The clothes of a Liverpool Lady

[catwalkcreative]

I've been catching up on a little reading and wanted to share a few images from my current book. It's called "Mrs Tinne's Wardrobe - A Liverpool Lady's Clothes 1900-1940". This book was recommended to me by 'Tin Trunk' and I've got to say it's a compulsive read.

Just to give you a 'potted' history - Mrs Tienne was a middle class woman and member of a wealthy family of sugar merchants and ship-owners in Liverpool during the two World Wars. She amassed a huge collection of clothes which have been beautifully preserved and now belong to the National Museums Liverpool.

The book gives a history of the family along with hundreds of photographs of Mrs Emily Tienne's clothes, shoes and accessories from 1900 to 1940. Here's a few of my favourites. It's a fraction of what's included in the book but I hope you enjoy them. Sorry for the poor quality:

Silk and chiffon evening dresses from 1925-27

1. Silk panne velvet devore dinner dress 1932-35
2. Dinner dress and matching coatee made from silk panne velvet devore 1932-34
3. Silk and silk crepe evening dress 1928-30

Silk velvet devore shawl 1925-30

Blue rayon cape 1925-30

1. Cotton lawn & silk chiffon blouse c.1913
2. The lady herself, Emily, with her eldest daughter, Elspeth c.1913
3.Silk velvet devore & rabbit fur bridge coat 1927-30

I can highly recommend this book by Pauline Rushton

 

[Metro Retro Vintage]

What a visual feast! I think I'll be stopping at the library today Louise, as I would love to see such a book -- thank you for recommending it.

 

[catwalkcreative]

Hi Laura, you're very welcome. It's a great book.

 

[Linn]

Looks fabulous. I will check the Hawaii Library System to see if they have it....

Linn

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

Thanks for sharing, Louise, I have to get my hands on that book too!

 

[catwalkcreative]

What's special about this collection is that it includes Emily's every day clothes along with those worn for formal events. One thing's for sure, this lady had impeccable taste.

Liverpool must have been an amazing place to shop back then. It was a major port so all sorts of exotic fabrics would have been available. A local dressmaker made some of Emily's clothes but, during the 1920s and 1930s, she also bought many items from Liverpool's best-known shops and department stores. I would have loved to have gone shopping with her!

 

[sewingmachinegirl]

Hi Louise, wow !! I just have to find this book, hubby works at the state library, I will get him to look for it!! Looks awesome!! G x

 

[joules]

Added to my book wish list too. Sarah knows all about the good things in life, doesn't she? Thank you for sharing this with us, Louise.
Looks like a peek into Hollis's stockroom, UK style.

 

[crinolinegirl]

Where did you find this book? Waterstones? WHSmith? LOL, Tesco?? I'd love to read it!

Lei

 

[Linn]

I checked earlier and it appears that this book is not available at the moment in the US but there was one copy on UK amazon earlier today. My library system does not have it - out of stock on amazon and not on abebooks or at Border's. Sounds like a great book. Hope those of you in the UK will be able to get a copy of it.

Linn

 

[joules]

I knew it would probably be tough to locate. Sigh.

 

[MyVintageCocktail]

What wonderful items! Thank you for posting such lovely eye candy, Louise. Some of these pieces are to die for!

 

[catwalkcreative]

You're welcome ladies. BTW! I bought the book from amazon uk.