'I have created flower women' - Christian Dior

Designers play homage to 1950 designs

 

Alexander McQueen still inspired by the 1950 era showcasing clinched waists and femininity

Fashion Icons - 1950's

Audrey Hepburn in Givency - Oscars

Minimal chicAudrey Hepburn is associated with black, pearls, diamonds, and big dark sunglasses (a must for any contemporary woman), but let's not forget the long gloves either

Grace Kelly - Ideally suited to Dior's small-waisted princess gowns- 'New Look'

One and only Marilyn Monroe

Elizabeth Taylor

Top 5 1950's Designers

This video includes amazing rare images of catwalks and movies displaying the top 5 designers of the 1950's.

1950's - Coco Chanel

 While many admired Dior's celebration of femininity, with full skirts and nipped-in waists ('New Look'), Chanel felt his designs were not modern nor suitable for the liberated women who had survived another war by taking on active roles in a ususally patriarchal society

The Chanel suit became a status symbol for a new generation. It was made of  either solid or tweed fabric, with its slim skirt and collarless jacket trimmed in braid, gold buttons  with patch pockets,  and sewn into the hem a gold-colored chain ensuring it hung properly from the shoulders - elegance and practicality combined.

1950's Fashion - 'New Look' Dior

The New Look Dress:
 In 1947, Dior decreed skirts should rise only 12” or 15” off the ground with a nipped in waist and curved bust that he called the ”New Look”.
 The full skirt persisted in the 1950’s, just shorter this time, often at or above the knee. Bustlines were accentuated, waistlines were high and in evening dresses, strapless was preferred for both short and long ball gowns. Sheaths, capris, pencil skirts and cardigans were popluar, and so was the wide circle skirt, often stiffened.

"It’s a new era in fashion - there are no rules. It’s all about the individual and personal style, wearing high-end, low-end, classic labels, and up-and-coming designers all together."

— Alexander McQueen

Thierry Boutemy

These are the wonderful works of Thierry Boutemy, a renowned fashion favourite, who has created magnificent pieces for designers such as Lanvin and Viktor and Rolf. Thierry Boutemy creates dreamlike visions that are mesmorising and always breathtakingly beautiful. A dominant theme running through his artistic work are fairy tales which lets the audiences imagination escape to wonderland.

The March issue of Vogue UK has a brilliant feature of Thierry Boutemy, exploring his influences, processes and inspiration.

Above are just some of my tonal drawings from the previous post. The drawings have come across quite light i think i should probably have used graphite instead of pencil for this piece.

10 minute task

With only 12 pins and 2 yards of fabric i was to create a garment to showcase drapery. I personally think i did a good job as i only used 6 of the pins i was given and this dress is very grecian.

Try to do it yourself!! :)

Valentines Day!!!!

Today seeing as it is Valentines Day I have decided to look back at the work of  the great Valentino, showcasing his Romantic style.....

Lace is the ultimate Romantic fabric for dresses in my opinion and it would have to be full length. The use of sheer fabric underneath gives a suble spring/summer vibe. This Grecian style garment in absolutely stunning!

Vogue US

Lets face it Adele has an amazing voice which comes so naturally to her, after a very good week things just keep on getter better. On Sunday she won SIX Grammy's SIX Grammy's people!!!!
Now Adele can be seen on the cover of Vogue US, although she has also featured in Vogue UK October of last year. However, it has again sparked the good old weight debate which never seems to end. Whatever happened to embracing everyone no matter what size they are.

This image of Adele is stunning, finally someone who can carry off what they're wearing!!

Do you think Vogue US were right for not mentioning anything about her body in the article as is their focal point in any other interview????

Mary Katrantzou

Autumn/Winter 2011 showed the return of prints in the shape of Mary Katrantzou. Her signiture look comprised of lamp-shaped skirts with their stiffened edge and 3D frames. The intricate detailing of the prints included fabergé eggs and coromandel screens.

This particular piece, not the prints but the shape reminded me of the S/S 2005 collection as illustrated in the previous post.

Fashion with Film inspired

As you may probably know by now Alexander McQueen is my most favoured designer from them all along with Chanel and Vivienne Westwood. McQueen however never strays too long from the film scene and almost always incorporates these into his work. His Spring/Summer collection in 2005 involved a chess board with the models actings as chess pieces not that far from the world of Harry Potter. McQueens ability to master the combination of wearable outfits and catwalk imagination makes him a very rare British talent.
School boy blazers, perfectly tailored cropped trousers based in royal blue and slate grey were followed by high waisted skirts that came on under feminine blousers and neckties. Volumed skirts teasmed with ankle boots illustrated an Edwardian edge, while stiff corsets and made to measure jackets held the show.

 

These were inspired by the Australian 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' which evolved into 'Harry Potter'

Fashion and Films

Two of the greatest joys in life Fashion and Film. When combined together they achieve an amazing innovative vision. Much of what is seen on the catwalks nowadays are in fact repetitive, just like films which are constantly recreated through different times, to different audiences and also different viewpoints. The greatest designers now all have taken inspiration from films.

The little black dress as seen in Breakfast At Tiffany's on Audrey Hepburn is absolutely iconic and has been used throughout time in countless catwalks in diverse ways.

This solely illustrates class, glamour in abundance and is a brilliant film.

The Notebook (2004) - This is clearly a 1940's tributed film with clothes that showcase this fashion driven era. A feminine and glamourous movie........

Marie Antoinette (2006) - A very flamboyant style choice and is overflowing with fashion at its strongest with wigs, bows, ruffles and masks, a dream visual.

Lost in Lace

A new approach for new artists, UK and International

Some of the artists involved include:

Chiharu Shiota
Diana Harrison
Iraida Icaza
Katharina Hinsberg
Kathleen Rogers
Liz Nilsson
Michael Brennand Wood Naomi Kobayashi 


Lost in Lace

If you look at my other blog Visual Recordings in Art and Design you will see the latest exhibition that i went to; Lost in Lace. It explores the wonders of lace and the many different artistic forms it can be used in. I will post some pics here :)....

For further information on this exhibition, follow this link http://lostinlace.org.uk/ 

Sea Creatures

This is the deep sea coral reefs and display exotic colours, texture and forms. These remind me greatly of the S/S 2012 collection by Alexander McQueeen (Sarah Burton)

Alexander McQueen S/S 2012 - Inspirations and Ideas

The previous post exhibits heartbreaking beauty and brilliant radiance through the use of lace. The sheer mass of the fabrics used creates a powerful ambiance . In my opinion this is Sarah Burtons best collection to date however, I think that this collection as a whole best represents Alexander McQueens vision of tailoring and sculpturing, embracing the human form.

Alexander McQueen S/S 2012 - Pics

  

Alexander McQueen - S/S 12

"I was thinking about a woman as an object of desire. We go to such lengths to adorn ourselves that we almost become our clothes or are taken over by them. This is a collection about excess - an exploration of ideals of beauty at their most extreme.” Sarah Burton