Coat detail:
I know it's a little difficult to see, but I actually had a pair of black gloves with some piping detail too.
The coat I purchased from Mill Street Vintage, such wonderful stock. It amazes me what she is able to find. This is certainly a grand coat and in excellent condition. Check out all the wonderful piping detail. If you haven't noticed, I'm a immense admirer of vintage princess coats:) I sold a few coats so I thought this would be an excellent addition.
My plan was to take some lovely detail shots of all the stunning hats. There were so many wonderful works of millinery art displayed.
After about 5 minutes, a lady told me no photography. I didn't even get a chance to even take off my coat lol. The front desk lady told me I could take photographs then this other lady came up and told me no photography. It doesn't make much sense since the local magazine has photographed there, there were no signs posted or notices in the pamphlets, there are pictures floating around on blogs and flicker.
There were some amazing hats I wanted to show all of you but it's probably best not to show blog images of them. I guess the stars were not in alignment. There was this really fabulous hat that had a clock on it that worked. Very Schiaparelli like and lots of other hats with bold colors and accents. A lot to take in. There were both current milliners and a look back at historical hats through the decades. An interesting note is that some of the current milliners hats had a very retro vibe to them and could quite see them worn in the 30s, 40s, and 50s. I really wanted to test out our new lens on details as well, so I was a bit disappointed by the whole experience.
Here are a few neutral pictures from the event...
These are displays of some of the historical hats, I figure there can't be much harm in showing these.
I was also wearing a really lovely palm tree 50s sunset skirt but didn't get a chance to photograph it. The lady wouldn't allow any photography even away from the hats after this believe me I got reamed for it. I think she was having a bad day. Have any of you been told no photography before? I guess it was just that I got mixed signals. I'd love to hear your stories.
Love, love, love your coat!
ReplyDeleteSeems odd that you would be told no photography after the woman at the front desk said it was OK. Sounds like a case of miss-communication on somebody's part? If the site wanted to be strict about the no photo rule there should have been signs. It could very well be that the second women was just having a bad day, but still, no excuse for being rude.
I've run into similar situations both as a visitor and as a docent. I was really excited about a painting once and was "looking to close" and got yelled at. I could completely understand but the woman was super rude about it. As a docent I've had to politely ask a visitor not to do something before which can be awkward. The worst were some parents with young children at the living history museum I worked at. I was really appalled by the lack of discipline at times. It drove me crazy!
-Emily
Emily's Vintage Visions
It was very odd, the whole experience. I think they really need to be clear to avoid disappointments such as mine. I saw this as an artistic venture so I did get my hopes diminished. You would think they would want the word to spread about the exhibit and photography helps this. I agree with you completely about taking care and not letting your children run around madly. I remember there was this story on the internet a couple years back about a boy who was apart of a field trip who stuck gum to a valuable painting at the DIA. This was so sad.
DeleteThe piping detail is wonderful! Can you tell how it's stitched down? I wonder if it's a hand stitch, as there doesn't seem to be anything visible on the outside.
ReplyDeleteThat's unfortunate about the photo incident. I've been lucky enough not to encounter that yet!
I'm so glad you asked this question Lauren. This coat is unbelievably well made. Gosh it just makes you wonder what went wrong with today's clothing. Sad really. The inner hem is at least partially hand stitched. I'm thinking it was machine stitched (piping) from the inside and they had some sort of steam press to flatten out the inside so that it would "pop" up on the front. I can take an picture of the inside of the coat, if you'd like to see?
DeleteWhat a beautiful coat and I love your hat, I have a red beret which was given to me when I was a child and coincided not with Prince but with Captain Sensible having a hit single with 'Happy Talk', I was plagued with people saying, "Hello Captain!" and singing "Happy talking, talking, happy talk!" to me.
ReplyDeleteYour coat is gorgeous with the piping and the color! Thanks for sharing the photos that you were able to take at the exhibit. I agree that signs about "no photography" should have been posted to make the policy clear. It's too bad that you had such a disappointing experience as a result. I've never had your experience, but I can think of places I've been where the policy was "no photography" and tourists were snapping away and no one was told to stop. I suppose consistency and politeness are the two key items that staff need in these circumstances. Christie
ReplyDeleteThank you Christine, I agree there is a way to handle these things. I think exhibits like this should be photographed, it gives you time to reflect.
DeleteI love the detailing on your coat!
ReplyDeleteI've had a couple of similar experiences at museums and exhibitions; I sometimes think the signage isn't all that great or the staff need to be made aware what the rules are so they can all tell you the same thing.
Hello Joanna. I have just discovered your blog (I think from a link in Princess Pincurls maybe??) and am enjoying your lovely pictures. Lets be clear here, I want your coat! It is so beautiful and looks fantastic on you.
ReplyDeleteThank you and "nice to meet you"
DeleteThat coat is absolutely breath-taking! I'm on the hunt for a New Look style coat at the moment before the cold weather sets in here - I could only dream of finding one as gorgeous as this!
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame about the photos, that clock hat sounds amazing! I had a similar situation at a Art Deco fashion exhibit here in Melbourne.. I thought it rather funny seeing as I had gone to the event after seeing multiple posts by other local bloggers from the opening night.. where they were allowed to take photos!
I understand no flash photography (as apparently it can ruin old fibres and such), but ordinary, non-flash photo's? Especially if you're going to share them on a platform that may draw more people in, I really don't see the harm in it!
I still don't quite get it as these hats were masterpieces and you'd think they'd want them to be shown to the public considering it wasn't a private gallery either.
DeleteI could see restricting photography if they were selling souvenir programmes, or something like that, but they didn't really need to hound you through the exhibit like a criminal. I would have demanded my admission refunded, but I'm cranky that way.
ReplyDeleteOh, you should not have posted a link to Mill Street Vintage because I have zero self-control in the face of a leopard print chenille coat. Zero. I need a good excuse because, "It followed me home" probably won't work like it did when I was ten.
Hope you get it Goody!
DeleteThat coat is truly stunning! The piping detailing makes me think of waves lapping at the sands here at one of the many beaches around the Okanagan during the summer months while a warm, orange-red sun tickles the early evening horizon. It is such a special treasure of a piece - and one that looks so immensely terrific on you. I love that we share a passion for princess coats. They're been my primary style of cold weather topper ever since was 18 (I've not been without at least one in my wardrobe since then).
ReplyDeleteThe only place in recent memory where we were told not to photograph was around certain exhibits, especially ones in the art gallery sections, at the Glenbow Museum in Calgary last year. Thankfully they permitted photos in some spots, so we were still able to capture some great memories from that day on camera.
♥ Jessica
What a wonderful analogy dear Jessica. You always take such lovely pictures and have some wonderful places to photograph. I think once you try on a princess coat there is no going back:) I'll be a granny in a princess coat too:)
DeleteYou know I love your photo shoots. You really should be a vintage model, Joanna! And I've been seeing a lot of pretty red winter coats as of late that has finally made me decide that when I get a new one {hopefully in a year or so} I'll chose a lovely red coat for a pop of color!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the lovely comment. I hope you are able to find just the right coat, it certainly can be tricky over the internet.
DeleteWAOW!!!!! What a find, this coat is just AMAZING!!! Such a great color on you!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great outfit! I think you would look amazing in some of our vintage dresses :)
ReplyDeleteBecky x
That coat is UNREAL, it's so fantastic! I also love your raspberry beret (we have a shop by that name here, and one of my friends purchased a raspberry beret at said shop). That's so frustrating with the photos... most places I've been are good about being clear and consistent about whether or not photos are allowed.
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone for you comments, I am truly interested in your experiences as well. Thank you too for the kind words on this wonderfully constructed princess coat.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame about the strange "no photo" rule. You would think that beautiful work should be able to be captured on film to be admired forever. Oh well, at least I could admire that divine coat with all of its amazing detail. Truly magnificent!
ReplyDeleteThat makes it into my top five coats ever list, it is glorious! What a great find! Very smart when paired with the beret. The exhibition sounds really interesting, what a shame about the photography policy.
ReplyDeleteyou find the best coats .... what a marvelous piece!
ReplyDeleteThat coat! Oh my goodness! I just can't even deal!
ReplyDeleteRegarding no photography, I have seen signs before for no photography, but I have been told no photography before, it was outside, in a luncheon/park atmosphere location on the property of a hospital office building, which I found was quite strange. I know many shops and museums don't want photos taken for a mixture of reasons, most often it is due to flash issues and the light and that being a preservation issue, others are issues for fears of people ripping off designs.
xoxo
-Janey
I think it is quite sad as these hats really were glorious and I do think I could have captured beautiful pictures. I've seen other images floating about this is why I was so frustrated…but one must move on:) The building actually had wonderful lighting, almost perfect, so there was no need for flash. Sometimes I think with things like this, taking a photograph is a good idea because then you can really spend time taking in all the details as seeing exhibitions you can become overwhelmed with all the details. Thanks for your thoughts Janey.
Delete