“Object based research provides unique insights into the historic and aesthetic developments of fashion” Steele, V (1998). “A museum of Fashion is more than a clothes bag”, Fashion Theory 2 (4): 327

For many years she was known within the family as Miss Yellow Peril. In her late twenties though, she decided to have a sex change, much to the consternation of the family. Thankfully, it was successful and he was re-christened, Monsieur Maurice Pom-Pom.

Condemned as “the umbrella on four wheels”, “the flying dustbin”, “the tin snail” or “the ugly duckling” (Reynolds, 2005, p. 22) or just plain ‘Deux-Chevaux’ – the Citroën 2CV has suffered from an abundance of mockery throughout its forty-two years of existence, but is now regarded as an automotive and cultural icon. With over five million cars manufactured between 1948 and 1991, the 2CV remains to this day among the most successful motor vehicles ever to be produced. (Reynolds, 2005)

Monsieur Pom-Pom was manufactured in Levellois, France in 1989 and my Father purchased him in 1990.

Pastel yellow, clotted cream or buttermilk in colour, Monsieur Maurice Pom-Pom looks very similar to an upside-down pram with five large ribs running along its corrugated steel bonnet. An alloy grille with horizontal ventilation slots in between the lateral bars opening into the engine bay is placed at the end of his nose. The Citroën double chevron badge is mounted on it. Pom-Pom is adorned with circular orange lights on his two front panels; he also has identifying letters on his lockable metal boot-lid distinguishing his model “2CV-6 Special, Citroën”. This particular model was built between 1979 and1990. His spare wheel is stowed in his sizeable trunk and has two silver wing mirrors, which are secured to either side of his body; they look rather like little ears. He has four doors and eight windows in total; the two front