The Washerwoman

Wednesday 20 October 2010

Horrockses exhibition and a day out in London


Yesterday I treated myself to a day in London. My mate Emma has been on at me to visit this


What a treat it was! All beautifully presented and relaxing beach/seagull background sounds to evoke a time on the beach in the 1950's when a girl could sashay on the promenade in her fab Horrockses cotton frock!
Sorry the pic above is dark, photos were allowed, but not with a flash. Don't you just love those seagulls suspended from the ceiling?

I got a beautifully illustrated catalogue - with all the history and story behind the Horrockses ready to wear range of dresses.

Once I had looked around the exhibition, there was one extra bonus. All the people who had visited the exhibition in the past months had sent in photos and letters of their personal memories of wearing these dresses. It was a delight to read!

After enjoying lunch with my brother I headed west to Portobello, a favourite haunt from when I used to live in London. This was a shop I wanted to visit for a long time. I met "Dolly" some years ago at a London Vintage Fair and soon got chatting about the joys of the county of Somerset. The window was beautifully colour coordinated with browns, creams, tweeds and a general Autumn feel to it.

The market itself was just about finished by the time I got there, but I did enjoy a stroll down there, taking in the sights and sounds of London. After which I was content to hop back on the train and head for home.

13 comments:

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

I remember my mother wearing a black and white striped Horrockses dress when I was a child. I have a photo of her somewhere in the dress with her white Dame Edna sunglasses too. She was a v stylish woman my mum.. unlike her daughter!
A day in the smoke is always fun.. but oh so nice to come home to green fields and less people!

MX

*Susycottage* said...

Hello Lizzie,
Susanna are from Italy, do you remember
me? We have seen in spring,
Fair of Honiton and Shepton Mallet.
I always follow your blog, I like it a lot.
Now I have one too! come and see me?
See you next year, a hug Susy

ted and bunny said...

London is lovely, its great to visit and I also really enjoyed my time living there...but so nice now to come home to the countryside!
xx

Clare said...

sounds wonderful...and those frocks..ooooh!

Hesta Nesta said...

You lucky thing visiting London, I do miss it. We only used to live 30 miles away and I was always there most weekend strutting my stuff in Carnaby Street. Those dresses are gorgeous, and I love the 50's hourglass figure. I love Portobello too, brings back many happy memories. Glad you had a lovely day.
Jo xx

The Vintage Knitter said...

Your post brings back memories of the Horrockses dresses I used to wear in my teens in the 80s, brought from jumble sales and charity shops. I only wish I still had them now!

monkeemoomoo said...

Sounds like a fun day out. I would looove to be able to see that exhibition, not to mention have a look in that shop on Portabello road.

home made gorgeous said...

Thanks for sharing, I thought your post was really interesting and will see if I can visit the exhibition before it closes! Loved the dress that was made with the plates of food fabric on the You Tube clip! :) Sarah

BusyLizzie said...

Thank you for all your comments, it was a fun day out. Had to laugh though as I checked the weather forecast before setting off that morning and it said it would be cold! There I was wrapped up in preparation.. and of course roasted all day. I had forgotten that London doesn't really "do" cold like you get in the country!

Country Cottage Chic said...

A thoroughly lovely day out Lizzie!

Vintage Tea Time said...

Oooh, looks like a fab day out! I, too, used to live in London - and love days back there - then a return to green pastures!

fabriquefantastique said...

I wish,wish, wish I could have gone to that exhibition.

Teena Vallerine said...

I think the personal recollections must have been lovely to read! What a wonderful archive! Thank-you for stopping by. give my love to Maud. t.x