In the Spring of 1938 we shall lunch in printed satin and silver fox

[Or, Fashion hints courtesy of the movies - no.2]

I've been a busy bee at work and away at the Rotterdam Film Festival (which was bliss) so have almost forgotten how to sew. I've declared Saturday sew-in day though, so hopefully I'll have some pics of dress no. 2 soon.

In the meantime, here's a clip from a film about Norman Hartnell's Spring 1938 collection for your delectation. I particularly like the outfits called 'Cinema' (bien sûr) and the bizarrely named 'Paddock' (or did I mishear that?!). It has an air of poignancy as only a year later such superficial concerns as the latest fashions will seem frivolous and decadent. As Susannah of Cargo Cult Craft fame explains in her wonderful blog, clothes rationing began suddenly in June 1941 - it must have come as quite a shock to the ladies who would have bought clothes like these...



You can find this film and more from the BFI National Archive on the BFI's YouTube channel .

[This post was written to a soundtrack of 'Moped Eyes' by Super Furry Animals and a smelltrack of fresh coffee]