Laura Ashley's Lovely, Light, White Silk Blouse, black and white Outfit 447
During dinner I kept my clothes covered to protect them from splashes. My multi-pocket sleeveless under jacket adds a touch of colour.
Later I wanted to show off my outfit without the concealing jacket and my ubiquitous cape blazer.
Vintage Blouse
White. 100% silk. Two Black ribbons vertically across the shoulder. Five black buttons, small round buttons on shanks, covered with fabric.
Buttons
I imagine you might be thinking, well, all buttons are round. No, they are not. I just bought buttons shaped like elephants. The Chinese make toggles, like the ones we have on duffel coats. The Chinese also make knot buttons from ribbon.
Vintage Skirt
A Laura Ashley white petticoat with a crochet hem.
The washing instructions are, dry clean only. You must be joking. I can't afford that. Nor will I risk my garment being damaged, lost or forgotten.
What they mean is -
Very delicate - liable to tear - wash with care!
The black ribbons and fabric buttons are dark colours and might let dyes colour the white blouse. So I shall wash the blouse in cold water.
It is very comfortable to wear in hot weather. Very light. So pretty.
For years I didn't wear it because it was so fragile. So I shall just wear it sitting at a desk in the house. (Then I was unexpectedly invited out to dinner) . I thought, what's the point of leaving to be worn by the hanger? The poor little blouse deserves its day out. )
I deserve to wear it. If anything happens to me, I shall think, my profound last thought, I should have worn that blouse.
After I got home from dinner, I read that Ivana Trump - who had enough money for household help and health care - died at home after a fall. (Maybe she fell because she swooned because she was not feeling well). She was younger than I am. I am glad I rotated my clothes and gave this one an outing.
It was not until I came to write this blog that I realized I had matched up two Laura Ashley items.
The blouse had two loops. I added a soft fabric belt.
Colours
The belt is partially black. Matching the black ribbons on the blouse. One side of the belt is red. The red adds a touch of jollity to the outfit. I think the belt must be from a reversible back and red kimono.
Modesty Panel
The v neck of the blouse was too low. It seemed to gap too much. I added a white modesty panel. The modesty panel has a straight top, On both sides are clips, with a circular rubber slider, like the sort you used to have, suspenders, on suspender belts for stockings.
Also see-though. That problem was solved by wearing a black cape blazer.
White Necklace
The white necklace has three strings. That fills in the neck gap, and frames my face
The necklace is only costume jewellery. But good stuff, well made. Now I have started looking at what you need to buy to make and repair jewellery, I am aware of fastenings and types of beads. Between each big white bead is a small gold or gilt ead called a spacer bead.
Sandals
Red. touch and close. Free-step. Size 4.
You can read about Laura Ashley in Wikipedia.
Useful Websites
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Ashley
https://www4.next.co.uk/laura-ashley
Ebay has more than 3,000 results for Laura Ashley blouse.
Modesty Panels from eternalforce5 on ebay
Numerous styles and suppliers. Here is one supplier offering free postage and charging only two pounds fifteen. Items from China are often posted free. You might not have the day's exchange rate in your mind'
but they are rarely more than twice the British pounds (except for currencies such as the Indian rupeee). So the UK price tells you the US and Australian and Singaporean dollars will be under ten dollars.
I used to see modesty panels sold in sets of three. When I ordered a set, they were a cheap looking, flimsy polyester. However, when I tried them on they seem to work.
I found one clip came undone. Probably not a faulty item, but because I had connected it up loosely in a hurry.
But the general result was a success. If I had the time and energy I would convert some old suspenders from corsets or stocking suspender sets into little modesty panels with those bits of lace too small for anything else, and curtains and antimacassars and table cloths which are too strained and need cutting up or simply are no longer needed for their original use and need a new life.
I wear camisoles to reduce the amount of washing needed for a garment worn on top, as a barrier. I don't mind another set of spaghetti straps potentially making shoulders untidy because I choose camisoles in pretty colours or with pretty straps.
But you can clip the two straps on each shoulder together using a fancy clip or suspender. From a visual point of view, for the benefit of the businesslike or elegant appearance of an outfit, a camisole does the same job as the modesty panel in concealing cleavage.
Useful Websites
Modesty panels
Laura Ashley
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Ashley
Lauraashley
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Ashley_plc
https://www4.next.co.uk/laura-ashley
my write up of the restaurant is on travelwithangela lansbury.blogspot.com
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