By: Jeanne Reidy

When I told my Mom that I went to the fashion museum in Madrid, her reaction was less than impressed. ¨With the Prado, the Reina Sophia and the Thyssen, you’re spending your time in the fashion museum?¨ Yes,  mother, and I don’t regret it. The Museo del Traje is more than just a fashion museum. It tells, shows, rather, the history of Spanish culture through one of the more interesting and revealing ways- the clothes.

What better way to understand the way Spaniards looked at and approached their everyday life, special events and relationships with each other than through their wardrobe?

For example, seeing the transformation of the shape of corsets throughout the centuries until today, gives a better understanding of the way women viewed themselves during the different time periods. Watching the changes in the shapes of the body demonstrates which features were seen as more attractive and more willing to be emphasized. Let’s just say that the undergarments worn in the 17th century were quite different than those of today, which says a lot about today’s culture and how far we’ve come.

The history of fashion not only applies to women. Men’s clothing throughout the ages is well represented at the museum, as well. One of the most surprising and captivating features of the clothes is their size. Men, and women for that matter, were practically miniature during certain periods of history. Not just the waist lines on women, but the shoulder width and leg length of men were much smaller and shorter than today. Again, that must say something about the change in culture. Is it that we’ve become for active and interested in vitamins and nutrients over time, leading to bigger stronger bodies?

One of the most memorable, and somewhat disturbing, facts I learned at the museum has to do with the role of nursemaids throughout history. After the Spanish Civil War, upper class families would hire women known as ¨wet maids¨. These were younger healthy women from outside the cities who were hired to nurse the infants of the family so that the wealthy mothers were not bothered with the task nor did it take a toll on their bodies. As the child grew older, every time it grew a new tooth, the wet maid was rewarded with a piece of jewelry from the family as a thank you for her work in nurturing the child. Some of these pieces of jewelry are on display at the museum. 

I’d been to the Museo del Traje a few months ago, but went back this weekend to see the exhibit ¨Stilettos: Fascination and Seduction¨. The history of the stiletto is traced from its first appearance Christian Dior´s 1940’s collection through today. Shoes from the highest end designers are present, including Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin. The fresh and newer feeling of the modern shoe designers in the exhibit gives the museum a new vibe that applies to a younger audience and gives a new spin to the ¨history¨ museum.

The exhibit at the Museo del Traje is ongoing until ongoing until August 30, closed on Mondays. Metro Cuidad Universitaria.           

by Isaure Cointreau

Summer is here and although we all want to spread our wings towards the coast, sunbathing on the beach or spending time being lazy, there is nothing like a good book to escape reality. A few weeks ago while I was in Paris, I walked around Notre Dame from the Boulevard Saint Germain, looking for the famous “Shakespeare Company”. This English library has the looks of a charming French bobo style boutique and offers a wide variety of classics, second-hand books and new bestsellers. One cannot leave empty handed as there are good deals to be had and time to be spent in the lookout for the diamond in the rough.

The name of the store is English, books are in English, shopkeepers are English and the customers are international. Although it feels like being in a messy attic where you have to keep your hands busy to actually find something, the “Norwegian wood” by Murakami came as salvation. While I was starting to get pessimistic in the idea of finding my perfect fit, it came as a breath of hope. Holding it I then thought that I could do better in the lookout for something I’d never heard about. Although Murakami has the most beautiful writing style, it was a déjà vu for me. Thus my quest had not found its end, yet.

Walking towards the door I turned around to look for my friend, and there it was. Although the reference to the French author in its title was what caught my eye, I took the book in my hands and started flipping its pages to see what treasures it was hiding. Satisfied with the general look of my new find, I talked to the cashier for a moment and bought it. Back in Spain, I was dying to start my reading, and I was not disappointed. 

Alain de Botton has set every chapter of his “How Proust can change your life” as a response to a question through the lights of “In Search of Lost Time” and its author’s life and philosophy. As such this book is a masterpiece in terms of the wit and freshness it captures and passes on to its reader. Working as a literary criticism, these funny and charming 215 pages were a delight.

Hand in hand with erudition, though eccentric enough to not fool itself and us with it, this little book came to me as an enjoyable way to spend time, and not lose it. As a self-help handout, this Proustian philosophy bible analyses life and concludes on relativism. Although various topics and ideas are discussed, some serious others more frivolous, we can all relate to them as they cover questions each and everyone of us have at least thought about once. Analyzing time, friendship, love and life, this book emphasizes on putting a little philosophy in our everyday routine, and maybe gives away the answers you have been looking for.

John Updike says “Dazzling”, I say “Interesting, fun and wise”. No wonder this is a number one international bestseller. As Alain de Botton professes the Proustian genius, let him be the teacher and us his readers, his pupils. So, how can Proust change YOUR life?