Paris - Gloves Galore: June 2023

 Discovering Thomasine 

Amid the busy days of our Paris-Dressed: The History of Fashion tour, led by the fashion historians, Cassidy Zachary and April Calahan, we had a day to explore on our own. Susan and I planned our day around a visit to a bespoke glove maker, lunch at the La Samarataine department store and a trip to Le Musée Picasso.

Discovering unique creators of fashion is one of my passions and certain roads lead to these discoveries. Through the online platform, Homo Farber, which highlights master artisans from around the world, I learned of Thomasine Barnekow, a couturiére of gloves. 

I made an appointment to meet Thomasine at her boutique at 23 Galerie Véro-Dodat. Susan and I arrived by taxi and strolled the Galerie waiting for our 11 a.m. appointment

La Galerie Véro-Dodat

Thomasine describes her gloves as "like soft jewelry".

Thomasine works with major French fashions houses for

runway shows, the Opéra Bastille and contemporary artists.

Over Hibiscus tea, Thomasine, who is Swedish and grew up on a farm, told me of doing hand sewing with her grandmother while the ladies in the sewing circle gave her cookies. She is a graduate of the Design Academy Eindhoven in the Netherlands which is considered the Bauhaus of today.

I choose these yellow gloves made of lambskin

with black calf leather cuffs. 

Thomasine sources the

lambskin from France and Italy.

In the window is one of her fanciful art-glove creations.

I also got these violet gloves

with black strappy cuffs.

Susan, my companion on this visit.

Thomasine's beautifully wrapped

gloves trimmed with a

pheasant feather.

Merci, Thomasine,

It was a pleasure to meet you!

À Bientôt.

More Paris to come.

Paris - Day One: June 2023

We got dressed and went to Paris!

I have been listening to Dressed: The History of Fashion, a podcast hosted by the two fashion historians, April Calahan and Cassidy Zachary, for several years. It's an informative and entertaining look at historical and contemporary fashion topics, most often presented through interviews with designers, curators and authors. It's hard to imagine more knowledgeable fashion experts than April and Zachary.

The tour was arranged by Like Minds Travel under the able guidance of its founder, Laura Hart.

So when the opportunity arose to travel to Paris on a group tour, "Paris with Dressed: The History of Fashion," I jumped at the chance. My sister, Susan, joined me on our French adventure.

At the historic Art Nouveau Bouillon Racine for our farewell dinner.

Left to right: Carol, Cassidy Zachary, Susan Markel and April Calahan.

I am wearing a Kenzo jacket that I snagged that very morning

 at Les Puces flea market.

We stayed at Hôtel Joséphine near the Moulin Rouge.

Our first destination was La Galerie Dior located next to the original house of Dior on Avenue Montaigne. This elegant gallery has a magical display of Dior creations from several eras. 

Christian Dior showed his first collection for Spring/Summer in 1947. It featured the iconic "New Look," perfectly summarized in the "Bar" suit, a crisp white jacket with a nipped waist and a full, mid-calf black skirt. It created a sensation after the deprivation of the war years.

Christian Dior, tailleur Bar depicted on a

postcard I purchased at La Galerie Dior.

A charming display of cherry-hued delights.

A regal and dramatic ball gown with

a red sash slashing across the bodice.

Perhaps the perfect ensemble for Madame's elegant dinner.

There's something about red velvet. The French do

style details so well as in the

simply tied shawl across the shoulders.

Monsieur Dior's desk.

Two ladies were set up in a gallery to tie white ribbons

around diminutive Dior perfume bottles.Two little

girls were each given a white satin ribbon of their very own.

Susan and I enjoyed  le déjeuner in the Dior Cafe.

La Galerie Dior is maintained at a low 

temperature to preserve the clothes.

To keep us toasty, the serving staff provided us with

 luxurious cashmere Dior blankets.

(Alas, to borrow, not to keep.)

This is an excellent history of the house of Dior:

https://www.galeriedior.com/en/history

À Bientôt!

and more to come!