INA F. Dorléac
June 2011 Native American Indian, Galliano&McQueen patterns
Cape (another version) Free pattern available here
John Galliano jacket Free pattern available here
Biba D - 2
The new website has just been launched with a sneak peek of the forthcoming collection:
http://www.mybiba.com/
It's a bit too soon to have an honest opinion but I'll have to be a bit French on that one. My first impression is that the price range is much higher than what was announced (£60 for a ring, £290 for a military coat? Unless it's part of their limited collection, it'll be a pass for me I'm afraid).
I really really don't like this girl called Daisy Lowe (no idea who she is, don't care either -ah apparently a model, another daughter of Such and Such, ooooh everything I so like...not-). Very little to do with the original Biba girl envisioned by Barbara Hulanicki. The original Biba Girl: "very pretty, young, upturned nose, rosy cheeks, asparagus legs, tiny feet, square-shouldered, flat-chested, long swanlike neck, perfect oval face, heavy lids, long spiky lashes" From A to Biba Chapter 6
Daisy Lowe...cute but wth?
Even transposed to the 21st Century, I don't see where she got labelled -as I've read somewhere- a it girl or is serious British icon material in any manner.
I completely fail to see the appeal, sorry...
However I must say that the dedicated website is visually stunning and they seem to have made heavy use of the Biba logo on the patterns. So now, roll on Thursday...
Old Biba shoot, never seen this one before!
I also just found out Barbara Hulanicki's got a YT channel with many interesting videos particularly the ones from after screening Q&A sessions:
http://www.youtube.com/barbarahulanicki
All pics from mybiba.com except Biba Girl from http://barbarahulanicki.com/ and Daisy Lowe pic from elle.fr
Biba D - 3
No need to say I'm very eager to find out what they've come up with the brand's umpteenth revival...
Here's House of Fraser's latest visual for Biba that quite captures a certain atmosphere already!
Copyright House of Fraser
www.houseoffraser.co.uk on 09th September 2010
Just thinking how easy and fun it was to stop by at House of Fraser's in Glasgow (extraordinarily nice staff) makes my heart sink and wished Biba had arrived 2 years ago. But oh good news, international delivery is now available but bad news, I have absolutely no money dedicated for shopping...
As it seems they won't be there for long, here's the link to a few short videos of Barbara Hulanicki and Twiggy Lawson chatting about Biba for BBC British Style Genius documentary series (that I unfortunately missed):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/britishstylegenius/content/21800.shtml
and
Topshop monstrosity gallery September 2010 + special guest
The catching visuals you receive in their updates don't really transpose to the actual pages. Worse, more than once the cool clothes you see in them are never available. So why bother? I'm tired of constantly being cheated and plunged into fashion depression when my eyes have to bear that sort of clothes (and to top it up outrageously expensive) page after page:
Leaf skull (?) Just because 'skulls' are sort of trendy doesn't mean you can get away with this fashion offense
Labelled 'Oversized boyfriend'. Yeah that must be irony. Would your boyfriend honestly wear this? I still wonder why they had the urge to call this 'boyfriend', 3 quarter sleeves and dropped shoulders? Give me a break...
A dress my 73 yo mum would love!
Far-fetched vintage, 100% Polypooh, price conversely proportional
Orange and brown are some of my favourite colours, not in that order, even less in this weird tye-and-dye lame attempt
Another random splash of colours, I agree some people may like this but I just get rashes by looking at it
Special Guest: KTZ whom I spoke about a few months ago. Still depressing, still incredibly HIDDEOUS
Ok sit tight for this one. The shoe description reads '100% sinthetic leather' (spot the spelling mistake) This has to be the worst made shoe ever, you don't even need to zoom in the picture to figure this out.
Price: £ 364 wtf? We have some serious piss-taker here, trust me
Not only to mention the haircut, the model and the way she poses. Maybe there's something I don't get about that brand... I don't want to either, mind you
This looks like something out of Etsy-gone-wrong (as regularly featured on the fantastic Regretsy website) (www.regretsy.com)
I rest my case...
All available @ www.kokontozai.co.uk
Furniture in Films: The New Avengers 'Sleeper'
Despite I'm more an Avengers aficionada (Think Emma Peel here, how fascinating in 'A touch of brimstone'), some of the New Avengers episodes are worth the watch. 'Sleeper' (written by genius Brian Clemens) reveals a great insight of Gambit's and Purdey's flats while London plummets into deep-sleep.
Team Purdey:
White and gold bed frame, round (lacey?) bedlight, big flowers wallpaper, beads curtain
Bamboo cane nightstand and sleek ivory white phone
Purdey's open kitchen: White and purple cupboard and matching curtains, bamboo cane chairs and table
The sleek white phone
Moving left to the living-room side (and another set of beads curtains), lilac walls, matching piano and sofa
Team Gambit:
Masculine and streamlined, here's Gambit's bachelor's pad!
Dark grey walls with a few touches of colours, transparent smoked glass table, leather and metal chairs, spotlights, silver Buddha head
Dark grey brick wall and white work top, mushroom ceiling lamp
Gambit's bedroom: Faux fur plaid, weapons, graphic onion canvas, magical stereo combo and burnt orange wall
Guest room: Apple green rules! Big green round knob, black, green and white forest canvas, white and green walls
Director: Graeme Clifford
Screenwriter: Brian Clemens
Set dresser: Simon Wakefield
The New Avengers is available on DVD copyright Optimum Home Entertainment
Fashion in Films: The Bear and the Doll (1970)
The plot is not one of the brightest but there's a certain delight to watch Bardot at the peek of her beauty (Timeline: She was 35), 60's cars/Paris (pay attention to the Dior boutique) and an hilarious game of cats and mice chase.
Funny how the phone and shades shapes are mirroring. I'm totally drooling over that look
Two shots of the pink leather (or 'skaï'?) hat with matching coat (and thigh boots)
Parties, shopping and beauty parlours, the 3 pillars of Felicia's life
The spectacles version of the square shades (in faded pink)
Black cape and gold chain fastening, black floppy hat, very Gunther Sachs period
Geeky Gaspard and Diored up Felicia (evening dress by Dior, created by Marc Bohan)
French style morning coffee bowl and sauerkraut hairdo
Who said 'no tartan mini-skirts after 35' again?
The Gavroche hat
Granny pants looking good. The credit likely goes to her amazing body!
The Dior dress accessorized with randomly picked-up real-life daisies
Director: Michel Deville
Costume designer: Gitt Magrini
Furniture: Knoll International (oh that 60's feeling!)
The Knoll 'Tulip'
The Bear and the Doll is available on DVD copyright Paramount Home Entertainment
Little Obsessions August 2010
Jacket by Lacoste (chav'/ned's choice of brands in France -Burberry's knows this evil too in UK-) featured in last In Style issue but nowhere to be found -yet?-. If I can ever afford it, I hope the brand logo is off the way.
Frye Campus st. Horse 15 boots:
Last week I thought it'd be high time I invested in some serious quality boots (part of the 'buy less but better' plan). Just a couple of days ago when I finally made up my mind but waited for the money to come in, these beauties were £130. Could someone explain to me why they've inexplicably jumped to £290 today? Way way out of my budget now.
:( Roll on Christmas...
Very Apollonia von Ravenstein by Arthur Elgort (
1970
I have no clue if she's actually wearing Fryes...
Military coat:
All time favourite... My beloved Primark coat showing signs of wear, here's the nicest replacement I've found so far -at Pimkie's- the brand French birds love to hate:
55% wool, sleek cut, high collar, jersey in-sleeves, low-waist belt, almost a perfection (a shame it's not long enough) 59.95 €
Asymmetrical:
About a year ago, I found out that asymmetry was a thing for me. Mysteries of life...
All Saints on ASOS £65
Topshop (see, no harsh feelings) £35 The mix is not a happy one (cotton, acrylic, polypooh). Reminds me of a an old Phildar (a French wool manufacturer) knit pattern recently added to my 'must knit' list:
Nice Neapolitan slice of colours. Knitting is not so terribly time consuming (about a fortnight for a jumper) but requires a lot of focus and patience.
Indian beads necklace/choker:
I was watching "The Brood" (David Cronenberg's) last night when I spotted this beautiful choker worn by Nuala Fitzgerald. I love this sort of statement necklaces à la Frida Kahlo, massive and obvious.
I know very little about Native American Indians but it is likely to relate to Cherokees. If I remember well, there must have been a brief trend around the mid 90's. Here's Vanessa Paradis in October 1994 wearing a similar style:
Belt cuff/wraparound bracelet:
I still haven't got over Calvin Klein's leather wraparound watches from nearly a decade ago (or Ridley Scott's Gladiator for that matter). Using thin leather belts as cuffs has been as natural as putting the coffee machine on in the morning. Does wonder for skinny wrists like mine.
CC Skye on ASOS £105
ASOS £8
In the same spirit...
Topshop £14
ASOS £12
One thing leading to another, I just thought that Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) in 'Gladiator' definitely deserves a place for the next 'Fashion in Films' entry!
Topshop monstrosity gallery August 2010
Aztec anything, hang me up. This belongs to early 90's Conforama (a famous French furniture shop) settee you'd find in some obscure Communist suburban flats (that was a bit nasty, I apologize).
+
Way past the selling date, Topshop, please wake up and stop the fashion-slaughter once for all
Oh no, not another "who wants to look like they're wearing Tena pants?" We already told you that Menopausia's not your niche.
Labelled '70's stirrups'. As far as I know, these are called a 'fuseau' (French name for ski pants) and they're from the 60's. I must say I used to wear my mum's in the mid 80's, mmmh. Tapered anything, hang me up.
And the first prize pièce de résistance goes to:
Spot the mistake... And I'm not talking about the half-diagonal detail at the calves here.