Wonderful booky goodness

Ooo. Oooo oooo. Ooooo!! Look at this. Look, but don't drool.

This is my new booky acquisition, purchased from Readings in Carlton over the weekend.

I love this book. You know why I love this book?

I love it because THIS is the book I wanted to buy after I finished my visit of the Golden Age of Couture exhibition in Bendigo earlier in the year.

This is the book that has all of the photos of the beautiful dresses and outfits and cocktail frocks and evening gowns and gorgeous accessories that I wasn't allowed to photograph inside the art gallery.

This is the book I presumed would enable me to pore over the outfits in detail, understanding their genesis and design, the philosophies behind them, the virtues and values of their creators.

When I exited the exhibition I expected (do you like my alliteration?) to find the traditional exhibition "book" that's usually produced in parallel with these kinds of travelling shows. I had even budgeted for one.

But no!

I looked around in astonishment at the complete lack of exhibition book. A complete lack. Com-pleeeeeete lack. My heart sank. I peeked under piles of handknitted jumpers and scarves. No book. I looked behind buckets of posters. No book. Maybe they'd sold out? Maybe they had more in a box out the back?

But no. It was very sad.

So all I purchased as my souvenir was this beautifully scented soap, named "Little Black Dress". I thought that was appropriate, given the circumstances.

Having found this book over the weekend puts the final piece of the puzzle into place. I KNEW there'd be a book of this exhibition, it just took me five months to find it, in an utterly disconnected place. Thank you V&A Museum!

And then I bought these two great porcelain mugs as well, I couldn't resist them. Two of my favourite novels, right there to drink coffee from.

It makes me smile when I see one in the morning, and there's nothing like starting the morning with a happy smile on your face.

I think I'm going to fill one up right now and go and read my lovely new book in intimate detail.

Check out this page if you'd like one of your own!

Firstly, an aubergine trench....

So it's 35 degrees outside, but here, inside the Bendigo Art Gallery, it's cool and dark and quiet.

We're standing in front of the aubergine silk taffeta trenchcoat (sharp collar, double-breasted, seamed at the waist, the arms and back panel cut from a single length of fabric, the astonishing mastery of both form and function), created by Christian Dior in 1947.

And I'm marvelling at the timelessness of the piece. At the enduring style and classicism. At the beauty of the work, and the precision of the cut, and the deep matte richness of the colour.

I lean over to My One True Love and I whisper to him excitedly: "That is extraordinary - amazing - I could wear that today!"

Meaning, of course, because of the way the coat transcends all notions of momentary whim and trend; stepping elegantly sideways, away from such frivolous and fleeting concerns, and standing firmly in the pages of fashion history instead.

And he looks back at me, and then at the coat, and then back at me, and he pauses, and he says thoughtfully, with a small crinkle of concern in his forehead:

".....I reckon you'd be hot."

Ouch, the beauty is hurting me

Just back from Bendigo.

Cannot (gasp) blog about Golden Age of Couture exhibition yet (pant).

Dresses. Too. Beautiful..... (gulp, wheeze) ... Tailoring. Too. Exquisite.

Must rest, and shield eyes of memory from extraordinary beauty. Visions of silk faille overwhelming me. Drowning in remembered pleats. Cannot scrape image of Hardy Amies fuschia wool coat from imprint on inside of eyelids.

Need recovery wine - a lot - now. Must numb all nerves currently screeching with exhilaration.

Lying down. Cold compress placed on hot and bothered forehead.

Promise to blog further tomorrow, when pointillistic painful effect of overwhelming beauty has receded.

(Postscript: at lunchtime in random cafe, had amazing coffee with face of Zephyrus - god of wind - etched in crema. Was quite astonished by esoteric mythological reference. Picture attached as proof. Nearly as incredible as exhibition itself.)

Further recovery wine definitely required.