Abigail Rose & Lily Too
Selvedge Magazine Issue 119 - Savoir Faire
All eyes will turn to Paris this summer with the 2024 Summer Olympics.
At Selvedge, we too have been swept along by the excitement that has
brought our attention to savoir-faire, the French concept of expertise in textiles. This issue we look at the 50th anniversary of the Battle at Versailles – the evening a sociocultural shift took place that resonates today. The editorial examines the past iterations of Savoir-faire found in irresistible flea market finds. We rubbed shoulders with the dealers on Sunday morning at Porte de Clignancourt, picking up some soft but sturdy vintage linen so appealing to contemporary designers, French slow fashion brand École de Curiosités, Camiceria Eri bespoke shirt-makers and Sasaki-Yohinten from Japan, and New York-based something in the air, as well as the Selvedge team. We venture north to Méru and discover the Musée de la Nacre (Mother of Pearl) housed in an impressive nineteenth-century former button factory. Here we learn that by 1900 shells were of greater value than pearls - and world markets were using the shells for cutlery handles, inlay work and millions of beautiful buttons, some of which made their way onto the First Nation blankets and the working dress of the Pearlies in the East End of London.
Continuing our endeavour, we root around Catherine Legrand's Parisian Pied-à-terre and find it packed with textile treasures from around the world collected during the lifetime of a true adventurer.
Traditional savoir-faire, a treasure trove of textile expertise, is diligently kept alive by the petites mains; such as the pleater Karen Grigorian, who inherited skills from the 19th-century modiste and draws inspiration from 20th-century Autochromes from the Salon du Gout Francais – Nadia Albertini takes us behind the scenes at his atelier. Looking to the future once again French savoir-faire is leading the fashion world with new legislation Loi AGEL (Loi Anti-gaspillage pour une encomie curculaire) requiring every product imported into France to be accompanied by a passport which provides compulsory sustainability and circularity information for the item - bravo!
Overall, I hope we have captured a certain je ne sais quoi for you to enjoy. If we have whet your appetite for all things french sign up for the 2026 Selvedge Textile Tour of France.
Polly Leonard, Founder
Note that the following information is intended for use as a general guideline. Sizing and fit are approximate and may vary by designer.
Women's clothing size conversion chart
| Size (US) | Numeric Size (US) |
France | Italy | UK | Japan | Denim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XXS | 0 | 34 | 36 | 4 | 3 | 23 |
| XS | 2 | 36 | 38 | 6 | 5 | 24-25 |
| S | 4 | 38 | 40 | 8 | 7 | 26-27 |
| M | 6 | 40 | 42 | 10 | 9 | 27-28 |
| L | 8 | 42 | 44 | 12 | 11 | 29-30 |
| XL | 10 | 44 | 46 | 14 | 13 | 31-32 |
| XXL | 12 | 46 | 48 | 16 | 15 | 32-33 |
Women's clothing measurement guide
Shown in inches
| Size (US) | Bust | Waist | Hip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 32" | 25" | 35" |
| 2 | 33" | 26" | 36" |
| 4 | 34" | 27" | 37" |
| 6 | 35" | 28" | 38" |
| 8 | 36" | 29" | 39" |
| 10 | 37" | 30" | 40" |
| 12 | 38.5" | 31.5" | 41.5" |
| Size (US) | Bust | Waist | Hip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 80 | 62.5 | 87.5 |
| 2 | 82.5 | 65 | 90 |
| 4 | 85 | 67.5 | 92.5 |
| 6 | 87.5 | 70 | 95 |
| 8 | 90 | 72.5 | 97.5 |
| 10 | 92.5 | 75 | 100 |
| 12 | 96.25 | 78.75 | 103.75 |
Infant clothing size guide
| Size | Age | Height (in) | Height (cm) | Weight (kg) | Weight (lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XX-Small | 0–3 Month | 22"–24" | 56–62 cm | 5.7 kg | 12.6 lbs |
| X-Small | 3–6 Month | 24"–27" | 62–68 cm | 7.4 kg | 16.3 lbs |
| Small | 6-9 Month | 27"–29" | 68–74 cm | 8.8 kg | 19.4 lbs |
| Medium | 9–12 Month | 29"–32" | 74–80 cm | 9.9 kg | 21.8 lbs |
| Large | 12–18 Month | 32"–34" | 80–86 cm | 11.3 kg | 24.9 lbs |
| X-Large | 18–24 Month | 34"–36" | 86–92 cm | 12.4 kg | 27.3 lbs |
| XX-Large | 24-36 Month | 36"–38" | 92–98 cm | 13.9 kg | 30.6 lbs |
We want you to be 100% happy with your purchase.
If you are not completely satisfied you may initiate a return or exchange. Items must be returned in their original unused, unwashed condition and with tags still attached. Upon request, time extensions can be made available for holiday gifts and special circumstances.
Any item purchased on sale is considered FINAL SALE and is not eligible for return, exchange or store credit, including items sold at promotional discount. We do not offer price adjustments for prior purchases.
Our in-store returns policy is for store credit or exchange only within 14 days of purchase. Store credit can be used both in-store and online and does not expire.
We understand the need to try on clothing and shoes which is why we offer refunds for online returns.
Initiate an Online Return or Exchange Here
For online orders, items must be shipped within 7 business days of receipt.
Refunds will be initiated to your original form of payment when we receive your return. Due to the nature of our small business, any return shipping and promotional "free shipping" that we have paid will be deducted from the refund. Similarly, if you paid shipping, we will not refund your shipping costs. Store credit and exchanges will be initiated upon receipt of returned items (in above - stated condition).
Thank you for shopping small and supporting women-owned, small scale family businesses. We appreciate your support!
If there is anything we can do to help, please do not hesitate to contact us at abigailrosestore@gmail.com or 845-359-4649