Illustration by Zoe Taylor. From Selvedge magazine.
I buy most of my clothes at agricultural shows, and good stout things they are. After agricultural shows, Marks & Spencer is the place to go shopping, and then Paris. Nothing in between seems to be much good.
Deborah, The Duchess of Devonshire (1920-2014).
The Duchess was the youngest of the six Mitford sisters, who were famous English aristocrats in the 1930s and 40s. Among the pretty and adventurous Mitford sisters was an author, two Nazi sympathizers, a communist, another quiet aristocrat, and the Duchess.
In 1950 she and her husband, the 11th Duke of Devonshire, took over and renovated the family estate, Chatsworth. The Duchess was involved in much of the work and the mansion was decorated to her taste. After decades of such estates being of little to no interest to the public, Chatsworth became a major tourist destination. It still is.
I love the unexpected practicality of the Duchess when it comes to her clothes. It’s humorous that she touted M&S, as the British department store is known for its stodgy selection of clothing. But then the Duchess was also a fan of Paris fashion. Her closet must have been an interesting mix.
OverDressed for Life 