L' Haute Couturière

Dorothy's Granddaughter I

In the vein of doing posts on my Polyvore sets, I have uploaded another set, 'Dorothy's Granddaughter I.' The name, Dorothy, is both that of my deceased grandmother and that of the protagonist in the 'Wizard of Oz.' In more ways that one, I am 'Dorothy's Granddaughter.'

Dorothy's Granddaughter I by Ms.Miche featuring Miu Miu bags

Black Widow

When I was 11, I read 'Windmills of the Gods' by Sidney Sheldon. It had a surprising ending that I have never forgotten. Over half a year ago, I created a set on Polyvore that was 'inspired' by it. It was my first set and I pretty much begged for feedback.

Polyvore is a fashionista's dream. Some amazing concepts have been brought to life on this site. I must admit that my sets are not yet in the amazing league. Right now, I simply put things together and hope for the best. One day...

For a list of the items that have been included in my set, please, click here.

Enjoy!

Black Widow by Ms.Miche featuring Alexander McQueen dresses

Ralph Lauren's Spring-Summer 2008 Collection

It's almost two years since I sifted through this collection on style.com. It is breathtaking and is chalked full of vintage elements. Everything is wearable as is! Wow! I saved the majority of the slides to my look book.

Enjoy!

Part I

Part II

Luisa Beccaria's Spring-Summer 2008 Collection

Please, view the Spring-Summer 2008 fashion show by Luisa Beccaria. Ms. Beccaria is welcome to give me the entire collection. I'll snip off the fruit and wear it with pride.

On another note, I believe that all aspiring couturières should make an effort to watch fashion shows on YouTube. Dont't worry! I have not lost my passion for vintage fashion. I simply believe that we can learn a lot from the colour combinations and the choices of fabric that are used by professional designers.

Enjoy!

1953 Spring-Summer Modes Royale

I have uploaded a picture of a page from the 1953 Spring-Summer catalogue by Modes Royale.

In my jaundiced opinion, Modes Royale is the best pattern company/product line of all time. It's a pity that so little information about it can be found on the web. Who produced them? Was Modes Royale a distinct pattern company or was it a product line from a larger, more established pattern company? Also, was Modes Royale eventually bought by one of the larger pattern companies? When did Modes Royale paper patterns cease to be produced? Why are their designs from the 1950s always so stunning? Who designed them? Who created the unique illustrations that appear on their pattern jackets and in their pattern books? These are just a few of the questions that I'd like to have answered.

One fine day, I'll get my hands on one of their pattern books.

On another note, I was sifting through today's paper and saw that a fabric store is offering a free one hour pattern drafting class. They will be using the Lutterloh method. I will definitely make an effort to attend.

One day, I will have acquired the skill to draft design 1549 (second from the left). Isn't it a fabulous wiggle dress?

Enjoy!

1959 McCall's Jackets

1959 McCall's 4893

I have chosen to showcase some lovely McCall's jackets from 1959. The description is as follows:

"Rib hugging cut-away jacket with flare sleeves cut in one with back and front. Ribbon band and bow. Away-from-neck collarless neckine. Other cut-away jacket, in tailored version, is single breasted, has round collar, set-in three-quarter sleeves. Straight hanging jacket has set-in three-quarter sleeves, collarless high-rise neckline, applied band. All jackets lined."

Enjoy!

1948 McCall's 7436

For this post, we jump take a leap in time to 1948 for a lovely McCall's dress pattern. The pattern description is as follows:

Short cap sleeves, one option slightly longer. Gathers from bodice to one shoulder. Gathers from one side of flowing skirt that create overskirt look. Drape comes from above hem on one side and angles up to hip area.

Rêveries

I stumnbled on modiste. They have some interesting designs; it is as if the 80s met the 1950s and they sat down and had a chat. I have chosen to highlight two of their wiggle dresses and have paired them with the appropriate heels.

Enjoy!

Red Dress in Wool Crepe with Cristian Louboutin 'Orniron' Ankle Boot

Purple Dress in Wool Crepe with Sergio Rossi 'Louise' Pump

Jessica Biel at the taping of the David Letterman Show

Yesterday, I did a post on the dress that Alicia Keys wore to the taping of the David Letterman show. I explained that it was a trendy choice but was not at all stylish.

Jessica Biel's dress, unlike that of Ms. Keys, has a slit to allow for ease of movement. None of the photos show Ms. Biel waging a public war with her apparel. Simply put, Ms. Biel's wiggle dress would be a dream to wear.

The images which I have selected were taken by Bryan Bedder (Getty Images Entertainment) and are available on zimbio.

Thumbs up to Jessica Biel!

To Do or Not to Do?

I have never criticised a celebrity's choice of apparel on this blog. However, I just stumbled on a 'news article' by the Daily Mail that focussed on the dress that Alicia Keys wore to the Late Show with David Letterman. The photo of her tugging at the dress to prevent it from riding up provides three gentle reminders to those of us who love wiggle dresses:

Never wear any garment that has too little ease for movement.
If you are wearing a wiggle or bodycon dress that is knee length, it will invariably need a slit! I cannot emphasize this enough. This is why the bandage dresses by Hervé Léger are generally worn at mid thigh. I prefer wiggle dresses that hit mid-knee and I lengthen the slits of those that I sew.
The aim of wearing a wiggle dress is to highlight the silhouette of your body in a manner that is attractive. There are hundreds of styles from which you can choose. Maybe it's me but I do not find hobbling, teetering or grabbing at an ill-fitting garment attractive. In my very jaundiced opinion, style is about elegance, poise (N.B. this criterion includes some measure of comfort) and being aesthetically at home with oneself. I also believe that truly stylish people do not dabble in every trend that surfaces. On another level, stylish people also highlight the positive aspects of their personality with what they wear. I think that Ms. Keys is on trend with her dress but I also believe that her garment was not a stylish choice.

I know that celebrities employ a bevy of makeup artists, personal assistants and wardrobe and image consultants. Thus, I'm wondering, 'How on earth did this dress slip past all of them?'

I hope that Team Keys will not suffer any future lapses in judgement...

Contemporary Wiggle Dresses

In the vein of treating the wiggle dress as a timeless fashion statement, I have uploaded some photos of women in the public eye who are wearing them. It seems that Dolce&Gabbana are doing some great stuff...Maybe one day, I'll start to pay as much attention to contemporary fashion as I do to vintage styles.

Enjoy!

Jada Pinkett-Smith in Monique L'Huillier

America Ferrera in Dolce&Gabbana

Wow! Eva Mendes in a White Eyelet Dress by Dolce&Gabbana

More 1970s VOGUE WRAP DRESSES

I did a post about the infamous wrap dress by Diane Von Furstenberg. In it another wrap dress by Vogue was showcased. Since then, I have come across two other wrap dress patterns from the 1970s. If I were to make these and had an unlimited budget, I would make the dress by Jerry Silverman in an inky navy silk jersey fabric and would sport it with a pair of red Stuart Weitzman Fever pumps...
Enjoy!

Vogue Americana by Jerry Silverman- 1116

Vogue 8723

Fever Anyone? Stuart Weitzman Fever Pumps

I'm not a Sex and the City fan. I have watched the show and I believe that it raises some interesting questions about the portrayal of women in mainstream media and about race and class. However, I acknowledge that the show was instrumental in fomenting/popularising discussions on issues of sexuality. A very lengthy post could be done on this. Anyway, when I did a Google images search for 'Stuart Weitzman Fever,' I stumbled on this picture of Kim Catrall. She is sporting a pair of Stuart Weitzman Fever pumps.

McCall's = Burberry?

Recently, I did a post in which I provided some detailed pictures of a Burberry wiggle dress. Coincidentally, I came across a 1950s McCall's pattern which is quite similar. To be frank, I prefer the McCall's design. The contour belt is a lovely touch.

Enjoy!

1950s McCall's 4009

Yup! It's a Wiggle Post!

I've posted some pictures of wiggle dress designs from the 1950s and 1960s.

Enjoy!

1960s McCall's 5703

1961 McCall's 5813

1958 McCall's 4548

1959 Simplicity 3000

1950s McCall's 3890

Vogue Couturier Design- 905

Yup! It's another wiggle dress post. Today's pattern is a 1956 Vogue Couturier Design.

It is described as follows:

Coat dress has slim skirt with two button closing at left side front and joins the bodice at waistline. Left side front underlaps to side seam. Gathers each side of the V neckline above jutting revers. Three quarter push-up sleeves, cuffs optional.

Vogue Couturier Design- 905

L' Haute Couturière

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Dorothy's Granddaughter I

Black Widow

Ralph Lauren's Spring-Summer 2008 Collection

Luisa Beccaria's Spring-Summer 2008 Collection

1953 Spring-Summer Modes Royale

1959 McCall's Jackets

1948 McCall's 7436

Rêveries

Jessica Biel at the taping of the David Letterman Show

To Do or Not to Do?

Contemporary Wiggle Dresses

More 1970s VOGUE WRAP DRESSES

McCall's = Burberry?

Yup! It's a Wiggle Post!

Vogue Couturier Design- 905

Vintage fashion with a passion

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