Sunday, May 30, 2010

A Double Take-AMERICAN WOMAN METROPOLITAN MUSEUM NYC


La Sirène Charles James 1951-1952

Azzedine Alaia 1980s

(I am wearing the same dress in my photo.)

The first dress is part of the exposition American Woman at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC which I'll be visiting in the near future.

Dresses from Charles James are extremely rare in the market and my prediction is that designs by Azzedine Alaia will be in the same category in about 30 more years. His dresses in particular are getting more difficult to find.

Next time that I see Mr. Alaia I'm going to ask him if the dress above was inspired by Charles James. My guess is that the answer will be "Oui".

http://www.metmuseum.org






Friday, May 28, 2010

Kim in Future Vintage MUGLER



I'm always thrilled to see the stars wearing vintage. Everyone knows that I'm wild about Mugler and sell quite a bit of his pieces both vintage and modern. What a perfect choice for Samantha!
Here are 2 of my favorites above both have been sold.
www.jeannsuica.com

Thursday, May 27, 2010

And the Answer is...ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

LinkAlexander McQueen Bandage Dress, circa 2004
An olive green elastane dress composed of bandage-like strips with cross-overs forming the bodice and splits in the skirt sides to allow movement.
Jacket, 1996-97. Union Jack jacket designed by Alexander McQueen in collaboration with David Bowie, using distressed fabric. Worn by David Bowie on the Earthling album tour, 1996-97. Collection of David Bowie. This jacket was part of the Anglomania Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion expo at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York



The gown featured in my last post was from the 2003 Transitions collection 2003 and is part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art collection, New York.
Photos from
www.metmuseum.org


Friday, May 21, 2010

You Think That You Know So Much Prove It #9




Can you guess the designer? Add your answer below...
I'll publish the answer early next week.
For extra credit who does the jacket belong to?

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

A Treasure Hunt-BACK TO THE FUTURE MARGIELA




Recently a huge important collection of Margiela was sold in the US so if you missed out on your favorite pieces just email me and I'll let you know where you can buy these collectable pieces by Margiela.

As it gets more and more difficult to find great vintage more and more dealers who used to turn up their noses at anything that wasn't older than 20 years old are suddenly interested in future collectable items.

This is post number 2 of my new series of posts titled Back to the Future profiling what I think are future collectables.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

I DO...A Royal Wedding Gown


I attended the Princess Diana expo at Sotheby's Paris today.
Here is another piece of history from this incredible collection.

The final calico toile for the royal wedding gown, which was worn by Princess Diana, 1981, estimate £8000-12,000, labelled, the calico gown being an exact rendition of the gown later made in silk, with flounce to neck, central bow, flounced cuffs, trained skirt; together with two silk bodice toiles; pair of calico sleeve toiles; a single slimmer alternative sleeve toile; three further calico/muslin bodice toiles in sections; complete with the original brown paper pattern used for making the royal wedding gown; and a letter of authenticity signed by Elizabeth Emanuel.

For more information please view
www.kerrytaylorauctions.com

Sunday, May 16, 2010

A Black Dress-PRINCESS DIANA AUCTION



Lot 264
Estimate £30,000-£50,000
The important black taffeta evening gown worn by Lady Diana Spencer for her first official appearance (after the engagement announcement) in the company of HRH Prince Charles at Goldsmith's Hall, March 9th, 1981, labelled 'An Emanuel Special' the boned, strapless cross-over bodice edged in flounces of sequined silk, bust 86cm, 34in, waist 66cm, 26in; together with an Align CenterEmanuel black tulle petticoat; the original 1981 Elizabeth Emanuel pencil sketch of the gown with attached fabric swatch; another in ink executed recently; a copy of the original invoice dated 9 March 1981 for £517.50; a black and white photograph by Richard Young; two others copyright Rex Features of Lady Diana wearing the gown at Goldsmith's Hall, another by Alpha Images, and a transparency by an un-named photographer, (10) When the young and inexperienced Lady Diana Spencer accompanied Prince Charles on their first official appearance she chose this elegant but somewhat revealing evening gown. She had no idea the effect the sight of her climbing out of a limousine in the dress would create with the world's press who were eagerly awaiting her. They were completely bowled over by the innocent yet voluptuous beauty of the young woman. Clutching a single red rose - she literally burst onto the world stage in a frenzy of press flash bulbs, and in so doing, managed to unintentionally upstage her fiancé - something she was to do on a regular basis in the years that followed. In her memoirs the Princess stated `I remember my first (royal) engagement so well. So excited. Black dress from the Emanuels and I thought it was OK because girls my age wore this dress. I hadn't appreciated that I was now seen as a royal lady, although I'd only got a ring on my finger as opposed to two rings. Black to me was the smartest colour you could possibly have at the age of 19. It was a real grown up dress. I was quite big-chested then and they all got frightfully excited. I remember meeting Princess Grace and how wonderful and serene she was....It wan an horrendous occasion. I didn't know whether your handbag should be in your left hand not your right hand. I was terrified really - at the time everything was all over the place.' cf `Diana - Her True Story - in Her Own Words', p.36-37 published by Michael O Mara Books Ltd. see also Andrew Morton's comments on the occasion p.121 of the same book. 'They (the Emanuels) also made the evening gown for her first official engagement, a charity gala in the city of London, which created almost as big a sensation as the dress which graced St Paul's Cathderal a few months later. The black taffeta silk ballgown was strapless and backless with a plunging, gravity-defying décolletage. Prince Charles was not impressed with the outfit. While she thought black was the smartest colour a girl of her age could wear, he had different ideas. When she appeared in her finery at the door of his study he commented unfavourably saying that only people in mourning wore black. Diana replied that she was not yet a member of his family and, what's more, she had no other dress suitable for the occasion. That spat did little for her confidence as she faced a battery of cameras waiting outside Goldsmith's Hall. She was unschooled in the niceties of royal behaviour and felt absolutely terrified that she would embarrass her fiancé. During the course of the evening she met Princess Grace of Monaco, a woman she had always admired from afar. She noticed Diana's uncertainty and, ignoring the other guests who were still buzzing over Diana's choice of dress, whisked her off to the powder room. Diana poured her heart out about the publicity, her sense of isolation and her fears about what the future held in store. 'Don't worry,' Princess Grace joked. `It will get a lot worse'. David & Elizabeth Emanuel wrote in 'A Dress for Diana' p.33 and.94 `When we put her in that black dress, we had no idea that it was going to cause such a furore. Infact, that dress had started its life as one of our samples and it was just hanging on a rail...But Diana saw it, loved it and tried it on. The transformation was incredible! She had arrived looking like the nursery school teacher she was, but now she looked like a movie star'. As the weeks passed Diana began to lose weight rapidly and the dress which she had originally filled to perfection began to hang on her ever diminishing frame. She returned the gown to the Emanuels for them to take in. However, the weight loss was so drastic (her waist diminishing from 26in to 24in by the wedding day) that they decided it would be simpler to make a new, identical gown that would fit her new proportions. The original black dress was stored away and remained forgotten until its recent re-discovery.
More on this exciting acution this week!
June 8, 2010
www.kerrytaylorauctions.com

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Look Good for a Good Cause-LIGHTHOUSE SALE NYC




The Lighthouse International Posh sale has teamed up with 1stDibs to sell just a very small selection of clothing and accessoires to benefit their charitable organization.

For the past 37 years, the Posh Fashion sale has been one of the most important fashion fundraising events in New York City.
I use to live right down the street from where it was hosted and have found memories of attending every year fighting (I meant gently nudging) fellow fashionistas for clothing donated by celebrities, designers and socialites.

Here are my picks from 1stDibs

Marc Jacobs Lurex Trech £850
Chloe Lurex Brocade Bag $850
Emilio Pucci Pumps $125


For more information on how to purchase and to learn more about Lighthouse International go to
www.1stdibs.com


Friday, May 14, 2010

Sleeping in a Ballgown-MASION MOSCHINO HOTEL


I've been working a lot I see clothing everywhere all day all night I even dream about clothing and sleeping in a ballgown. I just may have my chance when I go to Milan again. This time I'll stay at the new Moschino Hotel. Like their whimsical fashion designs this place is a burst of eye candy.
Check out their site I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
www.maisonmoschino.com

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Weird Wacky Wonderful -Kerry Taylor Auctions

Lot 1010
An unusual cotton romper-suit with Russian `Pravda' newsprint excerpts dated 1989, featuring President Gorbochev, with red buttons to the back
Lot 1240
A pair of Alexander McQueen for Givenchy couture grey and pink kid leather chaps,
Autumn-Winter, 1999, with haute couture and defile labels

Lot 1251
A maid's uniform, 1939, of blue wool with embroidered muslin headband, 2 collars and apron, with note stating `The afternoon uniform of my last house parlour maid, Hilda Edwards, 1939

What I love about auctions are all of the weird wild and wonderful items offered.
In addition to my favs above this auction on May 25 will feature the 1950s-60s Savile Row wardrobe of the actor Richard Todd.. Not for him the sobriety of Mr Todd’s wardrobe. It is a riot of stripes, flowers, kipper ties and velvet. It is one of the grooviest male wardrobes ever to come to auction.
Female fashion ranges from Queen Victoria’s underwear (yes I'm not kidding!), a fab Miyake two tone dress and of course Balenciaga, Biba, Ossie Clark,Thea Porter, YSL Rive Gauche, Jean Paul Gaultier and Chanel.

For a full catalogue and information go to

www.kerrytaylorauctions.com






Wednesday, May 12, 2010

BACK TO THE FUTURE-BALENCIAGA #1


As it gets more and more difficult to find great vintage more and more dealers who used to turn up their noses at anything that wasn't older than 20 years old are suddenly interested in future collectable items.

I'll be showing you my future collectable picks once a month.
Some will be for sale (and if so there will be a price below)
and some will be to educate or stimulate

Balenciaga
Winter Fall 2007

Monday, May 10, 2010

Some Like it Hot-MARILYN MONROE ANTIQUES ROADSHOW




I work in the auction world and do my own share of valuations of vintage clothing on a weekly basis. It's a tricky business because auction prices vary and there are many factors that can make something valuable. My advice is to always consult a repuatable person. Lately I've received a few emails from people asking me general advice on who they should go to and how auctions work. A lot of vintage dealers seem to be giving advice on values which is not always correct and they are putting their reputation on the line with their lack of experience.
For a start, consult someone that is in the auction business if you are interested in having your items considered for auction provide clear photos of your items including the label, note any damages or imperfections also include any relevant historical facts about the piece for a start.
Now for fun and to help you get started go to
http://pbs.org/antiques

search Mariyn Monroe and you'll be able to access a video and short quiz where
you'll be able to guess how much Marilyn Monroe's dress from Some Like it Hot is worth.

Friday, May 7, 2010

And the Answer is...THIERRY MUGLER


and the answer is...Thierry Mugler

Thierry Mugler 'Les Milteuses' Communist -style Dress
Autumn Winter 1986-87

Documented in 'Icons of Fashion The 20th Century' by Prestel

and 'Thierry Mugler Fashion Memoir' by Francois Baudot

This dress was mine and sold via Kerry Taylor Auctions.


Also if you are a Mugler fan you may want to check out the great recent NYT article

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Dare to Wear-GLASS COUTURE

Diana Dias-Leao dress

Margiela Glass "Cinderalla" pumps limited edition retail $2580


Diana-Dias Leao glass dress

Diana Dias-Leao gave up fashion designing at the age of 60 to study glass making. An exhibition of her glass dresses and corsets can be seen at the Liverpool Museum in the UK until the end of September.
http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

I've also included a fabulous pair of Margiela glass pumps for all of the Ciderellas reading this!

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Fit for a Princess-GRACE KELLY


Portrait 1955 by E. Blumenfeld

Princess Grace at the Princely Palace about 1960 H. Connant/B. Adelman Books

Family Portrait, Rex Features

Style Icon Grace Kelly Exhibition
Explores the life of Grace Kelly from actress to princess and her enduring appeal as a style icon.
V&A Museum London until September 26
www.vam.ac.uk/gracekelly