Shopping Alert: 1920's style / Alerte Shopping: Style années '20

(La version Française se trouve plus bas.)

I was out Christmas shopping last week when something caught my eye; there in the window of Bedo, the display presented two gorgeously beaded dress that look straight out of The Great Gatsby (2013).

La semaine dernière, tandis que je faisais quelques emplettes de Noël, mon regard fut attiré par les mannequins de la vitrine de Bedo qui présentaient deux magnifiques robes qu'on aurait dit toute droit sortie de Gatsby le magnifique (2013).

Beaded Fringe Dress /

Robe avec Perlage

Bedo, 189.00$

Scalloped Hem Beaded Dress /

Robe avec Perlage et Ourlet Festonné

Bedo, 189.00$

If you are maximum a size 12 and you happened to be searching for a 1920's beaded flapper dress for less than 200$, search no more. Oh, and you can thank me later with pictures.

In a different store, I noticed quite a few cloche hats, but one in particular I really love; it somehow reminded me of the hats worn on Downton Abbey (2010), with that pleat and that bow. It is real wool too!

Si vous portez au plus du 12 et que vous cherchiez justement une robe perlée de style années '20 pour moins de 200$, vous n'avez plus à chercher. Oh, et vous pourrez me remercier plus tard en partageant vos photos.

Dans une autre boutique, j'ai remarqué plusieurs chapeaux cloche, mais un en particulier m'a vraiment attiré; il me rappelait les chapeaux portés par les femmes de Downton Abbey (2010), avec son pli et sa boucle. Et il est en laine véritable en plus!

Little retro cloche hat /

La petite cloche rétro

Simons, 25.00$

Has anyone else noticed the Art Deco era fashions reappearing in mainstream stores lately?

Est-ce que quelqu'un d'autre a remarqué cette résurgence de vêtements de l'ère Art Déco dans les chaînes de magasins populaires récemment?

BCBG and Vionnet

Recently, I saw this ad for BCBG Max Azria in a magazine.

BCBG Max Azria Fall 2011 ad campaign

Of course, I recognized the dress immediately. Did you? Just look at those concentric squares on the bodice; it is clearly inspired by this Madeleine Vionnet dress from the 1920's.

Dress summer 1922, Les Arts Décoratifs, Union Française des Arts du Costume

This is proof once again that in fashion, nothing is truly original nowadays; it is always inspired to some degree by something else, more often then not the past.

By the way, should you wish to make the Vionnet dress for yourself, the pattern can be found in Pattern Of Fashion 2 1860-1940 by Janet Arnold. I myself find it interesting, but the light beige to coffee colour palette is not my cup of tea (pun intended). I like the BCBG colour scheme of blues. I might try that. I would also love to see what colour combination others might come up with. (That would make a great Masquerade / Competition theme for Costume Con.)

Neck rings for the western woman

Flicking through a fashion magazine recently, I came upon this add for Dior's J'adore perfume with Charlize Theron:

Charlize Theron for Dior's J'adore perfume

I was instantaniously reminded of those so called "Giraffe women" in South Africa.

Ndebele Woman in Traditional Dress

Women of Ndebele people wear brass rings called idzila around their neck, legs, and arms. These rings do not put pressure on the collar bone and create an elongated neck look, contrary to popular belief and other Asian cultures. They begin wearing these when they get married, around age 12, and the rings are added on as they are given to them by their husband. The richer the husband, the more rings his wife has. The Ndebele widow will take all her rings off upon her husband's death to show her new state.

(more information here: http://www.krugerpark.co.za/africa_ndebele.html

Kayan or Padaung lady and girl Myanmar Kayah state

Upon reseaching for this post, I discovered that other cultures used neck rings, namely the Kayan or Padaung Women of Myanmar. (If I understand correctly, "Padaung" means long neck woman). In fact, they wear coiled metal rings around their wrists, knees and ankles as well. Girls begin wearing the rings as young as age 2. In the case of the Padaung, the weight of the neck rings does infact deform the collar bone, pushing it to a 45 degree angle and making the neck appear longer, but the idea that an unfaithful woman will see her rings removed as punishment so she suffocates to death is completly false; in fact, the rings can be taken off and put back on if need be, say to be examined by a doctor. In the Kayan culture, this drastic body modification through adornment is done so everyone is reminded of their ancestry to the Nagas, a mythical dragon or snake.

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar borders Thailand, and there is apparently a group of Kayan living in a border town on the Thai side of the fence (though according to one source I found, they generate most of the economic wealth of the town they are in so that now that they want to relocate, things are being made as hard as possible for them to do so). Perhaps that is why Miss Thailand Chutima Durongdej wore a neck ring inspired piece as her National Costume to the 2009 Miss Universe contest.

Miss Thailand 2009 - Chutima Durongdej

Miss Thailand 2009 - Chutima Durongdej

Yep! I definitly see the resemblance with Charlize's neck piece. Now being on a craft craze, how would I go about making something like that?(I mean the Dior add neck piece of course.)

The Monster Gift

You may remember a Threadbanger video I posted a while back on how to make yourself a Monster Hoodie (see Costume Monster Hoodie, posted on January 16th, 2010):

Based on their instructions, I made one for my friend Stu. It was supposed to be a Christmas present, but we only got to visit this Week-End. So that is why I am only showing it to you now, even if it has been made for months. Stu was really happy with it. I can tell you that although it was horribly hot, he did not want to take it off.

Stu's New Monster Hoodie

For this project, I bought a hooded vest on sale at Walmart (can't tell you how much because the gift recipient might see it). The video suggests the use of felt for the teeth and eyes, but I had leftover pieces of Polar Fleece, so that is what I used. And of course, I used my sewing machine instead of fabric glue.

The Monster Hoodie's Sharp Teeth

I actually cut two layers of the teeth strip and used the zigzag stitch on my machine to assemble them together. Then, I fixed to the hood's opening by sewing over the original seam, making it as invisible as possible.

I see you!

For the eyes, I began by fixing the pupils to the whites with a zigzag stitch, than I fixed the eyes to the top of the hood, still with a zigzag stitch.

It was a very easy project to make. I'll have to make myself one eventually.

Balmain Spring 2010 RTW "Logan's Run" Dresses

I was flipping through a magazine when I fell upon pictures of Balmain's Spring 2010 RTW (that stands for "Ready to Wear" for those of you wondering) collection.

Balmain Spring 2010 RTW

Okay, so look at them for a moment and tell me what they remind you of... Classical Greco-Roman styles? Yes, but more than that...

It made me think of the women's costumes in Logan's Run (1976).

Jenny Agutter as Jessica, Logan's Run (1976)

Okay, so I know that Jessica's dress is quite high necked, but that was the style of the 70's. Really! My Mom got married at about the same time and her dress neckline had the looks of a turtle neck.

But look again at the length of the dress, the gathered waist, the layering of fabrics...

Jenny Agutter as Jessica and Michael York as Logan, Logan's Run (1976)

No? What about the way it looks once it is all torned up?

Jenny Agutter as Jessica and Michael York as Logan, Logan's Run (1976)

Ah, ha! Now you see it, don't you? It even has a similar brownish colour!

By the way, did you know they were re-making Logan's Run? It's set to come out in 2012. Personally, I believe some classics should remain untouched (I mean, can you imagine if someone decided to re-make Star Wars or The Lord of the Rings in 30 years?), but I guess it'll give me another costuming excuse!

From Store to Stage - an Alfred Sung skirt

This is going to be short and sweet.

Today is my Dance School's first Recital (see Shameless Plug: Young Academy of Irish Dance 1st Annual St Patrick's Day Show posted on February 1, 2010). You can see pictures tomorrow, but for now, I wanted to show you the skirt I got for me and two other classmates to wear for one number (St. Patrick's Day Set, for those who might wonder).

Alfred Sung Plaid Skirt, Spring/Summer 2009

It is an Alfred Sung skirt, from last summer's PURE for Zellers collection. I got three in our sizes (or about) for 10$ each! We'll be wearing them with a white shirt which should be cute.

That's it. Now I have to prepare for a hard day's work and an evening of dancing. Gotta go!

McQueen is dead, long live McQueen!

On February 11, we learned that Alexander McQueen had ended his life (see R.I.P. Alexander McQueen posted on February 12, 2010). On March 10, 2010, his last collection was presented in Paris, at the Hôtel de Clermont-Tonnerre.

Here is what Hilary Alexander, Fashion Director at Paris Fashion Week had to say about it:

The late designer Alexander McQueen's Autumn Winter 2010 collection has been unveiled at Paris Fashion Week. McQueen, who is celebrated as the “bad boy of British fashion”, was working on the collection when he committed suicide in London almost a month ago, aged 40.
These last designs were heavily religious, and inspired by Byzantine and Renaissance artists, including Botticelli. The presentations were held in the 18th-century Hôtel de Clermont-Tonnerre where seven models processed in courtly fashion through a gilded, mirrored, salon.
The design future of the label rests with the studio team, led by Sarah Burton, who worked alongside McQueen for 16 years.

(Source: Telegraph.co.uk, Alexander McQueen autumn/winter)

Personally, I am amazed by it. I'm not a fan of the rooster head hairdo, but the gold, red, off white and black hold a classical elegance and I would love to get my hands on such fabrics. The beauty of it adds to the melancholy at having lost its creator, by his own hand.

Let us now have a moment of silence (meaning I will now shut up - textually) to admire the last of his creations.

Photos from New York Magazine, Alexander McQueen Fall 2010 RTW Show.

R.I.P. Alexander McQueen

Yesterday, the world learned that a great designer had taken his own life; at age 40, Lee Alexander McQueen was found dead in his London home. It may have to do with the fact that his mother's funeral was set to be today, but whatever the reason, his creative genius will be missed. He was, of all the designers out there, a favourite of costumers everywhere.

To his memory, I present to you a few of his costume inspired designs.

Alexander McQueen, Spring 2001, from The Cut - Retrospective: A Decade of McQueen’s Work

Alexander McQueen, Fall 2006, from The Cut - Retrospective: A Decade of McQueen’s Work

Alexander McQueen, Fall 2006, from The Cut - Retrospective: A Decade of McQueen’s Work

Alexander McQueen, Spring 2007, from The Cut - Retrospective: A Decade of McQueen’s Work

Alexander McQueen, Fall 20067 from The Cut - Retrospective: A Decade of McQueen’s Work

Alexander McQueen, Fall 2007, from The Cut - Retrospective: A Decade of McQueen’s Work

Alexander McQueen, Spring 2008, from The Cut - Retrospective: A Decade of McQueen’s Work

Alexander McQueen, Spring 2008, from The Cut - Retrospective: A Decade of McQueen’s Work

Alexander McQueen, Fall 2008, from The Cut - Retrospective: A Decade of McQueen’s Work

Alexander McQueen, Fall 2008, from The Cut - Retrospective: A Decade of McQueen’s Work

Alexander McQueen, Fall 2009, from The Cut - Retrospective: A Decade of McQueen’s Work

Alexander McQueen, Spring 2010, from The Cut - Retrospective: A Decade of McQueen’s Work

He also designed wearable clothes. Here are two of my favourites, worn by well known Stars.

Janet Jackson at the opening of The Alexander McQueen flagship store in southern California, June 2008

(What a lovely, elegant and yet simple interpretation of a Furisode.)

Kirsten Dunst in a corseted pink-and-dove taffeta-and-chiffon ball gown by Alexander McQueen, Vogue, September 2006

It's always sad when artistic geniuses leave us, especially by choice. He will be missed.

Costume Monster Hoodie

I love ThreadBanger. What they call alternative fashion, I call everyday costume. Yesterday's DIY show was about transforming Hoodies into costumes. Usually, when you think Hoodie, you think comfy sweater you can throw on to go to the grocery store. With the Monster Hoodie project, you can do that, and freak out the Soccer Moms! How cool is that?

My Sweetheart walked into my Sewing Room/Office while I was watching the video and he told me that he wants the 'Ragon Head (he also asked if I was going to write that he wants the 'Ragon Head in my Blog - yes my love, I did). But seriously, I want one. And, I want to make one for my daughter. I'll even make one for my Sweetheart if he really wants one. I'll use sewing though, because I'm not a big fan of replacing stitches with glue.

I can see this project becoming a gift for a couple of friends (but I won't say who, or else it will ruin the surprise). Have I mentioned I love ThreadBanger?

Costume at Victoria's Secret 2009 Fashion Show

On Tuesday, CBS presented Victoria's Secret Annual Fashion Show. I know many gentlemen (and ladies) watch this for the lingerie, but I like it for the costumes and wings!

So, in no particular order, lets look (and possibly drool) on some of the fabulous accessories used to outfit these designer bras and panties.

Note: All pictures were borrowed from Marie Claire UK for illustration and costume study purposes. Also, I would love to credit each of the models, but I don't know them, so I do apologize for that.

Love the clockwork wings here. They are so Steampunk!

It's Little Red Ridding Hood! (And I will now restrain myself from making R rated jokes about the Big Bad Wolf.)

I like this one: it has a sexy Ice Queen feel.

Is anyone else getting images of Milla Jovovich as Leeloo (The Fifth Element - 1997)?

This just reminded me of Art History classes: Nude Descending a Staircase, a 1912 painting with both Cubist and Futurist elements by Marcel Duchamp.

If there was such a thing as "Peter Pan's Lost Girls", flying over the clouds, that is what I imagine they would look like.

I loved the wings of this one. Can you say "Bird of Paradise"?

Another nice wing getup, but this one should probably be called "Lust Angel". It's the red.

Clearly a 90's Techno inspiration here.

This one is probably my favorite (I know, I said no specific order, but it's fun to keep the best for last). You know me, blue and green always catch my eye. But here, it feels like a mixture of Ancient Egyptian influence (Lapis Blue, Malachite Green and Ruby Red) and Stained Glass work such as what you might find in a Cathedral. And are those Peacock feathers I see trimming the wings?

The funny thing about all of these outfits is that they are considered very sexy by the general public, and yet it is no worse than some of the costumes I have seen at Anime Conventions!