Pre-Raphaelite dressing

I mentioned the Pre-Raphaelite style in my Charles Anastase post, so I thought I'd post some examples here. I miss posting art to my blog, so I'm going to try doing that more often.

 Edward Burne-Jones, The Princess Sabra Led to the Dragon

 Edward Burne-Jones, The Golden Stairs

 John Everett Millais, The Return of the Dove to the Ark

William Holman Hunt, The Lady of Shallott

Photos from this wikipedia.

De*Nada

I was recently contacted by designer Virginia Blanca Arrisueño about her line, De*Nada.
Virginia got her BFA at the University of Maryland (Go Terps!), and she's received many awards for her talent and skill, both creative and technical, including the Sadat Art for Peace Award -- delivered to her by Nelson Mandela!



Though she initially started out selling handbags and t-shirts, the collection grew to the scarves, gloves and hats that we can see now on her site and in stores.



She gets her inspiration from her Peruvian heritage and combines that with contemporary, timely styles to create a truly unique experience. To be honest, I was truly excited by what I saw on the site -- ingenious designs. As a scarf collector, I was in heaven! My favorites are the eternal roped, eternal knit and challah braid scarves. I can only imagine how warm and cosy they'd be come winter (which isn't too far away for us).


The newest collection is going to be on sale online very soon, so keep an eye out for De*Nada!

Photos from De*Nada website. Aren't they awesome?

We sure do love our surrealists in this household...

While browsing through Paper Mode's archives, I stumbled across a Magritte-inspired editorial. I'm in heaven!

Photos from Paper Mode, via other sources.

It's the bitch of living...

I'm going to see Spring Awakening today, and I am SO. EXCITED. I can't wait!!!

I don't know what to wear though... It's a hot day out (high of 89), but it'll probably be cold in the theater. Decisions, decisions. I wish pictures were allowed during the play (though I totally understand why they're not), so I could show you what I'll get to see. Oh, well.

Ethereal Artwork: Audrey Kawasaki

Overlap

oil and graphite on wood

Ages ago, I emailed artist Audrey Kawasaki to see if it was all right if I wrote a little about her artwork on my blog and featured some of her pieces. She answered me (also ages ago) and was really nice and gracious aaaaaand said that it was fine, so finally, I can finish what I started.

She Who Dares
oil and graphite on wood

It was really hard to pick just a few to put in this post. Honestly though, I could have just closed my eyes and picked -- they're all that damn good.

Tangled He
oil and graphite on wood

Audrey (look at me acting like we're on a first-name basis or something) doesn't often paint guys, so this was an interesting surprise. Regardless of gender, her subjects always look almost magical -- their skin shines as if they're glowing.

As I Fall
mixed media on wood
My Dishonest Heart
mixed media on wood

Her paintings remind me very much of Alphonse Mucha, but also of Maurice Denis. Though his art insists on flatness and hers maintains three dimensions, they both have a way of treating their subjects that makes them seem unreal and almost as if you, the viewer, isn't meant to be seeing them. Let me stop before I start waxing all art historian, but suffice it to say that Ms. Kawasaki is an artist whose work I not only look forward to seeing for many years to come but also hope to own one day.

You can learn about sales she has and everything else she's up to on her blog. Check it out to see an artist truly deserving of everyone's patronage.

All photos from www.audrey-kawasaki.com, exuberant fangirling by me.

Victorian Robotics?

You know, I'm not the biggest fan of steampunk, but I really do love these pictures I found in the New York Times.




Then again, maybe I like steampunk more than I thought. The Prestige (not really steampunk, but the period is right) and The Extraordinary League of Gentlemen are two favorites of mine.

(Also, I want this car. Yow.)

When it comes to decor, though, my tastes run to the opposite of this subculture: I prefer old shapes made in newer materials (like the Ghost chair by Philippe Starck), as opposed to new things made to look old.

All photos from nytimes.com, of course.

Film Noir

I just finished watching this movie.

I put it on my Netflix queue because I was trying to find this movie I had watched as a child and loved. Alain Delon in a trench coat looked really familiar, so I picked a movie he was in, pretty much at random -- that turned out to be Le Samourai. The best part about this? I picked the right movie! I'm obsessed with this film (and will definitely be buying it ASAP), so lots of pics:

This one is my favorite picture, other than the DVD cover.

And lest you think this has nothing to do with fashion, check out this Samourai-inspired shirt by the French designers Sixpack.
Unfortunately, this limited edition is sold out, but thanks to the internet, it lives on. Funny thing is, they picked the absolute worst picture of Delon I've ever seen. He looks absolutely gorgeous in the movie!





Photos: dearcinema.com, cultcase.com, gentrystyle.com, cultcase.com, moviemail-online.co.uk, nytimes.com, and retrotogo.com, respectively. Thanks to Google Images, of course.

Art as Inspiration, part 4: Klimt Revisited

I used to really hate Klimt, but after spending a few days in a room with a giant reproduction of Klimt's "The Kiss" (true story), his style really grew on me.

I kind of wish he was still alive...and designing clothing. But since he isn't, we've got to rely on interpretations by designers like Galliano. Here are a few examples of the master's work (Klimt, not Galliano. That comes later.).

Judith II

The Kiss

Danae

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I

Portrait of Margaret Stonborough-Wittgenstein

Water Serpents I

Goldfish

Judith I

Medicine (Hygeia)

Pallas Athene

Photos: www.expo-klimt.com

Art as Inspiration, part 2

Thought that kimono-inspired tops (like the one above) and dresses were a recent trend?



You'd be wrong. (Take a peek at the lady at the left.) *sigh* The Frocker so should have been an art history major.

Photo credits: www.nordstrom.com, www.metmuseum.org (respectively)

Ahoy, mateys??

News for my lovely readers on the other side of the Atlantic --

There is an exhibit entitled "Sailor Chic — Fashion's Love Affair with the Sea" at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich (yes, the one where the Cutty Sark is). It opened on Wednesday, and I've heard good things!!

Expect pieces from Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, and paintings depicting the royal family in sailor dress, even posters from movies like "Anchors Aweigh" and "South Pacific".

See below for a little taste of what you'll get there.


Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (1846 portrait)
The Royal Collection, 2007, Her Majesty Elizabeth II
Photo credit: www.wikipedia.com


Yves Saint Laurent's classic 1962 peacoat
Photo credit: www.style.com



Vivienne Westwood pirate outfits
Photo credits: www.vam.ac.uk



Kenzo's take on nautical

So be sure to check it out, and don't forget to tell me what you think! Leave a comment, email me, anything!

Photo credits: www.iht.com

I guess this is the British Invasion in reverse?

If you're in London, you can take a peek at New York fashion designers' collections. The exhibit, which includes artists like Zac Posen (who went to Central Saint Martins *I'm so jealous!!*) and Behnaz Sarafpour, will be at the V&A from April 17 to September 23. So there isn't really a huge rush, b/c you've got quite a while to see it, but hey -- maybe you'd want to see it twice...

Victoria and Albert Museum
Cromwell Rd., SW7
www.vam.ac.uk
011-44-207-942-2000



This is a dress from Zac Posen's debut ready-to-wear line (Fall 2002). See, metallics have always been in! (ha.)



Behnaz Sarafpour's contribution to the V&A collection.



This beautiful jersey dress is from Costello Tagliapietra (duo Jeffrey Costello and Roberto Tagliapetra). I'm not entirely sure if you have to be really tall to pull this off, but regardless -- it's breathtaking. I especially like the train; it's dramatic without being over-the-top, which is just what you need sometimes. Over-the-top has its place, but so does the subtle drama that this dress exudes.



Apparently, I'm a sucker for draping, because I couldn't stop staring at this Jean Yu dress. I like the Greco-Roman influence -- doesn't the top remind you of a toga?



Thom Browne's highwater-chic designs are also on exhibit. You know -- I give major props to any guy who would actually buy and wear this out in public. It takes a lot of bravery to wear what my brother and I affectionately call "ankle-bangers" on PURPOSE. (Also, what the heck is this suit made out of?)

I'm going to let my Brit friends know about it; if all goes well, maybe I can get some first-hand pictures of the exhibit and even *gasp* a review? Cross your fingers!

Photos from style.com, thanks to the V&A