Way back when, in 1991, Miss Peelpants was a fashion-obsessed but never fashionably attired twelve-year-old. It had been all foufy skater skirts, t-shirts and leggings. In my head, it probably all looked very Kylie. In reality, rather less glamorous.

Then, an epiphany. The House of Eliott began on the BBC. I remember most vividly watching it on the one Sunday a month we visited my grandparents, because my Nana had been born in 1920 and enjoyed the reminiscing about the fashions she admired but never wore (just as much as I now get misty-eyed watching Ashes to Ashes).

I suppose it was the first time I really learnt anything about fashion design, beyond doodling rara skirts with felt tip pens on computer paper purloined from my Dad’s office, and it piqued an interest in fashion history which has shaped my life ever since. I knew at that point, I was going to be like the Eliotts. Evie, of course, because she was young and pretty and silly and wore the nicer frocks.

Cut to 18 years later (arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh) and I’m not exactly there. Although I probably benefitted more from having done my degree in costume rather than fashion, giving me a more independent mindset than standard sizing and market trends. And in many ways, dealing in high-end vintage clothes is similar work to that of an old-style couturier. Without the creative input, of course. But there’s still a part of me which aspires to the Eliott sisters. So it was with great delight that I saw UKTV History (now renamed as YeSTERDAY…how pointless!) are showing the series, three episodes back to back on Sunday afternoons and repeated in the evening.

It still exerts the same pull on me. Although I’m not making the mistake (again) of thinking I can get away with a slick black bob, a la Louise Lombard. I’m also enjoying my new viewpoint, as an adult. Which, inevitably, means I’m rather more taken with lovely, sensible Beatrice (Stella Gonet) this time around.

Also, how could I have forgotten how utterly delicious Jack (Aden Gillett) was? I never forsook you, dear Jack, just….forgot slightly.

Perhaps it will reinvigorate the designer within? Perhaps it will inspire me all over again?

Who knows.

In the meantime, I shall simply lap it all up and remember happy evenings watching it with my much-missed Nana. And occasionally giggle as I remember the brilliant French and Saunders spoof, The House of Idiot. Particularly Kathy Burke with the Chelsea buns!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdiZzPFAiCU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EpkF-mdpG8

Edited to add: Seems since the name change of the channel earlier this week, they’re no longer showing it. Damn them!! Now I’ll have to go out and buy the DVDs……*grumble grumble*