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Showing posts with label Bows. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bows. Show all posts
Friday, December 3, 2010
This has been a Balenciaga + Spain week...
I visited the Balenciaga exhibit at the Queen Sophia Spanish Institute at 684 Park Avenue on Tuesday (on through Feb 19 so don't miss it)
Three floors of exquisite examples of the maitre/master of couture..
Plus designer sketches and catwalk videos. Here drawings by Rene Gruau.
Everywhere evidence of Balenciaga's Spanish background, as an altar boy at the Church of San Sabastien...
Plus influence of the great Spanish painters like Zuniga...
Picasso, Goya and of course Velasquez.*Note the infanta's multi satin bows!
Bows are everywhere on Balenciaga's creations...
Bows both fore and aft...
The bow acts as a feminine touch to soften a simple, austere gown like this one covered in red carnations, the national flower of Spain.
Deep red gypsy roses show up on Balenciaga's amusing hats..."Wit was on the head, where it should be."
The bullring was a favorite inspiration source, though Balenciaga did not like to attend the slaughter. But 'the suit of lights', the tiny hats, the rituals fascinated him, and French women were delighted to follow where ever he led them.
"A ruffle must be intelligent," he told his protege, Givenchy. 
The flavor of Joquin Sorolla's flamenco dancers is evident in richly embroidered mantilla dresses...
Last night at FIT, Vogue European editor, Hamish Bowles gave a lecture on the exhibit he helped curate and his new book on Balenciaga & Spain, coming out March '11
Seen side by side, the Spanish source of inspiration + the unique creations endlessly amazed.
Do go to the exhibit and immerse yourself in an elegant world long gone...
"Working sometimes on the cut of a sleeve, he would neglect all else and go without food or sleep for days and nights." said Gloria Guinness, couture client.
Inspired me to get out my paintbox...
The bullring was a favorite inspiration source, though Balenciaga did not like to attend the slaughter. But 'the suit of lights', the tiny hats, the rituals fascinated him, and French women were delighted to follow where ever he led them.
"A ruffle must be intelligent," he told his protege, Givenchy. Certainly Audrey benefited from Balenciaga's tuteladge to her chosen designer...
The flavor of Joquin Sorolla's flamenco dancers is evident in richly embroidered mantilla dresses...
Last night at FIT, Vogue European editor, Hamish Bowles gave a lecture on the exhibit he helped curate and his new book on Balenciaga & Spain, coming out March '11
Seen side by side, the Spanish source of inspiration + the unique creations endlessly amazed.
Do go to the exhibit and immerse yourself in an elegant world long gone...
"Working sometimes on the cut of a sleeve, he would neglect all else and go without food or sleep for days and nights." said Gloria Guinness, couture client.BRAVO BALENCIAGA!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Immediately upon arrival in Paris I couldn't help notice the French obsession with Alice. The Tim Burton movie poster is posted everywhere.
Vitrine/windows are full of headless Alice figures (called A-leece here). The macaron box to buy is the 'Alice' music box. I bought it for a mere 26 euros - a steal non?
Printemps windows - 9 designers created special Alice dresses including the late Alexander McQueen...
I ask French Girl, "What's up with all the Alice stuff?"French Girl replies, "The French are obsessed with Aleece."
"Ah ha" I say.
The wheels start to turn. I put 2 + 2 together...
Everywhere I see signs of Alice like this adorable pinney.My theory falls into place.
Alice is the epitome of the naughty/ yet innocent little French school girl in her pinafore, long flowing locks, headband and flat mary jane shoes/ballerinas.
Tim Burton's Alice is not doing it for me. Alice looks like she's been round the block too many times.The dress is a disaster, I'm sorry Tim. Plus she has bazooms! Something many French girls are missing. Yet no one seems to mind... I watch French Girl get dressed for work, fascinated by the ingenious combinations and layers she throws together. One day I say, "You look exactly like a French school girl in that outfit!"
Here - a pricey smock in Galeries Lafayette...
Sonia adores the little girl sailor shirt - I would happily kill for one of these cuties...sigh
The ageless French obsession with the child's ballerina fits perfectly into my Alice theory.
The headband with a big bow, worn with a rather decollete top open to reveal a black bra - the charming combination of naughty but nice.
A grown French woman with her beau, her ballerinas, her headband and long locks. "Allo Aleece?"
Printemps has gone all out and created the perfect chez Alice salon de the...
From the escalator, you look down on an always full long tea table, checkered floor and watch the tea party. It's a delight!Colette stirred the pot with her naughty school girl novels - Claudine à l'école, Claudine a Paris etc.
This adorable schoolgirl caught me snapping her in the Luxemburg jardin. Have you ever heard American girls married to French men, complain of their French mother-in-laws, who maintain their girlish figures with ease and still fit into their navy pleated skirts from school days long gone? I have...
Lewis Carroll, you inspired the French even more than the Brits when it comes to this "Alice Obsession" in my humble opinion.
The Mad Hatters tea party continues...
These petite pastel-colored macaron are the perfect accompaniment to the French school girl look.
This adorable schoolgirl caught me snapping her in the Luxemburg jardin. Have you ever heard American girls married to French men, complain of their French mother-in-laws, who maintain their girlish figures with ease and still fit into their navy pleated skirts from school days long gone? I have...
Lewis Carroll, you inspired the French even more than the Brits when it comes to this "Alice Obsession" in my humble opinion.
The Mad Hatters tea party continues...
These petite pastel-colored macaron are the perfect accompaniment to the French school girl look.This is my theory and I'm sticking to it.
What do you think?
Do tell all.
BONJOUR ALICE!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
The line waiting outside the Yves Saint Laurent exhibit at the Petit Palais on Friday morning. Get your ticket at FNAC please. I walzed in with no hindrance. Assuming you're planning to be in Paris..
This bow affair is one of YSL's early works at Dior.
Red lips on black velvet and a charmer.
YSLs' influence by art is evident throughout the exhibit - Mondrian and Matisse...
Strong exotique influences of the Near East and Morocco, his home away from Paris is another strong theme...
Braque-influenced gowns...
YSL was such an innovator and constantly referencing sources. There's a room of just fabric swatches - YSL was a great colorist.
Pink was his favorite color.
15 rooms to view and near the end this collection of brilliant evening gowns. It's worth getting the audio tape, though it might take a week to get through..
This large room is painted black and completely covered with YSL's "Le Smoking" suits.
Sketches always catch my eyes - here The Trench.
Word out is that YSL could be quite cranky and unreasonable at times. Perhaps too much drink, drugs... There's a new book out on this aspect of his personality, Mauvais Garcon/Naughty Boy.
Yet this picture in a book of YSL with all of his French Bull Terriers won me over completely - he is so obviously gaga over his doggies.
Who do you think is the boss here? Over the years, he owned an endless string of French Bulldogs, each Brindle pied, each called Moujik. Upon the death of each dog, he’d immediately acquire another named Moujik. What can one say?BONJOUR YSL!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
I find myself compulsively taking photos of these giant Paris haircut posters...
They're quite compelling wouldn't you say?
Especially with the reflections of Parisian apartments plastered on top...
You rarely see anyone walking around with these extreme haircuts but who cares?
This set of bequiling posters are from Toni & Guy Bastille -Hey they're British and have gone global! You can attend their academy too if you so desire...
More haircut posters...
Did the French invent messy hair - they make it look so good. Here's the story of my French haircut if you're interested...
I got the shaken finger for taking this shot! Why? I saw the same poster in New York. Go figure...
Ah...a haircut poster for grownups - ELEGANT non?
OK, I'll go for this haircut poster of sorts, at the Marie-Antoinette exhibit..lots of hair and lots of bows. You could even fit a croissant and a macaron or two in there...BONJOUR PARIS!
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