Paul Poiret and his Kimono Coat.

Paul Poiret 1879 - 1944. This
picture was taken in 1913.

At the turn of the 20th Century "Gay Paree" was the place to be. Paris was the epi-centre for the Couture Houses and designers, they became a stopping point for the lesiured classes and Royalty. Among these Couture House's was Paul Poiret. That's Poiret, not Poirot of Agatha Christie's little grey cells fame, n'est pas.
It was Paul Poiret who completely revoultionized the female shilouette and gave us the high waisted empire line dress. C'est magnifique! Poiret was to fashion as Picasso was to art. A head turner, mover and shaker. He was visionary.

Denise Poiret in her husband's iconic
Kimono coat. 1911.

Born in the gritty part Paris, France in 1879 Poiret was born to a cloth merchant family but apprenticed to an umbrella maker. This did not deter him, because still working with the scraps of material from the umbrella's he fashion outfits for his younger sister's dolls, eventually taking his designs and sketches to a pominent dressmaker who instantly bought dozens of his designs. This led him to find employment in one of the Parisian Couture Houses by Jaques Doucet and there a legend was born.  Moving fashion houses as he grew in elevation he designed elegant yet simple practical dresses for the modern woman. However for some his work was abhorrent and too crass, too modern, so in 1903 he set up his own fashion house and designed his innovative masterpiece, the Kimono Coat.
This coat, OMG!! Chic, classy, way out and totally stroke-able beautiful. I must have one!!! I want one, I want one, I WANT ONE!!!!!!

Yet at the time, unbelievably critics didn't love it so much. I know!? But it was soooo new, sooooo in your face different -  that it was shocking. I just think it's beautifully drool-able. What did Poiret do about his critics - well, he threw massive lavish parties and designed flamboyant window designs to bring even more attention to his lavish creations and it worked. Poiret knew his worth in marketing. Infact he was a marketing genius. He had his wife Denise (formerly Boulet) model his Kimono coat for fashion shoots photographed by the celebrated American artist and photographer Edward Steichen- something not commonly done before - his photos of Poiet's designs and gowns were published in the magazine Art et Decoration in 1911 are widely believed to be the first modern fashion photgraphs published. Poriet didn't stop there, he then went on to design a signature perfume, called 'Parfums de Rosine', named after his daughter and he was the first fashion house to do so. When he unveiled a new design or line, he would throw fatastic evening soiree's and extravagant balls making his designs the talk of the fashionable elite. He was a motivational machine in human form.

For Poiret his motivation and muse was his beloved childhood sweetheart and wife Denise, whom he married in 1905 an together they produced five children. Throughout most of his working life Poiret it can be said that he designed with only one woman in mind, his wife Denise.
In 1913 Poiret told Vogue "My wife is the inspiration for all my creations; she is the expression of all my ideals". It seems perplexing then that in 1928 they divorced  in less than amicable circumstances. Madame Poiret kept many of the gowns her former husband designed for her and in 2005 they were bought by the Metroplitan Museum Of Art, in New York.
At the height of his fame Poiret designed clothes for women such as Peggy Guggenheim, Lillie Langtry, Josephine Baker, Isadora Duncan and Elsa Schiaparelli.


Poiret's Hobble skirt. He liked to
boast with this design that 'He freed
the bust but shackled the legs'.

 During the First World War Poiret left Paris and his successful fashion house for the army and streamlining uniforms, when he returned in 1919 his fashion house was already on the brink of bankrupcy, new designers had moved in on his market during his absence, making sleek chic clothes that promised quality craftsmanship. When he met one of these young and upcoming designer's who was to take the 1920's by storm, a miss Coco Chanel, he noted her  wearing one of her classic simple black dresses. He enquired of her "For whom are you in mourning Madmoiselle?" , her reply was "For you Monsieur Poiret".
Poiret's once seemingly simplistic designs were now over worked and fussy. Poiret was out of fashion and business. In 1924 with his designs out of favour and over priced he spoke once more of Ms Chanel "What has she invented? Poverty de luxe". By 1929 Poiret's fashion House had closed with reminent dresses sold by their weight for rags. His decline into embarrassing poverty led him to become a street painter to local street cafes. Later in his life ill with Parkinson's disease Poiret died in 1944 and was forgotten in time. Even his funeral was paid for by an old friend Elsa Schiaparelli, the Italian fashion designer.

Model showing Poiret's draping gowns.

Denise Poiret in Faune ensemble 1919.

Personally even from a twenty first century view point, I find Poiret's designs refreshing and liberating. He was one of the founding designers responsible for freeing woman from their tight laced corsets and restricting boned gowns, then helped introduce the bra. He invited women of the era to brave the streets and even the mobs who booed and hissed at them for their new found body liberation. His Kimono coat is one of the most beautiful coat designs I have ever seen. His other memorable designs given to the world include the notorious Hobble skirt which caused public outcry, Harem pantaloons (of  which recently there has been a big revival in stores), the sack dress, lampshade tunics, la garconne and his draping dress designs. His structual simplicity is the key to his designs and the gateway to leading other modernist designers. Without him where would designs be today? There may not have been the Flapper era, that boyish charm of simple yet bold empowering design. He broke the moulds of tailoring to introduce draping dresses, that "dressed a woman from afar" drawing on Greek influences. He helped bring the Oriental influence into modern Western clothing, making it chic and fashionable for society gals to wear.  In 1911 he founded Artelier Martine, named after yet another daughter. It was a centre of academic fashion where young untrained women and girls were trained to express their own individuality in textile design for furniture and fashion textiles and wallpaper design. This was at a time when women were fighting for the vote in England. He was so ahead of his time. Free without constraints. Everything is an evolution and Poiret is a big marker on the vintage fashion timeline.

Denise Poiret 1913 in New York.

The Kimono Coat.

On my Christmas list this year will be the book Poiret by the Metropolitan Museum Of Art, New York City.
Poiret

Coat 1919.

From the private collection of Denise Poiret - now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

What is Vintage?

'Vintage'.......what a marvellous word. It forms the mouth so sexily on the 'cha' ending sound as it passes through one's teeth. It can encompass such a wide range of things. Vintage wine, vintage cars, vintage antiques.....but to me it instantly means vintage clothing. Outfits and items from a bygone era that I feel at ease in.
They may be older than my Nan, true, but they carry with them an energy that is so delicious that I could be sampling a vintage wine, in short they are in a class all of their own.
The word vintage has become a generic term for all second hand clothing - discarded and unwanted they have been given a new lease of life by those who can see their true hidden potential. It's a much nicer, politer term than 'second hand' clothes or 'used items', which of course they are. They have lived their life with one owner, perhaps several before you find them, claim them and give them a new and loving home. Like adopting a wayward pet from a shelter. We clean them, even repair them and set about bringing out the very best in them. Allowing their fibres to once more feel the warmth of the sun and the cool breeze of air waft through them as they hang off our bodies. We have resuscitated them back into life from the forgotten century from whence they came. I make it sound all rather dramatic, but in essence that is exactly what we are doing. They had a life before us. A woman saw them in a shop, fell in love with and bought 'them'. Perhaps wearing 'them' for a romantic anniversary dinner, a late night show, the theatre, an exotic holiday or perhaps her first date....the possibilities are endless. They are like sharing a past love. I shudder to think how many beautiful vintage clothes went to the shredder or rubbish tip because they're old and used or their 'fashion' era had come to an end.

Vintage clothing for me isn't just about the label. I will never buy something for a label alone. I have to love the piece to buy it and more importantly it has to suit my figure and shape. There's no point in wearing a beautiful garment if it does nothing for you and you for it. It's like a wrongly matched love affair - it will always be doomed from the start.
Those of us who hold tightly to the past do so for our own deep rooted feelings. Perhaps they remind us of a cherished loved one, maybe we inherited a wardrobe, or our bodies are simply suited for a shape cut only in the past? For me, I've never felt that I truly belong in this era. I've always claimed since I was three to my parents that - "I was born too late" and didn't belong here with them. Make of that what you will, but I firmly believe that I don't fit in, nor do I belong in this time frame - as much as I dearly love my husband and children in the here and now, and I DO more than anything in life itself,  I just cannot shake the deep feeling that I feel at odds with the twenty first century in more ways than one. Perhaps subconsciously I still cling to a life past and therefore am in explicitly drawn back to the eras I loved and previously felt alive in. Hence my desire to clothe and surround myself with vintage items.
It is only recently that fashion has been seen as vintage. Clothing in a wearable art form.

Fashion and Textiles Museum, London.

A visionary who also believes this is the legendary iconic fashion designer Zandra Rhodes. Founded by her and located in Bermondsey, London, is the Fashion and Textiles Museum is an iconic place to visit if you want to know about the history of fashion and textiles or you wish to be inspired. We are constantly looking to the past for inspiration, what better place to start than here.
Over time Zandra has collected iconic pieces from British designers to memorialize them both in fashion and textiles for her exhibitions. At the moment they've just had an exhibition on Tommy Nutter : Rebel On The Row and are currently closed until the 18th November when their new exhibition Catwalk To Cover will be showing until the 25th of February 2012. Personally I can't wait for their exhibition on POP! Culture and Fashion 1955 - 1976 which starts the 6th July 2012. It's something I am definitely hoping to go up and see.

My Hero - The Wrap Dress.

A heroine among woman -
Diane Von Furstenberg.

Every woman needs at least one in her wardrobe. I have too many to count. It is the ultimate feel good, cinch in your waist, nip and tuck in all the right places, you look amazingly gorgeous in that dress - the world has ever known!
Brought to us by the lovely 'champion of the female curvy shape' Diane Von Furstenberg and known throughout the world for her iconic wrap dress. God bless the ground she walks upon!
A Belgian - American fashion designer who married a German Prince, some time judge on Project Runway and designer of the iconic jersey knit wrap dress in 1972. Yes, just like me next year the wrap will be forty! I am hoping they will bring out some celebratory 'wrap dress' designs for it's fortieth birthday. You can never have too many wraps,...... never. I for one aim to celebrate our birthday by wearing one.


Vintage 1972 Wrap Dress.

Bursting on to the Seventies market in a flood of bright bold prints, new stretchy durable material that fits oh so snugly and is just too comfortable to be allowed by law. The Wrap Dress soon became a woman's popular choice to wear, knowing it gave and fitted in all the right places. Giving a flattering, yet supportive silhouette. The magic of the wrap dress is that it suits a variety of figures and shapes and for each one it gives perfection. Simple, chic, stylish and comfort - all in one package. A miracle in fabric that can come in a variety of cuts and styles. It can have long sleeves, three quarter, short, capped, or none. It can be tie or faux wrap, tunic, maxi, midi or mini, ruffled, polka dot, plain or full on pattern. It can be in any fabric for any season, for any occasion. It can be demure, sexy, smart, casual, sassy, classic, string, feminine, mummsie or blousy. You can dress it up, you can dress it down. Wear it on it's own or with jeans. It goes with any shoe or boot. It is the world's wonderall dress. If ever there was a super hero of clothing - The Wrap Dress is it!

At last a dress for a real woman designed by a woman. x

My Ten Commandments.

Betty Grable.



Audrey Hepburn.



Are you an Audrey or a Betty? I love Audrey Hepburn's style, but I could never have her body. My figure will never, no matter how much I try and loose the weight, ever be boyish or elfish. I am sadly at best a Betty Grable kinda girl. Booty and all!

Some things in life, you just gotta accept. But your mind always seems to want what it can't have. I long to wear clothes that suit the boyish figure, and it took many years of bad buying experiences and frustrated dressing room moments to finally realize that it 'ain't ever gonna happen. EVER! No matter how much weight I lost - even at six and a half stone I was still stuck with lumpy bumpy bits!

So, with this in mind I was flicking through a magazine when I came across an article about someone's ten fashion commandments. Reading them made me think how each woman shoud have her own ten commandments to follow, as we're all very different in shape, size, style and fashion. Why would we all want to be lumped in as one?!
So here's mine.............

one :
Thou shalt know thy shape. 
Every woman should learn their shape and accept it. Other wise there will be tears before bed time, believe me I know! Learn your shape and learn to love it, be you - according to Trinny and Susannah there are - pear, apple, hourglass, vase, bell, coloumn, cello, brick, goblet, cornet, skittle or lollipop! Or if you go the Gok way - Juicy girl, booty babe, petite girl, sexy broad, curvy girl, bellyssimo babe or slim and sexy.
It all boils down to the same thing with three little rules. Know your shape, love it and dress for it.

two:
Thou shalt have a kick-ass wardrobe.
If I can't have my dream walk-in dance about in your underwear and swing several cats tied together sized wardrobe, I make the most of what I've got! Always look after your clothes, shoes and bags and they in turn will keep you looking fabulous for many years to come. Never, not even in the throws of mad all consuming passion disgard them carelessly across the floor to be kicked under the bed and gather dust for eons to come or the dog to pinch. Always follow the care wash labels, never store them scrumpled up in a plastic bag at the bottom of your wardrobe with piles of tat balancing on top of them.
If it's been a while - sort out your wardrobe. Start to make piles of  those clothes that just don't fit, are too worn, have never been worn and you just plain hate! Then either donate to the charity shop, use as rags or re-vamp with sicssors and a sewing machine. I tend to go through my wardrobe every year. Does it still fit, will I make it fit? Are the most important quesions I ask myself - if not it goes.
I have one outfit in my wardrobe, just the one (apart from a few fabric carrots), that doesn't fit me and that I wore many years ago. It's the ultimate fabric carrot. The Holy Grail of clothes - and one day with enough determination - I will wear it again. That is my end of fabric carrot goal.

three:
Thou shalt treat everyday as a red carpet day.
I see no point of having that fabulous expensive dress hanging in the wardrobe that you have never worn or only worn once?  Wear it NOW , I say! It will only sit there year after year and you'll be saying "Have to find somewhere to wear that 'one day'". Girlfriend, 'one day' never comes, unless you make it happen, because by the time that 'one day' has never arrived because you've either had another kiddie, gained a few lbs, lost the confidence, it's out of date or you simply haven't got the nerve and omph to be bothered any more and go for a good old stable comfortable number instead.
Simple fact - dressing up in glam clothes makes us girlies feel special, attractive and sexy! And if we feel all that and a bag of chips, we ooze those feramones that Mr hubby sniffs out! Got it, wink wink. x Otherwise, that gorgeous expensive dress will end up in the charity pile or will stay hanging lonely in the back of the wardrobe, occassionaly brought out and admired only to make us feel guilty for never having had the nerve to wear it. Mr Hubby will then constantly nag about how he/you spent a lot of money on it and he's never seen you wear it. Odds are that if you wear it out, he's more likely to buy you more because you get use out of it, rather than pay for something you'll never wear or it will ever see the light of day again. So book up that fancy meal, theatre tickets or ladies day at Goodwood and wear it!
Unfortunately I am an hour glass figure and for me that means that my shape doesn't do casual dress very well. Infact the hardest thing for me to wear is jeans and a slouchy top. Something I dearly desire to one day strutt with confidence. So I have a lot of evening dresses, that I make sure I wear as day wear!

four:
Thous shalt have style icons.
We all need style icons. People we find irresistable and drawn to. Women we admire and would love to be. It can be anyone or a whole mixed bag. Punk, chic, hip or way out there! As long as they are a sounding board for you to build your wardrobe and own style around - who cares who they are. This could take a while, I have lots of icons that I admire, for lots of different reasons.
My fashion icons are Coco Chanel :  The lady who introduced and designed the LBD (the little black dress). The main stable of any womans wardrobe. I must have about fifty LBD's all different styles, lengths, designs and eras. The little black dress desreves LBS (little black shoes), along with the LBB (you got it, little black bag).
Just hearing Coco's quotes can send a positive shiver down my spine and make me power up when flicking through my dress rail. "A girl should be two things: Classy and fabulous" C.C, or "The best colour in the whole world is the one that looks good on you" C.C, and I love this one "In order to be irresplaceable one must always be different" C.C.

Mary Quant : Wonder woman of the Sixties and inventor of the mini skirt. The woman who brought quirky fun to fashion. Black mini, black tight, flat mary jane ballet pumps and tight bob - what a style. One of my absolute favourites. Cute little flower logo, instantly recognisable as a brand. What a woman. Then there's the daisy collar mini, long sleeved dress, black tights, black boots, pale lips and big black eyes. Always a winner. So iconic. So classic. So cute. Ditzy little block dresses that get revived year after year after year.With classic quotes such as -   "A woman is as young as her knees".    

Clara Bow.

Louise Brooks & Clara Bow : Two women who have influenced me since I was a tiny dot. Long since gone, but their style and images live on to inspire. Clara Bow, she who was the inspiration for the cute, sexy little cartoon character Betty Boop. It's those big eyes. Her make up, is flawless. Tousled wavy hair, but impeccible brows, lips and liner.
She makes the headscarf look sexy. Her style is that of Mary Janes, long skirts, and a fox fur draping over her tiny shoulder. A drawling, lazy style that oozes sex appeal. It's as if she hasn't even tried or noticed. She simply is. I love her quote "Clara Bow is just what life made her, I guess".

Louise Brooks.

Lousie Brooks for her iconic images and sassy attitude. She has a smirk and raised brow that almost dares the viewer to make a snittish comment, before she'd wipe the floor with you and her dry witty comment.
The ultimate fun girl, she has cheeky gall down to a T. Flirtacious and risky, yet her image is flawless. Clean cut lines, even down to her hair. Minimal chic. I couldn't think of anyone more tres chic then her. Her best quote is "A well dressed woman, even though her purse is painfully empty, can conquer the world".

five:
Thou shalt dress to impress.
A woman should always dress for herself, but occassionally it doesn't hurt to dress to impress her man or after several years - you won't have one. It's true - all the oomph will have fizzled out and gone. Every so often wear that slinky number (with or without knickers, the daring part is up to you!). Put on heels and make up and make an effort. Even if you've been married years, the human beast still needs attraction to their mate. Get dollied up, go out together and make him remember exactly why he hunted you down and proposed in the first place.
A very wise woman called Coco once said "As long as you realize men are like children, you know everything there is to know". Meaning, they like a bit of attention every now and then. It may be very sexist of me to say so, but it's true - men like to see a bit of eye candy every now and then. It's just male nature. They can't help it bless 'em. So I make Mr happy once in a while - I just so happen to like dressing as a glamour puss every now and then. x

six:
Thous needeth choice.
Repeat after me ladies - "You can never have too many shoes, bags or coats". Variety is the spice of life so they say and how true that is when it comes to clothes and accessories. Don't get stuck in a rut. Try out as many different fashion styles as you can and rotate with glee. You don't have to be the same person everyday. I LOVE to dress in different periods of clothes. I actually feel more comfortable in them than most of those on todays market. The only problem I have is finding the clothes I desire. I have to hunt them down.
Not only do we women need choice in the outer clothes we wear, but also in the under wear department. You could have on the most gorgeous dress, but if your bra isn't up to the job of support all people will notice is your saggy bristols. Period. You have to lay a good foundation to build on, which means a wide range of bras - balconette, strapless, wonder, lacy, sports, t-shirt - they all do a different job for a different reason. Corsets and body cons are life savers - especially for that special cinched in little number. I'd rather wear a boned strapless corset, which has added scaffolding, than risk it with a small wrap around strapless bra that could ping at any moment as it tries desperately to defy the laws of gravity!

seven:
Thous shalt be worth it.
We are all worth it. That new pair of shoes, that new blusher or lipstick. It's all about honouring yourself. If you believe you are worth the attention, then you are! No one's gonna do it for us better than we can do it for ourselves. If we make the effort and give the time to us, we are the ones who benefit. I alway like to think of Mum as the hub of the home. The sun that all the planets revole around. How many times have you heard the saying - "If Mum's happy than the homes happy" or "If Mum 'aint happy, no one's happy. If Mum's happy everyone's happy". I really believe this is true, we as mother's are involved in everyone's lives, and help run the home smoothly. Our mood affects and sets the tone for the whole household, although we may not realize it. Yes, we Mum's are that important!

eight:
Thous shalt totter on heels.
At least once in a while every woman, I think, should wear minimum four inch heels. It helps posture and makes your calves look fabulous! Plus they make you sashay like no-one's business. I love my heels and regularly mix them with flats throughout the week. I couldn't just wear flats, just as I couldn't just wear heels. I've got to mix them around. The highest heel I feel comfortable in is six inch, and then I have to know my route. How far have I've got to walk in these? Over what terrain - cobbles, up hill, flagstones, polished floor? These things have to be considered if I don't want to end up on my arse, with huge blisters or walking bare footed by the end of the evening - which adds another equation to the list - wearing stockings or not!?

nine:
Thou shalt have a mantra.
Every woman should have a mantra to say to herself inside her head or out loud. I believe all women should have a mantra to cling to even if it's something as simple as "Lipstick, mascara, smile".
Mine is "Less is more". Meaning I do not need a ton of make up plastered on my face, a neck full of bling and a row of knuckle duster rings on display. I am a little person, I need not swamp my frame with nik naks. Either I will wear a necklace or ear-rings, not both together, they fight for attention. A bracelet or ring - never at the same time on the same hand - my wrists, hands and fingers are simply too small to accommodate it all. There is always the old saying of  'if  in doubt, go without'!
I am the same with makeup and skin routine. I use bog standard baby wipes to cleanse and bog standard cocoa butter - all over - as a moisturiser. Head to toe. As for makeup I will never have tarted eyes and blousy lips. It's one or the other. Normally I only wear lipstick, mascara and eye liner. That's it. Once a year, maybe, maybe I will wear a foundation, maybe. The less I put on my face the fresher it feels, otherwise my skin feels like it is suffocating.

ten:
Thou shalt find a signature scent.

The secret of success here is to find a perfume that you feel describes who you are. Your personality, your out look and moods. It took me a long time of trying perfume's to find one that I fell in love with. I'm not very keen on flowery scents, infact most flower scented perfumes will make me sneeze? Nothing that smells like food please - I will be drooling all day and gain 20lbs by the end of the week.
Instead, am drawn to musks. The low base note scents that wafts to the back of your nasal pallette. Those solid smells that evaporate slowly. I only use Obsession by Calvin Klein. It is one of those perfumes that you cannot smell very strongly when you first spray, but it uses the oils and glands in your skin to give a deep rich scent about thirty minutes after application. Which is why I use so little of it and a bottle lasts me a whole year.
The musks are a much darker scent, which I feel suits me. I LOVE the smell, but I am not a light airy person who can waft about on the on the summer breeze. My tonal colouring is much darker, so a low musky scent tone seems to fit me better.

Just a mild vinatge obsession..ever so slightly.....

I am a vintage fashion whore and that includes photography, which I will drool over and stroke lovingly when I find an outfit that I dearly covet. It isn't a pretty sight - it is an addiction - and the only cure is vintage shopping - hours and hours of vintage shopping therapy. I think I am nearing that point of obsession and need a session of retail therapy soon. Good job I have a vintage shopping excursion with a dear friend booked for the end of the month! Which is why I have clothes and lists on my mind so much at the moment. I am busy compiling a list to search for.

Cocopana dancer 1953 - the eyes, the gloves.

The dress.

Dress!

40's bathing costume - glasses.

French Chic.

                                                                   

Chic Fur.

EVERYTHING!

Really, I have thousands of these kinds of pictures on disc - thousands! I am compiling them to cover my bedroom wall in them. YES, REALLY !! Every so often I print ten off ten or so and put them in a box, and then they will be pasted on my bedroom wall - ALL OVER! Floor to ceiling. My OWN wallpaper, my OWN design, my OWN idea. No one will be able to copy - it will be my OWN inspirational sanctuary - espeically in my walk in wardrobe. I can't wait!!!!!

They call her mellow yellow.

It's not a colour I would usually wear, but lately it has seen a revival from the 1940's and it goes surprisngly well with red. I am talking about the new autumn colour mustard. I haven't been able to tear my eyes away from  it. The colour seems to draw me of late like a moth to a flame. In bags, shoes, dresses and coats. It's everywhere. Mellow Yellow.
Not only do we love this song but for us as a family Donovan's 'Mellow Yellow' lyrics have a special meaning for us. I feel the Autumn seasonal colour therefore must be mustard. It will go with red, orange and brown - perhaps even some dark greens. I am getting excited just thinking about it!

The 18th Century IS back in Fashion !!!!!!

The Palace of Versailles.

How I wish I could be there! Versaille is one of those places on my list of where I want to visit once Mud Boy and I are on our way travelling after our 'home Ed' phase of life is over. 'Travelling' - It's the next phase.
At the moment there is a

1780 - 85 camisole & skirt.

F A N T A S T I C exhibition on at Versaille, in France, once the private Palace of Queen Marie Antoinette. One of the most misunderstood and misrepresented women of history, along with Anne Boleyn, Queen Charlotte and several other women I could list.

Mugler - I want !!!!!!

The exhibition is on from the 8th July to the 9th October and I have very, very little chance of being able to see it. My life here is simply too busy. This is what I have to keep reminding myself lately , we have moved into the next phase. I see life as phases and contained inside those are groups of years, when certain things are very important to you or very predominant. Like those years when you constantly have a buggy, babies, small children, exploration and discovery years - our family has moved on from the early home ed years and even the middle discovery years of home ed - we are now on the last legs of our home ed journey. The next few years of our lives, is only a short phase - It's the exam phase, because no sooner than Diggy and Budge pass through it - Pickle will step into it. That is, if she wants to take any exams or go a different route. As of yet we are unsure and so is she. She's only ten!

1730 court shoes.

Vivienne Westwood.

So this is where we shall be for roughly the next ten years. And not all of that may be exclusively home ed. Of course that doesn't mean we can't have treats, visits and a life! But we can't just swan off, like we used to when the girls were small. Now is the time to buckle down. We have schedules, goals and deadlines to meet. So for now, I shall content myself with looking at the exhibition from afar and console myself that in ten years time or less, they will have an even better exhibition on, of even more restored pieces when it is my turn to visit. Who knows maybe it will be next years family holiday destination!?

But, back to the exhibition. The gowns are exhibits of  works by the marvellous Vivienne Westwood, Karl Lagerfeld pour Chanel, Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian Lacroix, Olivier Theyskens pour Rochas, Martin Margiela, Azzedine Alaïa, Alexander McQueen pour Givenchy, Yohji Yamamoto, Thierry Mugler… all of them fantasised about the 18th century.
All of them are influenced by this period of fashion. I am entranced by it. I dream about it so often I can feel myself walking in such gowns and lifting the hems to walk up steps.
Make no mistake I will get there one day ...... one day.

All that Bio-Digital Jazz!"

"You're messing with my Zen thing man". I am by very nature a visual person. It is how I absorb information the best, it is how I learn, create and assess the world. Visual imagery stimulates me. This morning I have just watched the movie, Tron the Legacy. The costumes are to die for, the CGI amazing and Jeff Bridges digitally remastered - mind blowing. It will open up so many future opportunities. I still maintain , as I have done for the last ten years or so, that CGI will one day bring back actors and actresses from beyond the grave. One day we will have a new film involving James Cagney acting alongside the likes of Bruce Lee. Imagery and trickery will become that good, we won't know the difference between reality or fantasy!

The thing that caught my eye most about this film are the costumes. The leather and those boots! I want a pair of those black and orange boots! This kind of clothing is more than visual, it is luminous and I say that because they reminded me very much of Vera Wang's bioluminescence couture 2010 collection. Bioluminescent jellyfish and creatures from the BBC's Deep Blue were the inspiration for Vera Wang's transcendental collection ‘Into the Deep‘. I have never seen electroluminescent look so chic.



My Fav!



Ms. Wang artfully balances fashion with technology by creating breathtaking luminescent patterns from custom EL panels glowing from inside structured white gowns. Will this be the fashion of the future? Clothes, shoes, bags or jewelery with battery power packs? Certainly food for thought..................................