The Metropolitan Museum in New York is the place to visit between May 5-August 15 should you be lucky enough. ‘ American Women: Fashionising a National Identity’ is the title of a new exhibition.
Based on a sumptuous collection of dressesfrom the Brooklyn Museum costume collection, which was transferred in January 2009. Some 80 examples of haute couture and de luxe fashion will be on show, many of which have not been seen by the public in more than three decades.Designers featured in the exhibition include Gabrielle Chanel, Madame Grès, Charles James, Jeanne Lanvin, Liberty & Company, Edward Molyneux, Paul Poiret, Elsa Schiaparelli, Valentina and Madeleine Vionnet.
Boater 189-1900
Gown 1890
1935-1940
This Weekend is Kentuky Derby time at Churchill Downs. The weather is Wet Wet Wet! and the style is plastic! Here are some ladies in protective mode…
And the winner was a horse called ‘Super Saver’ ( a message there somewhere?!)
The last week in the showroom was a very busy one. Fantastic new holiday samples arrived from Yummie Tummie just in time for the press day in Brown Thomas next week. Orders came in nice and steady and I’m noticing that they are getting bigger. Some agents in the business dictate minimum orders from retailers. This is something I have never done, prefering to build a business slowly and letting the customer decide.
I also interviewed several interns for Heidi Higgins and this was something that was both interesting and uplifting. Fashion students came with their portfolios, their samples and their dreams. The chance to work with Heidi is of course a fantastic opportunity for a fashion student who aspires to work their way into the real business of fashion. I loved them all, their passion, their hard work and their obvious talent. I wish I could have offered all of them positions but alas there is only one for now at least. I’m pretty sure Heidi has the right student and that it will be a mutually beneficial Summer Internship.
Also into the showroom came Louise O’Leary who makes the Loulloubelle range of handcrafted leather bags. I promised her I would take a critical look at them and give my honest opinion. The leather is sumptuous and the very best quality. Each bag is a limited to 100 pieces and is hand dyed using tradition techniques that are not only the best, but ethically sound. I absolutely love the big bag and I suggested that I would love a smaller version with a shoulder strap?
There was only one piece of news this week for me. Heidi Higgins winning best dressed at Punchestown on Friday. I’ve known Heidi for the past year and hope that I have become a mentor of sorts. A few weeks ago whilst having a chat in my showrooms , (actually Heidi chats and I listen) she mentioned she was going to enter Best Dressed at Punchestown. I said I would be there and thought she would have a great chance. At almost 25 years of age it’s almost unbelievable that the designs and quality of her collection is one that is both mature and fresh and I love her use of colour and simplicity of design. Of course Heidi is the best advert for her clothes and she always looks stunning.
Did I see her winning? Did I even know Heidi won? Was I at the races at all? The truth is that as much as I love fashion and dressing up for Punchestown I’m actually far more interested in the actual racing! I read the race card, study the form and when I can, place my (small) bets in the betting ring rather than on the Tote. So, on Friday, my friend Moyra and I parked ourselves right outside the champagne bar at a table with a great view of the final fence and the winning post and that is where I stayed for most of the day.
Yesterday I called Heidi to discuss the Interns that I am about to interview for her next week and during the conversation she finally asked me if I had been at Punchestown on Friday and did I know she had won the competition. I was gobsmacked and absolutely delighted and while we were talking dashed to the nearest newsagents to see Heidi in her beautiful blue dress and jacket photographed on the cover of every paper in town! We both agreed that you couldn’t buy that level of publicity. I predicted a great future for the Heidi Higgins Label last year and I was right. I had two great wins on the horses on Friday but backing Heidi Higgins is proving far more satisfying!
Heidi Higgins in her Portlaoise Studio/Boutique
Selina (my assistant) in Heidi Higgins Boutique/Studio
Here’s a great video of Sarah Jessica Parkers Vogue Shoot for the May US edition. Shot by Mario Testino in the run up to ‘Sex and the City 2′ coming out soon… The blue dress on the cover is by Calvin Klein and is set to be a hot ticket item
Since 2006 TOMS shoes has given 600,000 pairs of shoes to children who had none. Children all over the world go barefoot and suffer from soil born diseases or cannot go to school because they have no footwear. TOMS shoes is a simple business. For every pair you buy they give one pair to a child who is without. I love this. It’s a win win. The shoes are canvas, comfy and exactly the sort we will all be wearing on holidays or throughout the Summer. I love these and they ship all over the world. This is a continuing good news story we can all take part in…..
Thighs are in it seems. They are having a ‘fashion moment’. That’s good news for me but I fear it has come too late. Years of hiding them have become a habit I’m unable to break. I first noticed them in the 70’s after I once wore hot pants with tights. The memory left permanent scars. I’m very happy to post some here though in the hopes that my ‘Thigh issues’ will not have been in vain and that other thigh-challenged souls will not suffer as I have.
I couldn’t find any really interesting News worthy items to bring you so just a couple of interesting tidbits this week. Yesterday was the monthly bloggers lunch in Milano, Dawson St Dublin. I left my camera there so will have to post later in the week because there are some great pictures of some fab bloggers to show you.
I came across this website last week that looks really interesting It’s called Shoes of Prey and basically it’s a site where you design your own shoes. I was playing around on it for ages. The shoes look to be of really good quality and I can think of lots of really good reasons to use it for real. If I had a special occasion and needed a particular colour/type and shape of shoe then this could be the place to go. I also think that vouchers for it would go down a treat with any young women. They offer a complete money back guarantee if you aren’t happy and you can’t argue with that!
My Blogger of the Week Award this week goes to Dirty Fabulous The truth is that the award is going to Kathy and Caroline whose Vintage business was destroyed by fire a couple of weeks ago. They are determined to get up and running again as soon as they can and in the meantime are continuing to write their blog. If you haven’t heard of them take a look and see what you missed and what you can expect in the future and if you do know them keep supporting them by keeping in touch through their website.
1. After weeks of speculation highly successful on-line retailer Net-a-Porterhas confirmed that they have been acquired by one of the worlds most succesful luxury goods groups Richemont. A natural buyout partner who already owned a significant share holding of Net-a-Porter and who have worked well with them. This news can only mean more success for what is undoubtedly the best fashion retailer who has succeeded in tapping into the on-line fashion retailing worldwide market.
2.Rock and Republic have filed for Chapter 11 protection. This essentially means they are in deep financial crisis and have applied to the courts for protection. This will mean much needed time for the company to fight for their survival and may give them time to re adjust enough in order to save them. It may also mean the begining of the end.
3. Ever wondered how to wear socks and or stay ups? Here is a lovely photograph of Eva Herzigova who shows that it’s possible to do both!
4. Last year we had the film ‘Coco Before Chanel’ and this year we have another opportunity to see another film about Chanel. This film which appeared at Cannes to much acclaim charts the probable (though not confirmed) affair between two greats, composer Ivor Stravinsky and Coco Chanel. The film is due to go on limited release in Europe in June. Featuring actor Mads Mikkelsen and Anna Mouglalis and Directed by Jan Kounen it explores the true story of Igor Stravinsky, his wife and children, taking up residence in Chanel’s home. The difficulty this obviously posed for Stravinsky’s wife and the probable affair between two highly charged greats. I couldn’t find a clip with subtitles but here is a taste of what’s to come……..
5. And last but not least my Weekly Blog Award this week goes to Coco’s Tea Party It’s one of the blogs I go back again and again to, so it must have something I like. Because I’m deeply entrenched in the business of fashion I love the fresh and passionate blogs that are fueled by youth and enthusiasm. Coco’s Tea Party manages to do all of the above and more.
Kelly Cutrone, owner of Fashion Pr Company in NY Peoples Revolution has recently published a book ‘If you have to cry go outside: and other things your mother didn’t tell you‘ Available from Amazon and heading up on the NY Times best sellers list it’s a book on my ‘interested to read’ list. The reviews have all been positive but then in this business you don’t always get an unbiased view. It’s often a matter of ‘I’ll scratch your back if you’ll scratch mine’. Kelly Cutrone is extremely successful at what she does. She has a no nonsense approach and is known for her often brutal straight talking. On her client list at the moment among others are Longchamp, Vivienne Westwood and Sass and Bide.
It’s a good idea to teach young women that the Fashion world is no bed of roses. That it is often tough and often not at all glamorous. That the nearer to the top you get the more cynical you can become. As someone who has been reduced to tears by( so called) successful people (and yes, I did go out and cry on my own) I question whether the model that says you have to be rude beyond belief in order to succeed is either valid or desirable. I want my daughters to have inner strength, to succeed in the world whether it be fashion or whatever they choose. But above all I hope I’ve taught them one lesson and that is to treat people with respect.
I will buy Ms Cutrones book and I will read it with an open mind. If her message is one that empowers women who wish to succeed in the Business of Fashion to be strong yet fair, to work hard with 100% commitment then I’m all for that. But if the message is that I need to be a bitch to succeed then sorry folks, count me out.
Here is an Interview with Kelly Cutrone about her book
This weeks news comes from the V&A Museum in London. Not only do they have a permanent Fashion Jewellery and Accessories exhibition running which is well worth a visit but there are two temporary shows worthy of mention. The first is ‘Quilts’ running from 20th March to July 4th . Amongst amazing English quilts there is one on loan from the National gallery of Australia called the ‘Rajah’ quilt after the convict ship it was made on by the women on board in 1841. Always a lover of quilts as heritage and historical memory pieces of beauty and each with it’s own story I will be heading to the V& A when I’m in London next and I’m particularly looking forward to Tracy Emin’s bed complete with quilt in situ.
Tracy Emin 'To meet my past'
The Exhibition that I can’t wait for is of course Grace Kelly ‘Style Icon’ which is running from 17th April-26th September.
For more detailed information on the Grace Kelly Exhibition click here to a previous post where I blogged about this upcoming event.
1. Alexander Mc Queens death took place with his collection 80% completed. Of course the final 20% is a huge part of the design process but SarahBurton who worked alongside Mc Queen completed the pieces which were shown in a sombre and fitting tribute in Milan. His vision called ‘The Art of the Dark Ages’. It’s worth taking a look at the video for a view of just how talented this designer was. Gucci who owns the Alexander Mc Queen label have not made a decision yet as to just what the future holds. A poisoned chalice I think for any designer who takes up the mantle (presuming there is one) with Gareth Pugh’s name being mentioned in dispatches as a likely candidate for the title.
The Images of these stunning pieces speak for themselves and show just what a loss this genius of design was.
2. Madonna is launching ‘Material Girl’ ( it couldn’t be called anything else now could it) in August in Macys USA. The clothes are for teenage girls and her ‘Inspiration’ is her daughter Lourdes. Madonna’s collaboration with H&M a couple of years ago was a disaster and the teen market is a notoriously difficult one to tackle so it’s a wait and see on this one. You’ve got to hand it to Madonna for her tenacity at least.
Madonna and Daughter Lourdes
3. Patricia Field, stylist on ‘Sex and the City’ and ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ and a celebrity in her own right was interviewed on the walk way into the Oscars last week. I particularly liked this quote from her on the night ‘Style is, you know who you are and you show it’
4. Who knows what a Zentai suit is? and who is wearing them? Apparently this isn’t new news per say but it certainly is to me. Skin tight suits that cover the whole body including the face. This is the sort of cat suit woman look that I assumed is good at a fancy dress party but isn’t the sort of thing to do your supermarket shopping in. I came across it on the net but it’s spreading across the world with websites devoted to wearers who apparently wear it every and anywhere zentaiproject.org A bit scary I’d say but who knows what catches on these days, fun or fetish. Take your pick.
5. And the winner is…… Brenda Flaherty who has won a fabulous pair of leather gloves.
1) I don’t usually post about brands that I have a business interest in but I’m going to make an exception today. Shape-wear is BIG business and Yummie Tummie is going from strength to strength helped along by stylist/designer Heather Thomson who is unique in the fashion world having come up with a completely new product. Brown Thomas in Dublin are planning a new Shape wear boutique with Yummie Tummie one of three anchor brands. New for fall and coming soon to Ireland are the simply amazing leggings which make not only your tummy but your legs slimmer! Turtle neck and long sleeve T-s with the ‘hold you in’ bit on the inside
2) Style Sample Magazine is a great online and print magazine for Fashion Bloggers. This is the place to read all the information you need if you are thinking about starting your own blog and a great resource for bloggers. You can contribute or just use it to check out what’s happening. Click here to read Issue 5. Issue 6 is available from next Tuesday. Style Sample Magazine
3) The Telegraph Newspapers hardest working and most knowledgeable Fashion Editor Hilary Alexander offers her Top 10 Fashion rules for the Oscars tonight and how to rise to the top in the Fashion Stakes. Hilary Alexander’s Top 10 Oscar Fashion Rules
4) Here is the Burberry Womenswear Catwalk show that was live streamed at London Fashion Week. Check out the fabulous jackets and new bags
Thighs are in it seems. They are having a ‘fashion moment’. That’s good news for me but I fear it has come too late. Years of hiding them have become a habit I’m unable to break. I first noticed them in the 70’s after I once wore hot pants with tights. The memory left permanent scars. I’m very happy to post some here though in the hopes that my ‘Thigh issues’ will not have been in vain and that other thigh-challenged souls will not suffer as I have.
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