Where have you been!

The answer to that question, 

my dear ladies and gents,

is at work and home.

Work being the new job I started last week

and home being Monsieur N.'s new place

into which I have been helping him move.

At this time, there is no

internet there, so you shall have to make do

without

our presence.

But only for a little longer,

soon we shall be back with more

goodies from the Boudoir.

- Mlle. M

I want you, need you...

There is simply no better song to sing,

ladies and gents,

when slinking around in a

1930's bias-cut gown.

Trust me on this one.

*Sigh*

via

Theda's expression sums up

my feelings about the situation with Canada Post

all too well, my darling readers.

Things seem a bit dubious as far as listing

new pieces at the eBay emporium goes...

buyer confidence  and all that jazz...

and although there are other options, 

Monsieur N. and I were thinking 

we'd wait it out, 

but what do you think, ladies and gentlemen?

At any rate,

in the meantime, you can look forward to

more observations and opinion pieces from myself,

as well as perhaps a post or two about sewing.

Guess what I'm watching?

Marlene, Marlene, Marlene!  via

Somebody, ladies and gents, has acquired a channel by the name of

"Turner Classic Movies"

and may or may not be a bit excessively excited....

I just felt the need to share the feeling with you dear friends =]

So, what am I watching?

Flirt and Tease

 The weather was gorgeous here at the 

Ziegfeld Boudoir, and so I decided to take advantage of the excellent

lighting and photograph some of our wares.

They ought to be up and available for purchase within the month,

but for now, here's a little tease

to fire up your desires! ;]

A selection of tantalizing slips!

Too Flappin' Fabulous!

     I've been contemplating making my own set of band garters, based on those worn by the Flapper Girls of the 1920's, for some time now. They seem to me to be a comfortable and stylistic alternative to my beloved garter-belts, for days when all those straps and support are just a wee bit too much. Especially with warmer weather on it's way; I'll jump at any chance to eliminate a layer from my outfits for summer!
     However, with so much on the go at the moment, I have been putting it off...until a few nights ago that is, when the urge to search for inspiration struck whilst I was having trouble sleeping. You see, ladies and gentlemen, I have come across some exquisite inspiration, and I would love to share it with you this evening.

Observe, if you will: 

An article from a magazine dating from the 20's tells us how it's done!

     Stumbling across this article on the lovely blog FrenchGardenHouse absolutely made my day [and night! ;] ] I highly recommend you check out the original post, as it is chock full of pictures to bring a smile to the face, and inspiration to the mind of even the most modest of boudoir dwellers. And the fact that they are so simple to create only makes it that much better!whilst the shop connected to the blog is full of beautiful things [even a section called "Paris Boudoir"! *swoon*] to set anyone's heart aflutter. I myself would love one of everything, could my budget stretch so far, but alas, for now I shall have to settle for admiring and being inspired. Which brings us right back to the original point of my post: Flapper Garters!

Mint Green: the quintessential flapper colour!

     There is just something about the styling to the band garters of the 1920's that I have always adored, a perfect balance of ergonomic functionality with flirty, girlish details. Ruffles, lace, silk, little flowers, buttons and sequins...its amazing the sheer amount of delicious detail that can be contained within such a tiny confection of ribbon and elastic. Catching a peep of these lovelies under the fluttering hem of a skirt or dress on a spring morning...it could bring any gentleman worth his hat [and dare I say more than a few ladies!] to his knees!

Aged lace and silk rosebuds make my heart beat faster.

   Therefore, look forward to sneaking a peek at my own garters [oh my!] inspired by these, and other designs, sometime next week! I only hope I can create something so mouthwateringly lovely!


all images viaFrenchGardenHouse


                                    - Mademoiselle M.

Something Blue

Today, dear friends, we would like to present you with a rare treat indeed. Yes ladies and gentlemen, today is the day you will get a peek at Mademoiselle M.'s knickers!

In the window, no less!

       Indeed, those are precisely what they look like...french knickers! Oh lala! Perhaps better known as tap pants or tap panties to most of you fine folks. No doubt you are also aware that this style was the knicker of choice for those feisty flappers of the 1920's and sultry vamps of the 1930's alike.

     Lightweight, luxurious fabric...tasteful lace applique...french seams...button closures on the sides...yes ladies and gentlemen, these are the real deal, french knickers from the 1930's....at least, the pattern itself is!

 

Lace applique on the sides of the leg!

     As I'm sure all of you know, two of the pitfalls of vintage lingerie collecting are price and stability, with many lovely finds being either out of one's price range, or else too fragile to be worn. When Mlle. M. was but a young student, such was the case, however, her desire for beautiful vintage underthings was insatiable. Luckily for her, she was blessed with a sewing machine, a nearby thrift store with lovely vintage textiles and lace amongst the other odds and ends, and a little bit of ingenuity. Thusly, these lovelies were born!

Gorgeous pale-aqua vintage fabric.

   Although the thrill of owning and wearing a "real" piece of vintage is undeniably satisfying and thrilling, there is something to be said for the use of patterns from days gone by to create a "new" piece. Generally, if your sewing skills are up to par, you will be able to enjoy the pleasures of wearing a gorgeous vintage looking garment, without having to worry about damaging or destroying it. Indeed, you can take your piece out for a night of dancing without having to spend the whole time worrying about what all the movement, sweating, and general merrymaking will do to it.

    Furthermore, making your own piece allows you to make alterations to the original. Now, before everyone starts screaming "Treason!" allow me to elaborate. For many vintage lingerie [and clothing!] lovers, size and fit are a major issue, especially with the older pieces, such as those from the Victorian and Edwardian eras. We simply do not shape our bodies in the same way as was done back then, which leads to a great deal of heartache when we find  a beautiful piece who's measurements could never approach our own. Therefore, being able to alter the old patterns to make a vintage looking piece, true to the original in every way except size, is a great blessing.

The instructions used, via Frilly Bits 

      And I shant touch on the pleasures of sewing today, as I lack time to do it justice, but believe you me, they are many and great.Therefore, I encourage all of you, dear friends and readers, to keep your eyes open for vintage patterns in your travels, and to entertain the thoughts, when having a difficult time finding just the right piece to add to your collection, of sewing your own. I promise you will not regret it. And if this post has sparked a desire for french knickers that simply cannot be contained, I would like to direct you to this page: French Knicker Instructions: Frilly Bits

                              

Early Morning, Late Winter; 1909

Mademoiselle M. Contemplates Birdsong at Dawn.