It was Christmas Eve and my mom and I were happily ensconsed in one of the many Agatha Christie's Miss Marple Mysteries I'd bought for the very purpose of whiling away some holiday hours. They were the ones with the wonderful Joan Hickson as Miss Marple, beautifully art directed, with amazing costumes and sets. Muted tweeds in brown, camel and blue, layered patterns, crisp cotton shirts, wonderful handknit cable sweaters. And the interiors were full of amazing colored walls, fabulous patterned wallpapers, rich upholstered furniture in every scene. It was all so very, very mid-century "english".
Which reminded me of a feature in this month's Elle shops section about the line, rag and bone. I'd heard of the term before, but couldn't place it...it's an english term right? I wasn't sure, so I asked my mom (who is english) what it was exactly meant. She said that it was a term refering to wandering vendors from turn of the century England, who'd sell old clothing, rags, scrap, anything that could be recycled, along with bones for soup. Who knew?
Well whatever the origins of the term, I really like the look of this centuries rag and bone line. And given the description, I think it's a great concept for the perfect uniform in general. Well, my perfect uniform, at least. "Luxuriously tailored basics with a focus on borrowed-from-the-boys styles." Works for me. Definitely. It goes on to describe the "rag and bone" aesthetic as "understated yet sophisticated, effortless but still stylish." Very nice. I'm finding Miss Marple, rag and bone, sophisticated basics are all very inspiring ideas for my perfect uniform in 07!
