Fashion Murder on the Orient Express

So like, trains are pretty cool, right?  I used to know a lot more about trains, but it’s not something I’ve really focused on since I had a set-up in my basement.  All of my trains were replicas of real life historical trains, like……

Trains are a classic way to travel.  The first locomotive ran in 1804!  But the Orient Express is what really turned travel by train into a luxury.  The first train ran from Paris to Istanbul in 1883.  Over the years, it had varying routes and was discontinued in 2009.  There are, however, Orient Express inspired trains and routes currently running today.  There’s a reason everyone’s heard of The Orient Express and why it’s featured in so many movies and novels.  It’s an icon!

And my grandparents got to take a ride on it!  In the late 60s, they took the Direct Orient Express from Paris to Istanbul.  And I’m pretty sure the luggage I have from them went with them too.

I wish I had pictures!  I don’t recall seeing too many, and not any at all recently.  But hearing the stories was good enough.  Although, I do have more than just the stories my grandparents used to tell.  I have a lamp and overalls!

The lamp isn’t a big deal.  They bought it as a souvenir.  You can still buy them.  I mean don’t get me wrong it’s a really cool lamp and still has a story.  But the overalls are a little more unique.  My grandmother bought them off of an engineer!  She managed to talk him into selling two pairs. She gave my mom a pair, and my aunt a pair.  I have my mom’s.  I’ve searched for anything similar, but have come up dry.  

These haven’t gotten that much use.  For a while, they were too big.  I wore them to the Gunnery once, and was told they were out of dress code.  How anyone knew I was wearing overalls is beyond me.  I covered the straps up with a sweater!

So maybe we can bring overalls back into style!  I'm afraid not too many people will get behind it.  You know what they say, overalls are the oldest form of contraceptive.  And it might be tough as we head into spring and summer.  But at least now I’m ready for next year.