Each week I post another fascinating true-life excerpt from my friend & mentor’s journals while she was Housekeeper & Cook at The Flamingo, during the period 1968-1999, titled Cookie’s Diaries. Together we’ve changed a few things around & set Cookies story in a fictional Australian country town so as to protect the innocent & the not so innocent! We hope you enjoy Cookies journey from such humble & all but penniless beginnings to owning & running the highly successful country guesthouse, ‘The Flamingo’. To read the last chapter click HERE.
Uniforms aren’t just serviceable Dust Jackets!
In order to explain ‘The Uniform Saga’, I’m thrilled to introduce you to my friend Tilly, a woman around my age who also grew up in Sydney & abruptly transplanted herself into the heart of our little country community when she fell in love & promptly married her husband Sam, a decade before my arrival.
Tilly was a Tailor by trade, she could sew anything, but her true love lay in bridal wear design & construction & her work was sought after at a very steep price indeed around our part of the world! Tilly truly made the most exquisite gowns; over the years I’ve been amazed to see her turn the most average looking woman into royalty for their special day. She not only knew how to make her garments, but she also knew a thing or two about how one was to wear her creations for the best effect. Naturally she was the designer of choice for Frederick, although getting Tilly to agree to make uniforms was quite the coup leaving Frederick believing he had secured the best despite the hefty fee she charged.
Tilly was an old soul with an ability to dish out a mixture of tough love, coupled with a wicked sense of humour that would soften the blow. She was without a doubt a ‘straight shooter’, which made for a rather rocky start to her long acquaintance with Frederick, as I do believe his lofty attitude took some time for her to warm to.
Frederick’s brief was to design an elegant & classic style of dress in black with three quarter length sleeves befitting an elegant hostess suitable for dining at The Flamingo’s formal table. Additionally the dress was to be hard waring & stylish & of course there were four protective aprons & covers to be designed to wear with the dress at different times through the day. Fredericks orders challenged she design one dress that could do all this, a seemingly impossible task but one that Tilly could not resist given the sizeable bribe Frederick had proposed if she pulled it off.
On the day of our meeting, a cold windy wet day in late July 1969, I presented myself in front of her in my oversized long sleeved, white shirtmaker uniform with many layers underneath to keep out the winters chill. My uniform consisted of a black cardigan; black apron & flat black lace up shoes & apparently a slightly defiant look on my face. Tilly was seated in the big wing backed chair facing the desk when I walked into the office, while Frederick casually leaned up against it, his arms & ankles crossed looking very pleased with himself.
Tilly shuffled around in her chair to get a better look at me as I walked into the office, then turned quickly with her mouth slightly gaping open & glared back at Frederick, who appeared not to notice in the slightest! Seconds turned into an age as Frederick suggested Tilly & I get to know each other while he rustled up a nice cup of tea for us all & promptly left us alone, leaving behind him a silence broken only by the infernal ticking of the big old grandfather clock behind us both.
Tilly eventually broke the silence with a burst of laughter as she pulled herself out of the chair & stood to greet me, there was something about her confidence that helped defuse the situation & I smiled back at her. She laughingly said, “I expect your used to his lordships high handed manner?” In that instant, I let out a huge sigh of relief & laughed with her, from that moment on we became easier with each other.
Tilly insisted that I come to her workroom to be properly fitted & refused to be drawn into further conversation over tea with Frederick & Jamie on ideas, styles or fabrics, insisting with a wink towards me that she would “take it from there”! It took me quite awhile to understand that both Tilly & Frederick were really enjoyed their sparring matches.
Months & months of fittings followed until the uniform saga completely unfolded, there were several prototypes designed in a creamy coloured calico, each style involved multiple fittings at the workroom where Tilly asked endless questions about my work. She even got me to demonstrate some of my chores, so she fully understood how the dress would sit while I worked & drew my attention to some rather bad habits I’d developed in posture, that I was to overcome along the way.
I had a tendency to slump a little & in typical Tilly fashion bluntly informed me, that the most beautiful gown in the world would instantly be destroyed if the wearer could not hold herself correctly, she was never an authoritarian type like Frederick, although just as effective, as she went to great lengths explaining the engineering involved in the panels in a beautifully cut suit to explain her point.
During those months of fittings, Tilly would carry on again & again about my slumped shoulders & my preference to lean my weight on one hip, a habit that had to be overcome if I didn’t want to develop some serious postural problems, which in turn would eventually make all my clothes feel uncomfortable & look dreadful on me.
On one occasion before the final fitting, she used a length of calico to wrap my shoulders in a figure eight bandage fashion to force them back. This automatically made me stand up straight for the entire fitting, even though it felt odd, but this very action made me conscious of the bad habit & the dresses looked so much better on me. After a bit of thought, Tilly made up a length of wide elastic that I could put on myself at home underneath my clothes to train my shoulders to hold straight. I think there was just enough vanity in my nature to wear the elastic like brace for months to correct my posture, but I loathed the thing all the same.
We all wanted me to look stylishly modern, while of course being comfortable and functional; the fabric was to be extremely hardwearing and able to withstand continued use without fading & should never, under any circumstances look crumpled. In October 1969 Tilly was satisfied with 3 different designs she had made up in calico for Frederick & Jamie’s input & final decision & during another memorable afternoon, I modelled the prototypes.
Next week I will bring to you ‘Dressing for the Occassion, I look forward to bringing it to you.
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47 Comments and Pings on COOKIE’S DIARY – Pt. 10
Oh, if only the uniform had been a wedding dress then!
Hhaahaaa
If only huh 
I can’t wait to hear about the uniform. I wonder if it is made of crimplene – very popular at the time. I had a white Prue Acton crimplene dress and I loved it.
Yes, yes, YES!!!!! It is crimplene Deb
I’d never heard of the fabric, but Mom said it was all the rage back then & a huge break through fabric. So interesting, I can see your Prue Acton number in my mind too., bet it was a mini right?
‘elastic like brace’ eh? Maybe I should wear one while sitting at the computer. This diary entry just made me sit up a lot taller!
Hahahaaa
I think we’ve all had a little ‘tummy in, shoulders back’ with this one. Geezzzz….., the things we gotta do to be like Cookie huh….. no slouching for us anymore!!! 
Wow! Tilly sure sounded like she knew exactly what she was doing and had complete confidence in herself. It was very smart and professional of her to have Cookie demonstrate some of her chores. This shows how serious she was about her work. It wasn’t just a matter of getting a product finished, but getting a product finished properly and also suiting the job it was to be worn in. Sounds kind of funny, but this kind of reminds me of a superhero trying to find his/her perfect superhero suit.
All I could think when I read about the uniform saga was to wish I had my own tailor to design for me, these days there’s no such individual treatment, you just get handed the outfit(s) & that’s it. Tilly turns out to be such a great friend to Cookie throughout her life. Wonder where I can find me a Tilly huh
Delightful read
Thanks Cindy
So glad your enjoying Cookie’s journey 
Love it! Such an artist!
Absolutely, and wouldn’t it be such fun to have someone create a uniform specific to you. Couldn’t agree more. Tilly sounds wonderfully talented.
Sunday is always a good day because we get an instalment of Cookie’s diary!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella recently posted..Buon Ricordo’s Famous Truffle Egg Pasta
Wonderful, I am so happy you are enjoying Cookies Diaries.
Hope you had a fabulous weekend Lorraine. 
Where can I get one of those braces? My mum used to make me put a broom handle looped under my arms and behind my back to improve my posture. I think Cookies way is easier!
InTolerantChef recently posted..Banana Coconut Bread
Oh my goodness Bec, that sounds painful, how long did you have to walk around like that? Bet you corrected that little issue quick smart. Since reading Cookie’s diaries, I’ve stopped a bunch of bad behaviours.
Seems I have missed out on so much. So pleased to be connected now though.
Mandy
Mandy – The Complete Cook Book recently posted..Bois Cheri Tea Plantation
YAY, fantastic, I do hope you enjoy catching up on Cookie’s Diary entries. AND Yes, I am super happy to be connected now too. Hope you’ve had a wonderful weekend.
Another does of excitement added to my day
Looking forward to next weekend.
Matthew
ProChef360 recently posted..One of the True Greats- Chef Alain Ducasse
Hey Chef
Lots of excitement in Cookie’s world 
How amazing to be so talanted as Tilly. I’m walking a little straighter after reading the post. B:)
Beth@thescreenporch recently posted..Basque Potato Tortilla- French Fridays with Dorie
Hey Beth
Me too my friend 
I’m sitting here ‘shoulders back, tummy tucked in’ 
what a great story Anna, can’t wait to read the second part
Have a wonderful week
A little bit of everything recently posted..A little bit of everything – week 5
Thanks Roxana
The uniform story is fascinating isn’t it. I wish our employers went to so much trouble these days huh 
Now, I’m wondering about my posture and how I can work on standing up straight more often. Do you have a photo of the final uniform? I’m so curious to see it now!
lisaiscooking recently posted..Apple Phyllo Tarts
Hey Lisa
Mmmm, me too., these ‘uniform’ posts have me standing straighter too 
Unfortunately there were no photos available of this part of Cookie’s story at all, which is such a shame, but we’ll see if we can come up with some images from time to time.
Reading each new entry I so badly want to meet this woman!! Please tell her that I think her life is amazing, Anna!!
Jennifer Richardson recently posted..Red Velvet Cake and being at home in the South
Awwhhh, she reads ALL the comments Jen & is SO incredibly chuffed her diaries are being enjoyed by y’all
She is a remarkable woman I agree 
I love Tilly and Cookie’s first encounter! Great way to break the ice!
Faith recently posted..Poached Salmon Pasta Salad
Yep, they did sound like kindred souls didn’t they?
Tilly sounds like someone to be reckoned with – love her character and faith in herself. I tend to slump – and she’s right on all accounts – you look instantly better when you stand up straight!
Claudia recently posted..Almond cake with chocolate glaze for winter magic
I know what you mean Claudia, the mere mention of the word ‘posture’ makes me sit up straighter now
What a great story to begin my week…I can’t wait for the next part.
I can’t believe how involved this process was…prototypes? Seriously? I had no idea that so much care could be taken when a uniform was involved. Fascinating!
Ameena recently posted..i’d rather drink contaminated water
Absolutely they used to make these prototypes up but I doubt if it were a ‘normal or usual’ thing to go to such trouble, but when a master pattern is being created the dress is usually made up in calico (or a cheap cotton) so the designers can make alterations. Apparently Princess Di’s designer used this method & its quite common in haute couture designs today still. I doubt whether it was common AT ALL in 1969 for a uniform though, I believe (from wading through 6 months of The Uniform Saga in Cookie’s diaries) that Frederick insisted on seeing 3 designs to choose from!!!!!
See??? The things I know because of these diaries huh…, fascinating
I wish I could get a designer like Tilly to mend my wardrobe.She comes across as a well versed and talented designer with lot of patience and enthusiasm more than her clients.Loved the read.
Tanvi@SinfullySpicy recently posted..Fragrant Coconut-Saffron Rice Pilaf With Minty Chicken Balls
I know…. while we were working on this post we imagined how amazing it’d be to have a specially designed tailored outfit made too
Tilly sounds like she really loved her craft that’s for sure 
I was in grade 9 in 1969. It all sounds so ancient and old fashioned now – and I guess it was somewhat like that then… but, of course, not as formal in my personal life.
Valerie
A Canadian Foodie recently posted..A Taste Tripping Cooking Class- Apple Pie 101 with Christan Miller
Absolutely Val
My Mom says Cookie’s experiences were pretty heavily influenced by Frederick & Jamie’s expectations (who apparently were dreadfully ‘old fashioned’ in 1969 so not at all typical of the most progressive social fashions of the day); but I guess life is like that – we all have such different experiences don’t we 
A uniform saga indeed!! such hard work for a uniform! I have to work on my slouching too. the black dress with three-quarter sleeves does sound tres elegant
Heidi xo
Heidi – Apples Under My Bed recently posted..Swimming at Ban Mai
Extremely tres elegant indeed, matter of fact I love the sound of it too, it sounds like one of those stunning classics a girls gotta have in her wardrobe huh
Oh i need something like to make my shoulders stiff since it almost getting round silting hours in from of comp, new entry Tilly is very interesting and full of life! can’t wait to read more
Ananda Rajashekar recently posted..Mom ka Khana – Chicken Briyani & chilli Chicken
So happy your enjoying Cookie’s Diary Ananda
Yes, Tilly sounds like the sort of girl all women want as their best friend doesn’t she? 
Can’t wait to hear more about the uniform. I’m wishing someone would custom make something for me to wear every day that would be stylish and last forever.
Barbara Bakes recently posted..Oatmeal Raisinet Cookies
I know what you mean Barbara
I rather fancy the idea of that too 
I really loved this post. You describe this topic very well. It is important for workers to look sharp at work whether they are working directly with customers or behind closed doors.
Couldn’t agree more Mike
Glad you enjoyed the post 
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