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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: chempat on Sunday 07 January 24 15:07 GMT (UK)
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The 2 bridesmaids in a wedding in 1908 are described as wearing Empire dresses of monseaurn directoire-de-soie, trimmed with tucked net.... See attached.
Anyone any idea what the reporter should have written down when he must have squiggled monseaurn?
Thanks
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I've not been able to find any direct references to this fabric, but wonder whether the word could be "maison" or, possibly "Messidor" (see below) which is an alternative name for "Directoire"
https://www.marcmaison.com/architectural-antiques-resources/directoire
The "Directoire" refers to a French style operating during the time of the French Revolution, apparently.
The fabric itself may have been 'peau de soie' which is a a silk or rayon dress fabric with a smooth satiny texture and a fine ribbed or grained surface.
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Hi, Igor,
Thanks for replying - my Google searches and newspapers searches did not get me anywhere either. I think I was looking for a word with only one letter different - I need to carefully consider if he totally messed up.
Meanwhile, of no help but for background attached is a photo of the bridesmaid.
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I was thinking if he didn't speak French then a rendition of what he thought he heard might have ended up as "monseaum". If he wasn't a fabric expert (who is?) he had a shot of what he'd been told?
Anyhow, no easy solution! However, it made me look up "directoire" knickers, which I'd come across in various early writings, and had never investigated before!!
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Some newspaper searches for directoire de soie bring up the associated word 'mousseline' :-\
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Some newspaper searches for directoire de soie bring up the associated word 'mousseline' :-\
And mousseline de soie is silk muslin - a fine silk fabric.
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"Marocain"?
TY
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Marceline (sometimes marcelline or merceline)?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marceline_(fabric) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marceline_(fabric))
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Thanks for those further suggestions.
I was ignoring 'marceline' and 'marocain' because the newspaper I was reading usually gets much nearer to the correct version.
However, as I am looking at quite a few years then just because someone got it correct in 1935 does not remotely mean they would in 1908. I was just not thinking things through.
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Marocain(e) is, I think, quite a heavy crepe silk fabric, and it drapes well, nice texture. It was very fashionable at that time, I hope it's what you were seeking.
TY
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I wonder what happened to those bridesmaids' dresses.....
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Just been looking at another marriage which has a very brief write-up in the local newspaper, but extensive coverage elsewhere.
I have stopped reading descriptions as they all differ slightly.
The bride was clad in soft white crepe de chine or mousseline de soie or ninon de soie or satin.