Dear Meat Market Milliner (Dress 173)

Dear Meat-Market-Milliner,
I do not remember your name. I was very young, and spent the majority of my time toddling around my parent’s ankles at the artists’ market, a collection of odds-and-ends housed in the guts of an old meat market, big bluestone shell, honeycombed with little shops, an art bookshop, the Hungarian goldsmith with the waxed moustaches, the puppeteer who also made masks, the glassworkers, and the milliner. She’d let me into her lair, the back room where she stitched a hundred tiny flowers into the brim of a Oaks’ Day hat, or repair the crown of an old man’s fedora. There is something beautiful about the meeting point of felt and silk, waxed flowers and fruit, netting and feathers.

I was reminded of you by an article in the paper about the tiny workshops in Paris. Embroidery and Featherwork ateliers, where Lagerfeld’s creations are brought to life by little collections of old women, where young girls are introduced to the skills handed down between gossip and political debate over a workstation littered with silk chrysanthemums. What I would do to spend time photographing these women at their work.

Today’s dress is in homage to the skill of feather-pinning. The collar and embellishments are spotted turkey (?) feathers.
All my love,
IP

Dear City Hatters (Dress 121)

Dear City Hatters,

When I have a million billion squajillion dollars I will not be so frightened of going to you.

As it is now, I can't afford a 300$ Top Hat, but i'd happily make a 30$ or so alternative.

(Matte Satin with a beaded feather embellishment)

All my love,

IP

Dear Sean (Dress 91)

Dear Sean, I remember once we were talking in the bookshop (where we both work) and you were saying, in that almost unbelievable accent 'ah cant understand how the maek yer study Beckett in school. Yer children fer god's sake- what the hell do you know?'
And i think you're almost entirely right!
(Which did not make this evening, centre row seats less than 10m from the stage any less magnificent.)

Thank Beckett (and my boyfriend) for a wonderful night,

(Rope around the waist, rope 'piping' on the top, which is twisted into a 'noose knot' and then 'splits' into the shoulder. Cotton and a black applique bowler on the bottom.) 

All my love,

Dear IsraelPost (Dress 40)

Dear Israeli Postal System,
I bought WAY too many clothes when I was in Israel; which was somewhat of a problem when I realised I had to transport them home. Trusty SeaFreight meant I sent all my winter clothes home, and they promptly arrived this week, just as it started to get coolish. Timing = Win.

Also, surprise amongst the jumpers, was this hat- it doesn't fit, so i'm going to put a triangular 'slice' of some other felt in it, just under the ribbon (which will be revamped to match the wedge)
Therefore, in part in tribute to the gorgeous article on Coco Chanel's apartment (Harpers Bazaar), in part tribute to the wonder that is Israeli op-shops (they havn't realised yet!) in part a celebration of 40days and counting:

The dress is black crushed silk, the hat, a 2D construction of crushed silk and matte satin piping.

All my love,