Sunday, April 25, 2010

Spring Cleaning And Palazzo Pants

I am now in the throws of spring cleaning and frantic gardening, which is no mean feet with a large five bedroomed, 140 year old farmhouse that creates dust, the likes of which I have never witnessed before.

 The cavalry is arriving tomorrow in the shape of Belle Mère I know she is armed with a steam cleaner to help aid the cleaning process and probably a very well packed car full of all manner of cleaning aids and handy household things, she is an angel and manages to get a shine on the parquet that I could never achieve.  When it is all done, I may even be able to do a chic interior post, welcoming you to my world, I will keep you posted.

In the meantime, something frivolous, Summer is nearly upon us, the weather here at present is very warm and the nights are drawing out, I am on the hunt for a new pair of palazzo pants, they could also be called wide legged trousers, beach pyjamas or lounge pants. I prefer palazzo pants as it sounds so lovely, regal and languid. 

I have a fabulous pair of linen, chocolate brown Sarah Pacini palazzo pants, but they are so old I don't know if they have another season in them.

The shops and websites all seem to be full of harem pants, something I left behind long ago in the eighties. I don't know if I will be able to find a pair of my beloved palazzo pants, but I will do my best. For the moment, I leave you with some vintage palazzo pant images.


Renée Perle, Jaques Henri Lartigue

Renée Perle, Jaques Henri Lartigue

Coco Chanel on the beach at Deauville

Joan Blondelle, in beach pyjamas

Unknown



Due to all this domestic activity posting and commenting could be sketchy for the next few days. I hope you all have a fantastic week.

15 comments:

  1. There is something so elegant yet tomboyish about Palazzo pants, I am also in the mind frame that something so classic and so stylish never looks wrong... I wouldnt worry about the Harems and I would wear the wonderful wide legs .. be ahead of trend xx

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  2. How wonderful that Belle Mere helps too - hope you will be able to post some photographs of your house - it sounds like heaven... I also have a very favourite pair of Sarah Pacini wide legged linen palazzo pants in a dusty lilac mauve colour which I have had for about 8 years or so - love them to bits still!

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  3. In high school (early - mid 90's) we were all about the palazzo pants (called them that too). One day, while wearing my favorite chocolate brown pair, walking up the steps of Rockafeller Center (might as well have been the center of the universe) with a friend, my pointed toe shoe got caught in the hem and down I went, taking my friend and an old couple behind us down too. That's my palazzo pants memory. It was my 15th birthday. I was a very fashionable 15 year old :-)

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  4. Oh is that why I'm seeing so many very short quite squat and often plump woman walking around with acres of material ballooning out of their hips and then gathered into their ankles? Harem pants are leg-shortening, which short people really don't need!!

    Good luck with finding the palazzos. A much more dashing variation.

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  5. I have some brown crepe palazzo pants that I wear with a low neck brown fitted top. The thing is that I am short (5'2") and often read that women with short legs should not wear wide-legged trousers. It doesn't stop me though.

    Good luck with the cleaning and gardening. Mr FF is in London till the weekend, so here I sit, in a bit of a dusty place until the Big Clean on Friday

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  6. Dash...I love palazzo pants and pick them up whenever I can. I am not familiar with Sarah Pacini and will be sure to check her out. If I see anything around the net I will let you know :)

    Good luck with your spring cleaning..such a great feeling when it is done. Makes you want to pop in 'Something's Gotta Give' with a nice Pinot Grigio to celebrate:)

    Have a great week!

    Jeanne:)

    PS...bag still here..sorry for the delay. Now that my daughter is off to NZ, I can get back on track.

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  7. Do you suppose Peggy Guggenheim wore them in her Palazzo Venier dei Leoni?
    I picture her dusting her collection in them while sporting her outlandish Edward Melcarth sunglasses. OK, I doubt she dusted, but it is a nice image. You always paint the most fantastic scenarios in my minds eye with your words.
    Thank you,
    X David

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  8. Wonderful pictures! Best of luck with your spring cleaning. I'm supposed to be having a sort out too but keep managing to distract myself. Have you tried Ebay for the palazzo pants? Or do you know a local dressmaker, it would be great to have some made in the colour and fabric of your choice. In the meantime I'll send you a link if I see any xx

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  9. Hi Dash...just posted about your Sarah Pacini pants. I found two stores in London and two websites to shop from. Many thanks for the lead. I am going to check out Fenwick's on Bond St. Will keep you posted.

    You will find the post at my Finding My Way Blog...

    Jeanne :)

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  10. Dear Dash, in honour of finding your blog, there's a beautiful blogger award at mine for you xx
    www.fashionsmostwanted.blogspot.com

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  11. OOOO! You've encompassed some of my favorite things in one post: Spring cleaning, palazzo pants, and Joan Blondell! Perfection!

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  12. I can't find them either, so I just had my sewing machine repaired and I'm going to attempt to make them. However, the fabric has to be "just right" to make them work. If I figure it out, you'll be the first to know! Harem pants always remind me of a child with "full" pants! Just can't go there...again.

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