Found the photos of my Mary Quant suit! 

Write-up coming soon...

Elsa Schiaparelli and one of my all-time favorite dresses...

Elsa Schiaparelli and one of my all-time favorite dresses...

A little about Elsa first...Couturier Elsa Schiaparelli was well before her time with her avant-garde style.  As an artist and a dreamer, she created amazing collections such as ‘Musical Instruments’, ‘Butterflies’, ‘Pagan Collection’, ‘Astrological Collection’, and the ‘Circus’. Clowns, skeleton bones  and trapeze artists decorated her garments with sayings like ‘Attention à la peinture’ (wet paint). With her anything was possible and the sky was the limit with her creativeness.  It was Schiaparelli who started  ‘ready-to-wear’ clothing and designed  ‘boutique’ clothing and accessories.

Schiaparelli gathered ideas from the world around her setting her apart from the Art Deco fashion scene. In the 1920s, she started helping design sportswear for women and then went to bold day and evening wear. By 1935 she was a leader in haute couture

She also had lines of jewelry, scarves, handbags, belts, buttons, hats, shoes and perfume.

Her artistic and original ideas attracted artists Jean Cocteau, Bébé Bérard, Salvador Dali , Vertès and Van Dongen.  Movie stars desired to wear her clothing such as, Katharine Hepburn, Claudette Colbert,  Marlene Dietrich and Lauren Bacall.  Mae West posed for a statue that Schiaparelli used as a model to create costumes for her. The statue was the inspiration for her perfume bottle design for ‘Shocking’.

In 1938 she designed her 'Circus' collection and my favorite, the 'skeleton' dress. She and famous artist, Salvador Dali, had become good friends and he had helped in designing some of the prints for her clothing line: 

Elsa's skeleton dress from the 'Circus' collection 1938

Silk crêpe, trapunto quilting, cotton wadding - Made in Paris

Elsa coat 1938 'Circus' collection

1938 Circus collection 'Tears' print by Dali

Elsa Schiaprelli showroom 'Circus' collection 1938

 

Summer coming...With Summer on the way and Hawaiian prints bringing on the Tiki parties makes me think of one of my favorite artists...Josh Agle, better known as 'SHAG' (jo-SHAG-le). His art retrogresses to the mid-century modernism ideal of swank pads, exotic vacations and cocktail parties all in vivid color. Looking at his art takes you to another time and place.

Ekahi - Ekolu - Elua

deaths unending vacation

 

The roaring 20's styles are making a comeback this year for Spring? 

New York Fashion week trend reports from Harper's Bazaar predict floral and 20's elegance will be here for Spring 2012. Comparing the 20's new look to Daisy Buchanan in 'The Great Gatsby' Many designers are jumping on the 20's bandwagon with some interesting variations like Marc Jacobs and his over-sized plastic sequins.I think Ralph Lauren and Oscar De La Renta nailed it! Ralph with a beautiful 'Evening at home' styled gown and Oscar with a feathered number that is ready for a fabulous dinner. I would take any one of these dresses...even Marc Jacobs weird plastic flapper dress, he's wonderful anyways! I see a touch of the 1930's in some of these...What do you think?  

Marc Jacobs

Ralph Lauren

Oscar DeLaRenta

Derek Lam

The Atomic Age Or the Atomic Era...

I'm crazy about the Atomic Era! 

What is that you ask? Here is a little history about it... 

The Atomic Age, also known as the Atomic Era (Space age) is a period of history following WWII after the detonation of the first nuclear bomb on July 16, 1945. Nuclear optimism gained popularity in the 1950s.These designs were influenced by science, space exploration and new and improved technologies. It influenced everything from cars to clothing to house designs. Remember the Tex Avery cartoon 'Car of Tomorrow' from 1951 or his cartoon 'House of Tomorrow' from 1949? I have become ...obsessed! =)


A few swatches of atomic prints...These were the most popular for draperies in the 50's, usually made out of barkcloth and one of my favorite mediums, fiberglass! The atomic clothing usually had a softer print in cotton.  Now you can buy new atomic fabric and make whatever you can dream of.
I will have to share photos of one of my favorite vintage pieces...It's a vintage home-made dress that was made out of atomic drapes. *giggle* 

Working on a logo...*sigh*

 I have been working on a logo I like for the past 8 years! Yes...8 years! I FINALLY came up with one a few weeks a go that I could live with, thought it had enough style and maturity (I have a fear of the use of too much color) without being overly "cute" or cliche' ...low-and-behold, it was almost identical to another vintage sellers...*grumble*.  I thought, and thought... and thought some more and realized that my logo should reflect my love of vintage, the Space Age (Atomic) era after WWII and the love of Googie architecture. What is Googie you ask? 
Wikipedia describes googie as: "Googie architecture is a form of modern architecture, a subdivision of futurist architecture that was influenced  by the car culture and the (not to be confused with the machine age of 1880 to 1945) "Space" and "Atomic ages" It started in Southern California in the late 40's an continued through the mid-60's. Many buildings became known as Mid-Century modern style. The name "Googie" came from a coffee shop in West Hollywood. 

Here are some wonderful examples of Googie architecture:

Mel's Diner Universal Studios

Vegas!

Computer Art

Classic Googie was popular with hotels, coffee shops & bowling alleys

Space Age

Caribbean Hotel Ocean Ave. 1958

Beverly Hills gas station

Car Wash San Bernadino

This is a dying art form. Mid century buildings are being torn-down to make room for new box-buildings. It is heart breaking to see such a whimsical & unique style from our past becoming history...Enjoy the "Googie" in your area while you can

Ossie Clark

Sorting some boxes I came upon one of my hidden treasures, a 40's influenced brown Ossie Clark gown with satin shoulders and a deco style neckline. She does have a touch of fade but needs to be displayed...at least photographed! 

(9 June 1942–6 August 1996) Raymond "Ossie" Clark  An English fashion designer who was a big influence in the Swinging Sixties scene in London and fashion of the time. Clark is known for his vintage designs still by current designers.

Clark is compared to the 1960s fashion greats Mary Quant (I'll add one of her suits later) and Biba and had a major influenced on many other designers, including Yves Saint Laurent and Manolo Blahnik. Mr. Blahnik has been quoted saying,  "He (Ossie Clark) created an incredible magic with the body and achieved what fashion should do — produce desire." Ossie Clark and Ossie Clark for Radley clothes are highly sought after, and are worn by well known models like Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell.

 I will get her pressed and upload photos as soon as I get a chance =)

The vintage Hawaiian Dress

The vintage Hawaiian dress of the 40's and 50's  is one of my most favorite things to collect. While some people love the frilly party dresses and rose prints, I gravitate to vintage tropical foliage or fish. Thought I would share a little history and photos on these wonderful pieces of art.

  The early islanders wore Tapa cloth that was a barkcloth made from the Paper Mullberry tree. It was dyed with  juice from the Kukui nut tree, bits of red or yellow Ochre or charcoal.  Mokihhana berry or sandalwood was used to give it a nice scent. It was stamped to create the designs.

Pareu (sarong-wrap)

  Around 1810, an English-made lightweight printed cotton called a Pareu (like a sarong)started being imported into Tahiti ending the use of the traditional Tapa. To be continued... =)

The amazing Howard Greer!

 What an inspiration to any designer! 

 Howard Greer was the head of Paramount Studios Design Department until 1927 when he opened his own company. According to New York Fashion, Greer produced custom made clothes for Hollywood's best, actresses such as Katharine Hepburn, Gypsy Rose Lee, and Rita Hayworth.  Dita Von Teese recently wore one of his gowns, I was shocked to see people follow-up on the image, calling the dress she was wearing a weird nightgown! 

  He is known for the invention of  the "tabletop neckline", that focuses on a woman's graceful neck. His standard gowns cost up to $650 in the 50's. If you have some time, enjoy a photo search of Howard Greer. I wish we had more designers that are inspired by the beauty of fashion of the past...I could upload fabulous dresses of his... all...day...long

Howard Greer Print Ad

Irene Dunne

Rita Hayworth

Katharine Hepburn - Moth Costume1933

Celebrating Halloween

 I enjoy searching the internet for vintage images & ads. Today I wanted to add a few Halloween pin-ups that are just too cute not to share. 

Clara Bow....Whatta doll!

Virginia Welles....Dishy!

Paulette Goddard.....Purrrrrfect