The Vintage Family Album

An amazing photo album resurfaced at a family reunion last weekend...

My grandmother, age 20 (1946). This is seriously amazing, for at least 3 reasons.
1) She hasn't changed a bit.
2) I look a lot like her.
3)HAIR!

My great-aunt in the late 30s and 40s. The bathing suit shot on the right is so cool!

Fur and victory rolls...

1941

1958. Travelling in style!

Amazingly 80s... *cough*hats*cough*... The hottie on the far left is my mother.

So adorably 60s <3 I absolutely adore the short flower dress on the right.

A very 50s wedding...

This I find just incredible. It's my great uncle in his Tunisian army uniform,
presumably - judging by the photo style - in the late 30s.

Winter 1961.

Hilariously 70s... This is like a caricature of all the fashion faux-pas that characterised the era.
I promise I will never let the concerned parties live it down.

A 60s wedding...

...and more 60s partying goodness

French cafe terrace... I would love one of those bags in white. Or pale green.

I'm all graduated!

...Which is really only that exciting because I got to wear my new dress from China.

But yes, after four years of late-night essay writing, digging, costume parties, more digging, and lots and lots of crazy encounters with amazing people, I finally have a degree! Call me crazy, but it's been a week and I already miss lectures.

 

 

  

The qipao (traditional Chinese dress) was tailor-made for me in a fabric market in Shanghai. Love the coral pattern on the silk! Chose it because it's very 1930s-Shanghai-movie. The heels I just picked up from Primark, they killed my feet all day but I was really happy to find a colour that matched exactly!

Also, I loved my robes! It's not everyday you can use the word robes in normal conversation (unless you're french, that is), so let me just indulge one more time. ROBES. There. How Hogwarts-y.

Fashion Report: China

I'm back, people! And this time, with a legitimate excuse for my absence: I've been holed up in China for the past month, travelling the shit out of that beautiful country!! I've got lots of articles planned for you guys, but first things first: here's a recap of the top trends this season.

China must-knows: fashion on the high streets

1. Appropriateness gone crazy

Standards of clothing-appropriateness are noticeably reversed - this is true in Beijing and Shanghai, but also, from what I've seen, in the smaller cities. China struck me from day 1 as very much a top-button kind of population, and yet... in compensation for that upper-half Victorianism, shorts are mini mini mini. If it's longer than hotpants, then it's acceptable.

This may seem like an enjoyable change for some, but as someone who tends to wear tank tops and spaghetti straps, I stuck out like a sore thumb! (And this despite my comparatively conservative knee-length skirts). Eventually, I gave in and started walking around in baggy t-shirts and mini-shorts. When the air is so hot and humid it hits you like a wave of toxic gas from the moment you step outside, how little you wear won't make a difference - you'll invariably be sticky within the hour.

2. Shorts. 

The shorts-mania that's gripping the nation clearly hasn't left out the other side of the world. Sigh. (Sigh? Yes, sigh. I can't wear shorts without looking like I'm in diapers.)
Frilly tops, t-shirts, all are worn with mini-shorts. Even girlish minidresses are worn with shorts underneath, bloomers-style.

3. Cut-out shoulder tops

In compensation for the conservativeness of the upper half of the body, risqué shoulder holes are incorporated into the design of many shirts. I do love that trend :3

4. Platforms and heels of Gagaesque heights

We're talking a good 10cm average, here. Convenient considering the quantity of unidentified puddles in the streets, perplexing when worn on Great Wall treks. Doubly impressive is the fact that most of the available designs are mules. Seriously, how do people walk in mules?? One of the big mysteries of life.

5. Bright colours

Chiffon fabrics and flowing cuts are in this season, and it would seem nobody does bright colours better than China. Turquoise, bright blue, pink and orange are very popular, but yellow takes the prize, the biggest and brightest and most common. Amusingly, after looking through my travel photos, my Parisian aunt's only comment was, "do these people never wear black?!". Ah, you really can't change the French.

6. Umbrellas

Rain? Sun? Whatever the weather, women all whip out their umbrellas faster than they can say Quidditch. Umbrellas are THE must-have accessory this season. Make sure you pack one if planning a trip to China. Else you might get caught in the summer monsoons. Or, god forbid, you might get a tan.

And yet...

The bad and the ugly: anti-fashion habits exposed!

Anti fashion habit #1: The exposed pot bellies and love handles.

Men, why take off your shirts when you can walk around with them riding up to your nipples?

Anti fashion habit #2: The spitting. 

True story for you all: One evening, I was waiting for my overnight train to Xian, when, in front of me on the platform, I noticed a beautiful woman. Presumably in her 30s, she donned long black hair, a sexy casual black dress, and more character than Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn put in a blender together (an odd comparison, I'll concede). There I stood, with nothing better to do than admire her femininity and class, when the object of my observation turned around and spat out more phlegm than I ever thought humanly possible onto the tiles next to her, with about as much class as a low-ranking mafia spawn (again, really weird comparison - I think I watch too many movies).

Anti-fashion habit #3: The split pants.

Referring to the common habit of certain parents of cutting their children's trousers down the middle for... convenience's sake. I'll leave that up to your imagination.

Anti-fashion habit #4: Crocs.

Apparently, in China, Crocs are still a thing. So are Cocs, and Rcocs, and other variations on the originals.

Boat necks and high waists

Boat neck top - Mango

High-waisted shorts - Primark

Teddy jacket - Primark

Jewellery - Primark

Shoes - Truffle

Yep, most of it's Primark. What can I say, I'm very big on disposable fashion... it's the only way I can quench my new-stuff addiction. 

These shoes are mine, betch

...Or a headless outfit post.

My new shoes came in the mail the other day, and I just HAD to snap away...

Personally,  I think there's something very Rocking Horse Ballerina about them... but maybe it's all in my head.

I normally get worried when ordering shoes online, especially on ebay, but these fit perfectly and are very comfy. They're so light!!

Dress - H&M

Shoes - Truffle

I don't normally do this, but I unceremoniously cropped my face out because I looked horrendous. The camera just really didn't love me that day.

The outfit was actually vaguely inspired by a manga called Kagen no Tsuki  (Last Quarter) by ze Queen Ai Yazawa of the Nana fame. Her drawings were my (life)style inspiration all through high school (*smiles fondly at the awkward memories*).

Last Quarter is a short (3 volume) story about a girl who awakes from a coma to find that the girl from her dreams is real, but only she can see her. The graphics are beautiful, and I kindly put up the link, so go check it out, go go go!

Oh my god. Shoes.

Let's get some shoes - my ultimate lust list:

1. Wedge Converse heels

 

So many options! I'd like to get them in a bright, popping colour like pink or turquoise. Unfortunately these are Korean-made (i.e. the sizes are small!) and most manufacturers don't have my size :( 

(Before anyone says anything - yes, I am well aware that these are not real All Stars, but Converse have long discontinues their wedged collection. Nothing I can do there.)

2. Red or Dead's Shirley mary janes

These are just WONDERFUL. They also exist in black, gold and silver, but the red ones have awoken my childhood dream of owning Dorothy's Ruby slippers (pssst, here's a secret: I've seen at the V&A the original Ruby slippers, and the Harry Winston copy made out of actual rubies and diamonds, reportedly the most expensive shoes in the world... and they're not that nice. No, really. The kitten heel is awkwardly square and they look chunky. These are much better.)

Unfortunately it seems that the size 6 pairs are sold out EVERYWHERE. If you see or have a pair up for sale, please let me know!! (You can email me at milliefreakingfrench@gmail.com)

...Well, okay, maybe the Harry Winston ones are nice, too.

3. Jeffrey Campbell 'Litas

These shoes rule

These shoes suck

These shoes rule!

These have been spotted everywhere for a couple of seasons now, and I can see why. These shoes rule! (I'd be paranoid about going up and down the stairs, though).

4. Andreia Chaves' Invisible Shoes

Concept shoe designer Andreia Chaves has many tricks up her sleeve, but nothing beats the ingenious design of her Invisible Shoes. The pictures speak for themselves! These are actually for sale, price quoted upon request... I don't think I want to know.

5. Julian Hakes' Mojito shoes

What happens when an architect designs a pair of shoes? This.

These shoes are 300 dollars. These shoes are 300 fucking dollars. Let's get 'em.
(Actually, they're about 175 quid)

Oh, for those who are wondering what the hell I've been referencing throughout the post:

Let's party.