Dress Of The Day with Angela

  Angela Lansbury wearing a Chinese jacket with gold embroidery. Photo by Trevor Sharot. The Chinese Jacket I looked at the jacket. I told my husband: 'No washing instructions.When it gets dirty, you buy another one.' He replies, You wash it, cold water and gentle soap or mild detergent. I don't suppose it will come to any harm.' It looks to me like the colour might run. I would try a corner in cold water first. If I love a garment and it is good value, or I can bargain for a reduced price for two, I buy two different colours. If that two colours option is not available, I buy the same colour in two different sizes. The seams are inconspicuously sewn, inside out, so that you can wear the jacket inside out. But then you would lose the colourful and dramatic embroidery. Why would you wear it inside out? Either to protect the outside from getting stained and dirty when travelling and eating. Or to be inconspicuous. Less likely to get robbed. Blend in.  I bought the jacket ...

Photo by Trevor Sharot. Reversible Dress This side is a diagonal print with two patterns. One is a blue background and a dusty orange and greyish white. The other pattern is a larger band of leopard skin pattern in black, charcoal, pale grey and greyish white. I have about ten reversible dresses. I used to sit looking for reversible dresses on eBay and bid on the ones that started at 99p.  Sources of Simple Style Reversible Dresses At first I bought the simple style like a tunic with a wide shoulder strap, from the major catalogues such as J D Williams. These are a firm weave and practical for travelling, less likely to snag or fray. At the end of the summer season the catalogue companies reduce them. Since they are stretchy and one size, they are likely to fit you around your girth. Smarter Dresses With Scarves Some are sold new for quite high prices.  Usually these have a fringed scarf. Extra frills. A designer label. I liked the ones with a matching scarf. Much more elegant...