Super beautiful fashion illustrations with patterns by Rosie McGuinness. I’m pretty obsessed. Click to see more.
Saturday Inspiration
Came across these vintage Chloe dresses. 1960s meets 2017. How modern and very now they look!
Star Struck
With the Perseid meteor shower in full effect, everyone is seeing stars. Whether fashion takes it's cue from the skies or Hedy Lamar's 1941 Zeigfield Girl, stars appear on the runways and streets galore. The galaxy is not so far away. See July 18th post below for more stars.
From top left: Jenny Packham, Saint Laurent, Richard Nylon, Street style bomber, Valentino, Saint Laurent, Sydney Fashion Week, Street style, Realisation dress, Gucci, Hedy Lamar in Zeigfield Girl, McQueen
Delpozo Resort 2017
I always look through Vogue.com's Latest Shows section to see what trends, colors and design elements are shining through. I love to see what things plant the seeds for a designer's creativity.
I stopped at Delpozo's 2017 Resort collection and the article read: "I touch with the eyes," as quoted in his collection notes and attributed to sculptor, Anthony Caro". Caro, as well as Georges Méliès (of 1902 silent film Trip to the Moon) were inspirations for this collection. I like that the inspiration isn't blatant, but that you can still feel both the sculptural and fanciful, spacey elements in his collection.
For fun, click here to see the 14 min film Le Voyage dans la Lune. And see examples of Caro's sculpture here. Do you see the connections?
All images are from vogue.com, photos: Del Pozo
Faded Beauty
I'm inspired by this editorial from Andréa Huelse Studio this week. Precious Forever is photographed by Erik Madigan Heck and styled by Leith Clark (who is also editor of Lula magazine). The ethereal quality of the work, as if they are trapped in a steamy greenhouse is so dreamy.
Katja of Sweden
I love that I am following in the steps of another Katja in textile design and I also love that her designs resonate so much with me—their bold patterns and bright colors really speak to my own design aesthetic.
Katja was born Karin Hallberg in Sweden, and later lived in NYC, where she went to Parsons School of Design. She created wonderful patterned fashions and later designed home textiles as well.
I didn't realize the connection before, but I have a picture of myself standing in front of a Katja Bedding display in the window of NYC Macy's. The picture was taken in the early 80s and I'm pointing to the large sign of her (and my) name in the window display. It was the first time I'd come across my name anywhere in the United States. I was very excited about it and now I know whose designs they were advertising! I later bought some of her towels and sheets for my dorm room in college. Funny to think of that now. I wish I could find that photo to share with you.
You can read some more about her here.
Tsumori Chisato Fall 2016
Eek I love this too much. Sometimes words aren't really necessary. See more on Vogue.com.
Photos: Rachelle Simoneau / Courtesy of Tsumori Chisato
An Icon Lost
The death of David Bowie is still with me a week later. His passing has probably affected me more than any other celebrity in recent years because of his influence on me in my life. I grew up with his music through all the various stages of my youth—from my pre-teen years onward.
My older brothers introduced me to him in the early 80s by giving me a copied cassette tape of Scary Monsters with a handwritten DAVID BOWIE scrawled across it. As a twelve year old his music scared me a little. It was moving and different, and I was pressed to listen to it and almost had to learn to love it. And I did.
His influence in music, fashion and his courage to be different, permeated the universe. The day he died, I imagined his music being played all around the world and rising up in to the air. I think we are drawn to talented people especially when they are as courageous and forward-thinking with their creativity as he was.
Pastel Pretties
Airy pastels have been all over the runways and there is something about these colors and fabrics that makes me feel very relaxed.
DelPozo, Gucci, Elie Saab, Gig Couture
Stripe Stripe Baby
I love patterns of all kinds, and the stripes that are popping up everywhere are making me very happy. From Ralph Lauren to Dior and Dolce and Gabbana—everyone is showcasing that classic of all classics, in fresh and vibrant colors. My favorite!
Clockwise from top left: Dior, Salvatore Ferragamo, Max Mara, Tommy Hilfiger, Dolce and Gabbana, Ralph Lauren
Images from Vogue.com, photo credit: IndigitalImages
Valentino Spring 2015 Couture
Ok I'm a little late. The season may have passed but the beauty of this collection will never die. My eyes just eat this right up! There is something so satisfying to me about the rich colors and folk patterns—they just speak to my inner European. The patterns are of another time and place yet so familiar; and now incorporated into our modern lives. I love how appreciated these textiles are. I believe folk style is so loved because people want to cherish past traditions and celebrate where they came from.
Photo credit: Gianni Pucci / Indigitalimages.com
Designer Spotlight: Missoni 2016
I was really taken with the new line from Missoni for 2016. They have always been at the forefront of bold and colorful knitwear and this collection just took my breath away. I then come to read on Style.com, that this collection was inspired by the great Sonia Delauney. No wonder I love it! There is currently an exhibit at the Tate Modern in London celebrating Delauney's vibrant artwork. You can really see the influence of her work in these Missoni pieces. I find it very exciting to see how great artists and designers can influence each other.
Who influences and inspires you?
Sonia Delauney - The EY Tate Exhibition, London
Sonia Delauney - The EY Tate Exhibition, London
Source: Missoni images are from Style.com
Inspired by: Miguel Mesa
This Colombian designer's work totally caught my eye. Not only is it rich in method, texture and color, but has a powerful background story as well. The collection is called "Potosi" named after the richest silver mine on earth (located in Bolivia). The colorful torn strips of paper running through each piece are meant to recall the destructive paths that are made to the land when mining the silver. He says "In the garments those scars are the ripped paper...I home-dyed over 40 colors of a textile cotton waste and used PET to generate the headpieces."
Hearing the inspiration behind a collection or piece of art always makes it that much more interesting and beautiful to me. Whether it's to make a political statement or just translate a simple idea that comes to mind—on the vast spectrum of inspiration, isn't that what art is no matter the medium? What inspires you?
Quotation, info and images are from a Trendland article written by Anna Canlas May 2014.
Feeling Blue? Well You Should Be!
But please don't shed any tears. These graphic blue and white numbers are meant to bring a smile to your face.
Clockwise from upper left: Sass and Bide, Kenzo, Lela Rose, Daniela Gregis, Mina Perhonen, Ungaro
Sun Spots
This post is inspired by Mara Hoffman's gorgeous new 2015 collection. The sun peeks out throughout her line, in bright rainbow colors. These other colorful spots couldn't help but come to mind. My eyes are so dazzled by all these bright rings of color I need to put my shades on!
Mara Hoffman 2015 collection
Clockwise from top left: Kenneth Noland 1962, Vernor Panton rug, 1962 flower postcard, Sonia Delaunay, Maya Hayuk, Mandy Barker, Floris M. Neususs, Mara Hoffman 2015
And while we're basking in the glow of the 2015 runways, here are a few more sunshiny rays as depicted by HollyFulton, DSquared2 and Trina Turk.
A trend is a trend is a trend...
I'm a big fan of Pinterest and one of the things I love most about it is seeing various trends emerge. When I'm looking at an array of images on a page shared by people from around the globe, I often begin to notice a repetition of imagery, colors, textures and fashions. If you follow like-minded people with common interests, you are bound to see things that are pleasing to you in some way and that stand out. Without realizing it, you will be absorbing the visual repetition of a theme as it becomes mainstream.
A trend evolution I've been noticing is the Sea Punk trend. Now, this is definitely not a new thing; and the reason I'm writing about this now and not four years ago, is because I'm a 40+ woman and it's taken that long for the trend to catch up with the likes of me. Presumedly the term was first coined on Twitter by DJ @lilinternet in 2011 and has slowly migrated to the runways in Paris and is now seen in more mainstream publications and outlets (like Pinterest).
I can make sense of it in my adult mind now, even though this trend started as a teenage phenomenon based mostly in the club kid gif-loving arena of Tumblr. Dolphins, mermaid-colored hair, seashells and unicorns. Remember Gwen Stefani in the 90s with her bindi, blue hair twists and furry seafoam green bra? Was that the first sign of it, or more recently with Lady Gaga with a teal green blunt cut bob? Was it the Fall 2010 Proenza Schouler pastel-ridden fashion show? The iridescent glow of Hussein Chayalan's shoes for men?
Trends travel. Trends evolve and can have many different contributing influences. This trend in particular interests me because it's an amalgam of so many different things I see on Pinterest today: oceanic and water themes, teal blues and greens, iridescent gemstones, oil slicks, marbling and holographic images. Pastels, mother-of-pearl opalescence and cotton candy-colored hair.
When does one trend become another? Where do they overlap? And does a trend ever really end, or just go into a 20-year hibernation period to be reborn refreshed with a new twist for a new generation? I'm no expert on this, these are just my observations. Please feel free to weigh in, or elaborate on any information here.
I'd love to hear your thoughts and whether any other trends out there have caught your eye. This is just one of my favorites until the next one comes along...
Clockwise from top left: Chanel, Anton Ostlund, Chanel conch clutch, Maybelline: Tenacious teal via Harper's Bazaar, Alberta Ferreti S/S 2013, Vanesa Krongold tank, Burberry Prorsum, Oil slick, Shell sequins, UK Hairdressers Z One concept, KMS Cali hair Emma Mulholland tops, Maison Martin Margiela 2014, Meg Gray style / Pierre Tousaint photo, Clara H nails,
Summer Refresher
I love to envision how my patterns will look on various products. This green floral just screamed sundress to me.
Note: Original dress in white can be found on Asos.com
Feeling Bold Today
Clockwise L to R: Patricia Van Der Vliet, Antoni & Alison, Celine (x2)
B&W Abstraction
I'm all about abstract art in any form, and lately I've been noticing it more and more as a fashion trend. Here are some fabulous splashes, swirls and spatters in simple shades.
Clockwise from top left: Preen 2014, DKNY 2014, Kenzo 2014, &other Stories, Carven 2013, Tibi NY