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When a perimeter is a circumference and a dress size and a painting-shaped space on my wall

Littlest, wearing a classically draped dress (think Roman statue and generous folds of cloth), commented that her small frame didn't fill the dress, hence the draped effect and that this was due to her perimeter being somewhat less than the perimeter of the (modestly framed) friend who leant her the dress.

"Perimeter?" I queried. "You mean circumference? Perimeter is usually used to describe the edge of something vast, like a sports's field."

"Ye-e-es ..." she pondered, not really concentrating. But in not concentrating, she insulted her friend (who is most definitely not vast) and forced my brain to momentarily juggle 'perimeters' - bra size? Dress size? Waist? Hips? Chalked dead-body-on-the-floor outline? Height? Of course, she meant dress size. The dress she had borrowed was a size 8. Littlest barely fills age-appropriate dresses and could probably fit her perimeter into some age 8 clothes. Which got me thinking - the age at which you switch from dress age to dress size is blurred. It depends little on chronological age. And depends more on growth and the attainment of a mature perimeter. Littlest longs to be fashionable. But the fashion for her diminutive perimeter is very much little girl rather than young teen or even the young adult she aspires to. Some retailers get close to what she wants but more often she borrows and drapes her perimeter in clothes that are too big. She has started making her own; I'm now thinking 2 dimensional flat paper pattern perimeters and pins and scissors ... you too?

Pins and scissors and nurturing a love of fashion and making plans for a fashion blog (Littlest's - at the concept, titles, design and planning stage) led us to a holiday treat - a pair of country mice on a visit to the big city -

The perimeters on show at the London Fashion and Textile Museum are all of the tall and narrow, elegant, gazelle-like form. Missoni designs for lean Missoni models.

Perimeters notwithstanding, however, Missoni is all about fabric and woven wool and pattern and art and colour and the exhibition was visually stunning. Littlest's small perimeter was in fashion heaven.






The exhibition led us from art




to colour




to weave




to dress




... Missoni genius. Plus highly desirable Missoni accessories.

Art on-a-roll and crossing London on a mission, we went from Missoni to Tate Modern and the Rothkos. I wanted to see Littlest's reaction to them. They divide everyone like marmite. I love them. She hated them. But we had both forgotten just how good the Richters are. Painting inspired by music. An absolute delight to see them again.




I'd happily make a perimeter sized space on a wall at home for one of these. But I'd have to rob a bank or hope that Littlest establishes a fashion house as successful as Missoni first. No pressure ...




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