Hi again
Well, that’s better, it was slightly cooler here in the UK in the middle of the week and I was able to wear a new (charity shop) jacket with my black skinny jeans. And yay, this is how I like to look!
I wore it with my old silver shoes, my very old black skinny jeans, a t-shirt and a beloved red hat bought in Toulouse a year or two before Covid, so that would be 2018 or 2017.
We were on our way to our first visit to a new art gallery in Lewes. We walked from our home through the local cemetery, which is a favourite way into town.
The grass isn’t cut and in the Spring and Summer there are many wild flowers growing amongst the graves. There are a few grumps around that don’t like this, but I love it and the views while doing this walk are lovely.
Like everywhere in this country, council services are receding fast, won’t say any more apart from it’s not their fault. (If I start explaining it will turn into a rant!)
Anyway, an exceedingly positive move has been the transformation of council offices in Lewes into an art gallery run as an offshoot to Charleston, which is situated just outside Lewes. Charleston, as a lot of you will know, was the home of the Bloomsbury group. Vanessa Bell, lived there with her lover and father of Angelica, Duncan Grant, along with for a time David Garnett who was then Duncan Grant’s lover. (And if you think that sounds complicated, just read, Angelica Garnett’s memoir, Deceived with Kindness: A Bloomsbury Childhood, to see where all that led. I have to say that after reading this book, I revised my views of the group somewhat.) Vanessa’s sister Virginia Woolf lived nearby as did the famous economist John Maynard Keynes and his wife, Lydia Lopokova.
The exhibition explored the relationship between Bloomsbury group and fashion. The people within this group, as you can probably guess from the above paragraph, defied the conventions of their time, with their emphasis on free love outside marriage, acceptance of homosexuality when it was illegal, and a rejection of patriarchy. Some of the paintings especially those by Duncan Grant had not been seen before.
Apparently Virgina Woolf wrote about clothes extensively in her diaries, and the name of the exhibition, Bring No Clothes, was taken from a 1920 letter from Woolf to TS Eliot inviting him for a country weekend and telling him, ‘please bring no clothes’. What she meant is that they would not be behaving as their class in society might dictate. Instead they didn’t change for dinner, or church (they didn’t go to church) and they wore the same clothes for painting and gardening at every meal. Their clothes were part of their rebellion against the norms of society.
There are no examples of their clothing in existence but there was some ephemera and a wonderful mix of contemporary fashion, Dior, Fendi, Commes de Garcon and others juxtaposed with the group’s artwork that inspired the brand designers. Just look at this sheer vest by Dior, totally impractical but divine!
And these also by Dior.
And what about this sweater?
They really make you smile!
In their rejection of patriarchy and acceptance of fluid sexuality the group were the vanguard for today’s gender-bending metropolitan male. The designer (I think) is Finnish and the trousers were worn by Harry Styles.
I really, really want that coat! It is exactly my idea of what a coat should be – long and made of thick wool.
There were other designers present. These below are by Comme de Garcon.
And these below by Burberry.
The mac was transparent 🤣
In the exhibition there were some clothes worn by Ottoline Morrell, the wealthy aristocrat and society hostess who had a significant number of friends and lovers in many political and artistic circles, including the Bloomsbury group. I suppose this is because these were the clothes of an aristocrat while some loose clothing worn by the loose (!) living Bloomsbury group were considered insignificant. In fact there was a diary extract from Vanessa Bell’s servant stating that after Bell’s death she burnt her mattress and several other items including clothes.
At the end of the exhibition there was a film of a Fendi fashion show.
Several of the dresses were worn by young people with the fluid look. Two dresses from that show were on display.
They were divine.
The whole exhibition was in rather a shadowy, dark space as the clothes and the group’s paintings, of which I have shown you virtually none, had to be shielded from the light. But upstairs there was a gloriously light space filled with some striking contemporary pieces by Jonathan Baldock, someone I hadn’t heard of before, but now want to know! I have to say that when I entered the space I positively gasped with surprise and joy.
This kind of exhibition is exactly the kind of exhibition I love. A closer look at:
And this.
Here’s Mr F looking at ?some pots and pans!
Inside were..
It was all delightfully daft – I loved it!
Well, there you are, a little insight into Lewes life. What a great asset to the town! Btw, there is a nice little cafe where you can get savoury things for lunch and really great cakes, coffee and teas. I do hope this exhibition space continues as there is, as always, costs to consider, and I heard that Charleston awaits the outcome of this exhibition to see if it will continue to put on exhibitions. If you live nearby, do go, if you can!
That’s all for now, with love, Penny, the Frugalfashionshopper
Oh, how lovely! And how lucky are you 😊. Would love a gallery like that in Rutland – but no chance I’ m afraid
Hi Linda, I think the idea of this gallery is lovely but the longevity is still on a knife edge. It’s a great use of the space though and a positive use of offices that would be otherwise empty. As for the council’s services and where they’re going is another matter altogether!
But it was such a nice afternoon out! Thanks Linda 🙂
What a fun exhibition some nice real vintage clothes. The Bloomsburys were interested in style I think. I remember reading Giselle Freund on her photo shoot with Virginia Woolf. She said she, VW, changed her outfits several times. She had the figure for those droopy clothes. Your out fit it lovely you asked a few weeks ago about our style I’d say that outfit would be a variation of mine a love a jacket and jeans, not a blazer though, too busty :).
I’m getting that way – busty – and have to watch what I wear!
It was a great exhibition and I hope the art gallery remains as it’s a very positive use of what would be empty offices. Where Lewes gets administered is another matter!
Bet you look good in your jacket and jeans. Thanks Flora 🙂
I wonder, are you hoping, to visit the Chanel exhibition at V&A ? The tickets are sold out. Unless you are member.
Miriam
I’m delighted to say I am a member and going on the 3rd November. Three cheers, as I checked and members can just walk in whenever – phew as it really is going to be fab.
Thanks Miriam 🙂
Very interesting exhibition Penny and I appreciate your notes on it too.. it’s funny how when we look back in time that gender and sexual fluidity has been there at different times. Love your hat! 🤠
You’re so right, here’s nothing new under the sun and the recent V&A exhibition of Fashioning Masculinities was about exactly that. That Harry Styles and his like are nothing new, men have been dressing up in frills and fancy clothes for centuries.
Thanks Jen 🙂
Afternoon Penny
What an interesting and fun exhibition – and great to be able to walk to it. Yes, regards sexuality/transvestism/fluidity etc. despite what some want believe, nothing’s new. Of course, it was far easier to experiement/have fun/be euthentic for the monied class (privacy, large houses, clothes etc.) than people living in poverty – but I’ve no doubt many found a way…
It’s good to see you’re enjoying your clothes again. Looking good!
All the best, Mary
PS: excuse my authentic spelling!
Yes, there’s nothing new as the recent V&A Fashioning Masculinities showed us.
But you are also right as the Bloomsbury group was predicated on an enormous amount of privilege and money. They all had private money and their servant, ?Grace, did everything for them but wasn’t part of their lives at all. The Bloomsbury group seem to be idolised but I actually prefer another group of artists centred around Roland Penrose and his wife, the iconic Lee Miller, at Farleys House. They were the surrealists and Picasso for one visited them. I booked a personal tour of the house for one of my birthdays, given amazingly by their son, Antony Penrose. If you read about his life, their servant practically brought him up and moreover ate at the table with the family, which would have been unthinkable for the Charleston lot. I have to say I changed my opinion of the Bloomsbury group when I read Vanessa Bell’s daughter’s book, Deceived by Kindness. Do read it, it’s mind-bogglingly revelatory!
Very best to you Mary 🙂
Now, that is a fabulous exhibition! I am not that familiar with the Bloomsbury group, but I do know Virginia Woolf. I will have to get that book…it sounds quite fascinating. I love those trousers and Harry Styles’ style! I love how he just refuses to be put into a box when it comes to gender conformity. After all, we’ve been wearing pants for a bit. Let’s have the men in skirts and dresses! Some do a positively wonderful job at it!
I can tell this outfit is just you, Penny, by the look on your face. I always say you can tell how I feel about what I’m wearing by looking at my eyes. They’re a dead giveaway! Thanks for sharing this unique art museum!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
The Bloomsbury group is fascinating and somewhat idolised here in the UK but I treat them with a bit of scepticism as their lifestyle was predicted on a whole lot of privilege, class status and money. I mean if you are ever in the UK, Charleston will tell you a lot about the artists AND our class system in some lovely settings and art work as Charleston is preserved as it was throughout their lives. It is an amazing visit. And there are so many books on this group and at one point I felt I could almost become a volunteer guide as I knew so much about them. Then I read Deceived with Kindness – phew – and I revised my opinion!
But the actual gallery is a very positive use of what could be just empty offices, I do hope it continues.
Thanks Marsha 🙂
Oh that would be a lovely place to visit in November! And that’s a perfect you look! Very cool Penny.
It would be perfect and there’s a lift to all floors – lovely venue with lots to see and there’s a cafe for a snack lunch and/or morning coffee or afternoon tea.
Thanks Nancy 🙂
You look wonderful in that outfit Penny, jacket, hat and hair. How nice that at least for now you have you have such an interesting exhibit you can walk to. interesting about the wildflowers and grasses in the old graveyard. I think it is beautiful and in fact I am trying to get the management of my complex to do something similar . we have a lot of green spaces in our complex and I have thought that it would be nice to let one go wild, not mow it all the time, sow some wildflowers. I did have a talk with the property manager a few days ago and he told me a few other residents have brought up the same idea. I know many would not be on board but maybe willing if it were just one area. He in fact has done this with his own property and showed my photos, lots of lovely flowers and butterflies. Lots of rain here lately, but it’s been a busy week. My classes have started again for which I am grateful, yesterday a family party for a young woman with special needs. It was a couple of hours away so basically a day affair.
I treated myself to two new cashmere sweaters. simple crewnecks both in bold colors, a cobalt blue and hot pink. I have already worn them and each time got a complement. This I am realizing is my fashion sweet spot. I wear them with jeans and feel dressed and not overdone. And after your last post I am tidying small areas of my home, sorting out things, like my spice drawer or bedside table, it’s a start.
As always sending love from New York, Darby
Do you know I don’t think I replied to your last comment, many apologies, don’t know what happened there. I’m catching up today! It’s a lovely spot the cemetery and parts of it are trimmed and tidy, but the majority of it is lovely with its wild flowers in the Spring. But gosh so many people (on Facebook, so I’m hoping that’s a minority) moan about the lack of grass-cutting and don’t see the positive side of it! Thankfully they are ignored.
Re: the last blog. I have looked again at my Statement of Intent which has my wishes on how I want things to be done after my death. Death is such a ‘thing’ nowadays – nobody talks about it to their family. But we have started as I don’t think we showed them these Statements – but Mr F and I have decided it is essential to do so.
The gallery is great and I really hope it continues as it is such positive way to use empty offices. The two exhibitions were very good and you could see I enjoyed dressing up the way I did!
Thanks so much Darby for all you comments – they are very much appreciated 🙂
Great clothing exhibition & a very nice jacket too. Houndstooth is always smart. Ah yes, the Bloomsbury set! have you ever heard the radio 4 send-up The Gloomsburys ? Hilarious ! I’ve heard that there was something called a ‘lavender’ marriage where both parties had same sex relationships but a pretence of respectability could be maintained, very necessary in the case of men of course. I’m sure it happened a lot but was not spoken of or acknowledged. Not so sure about the ‘art’ on show at your new exhibition space, I’m rather a traditionalist but I try to be open-minded. When we were in Reykjavik on our recent cruise we went to an art gallery, very strange stuff. One exhibit was a film of a man in front of an orchestra, everyone in evening dress, repeating something (in English) over and over again, but I can’t remember what. Obviously not very memorable! There were some collages made up of pictures of vintage semi clad ‘ladies’ juxtaposed with pictures of astronauts. ( Some of these were also rendered in paint.) Quite why I don’t know. I could only think that perhaps it was the oldest profession contrasted with the newest??
It was a very good exhibition and so good to have this in Lewes, but I discovered the Charleston might not continue with the space after the exhibition ends – do hope it does as it is such a positive use of empty office space.
And the Bloomsbury set, hmmm, I do have reservations about them as it was all predicated on privilege. They were free to do what they did because of their money and class. I mean it is all lovely and I do appreciate their beautiful paintings and what they did in Charleston, but it’s quite a cult as so many people worship the ground they walked on – literally! Still prefer Farleys House and the surrealists who gathered round Lee Miller and Roland Penrose. Must listen to the send-up – thanks for that!
I love that second exhibition partly due to the colour, verve and joy behind it. But like you I’m open, from my viewpoint to traditional art!!!!
Thanks Lynda 🙂