlisted for the 2008 Man Booker Prize. For further information including upcoming literary festivals bookstore readings etc see her website at www.lindagrant.co.uk
The People on the Street (Winner of the Lettre Ulysses Prize for Literary Reportage 2006)
Still Here (Fiction 2002)
When I Lived in Modern Times (Winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction 2000)
Remind Me Who I Am Again (Non-fiction 1998)
The Cast Iron Shore (Fiction 1996)
Sexing the Millenium (Non-Fiction 1993)
This blog believes
'A good handbag makes the outfit.'
'Only the rich can afford cheap shoes'
'The only thing worse than being skint is looking as if you're skint.'
'A new dress is a great help in all circumstances.' (Noel Streatfeild)
'The only true and lasting meaning of the struggle for life lies in the individual, in his modest peculiarities and his right to these peculiarities.' (Vasily Grossman, Life and Fate.)
9 comments:
I have a very grand neighbour in her eighties who used to be a couture hat model at Libertys in the 1950s. She has told me she modelled hats for Mr Dior who would come over personally to oversee fittings for Princess Margaret and Society dames. She also modelled for Norman Hartnell before becoming a milliner herself but her most exciting work was with Dior.
Thanks for sharing this video. I loved it!
Anonymous - I have a colleague who is doing research for a book on modelling in the London in the 1950s. I have helped her find such women as the Duchess of Bedford and Cherry Marshall. Your neighbour sounds like an ideal candidate for interview. Is there any way that I could contact you confidentially to follow this up?
Hello greying pixie. Mines was the first post about my neighbour. Please send me a personal message, the book sounds fascinating.
The campy narration is priceless!
I loved that, Linda! Thanks for sharing. *sighs* I wish I could wear hats!
I want that turban! With the demographic- so many women entering later years, when hair thins- if "serious hats" will come back? I recall my mother's closets, with those hat stands and boxes.
OMG they look like tea cosies, or iced cakes.
STILL gnashing my teeth for recently losing the bidding on a Dior hat -- horned!--on eBay. £70 quid, pure sculpture. The last one in the video was great, reminded me of Nefertiti . . .
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