There are various ways to discover Linda Grant; to me it just happened to be through her book The thoughtful dresser. The title could only appeal to me; I am an acknowledged fashionista so anything related to a dresser and her wardrobe catches my attention. The book starts with a shoe story, which was enough for me to spend the whole weekend inside, I had to read Linda’s thoughts in one go.
As I was flipping through the pages I discovered Catherine Hill. An amazing character that survived the Shoah and became a fashion reference in Canada. If Linda surely says loud what many whisper when it comes to self –appearance and clothing, her interest takes us far beyond the trivial attack on the common idea that dressing is a form of vanity.
If expressing one’s personality is vain than I am vain with no shame because it proves that I am not an empty-headed woman. Mothers influence their daughters; Linda took with her 3 fashion statements from hers. When I closed the book I made them mine. Yes, a good handbag makes an outfit, Yes, Only the rich can afford cheap shoes, and of course the only thing worse than being skint is looking as if you’re skint.

Thanks to the answers Linda gave to Swide, my desire to read other books from her and to follow her has grown bigger. It is not about agreeing with Linda, it is about continuing a conversation.

Some food for thoughts to dress thoughtfully...

1. Are we what we wear or do we wear what we are?
LG: Our relationship with what we wear is so complex, it can’t be constrained by any limitations.

2. Is fashion for everybody?
LG: There is something that is currently in fashion for everybody, but not everything that is in fashion suits everybody. Short skirts are best left to those with good legs. If your legs are not good, best to be out of fashion.

3. Do you think that only a few fashion blogs are relevant?
LG: A tiny handful of them are worth regular reading because they have a distinctive voice and something to say.

4. What is a fashion blog’s function?
LG: To express the blogger’s passion for fashion.

5. If women are bounded to their red shoes what about men?
LG: With men it’s cars. I think.

6. Do you still have your Red shoes?
LG: I would never throw away a pair of red shoes.

7. Are you a fetishist?
LG: No.

8. Do you see fashion as a form of daydreaming?
LG: Yes, I’m totally in favour of daydreaming, and fashion is a way to try on your dreams.

9. Have you ever done a sartorial transgression?
LG: Yes, so many, all too embarrassing

10. Is a lipstick a subliminal message conveyer?
LG: Possibly.

11. Has Catherine Hill changed the way you see a piece of clothing?
LG: She changed the way I see all my clothes. She is a complete inspiration to me, and made me long for colour. But most importantly she showed me that a hat could save your life.

12. Can a dress save a soul?
LG:No.

Swide’s 5Q/A:

1. Fashion: past or future?
LG: Future.

2. Pretend to be or be to pretend?
LG: Pretend to be.

3. A dress sense or a sense of dressing?
LG: A sense of dressing.

4. A topcoat or a dress coat?
LG: A dress coat.

5. A soul bag or a handbag?
A handbag.

Follow Linda on her blog: www.thethoughtfuldresser.blogspot.com.

Read more about Linda Grant on www.lindagrant.co.uk

Text by Delphine Hervieu.