Monday, March 24, 2008

A present from abuela: fashion treasures


My abuela (grandmother in Spanish) got married in her native Uruguay in the late 1940's. She was 20 and literally a beauty queen. Last week sent me something very special: some of the items made for her on the occasion of her marriage - her trousseau.
Her mother Inés, who died a couple of years ago, still an elegant and graceful lady at the age of 100, was a master seamstress who, with her sisters, owned a chic clothes store in Montevideo, so only the most beautiful fabrics and exquisite cuts were used for my abuela's trousseau: glossy silks, fine lace, all impeccably crafted.
They are in pristine condition, and thanks to new trends in fashion, many have become perfect to wear not only to bed, but also outside, if paired with other, less revealing garments - the sheer fabrics are why I didn't model these clothes as I usually do.
One nightgown comes with a matching little 'jacket' (2nd pic from top: the nightie's cream lace trimmings; top left-side pic: the jacket). This jacket would be perfect with jeans and a black tee. I love the peach-colored muslin skirt with strips of black lace, and the knee-length buttoned silk white dress I'm dying to wear with a white tee and leggings or just shorts.
I'd love to hear your advice on how to wear these outside the house...
Gracias, abuela querida (and don't kill me because I disclosed information that will allow people to figure out your age...).

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

These are soooo beautiful! I love the idea of the skirt with leggings. You are lucky to have these,

Jill said...

Wow! These things are so lovely. I hope you have a warm day soon on which to wear the skirt or dress!

STYLE AND THE CITY . COM - PARIS said...

Bonjour blogeuse passionnée.

Je suis Kamel LAHMADI, un ex réalisateur reportages télé, devenu photographe de street style qui se permet de te laisser un com afin de solliciter ton avis.

J'ai quitté la télé et la presse pour crée le blog Style and the City en octobre dans l‘espoir d'humaniser la mode en réalisant des romans photos de street style dans Paris : je me balade dans Paris à la recherche de jolis styles et raconte cela en romans photos. Et durant la fashion week, je réalise chaque jour un grand roman photo (100 à 200 photos) comme tu peux en voir actuellement.
Et comme tu pourras le lire sur mon dernier roman photo, ce n'est pas facile par moment...

Après 205 romans photos de street style et de fashion week en 5 mois, j'ai besoin de ressourcer mon travail. Je suis un perfectionniste et concilier qualité et plaisir est un impératif pour moi et une exigence vis-à-vis de mes lecteurs.

Aussi est-ce pour qu’en toute simplicité je me permets de contacter les blogs de qualité que je ne connais pas afin de recueillir leurs avis : si tu me disais ce que tu ressens à le lecture de mon blog, de mes romans photos et ce que tu verrais comme améliorations, je t’en serai des plus reconnaissants.

Merci pour ta complicité; j'espère ne pas t'avoir dérangée.
Au plaisir de te lire.

Kamel LAHMADI
street style romancer in Paris

STYLEANDTHECITY.COM

You can call me Betty, or Bethany, or Beth ...Just don't call me late for dinner. said...

gorgeous, sentimental, beautiful and perfect.

Grandmas are the best.

marie said...

wow! i think i would wear them with leggings and flats, or over skinny jeans..so pretty! merci for sharing (et merci to abuela!)
et aussi the little jacket sounds beautiful too!

/// said...

OMG SO BEAUTIFUL.

Anonymous said...

I you want them to last, wash only by hand with mild soap!

Anonymous said...

i second bitter betty's comment! really beautiful mary-laure, oh what a wonderful gift. these are the best kind. I'm so thrilled for you! and i would like to see some of your outfit choices too. px

Miss Cavendish said...

These are absolutely exquisite--of the quality and design that cannot be found today.

Esti said...

Nice clothes indeed. I like the soft colours, so discreet.

Anonymous said...

I like the last one.

tangobaby said...

I just discovered your blog through Octavine Illustration and just wanted to tell you I love your blog. This post about your abuela is wonderful

I'll be looking forward to reading you regularly.

a bientot!

Mary-Laure said...

Hi TangoBaby!
Thanks for your kind words... I'm going to check out your blog right now.

Ella Gregory said...

The lace looks so delictae
I love feminine things like this!

Ella Gregory said...

The lace looks so delictae
I love feminine things like this!

Anonymous said...

Lucky you to have such abuela.

maverickandlove said...

wow those are very lovely pieces

Valloittava valkoinen said...

oh soooo lovely clothes!!!you are so lucky!!!
And i was very happy to see you had visited on my blog!thanks!
Anu

Line said...

wow - what a treasure!
I'm sure you will find lots of creative ways to make these fabulous garments part of your wardrobe! Love the skirt especially!

Jo said...

oh marie-laure, these are so gorgeous!!! abuelas are the best.