Elegant Survival

A Rare Find at Bergdorf Goodman:

Colleen Caramel-Coloured Corduroy Peplum Jacket by Milly

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

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

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!

An exquisite, face-and-figure-flattering classic woman's suit in Islay tweed wool, offered by our sterling friend Peter in Herefordshire. This is a three-season, light wool ladies' suit that has an elegantly-tapered, back-slit, knee-length skirt and a jacket which will lend an hour-glass shape to its wearer. This is the height of daytime elegance for a woman who attends luncheons and/or business meetings.

~~M-J

Elegant Woman's Harris Tweed Riding Jacket, Trimmed in Black Velvet, Available for Purchase

Made in England

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.

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

M-J de Mesterton wears a diaphanous black silk blouse with abalone buttons, a Burgundy and black changeant taffeta skirt, and elegant, sensible shoes by Clarks--a perfectly respectable ensemble for a July evening. ©M-J de Mesterton July 2011 Click Here to Read M-J's Latest Elegant Survivalist Posts

Stop Staring Clothing has had a successful internet presence for thirteen years, purveying charming retro-styles of cocktail dresses, vintage-inspired swimsuits, and other sartorial necessities for women. Here is a swimming costume that I think is particularly figure-flattering. Read Stop Staring's sizing-chart for an accurate fit. There is additional elegant swimwear on offer there, so you may enjoy perusing the category.  Stop Staring has a very helpful staff on-hand for advice--we spoke with the knowledgeable Sarah, who informed us that Stop Staring is developing a custom-sizing system in which we will be able to choose cloth and fit-dimensions when ordering some of their dresses. ©M-J de Mesterton

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WOMENS-AQUASCUTUM-BLACK-VELVET-COLLAR-TWEED-JACKET-12-/290567832163?pt=UK_Women_s_Coats_Jackets&hash=item43a7314263#ht_2566wt_905&afsrc=1

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.

Classic English-Made Breeks for Women, a Country-Chic Tradition 

Offered by Bookster UK Vintage Shop

Butterick Retro Patterns offers this elegant 1940s-style dress design. Unfortunately, this classic dress style has been copied and very poorly-executed in China by the J. Peterman Company. The latest Peterman versions have freakishly low "waists", necessitating the use of a wide leather belt to cinch their middles inward, thereby covering up these outrageous flaws. It seems that for all their pretentious aping of classic, traditional clothing patterns and retro-bluster, the company, like nearly every other clothing manufacturer, is stuck in the waist-free rut, ruining the classics that they emulate.

Instead of buying Peterman's newest version of his Chinese "1947 Dress," perhaps one could give this Butterick Retro pattern to someone who sews and needs work. This way, you choose the fabric, and your garment will have an actual waist instead of a distorted, contemporary line. And it won't have been produced under a communist regime.~~M-J

As Seen on the Elegant Lady's Boudoir:

 Elegant, Accessible Evening-Wear from Buy in America, Made in

 Los Angeles, U.S.A.

Jaeger Celebrates its 125th Anniversary

Jaeger is a respected, highly polished British brand that has for all its one-hundred-and-twenty-five years specialised in making clothes with natural fibres, including noble ones like alpaca, vicuna and angora.  Jaeger was the first clothing company to use camel hair. Jaeger counts among its famous clients George Bernard Shaw, Vivienne Leigh, and Marilyn Monroe.  Jaeger now sits at the cutting-edge of high quality manufacturing, using new machines that accurately simulate the sewing actions of human beings. Having modelled Jaeger clothing in the past; I'm very fond of their workmanship and realistic sizing system. They make clothing for real women.

Jaeger website is now offering certain clothes at 50%, 60%, and 70% discounts. Jaeger designs investment pieces, so don't let the opportunity to own classic clothing at a low price slip past you.

~~M-J, January 27th