Elegant Survival

A Rare Find at Bergdorf Goodman:

Colleen Caramel-Coloured Corduroy Peplum Jacket by Milly

Town and Country Suit by Burton of Leeds

Read the measurements carefully for this elegant man's wool suit, vintage 1960s

Please read the measurements carefully. This elegant, double-breasted British tweed trench-coat is a treasure for the elegant man. You definitely ought to forgo the bottom-feeders' two-inch fly pants while wearing this classic piece of menswear from Great Britain.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OUTSTANDING-VTG-BRITISH-TWEED-TRENCHCOAT-44-/380393889801?pt=UK_Men_s_Coats_Jackets&hash=item58913e2009

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WOMENS-STUNNING-PURE-WOOL-VINTAGE-60S-SKIRT-SUIT-10-12-/290644034238?pt=UK_Women_s_Vintage_Clothing&hash=item43abbc02be

M-J de Mesterton is elegantly dressed for a wintry Saturday evening at home with her husband. An Eddie Bauer classic  Skyliner down jacket, a Casio G-Shock watch and black pearls complement a form-fitting gown.

©Elegant Survival November 2011

Bali Skimp-Skamp

Here is a proper pair of ladies' underwear that clings to the waist for smooth lines and a pulled-together feeling: Bali Brief # 2633

©M-J de Mesterton, Elegant Survival 2011

Loulou de la Falaise

Elegant woman's tweed suit with velvet collar and twin-pleat skirt. Listing says size 14, but read the measurements carefully--it is more like a size 8 or 10. Superb Cambrian Welsh Tweed Double Breasted Skirt Suit, by Laura Ashley--the quality is amazing; beautiful heavyweight pure wool cloth by a mill no longer in production; fully-lined, amazing red, green and blue colour combination, superb styling, black velvet colar, side patch pockets. This skirt suit will get you through the winter and Christmas parties in classic style. The warmth of this luxurious double-breasted tweed jacket may even eliminate the need for an overcoat on some dry, cold days, when worn with a cashmere or wool scarf. This Laura Ashley vintage suit is in excellent condition, and is offered at a very low starting bid by our sterling friend Peter in Herefordshire.

A figure-flattering skirt in luxurious, elegant tweed, this classic has a waistband that can be let-out to 28".

Elegant Winter Dressing

For daytime, I would wear this skirt-suit with a white, high-necked jabot or ruffled blouse, or a white turtleneck. At night, you could wear a silk blouse in red, blue, green or black under this fabulous velvet-collared jacket. This elegant tweed lends itself to many colour combinations.

A pair of tall, warm black boots would be perfect with this elegant tweed suit, as would some black leather or velveteen gloves. A black or white fur hat would complement the ensemble.

If this classic tweed skirt-suit fits your dimensions, you are fortunate. Good luck bidding!

Looking at two men's style magazines this fall, I was appalled at the sloppy interpretations of traditional clothing. Here's one: "waistcoats" or vests that are way too long. A waistcoat is just that, and no amount of fanciful tinkering with length, just to be edgy or to conceal low-slung trousers is going to change the fact. The incorrectly-extended garment needs to be called something else:

Crotch-Coat

And, speaking of low-slung trousers, men are still buying whatever the clothing industry produces, even if their legs are visually miniaturised in the process. Now, to go along with their plumber's-crack specials,  guys are wearing ties that go down to their crotches, as well as clownishly long vests over billowing shirts (additional consequences of mindlessly following fashion).  The clothing culture has become so twisted that people of both genders are confusing "high-waisted" with waist-high--which is the level at which anyone with good taste wears his or her trousers and skirts.

 ©M-J de Mesterton 2011

Why wear socks that only go halfway up your legs? They are neither elegant nor warm. Three seasons of the year, I wear knee-length or long-socks made of wool--here is my source, Woods of Shropshire. In summer, I wear knee socks knitted from cotton, even on the tennis court. Like waist-high skirts and trousers, they make your legs appear long--a classic, elegant look which has always been desirable. 

©M-J de Mesterton

Please visit http://www.tweed-jacket.com for elegant tweed clothing, made-to-measure in England.

Photo Courtesy of M-J de Mesterton

Bookster UK sells the highest-quality vintage tweed clothing for men and women, and also tailor-makes elegant Scottish tweed clothing in England. Here is an excerpt from their page:

The Bookster Hacking Jacket embodies all that is best in the way of styling, Tailored in England and designed to be versatile and suitable for equestrian, formal and casual wear.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-BOOKSTER-TAILOR-MADE-BEAULY-WAISTCOAT-42-S-/290599520097?pt=UK_Men_s_Waistcoats&hash=item43a914c761#ht_2817wt_905

Photo Copyright M-J de Mesterton ©2001

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WOMENS-AQUASCUTUM-BLACK-VELVET-COLLAR-TWEED-JACKET-12-/290567832163?pt=UK_Women_s_Coats_Jackets&hash=item43a7314263

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WOMENS-AQUASCUTUM-BLACK-VELVET-COLLAR-TWEED-JACKET-12-/290567832163?pt=UK_Women_s_Coats_Jackets&hash=item43a7314263#ht_2566wt_905 Please read the measurements very carefully to ensure a proper fit. This is a magnificent ladies' double-breasted tweed houndstooth jacket with an elegant black velvet collar. Made by Aquascutum of England.

Remember normal-sized clothing for women, before the fashion industry started distorting sizing in order to flatter the anorexia cult? Standard sizing no longer exists, as a dress with a 36-inch bust is now labelled as anything between size 4 and size 14, depending upon whom the maker is targeting. And today's "size 12", whatever that represents, is now often being labelled "plus" for the purpose of  charging more for a normal size.  Recent research results show that the average American woman weighs 164 pounds, and, in a rational sizing system, would wear a size 12. Some of the styles offered by the U.S.' top elite department store, Manhattan's Bergdorf Goodman, in 1948 started at size 12, and went up to size 20. Originally, "plus sizes" were anything above size twenty. In 1948, this black silk dress was offered at Bergdorf Goodman in sizes 10--20. If a woman wanted something smaller, she had to shop in the children's section.

When shopping for clothing in autumn 2011, pay no attention to sizing numbers, which are misleading and no longer standard; instead, follow the bust, waist and hip measurements. 

©M-J de Mesterton

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WOMENS-SUPER-TAILOR-MADE-ISLAY-WOOL-CHECK-SKIRT-SUIT-12-/290594341664?pt=UK_Women_s_Suits_Tailoring&hash=item43a8c5c320

The classic safari dress, by Burberrys

Elegant Survival on Safari

©M-J de Mesterton Sources for Traditional Safari Clothing Hunting World: New Old Stock Cabela's Tag Safari Eddie Bauer House of Fraser Linen Safari Dress