For some reason, I always seem to know huge amounts of people with birthdays in November.  My life is a whirl of parties for dear friends, and preparation for the holiday season. I have an interesting attitude towards presents.  When I find something that I just know is perfect for a particular person, or when I have an idea of something to make that I know they will love, I buy it and make it and give it. I really try not to buy a thing for the sake of giving a gift: in Western society we all own so much that more stuff, if it’s not the right stuff, is just a burden.  And sewing when I am not sure that the other person will like it is heartbreaking. This birthday season I had an idea for a present that would be perfect for the recipient in every possible way.  She loves vintage, she dances, we geek out together about vintage things and dancing things, and vintage dancing things, like tap pants.  She also …

Last week I showed you a striped 1820s dress with a variety of different trim ideas across the dress, and contrasting sleeves.  As a whole, certain bits of the dress you loved, other bits you hated: problem was there was no consensus as to which bits to admire  and which bits to condemn!  Some of you loved the purple sleeves, others loathed them.  I was among those who adored the bias striped trim at the hem, but many of you found it awful.  It was a very bitsy dress, and the bitsy votes came together at 7.4 out of 10, which impressed me considering all the criticism. Many of you were also quite critical of the display, which I think is a bit harsh.  They are auction-house pictures after all.  It’s very generous of Augusta Auctions to make so many detailed photos available online in the first place, and they have a lot of stuff to photograph and dress: you can hardly hold them to the same standards as the Metropolitan Museum of Art! This …