dreamscape

Creations from the Rodarte archives, as inhabited by Dorte Limkilde, Ondria Hardin and Carrie-Anne Burton, were shot by Nan Goldin for the f/w issue of Grey Magazine. Rodarte designs often seem to me to have a life of their own - it's a treat to see pieces from previous years cavorting around the Chateau Marmont. Lovely styling by Valentina Illardi Martin. Scroll through the Rodarte tumblr for more...

   

PS. It's been four years, and I'm still obsessed with the spiky pumps...

PPS. We now have a 50s stove like the one Carrie-Anne Burton is boiling the kettle on above! A. spotted it at a junk shop and now it sits, gleaming and perfectly functional, in our kitchen, silently encouraging me to bake more.

 Photos: fashion gone rogue

french riviera

L'Wren Scott has been making the best dresses for tall girls for a while - timeless and very sexy. I don't tend to associate her designs with prints, but this 30s style gown worn by Shailene Woodley to the SAGs was so beautiful that I hope she uses them more. It's been a while since I've liked a red carpet look this much. The sky blue, with pops of red, and that gorgeous bias cut... I'm happy she went with minimalist makeup and no jewelry. She looks the epitome of spring. 

Or am I too much of a marimekko addict?

Photos: wireimage, style.com

arizona and aymeline

We're back from Australia and straight into the midst of University applications. It is difficult for me to ignore Paris fashion week, but in February I'll be done with applications and able to enjoy images of the collections. I couldn't resist posting these two from Dior though! On the flight from Sydney to Singapore, I watched L'amour Fou - these exquisite dresses remind me of the early part of YSL's career, when he was assistant to Monsieur Dior.

Photos via L'express.fr

that beret

Theadora Van Runkle, the self-taught costume designer who created Faye Dunaway's iconic look in Bonnie and Clyde, has passed away. There are two great obits over at the NYTimes and the Guardian. My favourite part of both is Edith Head's advice to Van Runkle, while she was shopping nervously for fabrics:

"She said, 'What are you doing?' " Ms. Van Runkle recalled.

"I said, 'It's the '30s and they're escaping from a bank robbery.' "

"She said: 'Oh darling, do everything in chiffon. You'll have no problems.' "

(Source)

Much as I adore Ms. Head, I'm glad her advice was not taken.

The originals - Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow

Photos: 1, 2

expectant dressing

Most of my friends are a few years older than I am, a fact I never paid attention to until hitting 24 this spring and noticing that all of a sudden, increasing numbers of my 27-30 year old friends, as well as acquaintances and relatives, are pregnant. And contrary to the stereotype of pregnant women in shapeless comfort clothing, I'm struck by how beautiful many of them look, in large part due to the increased options for elegant maternity clothing out there (and of course, the ability to put it all together into a chic, comfortable look). Joanna posted about new maternity line Hatch today, and I'm reposting here - the idea is that these pieces can be worn before, during and after pregnancy. Aren't they gorgeous?

les femmes de sargent

Last week I was reading an article about Tilda Swinton, and thinking how extraordinary it must be to see your great-grandmother painted by John Singer Sargent, as Elizabeth Swinton was in 1897. Sargent's Madame X is one of my favourite paintings and I try to go see it whenever I'm in NYC...

The same day, I was scrolling through The Sartorialist, and saw this photo he took in the Jardin de Tuileries a few days ago:

As he says, she looks as though she has just stepped out of a Sargent painting. Supremely elegant. Her time traveller style reminds me of another Sarto picture from early spring. This latest one is my muse for November I think.

Photos: Met Museum, Sartorialist

guernica

Guernica on leather. Her blue hair and fish patterned top provide an amazing contrast and remind me of Picasso's (much earlier) blue period.

Photo: The Sartorialist - London

time traveller

My muse for March.

(click to enlarge)

Photo: The Sartorialist - London

serenely sci-fi

Very few people could pull off a dress from the Givenchy spring couture collection, but thankfully Cate Blanchett can and did so at the Oscars. The pearl beading on this dress is spectacular- I so badly want to touch it and see what it feels like. The colour combination is perfect against CB's pale skin.

The back... usually my favourite part of a dress.

I can't decide which version I like more.

images: wireimage/style.com

hope is the thing with feathers

An exquisitely draped vintage evening gown to cap off the week... this is a Charles James design from 1936. I find that patterns often detract from the sophistication of sculptural gowns, making them look busy or sporty, but to me the large feathers printed onto the silk here complement James' design beautifully. What do you think?

Photo from 13bees, via my new favourite book.

Title from Emily Dickinson's poem.

side saddle, tea and dancing

The Victorian and Edwardian periods hold a particular fascination for me in terms of style and hair adornment. I have whole binders detailing the course of fashion from c. 1870 to 1914, and the first costume I attempted to recreate was the "swim" dress from Titanic:

(La Femme, Adelaide Hills, age 13)

I've been trying to do the grey suit from Moulin Rouge every since. So, it isn't suprising that I adored yesterday's Dior haute couture show. Adore may not be a strong enough word, but superlatives grow tiresome for the lesser obsessed, so I'll just post some photos, starting with the riding habits.

Remember this Vogue editorial with Natalia Vodianova? Sigh.

A 21st century Gibson girl. I have just now died and gone to heaven.

Galliano finished with ballgowns. A little over the top perhaps, but I'll take my swoons where I can get them. His colour palette is inspired. Some of the gowns featured rich combinations of seafoam and petrol, pink and wine, olive, mocha, raspberry...

...and of course I loved the snoods. The streets need more snoods. Check out Casey's blog for some classy 40s snood action.

Dita even smiled. A rare sight on camera. Barring Anna's head shake, I think this may be the test of a collection. Bravo!

photos: wireimage

mourning the enfant terrible

I'm reeling.

It is difficult to picture the fashion world without Lee Alexander McQueen. I'd like to imagine him having tea right now with his mother and Isabella Blow, in some fantastic, hat filled afterlife.

Best wishes to his family.

Three of many favourites:
Shalom's spray painted ballgown, Kate's angelic hologram, and Deconstruction.

turned to glass

Chanel hdq, as seen by the quietly provocative Lina Scheynius.

blue valentine

Forget the red. Let's have more of this please.

(Alexis Mabille Haute Couture, Paris, today)

Isn't the colour blocked hair amazing? I've sworn off hair dye for at least a month, but am sorely tempted to try this out in blue.


This collection brings to mind Grace Coddington's ill fated and reshot editorial in The September Issue. The grey shades of winter leave me numb. I'd love to see extreme colour contrasts on the streets come spring...
Photos: wireimage