Couture Eye Candy

Dear reader, I’m taking a tiny break (just this week) to zone out from the usual stuff.  However, I do not want to leave you with a dry spot in this space either. So, today’s post is pure fashion eye-candy with a little bit of sewing nerdiness thrown in.  Go ahead, enlarge the images and revel in the details.  Most images are screen grabs from my phone and I have not cropped away the credits so you can see them. 

The Black and White Aesthetic:

The header of this blog post shows a detail of the breton-morphing-into-feathered-skirt look by Gaultier.

The two images below are from Conde Nast Archives as posted on the Vogue Runway website: Jean Paul Gaultier’s amazing collection from the 90s.

Beads!! I want to wear this outfit (without the turban) right now
Fantastic extension of the very French striped tee — the Breton, which originated as a French fiherman’s shirt.

Kate, Duchess of Cambridge on a visit to Pakistan, wearing a Pakistani outfit from the Pakistani design house called Elan (that is what the caption says).  Stunning!

House of Dior in the next two images:  Even if you skim the other pictures, look closely at the curved bodice lines dress. Do you see the faggoting stitches that join the pieces? Definitely a fitting and dart manipulation exercise for a good bodice fit. Wow.  Same with the harlequin outfit.

She doesn’t have many curves to fit the stripes around, but can totally be done on curvy types. Anyone interested in doing this?
House of Dior at work

Valentino: It’s applique on tulle or organza.  If you’ve appliqued on a quilt or children’s clothing, you can do this. Maybe try it out on a sleeve hem before committing to a larger, fancier project? Organza would be easier to applique on than tulle, though. Look closely; is that a braid sewn onto the edges of the applique?

Maison Rabih Kayrouz:   I admire innovative garment design which is also wearable.  This one has an attractive nautical-rope touch to it. Something tells me you can pull the cords to bring it closer to the body.  The general look can be considered nautical or “primitive” – whichever way you want to look at it.

Light and Bright Color Aesthetic:

Ralph and Russo: Feathers as embellishment have been a go-to for many design houses; have you tried it? Instructions are easy if you have Ellen Miller’s Embellishment book. 

And then there’s Gucci, always edgy. There’s interesting use of pleated fabric but gives off Issey Miyake vibes. Come on, Gucci, do something no one’s seen before (sounding like a Project Runway judge).  I do really like the multi-hued feathery piece.

Want those pants!
What’s the man on the right thinking?

Not withstanding  the coronavirus causing problems for fashion houses (like the rest of us), the Vogue Runway website is an amazing source of inspiration.

Be safe and healthy, friends. I am a mask wearer outside the house. Let’s save each other. 

Samina

6 thoughts on “Couture Eye Candy”

  1. Some outfits are lovely, some are amusing!
    The man on the right looks like he is lost in his own thoughts, not focused on the runway…

    I’m endorsing the wearing of masks! Let’s care about each other by wearing a mask (so any germs I have stick with me).
    Latest info says that if you wear a mask with a filter (in a pocket), you can not just protect others, but also protect yourself!

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    1. I’ve made cloth masks without the filter; does the filter let you breathe easily? Where is it available?
      It’s fun to just look at the audience reaction in a fashion runway photo. These days they all have their phones held up — that is amusing in itself.

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      1. We ordered a couple of masks with filter pockets and filters, but the first just arrived, so I will begin using it today (ie, cannot comment yet on breathability). According to a story on NPR a week ago (meaning, the most up-to-date recommendation)
        https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/06/21/880832213/yes-wearing-masks-helps-heres-why

        I heard in an NPR story that the filter can be a double layer of ordinary tissue paper or a single layer of polypropylene, easily found at Joanne’s or Hobby Lobby under the name “OLY-fun”. I did find this info online to get the details, but haven’t been able to re-find the link.

        The first of the two masks I ordered has a very light fabric to hold the filter: you can see light between the crossing fibers.

        I have only made one mask (for my husband before he spent a day in our urban capital to service his car and go to Costco: he still wears it, but it was in May when I could not find elastic, and had to recycle a nose clip and the elastic from my sewing room clips that I wear around my neck!). After that, I decided a contour style would be more comfortable and hug the cheeks better, but there were so many patterns, I ended up shopping on Etsy (where reviews comment on how well they fit…) to look for ones with a nose clip, filter pocket, and adjustable elastic…

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  2. Birds. like wildlife in general, are having ahard time. Please don’t support the use of their feathers in current fashion. I hope you are not in favour of fur?

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    1. I’ve made stuff with fake fur only, and never condone killing animals for their fur.
      About the feathers, I think there are fake feathers available at craft stores? I have never used them but want to look into using the fake kind.

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