19.11.08

on nine tree hill

I felt like Phileas Fogg returning to Canada this past week, as what would normally have been a 7 hr flight from England turned into a 50 hr shuffle through 4 countries, innumerable airport queues and even more security checks. We spent so long at Schiphol after KLM cancelled its flights that the words "Achtung Bitte" are seared into my brain and keep announcing themselves in a robotic female airport voice at unexpected moments.
That said, I had a wonderful time away and so can hardly complain. The main purpose of this trip was to see family (and indulge in those strangely exotic, quintessentially British jaffa cakes), but I was also able to go on a graffiti trek in Stokes Croft, do some intensive corset hunting in Bristol and Bath, and drift around Portishead listening to Portishead. Also visited a 13th century abbey (which, being a history nut, was exciting enough before learning that Alan Rickman had been filming there), danced around Bath's beautiful Assembly Rooms with a waltz on my iPod, and went to sing-along Mamma Mia at a tiny theatre in Devon.
Here are some photos, beginning with Stokes Croft.
A glimpse at Maggie Taylor's visions of Alice in Wonderland- it was difficult to take photos, so do check her website for more images.
To and from the Bristol library.
Roaming Bath, I noticed this red mannequin/sculpture, oddly positioned by a top window, sporting a matching red suit and sling.
Later, I saw this little stone dog sitting alone near the top of a building. An adorable gargoyle- I wonder who commissioned him?
A chandelier from the Octagon at the Assembly Rooms in Bath. The four doors spaced around the walls lead to the grand tea, card and ballrooms, as well as the Costume Museum. If you come early, the rooms are completely empty. With good music and a little imagination, it's easy to be transported back to the 18th century.
The Costume Museum is downstairs. I was amazed by this court dress the first time I saw it on an earlier trip to Bath. The lady who wore it stood about as high as my waist and the panniers are so wide, I can't imagine her being able to move. French silk, 1760s.
I was reading about Catherine the Great's coronation dress the other day, which is quite similar in appearance, but she was taller, so perhaps those panniers were easier to manage.
Sack back dress from the 1760s made of blue brocaded silk.
Evening dress from 1804. Muslin embroidered with glass beads.
Day dress of purple striped taffeta. It consists of a separate bodice and skirt, common from the 1850s through the end of the Victorian period, as the sewing machine enabled people to make complex garments in component parts. The purple is still bright because the dress was coloured with chemical dye, invented in 1856.
Silk evening dress from the 1880s. I wish it was a more dramatic colour, particularly with that neckline. I never understand peach.
Corsets from the 1880s and 1890s.

Opulent bodices by Worth.
Mini in the medieval village of Lacock. The 1995 Pride and Prejudice was filmed here, which I didn't know until I was walking along a dirt shoulder on the "High Street" and realized I had watched Lizzy Bennet pass by an identical row of buildings.
Lattice window where Henry Fox Talbot made the oldest surviving photographic negative (1835). Photography was strictly verboten elsewhere in the house, but he had an amazing collection of books, ranging in every possible subject, including one ancient looking volume simply titled "Bubbles", which I was very curious about.
More photos are on flickr.

80 comments:

Anonymous said...

Adeleine, I love those red booties!!Any hints as to where they´re from?

MISS GLITZY said...

Your photos are such a wonderful journey, thanks a lot.

Eyeliah said...

Thanks for sharing so many amazing photos from your trip. Particularly love the blue brocade silk dress.

la femme said...

anon: They're my intermediaries from Office until the Chloes come up on ebay :)

miss glitz: thank you.

eyeliah: that was my favourite too...

Siru said...

I love the first picture and the historial clothes!

juliet xxx

la femme said...

thanks x

Julia said...

I love this article!

Eli said...

amazing! those dresses and corsets are so fragile and beautiful.

Wanderlusting said...

Glad to have you back - what wonderful photos - especially the first one of you!

AusAnna said...

such beautiful inspirational photos. thank you thank you :)

Julia said...

What a beautiful picture of you that is with the graffiti birds in the back. The blonde tone of your hair makes you look really scandinavian!
Very nice things you visited...

la femme said...

Thank you. I am partly Scandinavian at least :)

Chantelle said...

ahhhh!!! these are fantastic!
I've totally missed your posts!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful pictures Adeline, really I adore them. And I love your new hair, looks good on you!

Charmaine Li said...

i am so inspired by the sidenote you wrote about travelling..'If you love travelling as much as I do, then you’ve just got to do it, and you have to find some way..'.. i wish i could just drop everything and travel!

your photos are beautiful

la femme said...

thank you xo

charmaine: you don't have to drop everything- just decide you're going to do it, work hard and save :)

Trista said...

Your so lucky! I too hope to stroll Portishead whilst listening to Portishead! The graffiti is amazing! How cool to catch a Banksy for yourself (the naked guy hanging from the window is his, i believe)

la femme said...

Indeed :)

Anonymous said...

The graffiti of the girl in the purple boots is amazing. & love the costume museum shots--that neckline reinforces what I've always read about there only being inches of fabric to cover the bust. It's hard to picture until you see it.

la femme said...

Yes, I was stunned by the crouching girl. It's big too- you can see it from a block away.

laceybediz said...

What wonderful photos!! It makes me miss getting lost in the city, treasure hunting for public art and quirky photo opportunities! I have been in the US a year-- yikes!(though it was Alaska and wine country)-- but Dec 26th-- back to France and to the open road!!

happy travels!!!

Julia said...

Adeleine! Please give us new inspiring posts!!
BTW,I recently discovered this blog by a boy called Danny Roberts who makes beautiful fashion illustrations. Maybe you already know him... just in case u don´t, here´s the link: http://igorandandre.blogspot.com/. I think you´ll like it.
All the best!xx!

Susie said...

great photos! :]

Anonymous said...

I love your blog. It's always filled with pretty pictures! :)

e said...

those red boots are so lovely. thank u for the inspiration

Anonymous said...

gasp! you document your travels so well. i love taking these journeys with you.

..you always have a place to stay in phoenix!

la femme said...

thank you!

Ása Ottesen said...

Love your photos :)

TrenDlover

Laura McLaws Helms said...

Awwww! You just made me so homesick for England!

{Tara} said...

Such stunning gowns and corsets!!

j said...

Languid play...chance frolements, euphemistic enchantment for "Achtung Bitte."

Sarah C said...

Ooh- I love these pictures! Every time I see them my jealousy mounts.

Anonymous said...

The purple dress is soo classic. It just beautiful. We don's it these days. Thanks for the great pictures.

Claire said...

belated merry christmas and bonne annee my love! x

la femme said...

x

la femme said...

Thank you so much, and the same to you h of cc x

A La Mode said...

That dress is amazing! I live in Bristol! Heheee it's so interesting looking at it from a travelers point of view. Great pictures!

Vera said...

wow what a gorgeous post! I enjoyed every single image, mesmerising!

la femme said...

a la mode: lucky you!

d_i_v: thanks :)

ZuKi said...

Hi! I love your blog and I'm visiting it everytime you add something new to get a new wave of inspiration and a little feeling of travelling;))
I've tagged your blog as "Blog I love"

Anonymous said...

wanting some updates!

Appeal to the Eye said...

hello there!
How's life going?

I was wondering if you could add a link to my blog on your list of 'model citizens'. It would be really nice from you, also because I saw there's nor nothing about Barcelona.

; ))))

Thank you so much and hope to hear more and soon from you!

Lovelovelove
Verena Stefanie Grotto

http://appealtotheeye.blogspot.com
http://thecoolhunterdiary.blogspot.com

Sofie said...

Fantastic pictures of all this graffiti and street art. Thank you some much for sharing it!

la femme said...

No worries. I'm happy you like it.

Anonymous said...

Those red boots are really lovely! I'll definitely check them out!

Jane said...

I love all of these photos. Thank you for posting them
x

Tina { Luphia Loves... } said...

welcome to bath! the Assembly Rooms are the best, hope you loved it!

Mariangela said...

this photos are fantastic :-D

Agnes Deer said...

The Costume Museum is candy for the eyes.

http://agnesdear.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Awesome photos!

Some of the best street art i've seen in a while.

x

Kay said...

These photos make me slightly proud to be British, I have to say!
Good shots of Banksy's work especially.

http://thestitched.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

I love the red shoes!
The paintings are amazing!

Anonymous said...

It's funny, I live in Bath and yet look at it through completely different eyes. Thanks for opening my eyes a bit more.

Anonymous said...

your pictures are amazing. i love the murals!!!
check out murals from chicago, they are also amazing

grace e. said...

I love the graffiti! Where exactly is Stokes Croft? I've only been to England once but I'd like to go there next time I go... oh and love your red boots :) I've been trying to get these chloe ankle boots I've been obsessing over since kate bosworth wore them...

la femme said...

Stokes Croft is in Bristol.

Those chloe boots come up every once in a while on ebay. Depending on your shoe size, you might get lucky :)

grace e. said...

Checked ebay the other day and like you said, the boots were there. And in the wrong size :( Better luck next time I guess...

monic said...

graffities are amazing. wonderful photographs <3

Veronika Christine said...

Wow! What awesome pics!

Enchanté!

STARBOX PRODUCTION said...

great photos. Nothing like postcard, they are more personalized and I love it! I also always try to find out something new on my travels too

T-Shirt and Tails said...

Hey,

I'm a big fan of your blog and the Alice in Wonderland photos, I'd love to exchange blog links with you.

Check out my blog sometime: t-shirtandtails.blogspot.com

T-shirt and Tails

xxx

p said...

i miss your blog...

Justine said...

great pictures, they are make my mind wander...

M. R. P. M. said...

well that right there young lady is a winner post! and a winner blog

xxx


bR

kira said...

oh, a my dear! i love these photos, they make me miss england too too much. i miss your posts...hope you are well, wherever you are, dear waldo.

xoxoxo

boubou said...

i love your blog; your photo make me happy !!!! jadoore!

a bientot !

boubou

Miss Woody said...

your photos are gorgeous!
i love your blog! love

DENNI said...

great pics they re right!. loving the blog

kiss!


Chicmuse

thechicmuse.blogspot.com

Mumbai City said...

Really very nice place, Keep it up!

Unknown said...

what beautiful pictures...the graffiti is amazing!

xoxo

Serenity said...

I like very much the historial clothes in this pictures!

roxy B said...

Beautiful coronation outfit! that' why french doors were invented!
http://www.twolia.com/shop

Ann Pajuväli said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I love this post. It took me back to my Pride and Prejudice Days. I've always loved the empire waist line!

xoxox

Oliva
http://www.thecheapgirl.com
Canada's budget fashion and beauty blog

Plus Size Panties said...

I love almost all the attire.

ed hardy said...

I really like this article and enjoyed reading. Nice article, love the post.

ed hardy said...

Well I'm always happy to see people supporting knitwear, since that's what I sell! LOL

I can see why that is your dream storage system, it's beautiful!

ed hardy said...

Great article that informativeness. I have to follow your blog. Thank you so much for the post.

California health insurance said...

Wow, all of these photos are amazing. I've always loved graffiti art and enjoy looking at photos of them. It just amazes me every time I see an gigantic mural and the effort and artwork that's put into each one.

Anonymous said...

Argh, I am so pissed the people I was with in Bath didn't want to go to the Costume Museum. Thanks for taking pictures so I can see what I missed!