1950s Fashion Print.

Was nearby my most favourite bookshop the other day and couldn't resist popping in and adding another ten books to my wishlist. Every where I turned was another title to drool over (not counting Boganomics which, while making the list, was an exception for not being in the Art and Design section). If I had to choose just ONE of those books for my family to get me for Christmas (and I do, since we're on a the "Life's Not Just One Big Bookshelf" budget) it would be 1950s Fashion Print by Marnie Fogg. In addition to the beautiful quality of the prints and literal feast of mid century textile design  the cover is cloth bound. Do I need to say more????

Images Via.

Oh, I forgot to mention Marnie Fogg's campanion book to this (just in case some rich relative secretly finds my blog entertaining and is loitering here) Fashion Illustration 1930s to 1970s. It's cloth bound too. Like I say, just in case....

A Hit Of Spring.

This is exactly what I am needing today. A hit of strong colour and floral extravagance to keep me going until these winter clouds lift. Taken from Vogue US August issue, starring Racquel Zimmerman as the flower girl and shot by Steven Klein. Editorial titled Late Bloomers, the Northern Hemisphere is having to drink up the last of summer while here we can only imagine it....

Six Weeks Down.

Hard to believe I've made it through the first six weeks of my course, having completed the Sculpture and Printmaking components, simply because I didn't think I would.. I can't believe how intense the course is. Part of me wishes the pace was slower but if I'm honest another part of me is exhilarated by the challenge and having my skills pushed ahead like this. I worked really hard to complete the artists book that was to 'showcase' our lino efforts, thinking I would reward myself with some sewing projects afterwards but no time for that as it's right into the deep end now with painting - yikes! - and on goes the pace.......  I wish I could put up some photos of what I've done (the sculpture of my head - now abstracted in a surrealist style - to scare you and the bookmaking/lino print project because I really like it) but our main computer is out of action due to a virus (the whole thing now has to be emptied out and rebuilt) and I can't access my photos. I've had to satisfy myself with this beautiful image pinched from an Abundance recent post. Worth a visit there as Mady always has the most beautiful and inspiring images.

Another thing I'd like to put up is the zine I've made for the printmaking course. The first one I've ever made which was a lot of fun and exciting since I've always loved zines, though not done one myself. I'm even taking my teachers advice and have signed up for the Canberra Zine fair next week to try and make myself a neat $4.50. Oh all right, I hope to sell more than one, I can't lie, but if I make enough to buy a frivolous fashion magazine then I'll be happy. Actually I really want to read the book We Have Met The Enemy (have you heard of it?) about excess, temptation and addiction in our culture so I think I'll aim for that which will mean selling 8 of the little things. So wish me luck. I'll try and post it during the week (if only my partner could just get that little bit nerdier and fix the virus....). Hope you are having a great weekend.

XXX.

Couture, Kristen and Chandeliers.

The September 2010 issue of Italian Vogue (which my sister thoughtfully bought me for Christmas!) contained the Grand Couture supplement of which I'm still feasting my eyes on. Twenty pages of Kristen McMenamy, impractical couture and - you guessed it - chandeliers. A Perfect combination. Like a modern day Ms Havisham, Kristen Mcmenamy with her strong, hard features draped in glittery couture and languishing in a dilapidated mansion. And how about that giant chandelier? Like I said, a feast for the eyes..

Images via Fashion Gone Rogue.

Sarah Moon

You may have seen these pics floating around blog world a bit lately but I liked them so much I had to have them on mine. I just love Sarah Moon's fashion photography - being shot through what seems such a hazy dreamlike lens with distorted proportion and the muting of saturated colour. Lovely.

Tim Ryan And Gold Lame.

I love gold lame. Pity then that so few opportunities arise in my life to wear it. I'm starting to wonder though if I should just start wearing it regardless. School pick up? For sure. Saturday morning cricket? Why not! Ask not where one  can wear gold lame but where can't one wear it. These are from Tim Ryan's S/S 2011 collection and they side step any connotation I might have for 60's gold lame, Samantha Steven's cocktail wardrobe, and modernise it thoroughly. Great updated silhouettes and really loving it with the pale blues, mauves and shots of graphic black. I hope there's going to be a lot more of this lame going around....

Picture Source.

Orla Kiely's Yellow Velvet Dress

More sixties retro from Orla Kiely that you might already have seen. I LOVE the yellow velvet dress but if you think about it, how easy would it be to wear that colour? Or a thick velvet if you are short? I can imagine myself impulse buying it then getting home, trying it on, looking in the mirror and going "Oh my god, what was I thinking? I look like a chubby extra from the set of To Sir With Love, not in fact like the model dancing away on her own in a wood panelled den." Lucky it's prohibitively priced and I don't know where you'd buy Orla Kiely. Cool party dress nonetheless. Go for it rich, skinny girls...

Ghost World - Top Five Favourite Movie.

One of my most favourite movies of all time ever is Ghost World - the movie adaptation of Daniel Clowes cult comic about  misfit teenager Enid and her best friend Rebecca. There are so many reasons why this movie is a treasured DVD in my collection but take for starters the casting - it is pitch perfect. Thora Birch as Enid and Scarlett Johansson as Rebecca are inspired choices for the two alienated yet too-cool-for-school just-graduated best friends but really it's Steve Buscemi as the reclusive Seymour whom Enid befriends which makes the movie. His character is so fully concieved and painfully rendered that at times it's hard to watch. The addition of Illeanna Douglas (totally underated actress), as the hysterical and embarressingly hippie art teacher, is the icing on the cake.

But for anyone who appreciates a movie's style as much as it's substance (or even more than!) this movie is heaven from the very first frame. The credits open with the fabulous "Jaan Pehechan Ho" number from a 1965 Bollywood musical "Gumnaam" as Enid gets ready for her graduation ceremony. If this scene - an intersperse of the "Jaan Pehechan Ho" number with views into the windows and lives of anonymous inhabitants of the apartment block Enid lives in, as she dances to the video in her tiny room - doesn't get you in I don't know what will. Watch it below and see if you just don't want to hire it immediately. Otherwise I might have to bring my copy around to your house, pop it in your player and sit there watching you expectantly through all my favourite bits. Which I'm told is really off putting.

You Tube clip of Ghost World intro. (sorry, can't seem to embed it here. Can anyone offer tips besides cut and paste?)

Rochas Groovy Autumn 2010 Runway Show.

Heaven is Rochas recent runway show in Paris. Retro seventies, back combed hair, lots of leopard print and all that soft lemon and bright turquoise. As for the pantsuits - sooooo Samantha Stevens. Happy and fun fashion - the best kind of all.

Are Ears The New Black?

Hooray! It appears girls with sticky outy ears can now come out of hiding. If the above photos in this months British Vogue are anything to go by the long wait is over. No need to be shy anymore. Such. Good. News. (Not personally you understand...I'm just pleased for those poor unfortunate girls who now can take their hats and headbands off....nothing to me...).

Dreaming of Neon Yellow.

Not that long ago I was hating yellow. A reaction of having loved it throughout the 90s and covered my entire hallway in it. But now it's back. And being the sad old slave to fashion that I am I love it again. This time it's slightly neon. And that reminds me of the 1950s. And that's a good thing. (This chair is on ebay at the moment and way out of my league. But I can dream).

Even the local St Vinnies is getting in on the act. I drove by last week and was drawn back by the window dressing. They are getting so canny these days at Vinnies. And not just the window dressing. Remember when no one there had any inkling what something was worth? Nothing was ever over $10. Now they totally know the value of vintage. This dress for example (though not strictly vintage) was priced at $35.
Having said that I did score these platform shoes for $6 - patent leather and just my size. Why, they will be perfect for the school drop off I thought to myself. And just the thing for the after school grocery run. And Saturday morning junior cricket....

Vintage Shoe Find.

Amazing what you can find at the Salvos on a lucky day. Today these adorable vintage shoes for $5 (yes, I know - $5!!!). Black patent leather, a narrow square toe, grossgrain trim and cute bow. Plus with a chunky - yet somehow elegant - low square heel they are exactly what I was looking for. I could cry then that they secretly pinch my toes blue.