Archive for the 'couture' Category

London’s Calling

Sure, I’ve been listening The Clash, but I’ve also been watching what’s been coming down the runway.  I think that if I were able to ramp up my wardrobe, I’d be pulling my key pieces from Charles Anastase’s Fall 09 collection (or here).  It’s the right amount of “punk” for me.  I like the jackets, the layers, the plaids, the stripes and the colors.  I like the shoes, but I can’t chase Iz through the grocery store in those.  I mean for real.

charles-anastase-aw09-12

(image is from Fashionista, which you must visit, totally love the runway shots!)

Yummy Delicious Costumes

I love movies.  Like books, I love getting lost in them.

I watched Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette the other night.  I could watch it over and over and over and over.  The movie as a whole was ok, kind of boring, except.  Except for the overall Art Direction.  BRILLIANT!!!!  Eye candy.  Totally.  And as a lover of fashion, the costumes were just breathtaking.  The colors, the fabrics, the sets, the jewelry, the shoes (did you catch the pink converse?), the hair, and even the food.  I just drank it all up.  In fact, I want the DVD so I can pause over each scene and drink it in even more. The lighting was just perfect for all the colors and textures and fabrics.  The hair was delicious.  Makes me love rich pastel-ly fruity color combinations.

I found this wonderful site: The Costumes of Marie Antoinette | The Movies and the Woman, that can tell you more about the pictures and history of the costumes, and which costumes can be seen in other films.  Prepare to spend a few hours, it’s a great resource.

Sandra Backlund

I just knit a hat. I love my hat. (pictures later)

Sandra Backlund has knit some incredible fantastic amazing outfits.

I first saw her work in one of my issues of Selvedge:

I’m very excited about her current collection:

I especially love the way she transforms the body with her organic exaggerated shapes (not to mention those fabulous wedge shoes!).  The shapes are quite beautiful and only make the bodies more beautiful.  Her work is dreamy.  Be sure to check the archives on her site to see more work.

Thanks to Design Milk for reminding me of Sandra Backlund.

Bubbles

Could be the name of the “girl next door”, but I’m thinking skirts. Not for me, I don’ t need any bubbles, the last one I wore was to my HS Christmas Dance, back in the late 80s. It was a tulle bubble skirt with a tube top. Black, of course. I crimped my platinum locks. Lots of black eyeliner.  It was really wonderful.  I’ll have to see if I can find a picture.

Anyway, enough FLASHBACK….I’ve certainly been noticing the bubbles. They do remind me of the 80s (cringe), but I think they are still fun, perfect for spring and I am truly in love with the updates.  I think they are much more tasteful and classic than their grandmas from the 80s.

moschinobubblehem.jpg

Moschino

viviennewestwoodbubble.jpg

Vivienne Westwood

erotokritosbubble.jpg

Erotokritos 

I’ve got a few planned for Iz this summer.  Since she’s a 3T, I can experiment quickly with yummy remnants.  Although, with a skirt class on the horizon, I might just make one for me!

Here’s a cutesy tute from Threadbangers on converting a hem to a bubble hem.  love it. make it.

Inspiring

Remember this photo of my Inspiration Wall in my Studio?

mystudio - 05

This is a photo on Flickr that’s been added to the Inspiration Boards Pool, and I’ve been following the pool ever since.  I’m always looking for and collecting things that inspire me.  They got on my mantle, board or in a notebook (one of MANY!).  But I love looking at other’s inspiration boards.  I love the Flickr group and love even more that there’s a blog now about the creators of these inspiration boards.

Lately – I’ve been inspired by raw edges.

selvedgeissue21.jpg

I love this piece on the cover of the latest Selvedge.  I love this magazine.  I could tear the whole thing apart and hang it all on the wall.   I love the garments in the feature article.  If you have a chance to pick it up, it’s worth it.  Lovely.

Making a Wardrobe

It’s been a strange switch going from the 10-12 hour days at the office to staying home and raising our Iz. I remember when Iz was just 8 weeks old, and I had to go back to work. Ugh. I remember crying as I would leave the house, and once I got to the subway, I felt this unbelievable relief. This crazy lightness. I’d get to work and was so sad about missing Iz, I’d throw myself into the day (stopping to pump in the closet twice a day, and crying again, in the closet, while the rest of the office was outside joking about the pump…sigh..). I remember thinking what’s wrong with me, this going to work thing is SO EASY compared to the 24/7 momhood, why would I want to give that up?

But I did. It was important to me to be with Iz. To spend our days together. I planned on doing freelance or something, but it had to be from home, so I had the flexibility I need for playgroups and adventures. It sure isn’t easy, and some days, it’s just not fun, but all the good times make up for it. We have tons of fun together.

But other things have changed too. My wardrobe. I know, trivial in comparison to everything else, but important none the less. My changed body would certainly benefit from regular visits to the gym, less carbs (hell, eliminate them all together…) and a much better bra (maybe 10 of them…at once). I wear jeans all the time (I’m grateful I don’t have sweats, while they would be perfect for bending down and running around, and oh so comfy, I just can’t bring myself to do it, I would surely then be the girl in the don’t picture with the black tape across my eyes), I have a handful of knit shirts (v-neck is so much more flattering on me), some lovely sweaters. You know…all the basics. But I’m really ready to expand my wardrobe.

I regulary check wardrobe_remix for inspiration. The outfits are spectacular. The colors are really amazing. As I sit looking this morning, I find myself wanting more color in my closet. I have a lot of black. A lot of black. And I love it, but I’d love to throw together some blue and orange, or aqua and red, or pink and green. Red and Purple.

wardrobe_remix favorites

Click on the photo to learn more about each photo.
Click here to visit the wardrobe_remix
Click here to read more about wardrobe_remix.

Download a Dress


maintickets.jpg

The Victoria & Albert Museum exhibit, The Golden Age of Couture, Paris and London, 1947-1957 opened yesterday. (Makes you just want to jet off to London, doesn’t it?)

The exhibit looks spectacular, with wonderful selections from innovative designers.

mainbgzemire.jpgmainevents.jpg silkeveningdress.jpgmainvisinfo.jpg

There are more reasons I love the exhibition. Open Source Sewing! You can download the pattern for the couture dress below and MAKE YOUR OWN couture inspired dress. Can it be any more fun than that?

vacouturedress.jpg

It does get a bit more fun…you can enter the Design a Shoe Contest, which will be judged by Professor Jimmy Choo. And you can always pick up the book for the exhibit.

via Gorgeous Things

While you’re visiting V&A (whether on-line or in person), be sure to check out New York Fashion Now.