But wait! Hiding behind its permanently stuck left door, there were two coats which were obviously a cut above the rest of the wardrobe's tatty contents. For the sake of this story, let’s call them Leopard Coat and Green Coat.
These coats obviously hadn’t belonged to the boy. There was a certain dignity about them, which set them apart from the chaos surrounding them. They had been there for many, many years. In fact, they had been there for so long that they didn’t exactly remember how they had ended up there.
While they usually rubbed along just fine, this was a bone of contention between them. One said that they were put there for safekeeping by the nice lady who used to live in the house, while the other insisted that it was the boy himself who’d sneaked them up there to be used as some kind of fancy dress. Thankfully, this never happened, as they were both far too small for the boy.
Once in a blue moon, voices resounded in the hallway below, the attic’s ladder was pulled down and someone proceeded to climb it. Up, up, the footsteps came, the ladder creaking ominously under the climber’s weight.
The coats clutched each other in fear. While living locked up in the darkness wasn’t exactly a bed of roses, the thought of their eventual freedom wasn’t an entirely reassuring one either. They’d heard rumours that old, discarded clothes were often put inside black bin liners and brought to places where, if they didn't pass muster, they were cut into rags, after which they would almost certainly end up in landfill. In fact, one day the boy had taken Leopard Coat away and tried to sell her in a second hand shop. They'd taken one look inside the bag she was in and, shaking their heads regretfully, had sent her and the boy away. Leopard Coat had been very upset for weeks afterwards.
It was a lonely life inside the wardrobe and, with only each other for company, they tried to keep up their spirits by telling each other their life stories.
More often than not, it was Leopard Coat who regaled Green Coat with stories of her glamorous past. If pressed, she would admit to looking slightly down her nose at Green Coat, who was, after all, just an ordinary coat and not a fur. One thing they had in common, though: they were both made to measure.
From l to r: Josephine, the girls' mother Angelica, an unknown lady, and
Leontine, who was my paternal grandmother
Leopard Coat's owner had been Josephine, who went by the name of Finneke. Born in 1915 into a working class family, she was the youngest of three, with a brother, Charles and a sister, Leontine. The sisters, who often wore matching dresses when they were girls, were quite close, even after Leontine, who went by the name of Tinneke, married an ordinary factory worker called Louis.
Josephine (second from left) and Leontine (far right) in the mid 1930s.
The little boy is my Dad.
Joseph and Josephine on their wedding day in 1936.
On the right is their wedding booklet.
On the right is their wedding booklet.
This album also contained a photograph of Josephine wearing Leopard Coat's ancestor.
My parents in the mid 1950s
Alice was beautiful, gentle and had the patience of a saint. Well, she must have had, being married to Alphonse, and having a rebellious elder daughter, Ann!
Suffering from rheumatism from a very early age, she was often in pain, which must have been very debilitating, but still she uncomplainingly kept house and looked after her children. By the time Green Coat came upon the scene in the late 1960s, there were two children, and soon there would be a third.
My parents on their wedding day in 1957, and my Mum with me, late 1961
Green Coat was made by a local seamstress, a single mother struggling to make ends meet, who lived in a downstairs apartment a couple of streets away.
Alice's generation wasn't in the habit of taking the bus into town whenever they needed something new to wear, and shopping as a pastime was practically unheard of. Instead, whenever Alice was in need of a garment for a special occasion, she went to the seamstress, sometimes bringing a pattern she'd found in one of her mother-in-law's magazines. This was duly discussed with the seamstress, material and buttons were chosen and ultimately the garment was made.
A favourite photo of my Mum at my sister's Christening in 1971
with me in pigtails, aged nine going on ten
But for some reason Alice didn't wear Green Coat all that much. Did she regret her choice of colour? Did she keep it for best and weren't there all that many occasions for wearing her best coat? The fact is that Green Coat had felt quite neglected. It was nothing short of a miracle that she was still around and in fact the only reason she wasn't given to charity after Alice sadly passed away was because she was up in the attic wardrobe!
One day, the coats could hear voices again. Alice's three children had discovered Josephine's photo album and the eldest daughter, the one called Ann, had been admiring Leopard Coat's ancestor.
Leopard Coat, meanwhile, was in seventh heaven, as Ann tried her on, and then took her to a lovely new home, where she shared wardrobe space with many other garments saved by her new owner.
Fast forward almost two years later. Green Coat was still pining away in the attic wardrobe.
For the last couple of weeks, there had been rummaging noises in the rooms downstairs and finally the moment arrived when footsteps once again climbed the attic stairs.
Ever since Leopard Coat's disappearance, the wardrobe's key had been lost, but in the end Ann's handy husband was able to open its doors, revealing Green Coat in all its glory. Ann shed some tiny tears upon spying in, especially since it turned out to be a perfect fit.
Since that day, Green Coat has been reunited with Leopard Coat, sharing wardrobe space again, but safe in the knowledge that there won't be any black bin liners for them any time soon.
I feel like a child hearing a wonderful story at the library and I clap my hands to say, "Again! Again!"
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful story, Ann! And all true and real from your very own life! Not only is this story a delight to read because it is so well told, it hits all my genealogical buttons. I get all giddy whenever I see the old stories and people connected with present-day stories and people. Plus, how can I not become giddy when I see that two precious family treasures are once again loved?
Thank you for sharing this. I will carry it with me all day with a smile on my face.
Hugs,
Sherry
What a lovely comment, Sherry, it really means the world to me! xxx
DeleteWhat a wonderful story, I was so excited and must read it two times. Both coats are happy again... and Ann... too :)Thankt you for sharing this wonderful story.
ReplyDeleteWith a very huge hug and much love Tina
Thank you so much, Tina! xxx
DeleteBRAVA, Ann! That was amazing! What an engaging voice you have - I was enraptured by the story, eagerly waiting to see what was going to happen! You are so talented, both at writing and in bringing your family and their garments alive for us. Thank you! Big hug to you, my dear.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sheila, but surely that's too much praise. I'm so glad you loved the story! xxx
DeleteTHAT WAS FAB!!! I LOVED this way of writing. I am so glad Green coat and Leopard coat got a happy ending! I would have chosen Green over Leopard so there would be a home with me!!! But glad they found their forever home with yoU!x
ReplyDeleteThank you Kezzie! If I'd known Green Coat was there, I would have given it a home sooner. xxx
DeleteOh I just LOVED this! You are such a talented writer Ann! Your love of clothing with a history translates so well through this story. This is one of my favorite posts of yours.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne
http://www.suzannecarillo.com
Thank you so much, Suzanne. It was one of my favourite post to write as well! xxx
DeleteWhat a lovely story Ann. Glad the coats got reunited xx
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Laurie! xxx
DeleteWhat a brilliant bit of storytelling, I love every minute.
ReplyDeleteThank heavens that Green Coat and Leopard Coat were rescued from their prison, escaped a life in landfill and found their forever home together with you!
Goodness me, how much do you look like your beautiful mum? xxx
Thank you, Vix. I'm often told I resemble my Mum, but it's only quite recently that I've started to notice it myself. xxx
DeleteFabulous post! Fashion and family history - as good as it gets!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Liz! xxx
DeleteJust lovely! And how lovely do you look in the coats!!! XXX (and gosh,you are like your Mum!)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda. Yes, it seems I do look like my Mum, although it took me a while to see the resemblance myself. xxx
DeleteI loved your story, have you ever considered writing a book? I felt myself being drawn in.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you rescued the coats and they were reunited!
It was wonderful looking through those beautiful photographs. xxx
Thank you Sally! I've never considered it, no. I had no idea that I could actually write until I started my blog. xxx
Deletewoww, such an enjoyable reading!, I've been totally thrilled with the story, the vivid images of the past times and the family life. You've stolen my heart with this little fable, the collages and the last pictures of you wearing those adorable coats!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this story!
besos
Thank you, Monica, I'm so glad your enjoyed the story! xxx
Deletelovely, sweet story!!
ReplyDeletesuch luckky coats in the end :-D
weekendhugs! xxxxxx
Thank you Beate! Lucky coats, and lucky me! xxx
DeleteI love a "Happily ever after" story!
ReplyDeleteThank you Goody! xxx
DeleteOh what a wonderfully happy ending! that green coat is beautiful on you and it's great these treasured pieces could get some love in their older age!
ReplyDeleteHope you're having a lovely week :) We finally have some cooler autumn weather - I got to wear jeans yesterday!
Away From The Blue
Thank you Mica! I love that green coat too, especially since it's my favourite colour! xxx
DeleteWhat a wonderful read, Ann! You are so talented! It was lovely to see all of your family photos and be drawn into this wonderful story. Absolutely beautiful, Ann! XXX
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Sasha. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. xxx
DeleteThe happiest of endings! And Green Coat is as loved and treasured as Leopard Coat now.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mim, and I think that Green Coat is loved and treasured even more than Leopard Coat now ... xxx
DeleteOh wow, what a beautiful story.And those photos! My goodness, it always looks like women at that time were so much more elegant! And what an amazing coat!
ReplyDeleteThank you Nancy! Yes, it does look that way. I have boxes full of old photographs, and I love looking at the women's clothing. And I once did a post about my grandmother, called Bertha's Wardrobe! xxx
DeleteBeautifully written, I loved this story! X
ReplyDeleteThank you Sarah! xxx
DeleteLovely! What a tale, and so beautifully written. I am glad those coats are reunited and being worn once again.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, I'm glad you loved my little fairy tale! xxx
DeleteYour writing is enchanting, Ann!! I enjoyed your storytelling a lot - the way you weaved your family history with love of vintage clothing is so imaginative and charming!
ReplyDeleteI think you took after both of your parents, and I do see you in the photos of your stylish Mum!
Lots of love, my dear!
So sorry I've only just seen your comment. Thank you so much for your kind words, my friend. xxx
Delete