Weekend Review: Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

 

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris / Paul Gallico
NY: Bloomsbury, 2022, c1963
320 p.

I've always known about this book but didn't read it until recently; I finally picked it up when this movie cover edition crossed my desk at the library. It's a fairly short book but it was a delight to read. It was published in the 60s but there isn't too much in it that is terribly dated to ruin it, which is always nice. 

Mrs. Harris is a London char-woman who is always positive and down-to-earth. She has her regulars who she cleans for; some are lovely and some are, well, not so much. But when she's cleaning Lady Dant's apartment, she sees the most beautiful thing she's ever seen in her life: a Dior dress. She determines at that moment that she is going to have one, despite how ridiculous it sounds. 

And so she embarks on a savings journey, squirrelling away every extra penny and even going to the track. After two years of determination, she heads to Paris on her quest. But there is so much she doesn't know, like that you don't just walk into Dior like it's Woolworths and pick up a dress off the rack. But fortune favours the bold, and despite barriers in her way, she is put in the path of so many people who decide to help this charming lady. And she passes any help and good fortune she has on to others, too, taking joy in the small things of life and valuing love and connection. 

There are some events near the end that I wished the author had decided differently about, but in the main this is a charming book with a sense of joy and community, leaving you with a definite feel-good vibe. I thought it was full of the delight of Paris and of course of Dior and dressmaking in general -- there are employees and customers of Dior who befriend and help Mrs. Harris, and even a cameo by the great man himself. There are dreamy descriptions of dresses and fabrics and ateliers, as well as of the beautiful streets and markets of Paris. It's so lovely. 

I enjoyed this one so much that I immediately watched the new movie. Unfortunately it doesn't have the same uplifting charm; it highlights a little more of the disappointments and dissatisfactions in the story. It was a good film and Leslie Manville was great as Mrs. Harris, but there is no real 'edge' to the book while there is in the film, and perhaps it was because I had just finished the book two days before the film that I wasn't completely taken with it. I'd say that with this one, as with most book to film experiences, be sure to read the book first if you can ;) This edition also included a second novel, Mrs. Harris Goes to New York, but that one is missable. There is none of the charm of dressmaking and Paris, and it definitely loses something for it, becoming more sentimental than delightful. Stick with Paris and Dior and you'll enjoy the reading!

Literary Sewing Circle: Pattern Inspiration

This week let's look at inspiration drawn from the story and the characters.

An obvious theme here is ballet! If you want to go that route, there are many choices.

You could use one of Jalie's many athletic patterns, say their collection of ballet skirts

Which you'd have to pair with a ballet leotard of course!

Or, you might want to try the Nettie bodysuit from Closet Case Patterns, and add a tutu from this new McCalls pattern.

I Am patterns has a cute warm up top, the Apollon, that would go perfectly with leggings like, say, the Virginia leggings from Megan Neilsen. 

Or you might want to think about the characters a little more closely.

Degas' painting might be the direction you'll go in - if you like to do messy creative work like that you might want to try out an artist's smock like this vintage pattern, Simplicity 5201

Or if you want more pockets and storage options, try out this Artist's Apron from So Sew Easy

Meanwhile Marie's mother, and eventually Antoinette, end working in the laundry. The key to their work is wearing clothes that are loose, cool, and adaptable. Roll up their sleeves, loosen their necklines, and off they go. If you're stuck with hot weather you could start with something similarly useful.

A drawstring blouse seems just the trick here, and here's one you can play around with to change up the looks, from The Maker's Atelier.

Or a nice cotton peasant blouse for those hot days: one from Style Arc, or a refined version from Hot Patterns, perhaps. You can find these nearly anywhere -- from True Bias, Rebecca Page, or even Butterick, Burda or McCalls.

Style Arc's Anita peasant top

You could also just pick up a sewing pattern or something ready made by Shelli Segal & her "Laundry" line! Here is one I've made:

Mine, shortened and with added patch pockets 

Perhaps you'll find your inspiration in some of the colours in the book, like Antoinette's fancy mauve silk that she enters and leaves her prison sentence in; or Colette's dress "velvet, orange red, like the breast of a robin, and edged with black lace". Maybe your imagination is sparked by the rich purpley-red of cassis or the green of absinthe; maybe by Marie's noticing on her walk up Montmarte at the end of the book, when she's restored to herself, the "colors -- oil had leaked from the battered old lantern lying there -- floating on the pavement... those colors, how they were shining and drifting."

Whatever you choose, I hope you are getting closer to your project and are also enjoying your reading. Feel free to weigh in with any other ideas for others, or share your own plans! Remember that you can leave your thoughts on any post in the series, and if you've missed our dedicated book talk post or the interview with author Cathy Marie Buchanan, be sure to go back and catch up when you're ready. I think it adds to your reading experience. Next week we'll be posting our final roundup -- already! -- and making our project linkup live for you to add your creations. It'll be live until the end of March so you still have lots of time to ponder.

Happy Sewing!

Literary Sewing Circle: Inspirations

Today's inspiration comes from the setting of The Painted Girls.

There are lots of great patterns that are either designed in France or that evoke France in many ways!

Let's start by exploring the offerings of our sponsors, all French pattern companies.

Louis Antoinette has many designs that could be made up in a lovely print such as this one, which comes as a kit with the perfect fabric & haberdashery included (and it's on sale). You'd have to add on the pattern for the Robe Lolita here.

Or you might want to go more 19th Century with a Gotham Cape to wear over your frocks on a cold Parisian night...

Orageuse has a modern, no-nonsense style that might represent a menswear element -- for example this high-necked view of the Prague Blouse in a lacy fabric plus the high-waisted Acacia Trousers and Amsterdam Blazer along with that very cute hat, makes for a very vintage inspired look.

And Deer & Doe offers up some choice dresses as well: the Centaurée Dress in its long view almost looks like something that might be worn on stage by dancers.

And their pretty Airelle Blouse could easily pass for a turn-of-the-century top if styled with a long skirt and button boots rather than bright short shorts!

You might find some ideas from other French pattern companies as well, like Ready to Sew -- their free Justine Skirt is a long front buttoned one that could have a shirtwaist added to it and instantly look quite 19th century!

Their Jolene Shirt Dress is also a vintage feeling one, less 50s retro, more turn of the century retro (I love it)

You could also check out English designer Tilly and the Buttons, as she has many patterns inspired by French style, even in the names she's chosen for them -- like the Coco Dress or the Francoise Dress -- and check out the styling of the new Nora Top pattern!

Maybe you'd just like to make some French style accessories, using this free tutorial for a stylin' French beret by Erika Bunker, on WeAllSew or this free head scarf pattern for the Brigitte Scarf from Tilly & the Buttons.

And if you want a whole lot of new ideas, try looking for this book: Home Sewn French Style by Amelie Morin-Fontaine for ideas ranging across France and from home decor to garments.

To find even more French pattern inspiration, you must explore this wonderful resource of French pattern designers compiled by Rachel of House of Pinheiro -- make sure you have enough time as there are tons of great links to explore. You've been warned!

Our next inspiration post will look more deeply into the characters for ideas about what to sew. Do you have any ideas yet? Share them in the comments!

Literary Sewing Circle: The Painted Girls

It's time for our first Literary Sewing Circle of 2019! I'm really thrilled to have both a wonderful Canadian book as our featured read, and new this edition, we have 3 amazing sponsors too!

I'm happy to announce that our group read for this round of the Literary Sewing Circle is

The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan

Summary:

Paris. 1878. Following their father’s sudden death, the van Goethem sisters find their lives upended. Without his wages, and with the small amount their laundress mother earns disappearing into the absinthe bottle, eviction from their lodgings seems imminent. With few options for work, Marie is dispatched to the Paris Opéra, where for a scant seventy francs a month, she will be trained to enter the famous ballet. Her older sister, Antoinette, finds work — and the love of a dangerous young man — as an extra in a stage adaptation of Émile Zola’s naturalist masterpiece L’Assommoir.

Marie throws herself into dance and is soon modelling in the studio of Edgar Degas, where her image will forever be immortalized as Little Dancer Aged Fourteen. Antoinette, meanwhile, descends lower and lower in society, and must make the choice between a life of honest labor and the more profitable avenues open to a young woman of the Parisian demimonde—that is, unless her love affair derails her completely.

(from Goodreads)

photo credit: Heather Pollock

About Cathy:

Cathy Marie Buchanan’s The Painted Girls is a #1 National Bestseller in Canada, a New York Times bestseller, and an NPR, Good Housekeeping and Goodreads Best Book of 2013. Her debut novel, The Day the Falls Stood Still, is a New York Times bestseller and a Barnes & Noble Recommends selection.

Her stories have appeared in many of Canada’s most respected literary journals, and she has received awards from the Toronto Arts Council, the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts. She holds a BSc (Honours Biochemistry) and an MBA from Western University. Born and raised in Niagara Falls, Ontario, she now resides in Toronto.

You can find out more about her at her website, cathymariebuchanan.com 

This book is available for purchase in both hard copy and ebook formats, as well as in audiobook format. 

You can find the ebook at:

Indigo.ca

Kobo.com

Amazon.ca

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com.au

Barnes & Noble

And the hard copy at:

Indigo.ca

Amazon.ca

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com.au

Barnes & Noble 

Biblio

ABE  Books

Book Depository 

Or, of course, check your local library!

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How does the Literary Sewing Circle work? We read a book together, discuss it, and then make something inspired by our reading. As long as you can point out what inspired you from your reading, even if just a sentence, you can share your makes in our final roundup!

Anyone can join, and you can sew, knit, quilt or embroider - any textile art that you like doing - to participate. This is a reading/sewing circle, very low-key; no competitions here, just reading and sewing for fun. Although we are very lucky to have some special sponsor offerings this time around -- the discounts are available for the first few weeks of the sewalong to anyone participating, and two of the finished projects will be chosen at random to receive one of the free pattern offerings. Just finish and post your project by the end of the linkup and you will have a chance to win.

There is no official sign-up to worry about; just start reading along if you wish, and leave your thoughts on the book or your project on any of the Literary Sewing Circle posts. We do have a dedicated book discussion post halfway through and again at the end, but leave your thoughts anytime. And when the final post goes up, so does the project linkup -- you can leave a link to your finished project there, whether it is on your blog, a pattern site, or even Instagram. It's easy :)

So, join in, and share!


Literary Sewing Circle Schedule

Jan 25 - Announcement & Introduction

Feb 1 - Inspiration post & featured sponsors

Feb 8 - Author interview 

Feb 15  - Halfway mark: book talk

Feb 22 - Inspiration post


March 1 - Final Post: book discussion wrap up & posting of project linkup

(The project linkup will be live until the end of March so you have enough time to get your project posted)

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AND NOW FOR OUR SPONSORS! 

Because this book takes place in Paris during the Belle Epoque, I reached out to some French pattern designers to see if they might be interested in sponsoring this round of the Literary Sewing Circle...and they were! Introducing our sponsors and their offers. 

Louis Antoinette is a Paris company with a very pretty aesthetic: 

many feminine dresses, blouses and tops to be found in their catalogue!

 They also offer sewing kits of fabric & pattern bundled together, and have an unusual option as well: you can order one of their designs and they'll make it for you! Check out their website for lots of details on all of these options, and you'll see lots of fun sewing accessories like bags and temporary tattoos on offer in addition to their large pattern catalogue. Their sizing seems to go to UK 18/US 16.

The Louis Antoinette "Vogue Dress" has caught my eye

Deer & Doe is a familiar name in sewing patterns! Run by two friends with an eye to environmentally friendly printed patterns and sizing up to a European 52 (XXL or US size 22) their pattern range has a variety of chic and pretty options. The Bluet and Bellandone dresses have been hits in the sewing community, and who hasn't made their free tshirt, the Plantain?

The Mysotis Dress is already a hit

Orageuse is a modern, urban sewing pattern company founded in 2016. It features minimalist, chic designs made to work together as a wardrobe. They have a few different collections on offer now, and they are very sleek designs often named after world cities. Their sizing goes up to a European 46, or US 18.

The Acacia Jumpsuit is one I've seen around the sewing community lately

The Offers:

If you're keen to get your hands on a French pattern, Louis Antoinette and Orageuse are offering 10% off their patterns during the first few weeks of the Literary Sewing Circle! 

Louis Antoinette has made their 10% discount available from 01/25 until 02/28. Use the code THREADS when you place your order.

Deer & Doe is also offering 10% from 01/25 to 02/14. Use the code LSC2019 when you place your order.

And there are prizes at the end too! 

If you submit a finished project to the linkup by the end of March, you will be eligible for a draw for a free pattern code from Louis Antoinette or  Orageuse. It will be a random draw from all finished, posted projects -- everyone who participates has an equal chance :)