What a wonderful start to 2014- the Vienna State Ballet- dressed by Dame Vivienne Westwood– performing at Liechtenstein Palace as part of the Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s Day concert.
The costumes incorporate key features of Vivienne Westwood’s design vocabulary: corsetry, draping, the Argyle check & mini kilts
The much anticipated David Bowie exhibition at London’s V&A museum is being enjoyed by record-breaking numbers of visitors. We swelled those numbers by taking the London College of Fashion‘s Access Fashion Business students, many of whom were newbies to the wonders of the Bowie!
The exhibition claims not to be a retrospective but uses David Bowie’s own vast archive- including hand written lyrics to many of his iconic songs, stage costumes and ‘sound and vision’- to explore the influences on, and influence of Bowie.
Accompanying the exhibition are a range of talks and activities. Curators Jeffrey Marsh and Victoria Broackes treated a captivated audience to a glimpse behind the scenes of staging the exhibition- their visit to the David Bowie archive in New York, how they selected artefacts to exhibit and explained the innovative audio-visual experience visitors enjoy as they tour the exhibition. They also shared their surprise and delight at the amazing coincidence of their opening coinciding with Bowie’s latest (highly secretive) album release- The Next Day.
The fabulous Theatre of Fashion‘s Amber Jane Butchart in conversation with Helene Thian as part of the V&A Bowie weekender explored Bowie’s interest in kabuki theatre and his creative collaboration with Japanese designer Kansai Yamamoto which spawned many iconic costumes.
The V&A shop features some fun products- I love the Bowie paper doll book.
All the world’s got Bowie-fever including Vogue Japan– the April 2013 edition features ‘Fashion Warrior’– a Bowie fashion spread.
Sequins, sparklyheadpieces, glamorousmake-up– what’s not to LOVE about synchronised swimming? Catch Team GB‘s Jenna Randall & Olivia Federici in the Olympic duet routine finals today at 3pm BST.
Synchronised swimming’s retro Hollywood glam has seen it making a comeback with teams like the Aqualillies performing in LA
Let Esther Williams give you a taste of where it all started in the 1952 underwater extravaganza ‘Million Dollar Mermaid’
Simply heavenly…
& while we’re feeling the swimming whimsy check out this gorgeous silk swimmers print spotted on the great sewing blog Coletterie. & enjoy this Vogue Summer Beauty Issue from 1941 highlighted by retro fashion blogger Bobbins & Bombshells
The iconic beauty Audrey Hepburn reminds us it’s Oscar time & Tiffany & Co have collaborated with Rachel Zoe – Hollywood’s most powerful stylist– to create window displays celebrating Hollywood glamour across the decades.
1930s: classic elegance… the age of sleek satin gowns, marabou boas & feather fans is referenced by a peacock’s feather set amid a sea of black glass beads, against a lacelike backdrop showcasing Tiffany’s diamond & platinumArt Deco-inspired pieces.
1940s: a return to high fashion… luxurious fabrics & dramatic new silhouettes. Sparkling diamonds in a boudoir setting with outsize flowers on a period vanity, & a wall covering of exuberant blossoms anticipate a romantic evening.
1950s: red carpet & paparazzi… vintage cameras focus on camera-ready Tiffany pieces.
1960s: Hollywood at home… A sweeping white staircase leads to Jean Schlumberger’s Fleur de Mer brooch, an exquisite creation of diamonds & sapphires given to Elizabeth Taylor by Richard Burton in 1965.
1970s: effortless draping. Orchids… bamboo… graphic patterns of black & gold. 18 karat gold embelished with dimonds & gems are showcased in this eclectic tableau of fashion influences.
Rachel Zoe’s windows are unveiled at Tiffany & Co. flagship stores in New York City, Beverly Hills, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore and London.
& to complete the mood for a sparkling Academy Awards enjoy another glamorous Hollywood leading lady Marilyn Monroe with Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend:
Flat caps, tweed jackets over dress shirts, Fairisle knits, jodphurs, Argyle socks and brogues are the very essence of English country style. For Fall/Winter 2012, to a soundtrack of the Downton Abbey theme, Ralph Lauren revisits some of his favourite inspirations to present a vision of Englishness from head to toe!
See the collection highlights here:
& the entire show here:
Check the website for videos, accessory highlights, collection notes & for a backstage pass revealing the journey from inspiration to realisation.
Marie Antoinette epitomises the height of rococo style. Toronto‘s Royal Ontario Museum has an exquisite dress made by Marie-Jeanne ‘Rose’ Bertin for Marie Antoinette in its collection. This video traces the journey of the dress from store to display.
The opening sequence to Stephen Frears‘ 1988 film Dangerous Liaisons demonstrates beautifully the intricate procedures involved in fashionable aristocratic dressing in the 18th century. James Acheson won an Academy Award for his wonderful costume designs.
If you fancy reproducing a pannier, corset or waistcoat check the library for Janet Arnold‘s wonderful series the Patterns of Fashion that illustrate the construction of these pieces with line drawings and scaled patterns.
And should you be inspired to reproduce one of the historical designs featured the Costume Society offers students a £500 prize for the most successful reconstruction of one of Janet’s patterns. The 2011 recipient was Louise Taylor of Wimbledon College of Art.
For details of the Janet Arnold Patterns of Fashion Award
Fashion and film have been intertwined since Hollywood‘s early days and The Artist, starring Jean Dujardin (as George Valentin) and Bérénice Bejo (as Peppy Miller) beautifully recreates the celluloid world of the 1920s. 21st century fashion designers will revel in the characters, the plot and of course the costumes! Check out the trailer and an article with costume designer Mark Bridges who divulges how key wardrobe pieces support the storyline and the challenges of costuming a black and white film.
Julian Fellowe’sDownton Abbey returns bringing a new season of period drama for the discerning fashion design student to pore over. Season 2 takes place against a backdrop of World War I and social changes are reflected in the costume design by Susanna Buxton– most notably with shortened hemlines for women who now need to be more active. Historic costume is an ever-present influence on modern fashion designers who trawl the dressing up box of past eras for their inspiration. The influence of Downton Abbey on fashion designers is illustrated in a piece in the Washington Post Lifestyle- check out their slideshow of then and now.