I started watching Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky on Netflix the other night. It’s a sumptuous film about the torrid love affair between Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel and composer Igor Stravinsky. The costumes spanned the fashion of the Belle Époque to the Golden Jazz Age. I’ve developed an envy for cloche and 1920’s style frocks. However, with my curvy figure, I would never be able to get away with wearing those frocks. This is just one of the few times I lament being cursed with this pin-up figure.


Yes, yes, I can hear my beloved and my friends exclaim, “but you have a perfect figure!”. Le sigh. I wished my bust was just a bit smaller. Actually, a lot smaller. My bust size has been moving up and down the alphabet. I think we are at “F” now. Anyhoo, not an idea figure for flapper frocks. The preferred figure back in those days were shapeless and boxy, the complete departure from the curvy hourglass figure created by the tight corsets and bustles. The beginning of the film shows Coco Chanel cutting the lacings from her corsets because she “wanted to breathe”. Ms. Chanel pioneered the look of “nonconformist” designs, stressing practicality and simplicity. There was also inspiration from menswear to make her couture comfortable and wearable, unlike corsets and the layers of material from a generation before. She also revolutionized the black dress, which she wore quite a bit in the film, with a long string of pearls.


So, back to my lamenting. I can’t wear any of the chic fashion of the era love adore so much. My Joan Holloway figure will have to settle for wiggle dresses. Really! That’s what they are called.