Dress Of The Day with Angela

  Phase Eight Today I received my dress and matching jacket from an Evri delivery driver. I took it out to show it to her. She immediately recognized the label. Phase Eight. She said, 'They used to be from Debenhams'.  The Phase Eight website tells me they are a British company. I looked at the dress style, fabric and manufacturer and washing instruction labels. The Pink Dress Information Made in China.  Size 14.  The colour is deep pink.  Silk Surprise To my surprise, it said silk. Not 100% silk. I remember when I was a teenager in the Nineteen Sixties, anything not one hundred per cent silk was regarded as a con, a cheap imitation.  Nowadays, in 2026, fifty years later, even a tiny amount of silk seems like luxury. A privilege. A joy. The lining is acetate. Inspection Feels very soft. It has a side zip. The zip is longer than the part which the manufacturer has allowed to open. The pattern is black and red flowers and leaves. Two shades of red, darker mat...

 Known your good side, the good side of your face. Or take three photos or five every time. Face forwards, left, right, and three quarters in both directions. Try the same looking up and down. Pose leaning forwards and backwards. What do we need to hide? Untidy hair, bald patch, roots which need tinting - under a hat or hair band, or a pony tail. Frown lines - under a fringe or brimmed hat. Lined neck or Adam's apple (thyroid cartilage)  - under a polo neck or high neck or scarf or choker.  Tummy Hide a tummy under an A line dress, or a long scarf. Hold a bunch of flowers. Stand behind a table. Stand half hidden behind somebody else. Place a partner seated on a chair and stand behind them. Hide half behind a door or wall, peeking out or waving or holding out a banner or welcome sign or greeting. Sit with a pet on your lap, or a soft toy. Arms and Hands Hid crepey arms under long sleeves. Lack of nail varnish - hands behind back, or holding a bunch of flowers, or a cup, or...

  Green ramie dress with yellow straps. Selfie Photo by Angela Lansbury. I love this green dress. I needed to wear  a collar with it because I am on Zoom internet meetings, so I found a yellow silk blouse to co-ordinate with the top edge of the green linen-like dress. The fiber is called Ramie, which grows in Asia. The Dress The dress is a stiff, rough 100 per cent ramie fabric and creases. The colour is fabulous, bright green and yellow. (I have enhanced the colour slightly by editing it in the mobile phone using Auto.) Just sitting at my desk looking down at the skirt, the colour lifts my spirits.  The label says Davinci, size 10, 100% ramie, made in Hong Kong, sample, not to be sold. Maybe the assistant had not noticed the label.  Maybe they were selling it anyway. Maybe I saw it hidden on the back of a rack and it wasn't supposed to be sold but the assistant decided to sell it to me anyway.  Maybe I wanted the non sample half and the assistant wanted to make...