f

Monday, March 25, 2013

Monday Morning Inspiration

For the next few weeks, I thought we could do for a little haute couture inspiration. I absolutely love, as many of us do, attending museum clothing exhibitions, and I almost always, buy the book. Today's pictures are taken from an exhibit that was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1996. I could have spent days there. I think you will enjoy the pieces I have chosen to showcase just as much as I did and still do.
If you are interested in owning the book for yourself, you can find it here on Amazon. There are some used copies for $16.00.
The dress on the cover is by Jacques Fath, ca. 1952. The dress is black silk velvet with ivory silk satin, white mink, and gold metal trim.

Jeanne Lanvin, ca. 1925, Ivory and black silk taffeta trimmed with pink and black silk velvet rosettes

Jean Patou, ca. 1937. Black wool gabardine with silk grosgrain inserts.

 Madeleine Vionnet, ca. 1936, Black silk organza tucked in a honeycomb pattern.

Jacques Griffe, ca. 1951, gunmetal silk organza. What I am unable to show you is that encased in each tuck is a band of horsehair.
 Paul Poiret, ca. 1919, Black silk and wool blend with white leather appliques.

Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld, 1995, White and blue-black seed bead embroidered silk satin and black silk chiffon.

 Christian Dior, ca. 1952, both hand embroidered allover patterns.

Jeanne Lanvin ca. 1924, ivory hammered silk satin with black silk satin appliques. Isn't it amazing how the inside is just as lovely as the outside?

 Christian Dior, 1949, The dress in the back is embroidered with feather-shaped opalescent sequins.

 Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld, 1995, Red silk chiffon with hand stitched shirring.
The dresses were beautiful then and they are just as beautiful today.
Wishing you a beautifully inspired week.
Rhonda



Share this PostPin ThisShare on TumblrShare on Google PlusEmail This

12 comments:

  1. Just beautiful. Thank you for the inspiration. The beaded striped sweater by Lagerfeld is brilliant! There's a new "Haute Couture" show here in Paris. I keep walking by the venue to find the time when the line is less than an hour's wait. I think next week the spring tourists will be gone.
    Jeannie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, I wish I could see that show. Please tell me about it once you go.

      Delete
  2. Amazing works of art. Hard to believe so much work is put into a garment just so someone can wear it! I suppose from the designers point of view, he/she is making art and don't think of it as only clothing a body. Funny, I never really thought of this before. Thanks for sharing, they really are so beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  3. wow some amazing work - can you imagine how long it took to embroider those dresses by hand.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow. First time I ever see minked used to embellish like that. Thanks so much for your Monday Inspirations, Rhonda. They sure get me thinking.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I loved the eye candy. I, too, loved the beaded Chanel outfit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Another design that is very simple but what takes it over the top is the thinking out of the box and making the stripes out of beads. Just sensational.

      Delete
  6. Beautiful. I think the organza with the honeycomb pattern is amazing. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It looks so simple, but it is labor intensive. I really like it too!

      Delete
  7. Hi, I couldn't find any place else to comment. I loved your travel dress/tunic/top for Sew it All TV. It was fabulous!!! Is there a pattern tutorial or measurement guide? I would love to make one for myself. Thanks and blessings, Vita

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Vita, Thanks so much. Here are two links, one is my Pinterest board for all of my Fabulous Free Pattern Friday pieces and the other is a link to the Perfect Travel Dress. If you have any questions, let me know and I'll do my best to help!
      http://pinterest.com/sewbussted/fabulous-free-pattern-fridays/
      http://rhondabuss.blogspot.com/2012/10/fabulous-free-pattern-friday_13.html

      Delete
  8. I fear these artforms are dying out. Some of this work is just exquisite.

    ReplyDelete