Have you seen that tiny Japanese lady on TV, the one that wants us to clear out anything that fails to ‘spark joy’? I love the idea, it’s just, well, everything I own sparks joy! I fear I may need a whole wing of a stately home to store all the adorable vintage dresses and other things I either own or covet. Alas, this is not to be, and my own little vintage cabinet of curiosities must remain contained within a more modest abode. But what if you did have unlimited space for vintage style dresses? A vast array of hanging rails, dressing rooms and closets that could accommodate a whole archive of beautiful clothes; bodycon dresses, full circle skirts, fitted and flared dresses, the very idea makes me feel quite giddy! So, when I read, the other day, that Catherine Deneuve is planning to auction her collection of Yves Saint Laurent clothes, I felt a deep pang of sadness. Has the first lady of French cinema fallen on hard times? No, her career goes from strength to strength. Has she fallen out with fashion? No, she is still a regular at Paris Fashion Week. Then why, oh why would she feel compelled to part with the haute couture garments that are such a tightly-bound part of her visual identity? The rather dull answer would appear to be linked with her selling one of her homes and, presumably needing to downsize. It is reassuring to know that even Catherine Deneuve needs to constrain her wardrobe!
Of course, there is one important thing to remember here. Catherine, like all incredibly chic women, has a style that is unmistakably her own. Yves Saint Laurent was commissioned to create her wardrobe for Belle du Jour, and she has remained loyal to him ever since, never straying too far from the gorgeous black fitted dresses and camel palette, occasional leopard print and dainty kitten heels that work so well for her. Clearly, both Deneuve and YSL realised that these unprepossessing neutrals and the simple classic lines of trench coats, le smoking tuxedo and skirts cut to that perfect length just below the knee made for a great look. With a wardrobe that adheres so strongly to one simple and clearly defined style, perhaps she could spare one or two of those classic pea coats after all? Maybe she wouldn’t miss half a dozen black polo neck cashmere jumpers and even this cheeky little number?
I am teasing, of course I am. But it did make me think about how we create our own varied and interesting wardrobes. Do we always think about how often we will wear something? Do we weigh up whether it is entirely practical? My suspicion is that we may be very sensible most of the time, but we are all too human when it comes to seizing an amazing bargain in the form of maybe a vintage style fitted dress or struggling the urge to buy something vintage style that is glorious, glamourous and not always suitable for the British climate! But that’s okay, right? I think we should have lovely things that make us feel like we walk on air… I reserve the right to make space in my closet for a few adorable wildcard, bodycon dresses, fitted and flared frocks, I wear them once in a blue moon, but when I do it is always memorable. They spark joy for me, and that is what counts. So, on that triumphant note I am heading off to scroll through the British Retro Sale, I think I may be able to make room for a one or two 50s style swing dresses and maybe a fab fitted pencil dress and, and…
