Ailsa has shown us some colourful displays she’s seen on her travels. They’re worth a long look: http://wheresmybackpack.com/2012/10/12/travel-theme-on-display/
She’s asked us, too, to find a photo of a display that would be good to share.
Strolling through Paris one Sunday afternoon, heading for Place Vendôme to see where the rich do their shopping (though not on Sundays when everything’s closed, as I found), I was stopped in my tracks by this window display. Someone with an eye for the beauty of repetition has found a new use for old Singer sewing machines, technological marvels that produced clothes faster than human hands. Their black and gold and curvy bodies fill the windows to the ceiling on both fronts of the street corner.
When I was 5, I was taught to sew by a professional dressmaker (my sister), but I had to wait until I was 12 to get my own sewing machine, a Singer treadle. I made clothes on it until I started work at 15 when I bought an electric one, which I still use… That Sunday, the sight of all these old machines had me believing this was a tailor’s shop, and I would have gone in if it were open. But a little Internet research this morning reveals it’s a clothes shop. I’ve found photos of similar window displays in the US for the same company, All Saints Spitalfields.
Next time I’ll stroll down Rue Etienne Marcel during the week, and go in, but not to buy. I want to look at the window display from the inside.
Love it. So Parisian
I also thought it showed a typical French love of detail. But then the window displays are the same in the US for this company. Thanks for liking it!
My mom was a seamstress for many years and, now at 90, still sews on an old, beautiful Singer, that she keeps like new.
Fabulous display. 🙂
Thanks for telling me about her. You’re very blessed to have a mother who’s still doing something creative at 90. That’s my goal, to be useful no matter how old I am.
oh my sewing machine my sewing machine a girls best friend if i didn’t … is a ringing thro my head 😉
Yes – would be lovely to see it from the inside too !
very cool. those machines are just works of art don’t you think
I didn’t know the song but I’ve just looked it up and found it’s from Annie Get your Gun (I think). I’m looking forward to a day when I can get back to Paris and go into that shop.
Yes, I agree. Why don’t industrial designers use curves any more? Even my sewing machine which I bought in 1974 is not particularly pretty. It does an excellent job, but I’m never tempted to stroke it…
I’ve never seen a display like this. Love the subject and repetition.
I had never seen anything like it either. I was surprised they found so many old machines – they fill two window-walls. Thanks very much for your kind words.