Monday, 6 May 2013

Best bib and tucker

It's May Day, everyone's on holiday, the sun is shining, time to put on your best bib and tucker and go out and enjoy yourself. To wear your "best bib and tucker" is an old saying meaning to put on your best clothes. Bibs and tuckers were articles of women's clothing dating from the 17th century, the tuckers were lace pieces that fitted over the bodice.
In Charlotte Bronte's book, 'Jane Eyre', published in 1847, "some of the girls have two clean tuckers in the week; the rules limit them to one."

 We went to Cornwall for a couple of nights the other week, staying in St Ives. There was a bit of a sea mist and a cold wind. I was well wrapped up, I wasn't exactly dressed in my best bib and tucker.

It was quiet and out of season, excellent for just poking about. Then I found this rather interesting shop.

So I had to take a look inside!
It was selling second-hand clothing. I tried on all manner of well-known labels, ranging from Vivienne Westwood to Stella McCartney.
There are two sorts of clothing that I've got in generous amounts; white cotton shirts and black dresses. So what did I buy? Yes, you guessed it, I bought a white shirt and a black dress! The shirt has a bit of a 'tucker', a decorative strip that buttons over the buttons so that the shirt can be worn in two ways.
1688 "a pinner or tucker is a narrow piece of cloth which compasseth the top of a womans gown about the neck part."
The shirt is by Uniqlo, worn with Boden grey cotton crops and old grey ballet flats.
For Patti at Not Dead Yet Style.
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14 comments:

  1. Coulda shoulda woulda6 May 2013 at 14:37

    You look so chic as usual!

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    1. Share my Garden8 May 2013 at 09:30

      'Chic' - well I like the sound of that, (but if you knew me better...!!)

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  2. Patti6 May 2013 at 15:18

    Lovely! I often buy that which I have already in abundance : > Glad to see I am not alone. Thanks for sharing with Visible Monday.

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  3. Bonnie6 May 2013 at 15:40

    I agree the shop does look interesting and worth investigating. My belief? One can never have too many white shirts or black dresses. Bonnie

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  4. Connie6 May 2013 at 16:19

    Oh yes. That's me, too. White shirts, black dresses, striped t-shirts. That's about it. I always wondered what bib and tucker meant...

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    1. Share my Garden8 May 2013 at 12:47

      Hello Connie, with the onset of warmer weather the shops are full of clothes in colourful patterns and I keep thinking that I out to break out and buy something. I tell you if it happens!

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  5. Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe6 May 2013 at 16:26

    I also love to go into shops like that and find some treasures. The shop looks lovely, as you do also in the white blouse. I agree with Bonnie; a woman never has too many white blouses.

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    1. Share my Garden8 May 2013 at 09:35

      I've just checked in my wardrobe and counted seventeen white shirts. In my defense, some of them are very old!

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  6. Unknown7 May 2013 at 16:48

    How fresh and sharp you look! Great shape to your shirt with your extremely cute pants! Glad to see you back.

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    1. Share my Garden8 May 2013 at 09:38

      Glad to be back, Jan, although whilst I was camera free I did keep up with what all the rest of you were up to. I missed my camera so much that I went out and bought a teeny tiny one (in purple!) to keep in my pocket.

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  7. Melanie8 May 2013 at 00:48

    A crisp white shirt with interesting details. I adore this on you. The decorative bit is very appealing. I liked learning about the bib and tucker, the idea of buttoning decorative bits "about the neck part" or any other part I suppose... You've inspired me.

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    1. Share my Garden8 May 2013 at 09:28

      I can see you getting up to all sorts of mayhem with bits of 'pinners' and 'tuckers' on whatever part you fancy!

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