Hello! I’m in an underpass, contemplating a painted barn owl. Paul pointed out to me afterwards that I should have held my hand out to make it look as though the owl was flying to me. Next time…
So, this is what the Celestial dress looks like during a casual summer lunchtime walk to the pharmacy. (I go to all the best places!) This fabric is interestingly chameleonic – it transforms from blue to grey depending on where you’re standing and who’s looking at you. Which means that it goes with just about everything, like your favourite pair of ancient jeans, but it also makes it extremely difficult to photograph the colour accurately.
(Oh, and, I’ve moved the pockets a little bit further down the dress since I made this one.)
As you can see, I’m wearing bloomers underneath. I wear them a lot in the summer, when leggings are just too hot. This pair is made from lightweight cotton lawn, with an embroidered trim that has tiny little pears on it!
I first started wearing these bloomers when I worked at a museum that was carefully climate-controlled. I wore them as an extra layer under long dresses, with knee socks, so they’re carefully designed to be just the right length that your knees don’t get cold when you sit down. When I ventured out into places that were considerably warmer than eighteen degrees (so, everywhere, these past few weeks!) I discovered that they were absolutely brilliant for preventing your legs from getting all sticky and uncomfortable in the heat.
I’ve been contemplating making a few pairs for the shop, in a very lightweight muslin and trimmed with vintage nylon lace. I’ll make a couple of sample pairs so you can have a look at them, and see whether you’d like a pair or two, too.