My Life in Books and Frocks

How the twin obsessions of my life go hand-in-hand

When I was very young, I informed my mother that I loathed jeans and trousers. Give me a dress, I pleaded every single day. And I can still remember some of them: the pink cord pinafore I wore over a navy jumper, pink stripes with a white collar, a polka dot dress with frills and a sash - a sash! - and a soft floral print with smocking (which my daughte…