The New Exhibits at FIT

Miss Cellie's Pants blog post about the new exhibits at FIT reminded me that I had not seen them yet. So a friend and I went down to see the new exhibit together.

There are presently three exhibits at the FIT Museum:

• Lauren Bacall - The Look
• Yves Saint Laurent + Halston: Fashioning the 70s
• Faking It: Originals Copies and Counterfeits

The Lauren Bacall and Faking It exhibits were upstairs. The Bacall exhibit was too short and because of that I only took two pictures of the exhibit:

This was fascinating because the coat was lined with the 

same fabric used for the dress!

Lauren Bacall's every day dresses. I would wear all of those now!

The exhibit that I really liked was the YSL + Halston one. A few pictures:

Menswear type suits for women

Gold lame evening suit

Sweater jacket and dress

Gingham shirtwaist dress

To me the most memorable thing from the day was the conversation we had during and after the exhibit. My friend didn't realize that Halston had started as a milliner. Or that he had designed the pillbox hat that Jackie Kennedy wore to the Inauguration. Or that he had won five Coty Awards. The awards that were the precursor to the CFDA awards.

Its truly sad that by selling his name to JC Penney, he ended up losing his name and reputation. That all he's remembered for is cheap perfume and clothing that was licensed under his name. For more information on Halston - click this link.

Or check out this youtube video from Madoff Productions~

The Yves Saint Laurent + Halston exhibit lasts until April 18th - not too much longer - so if you're going to be in NYC before then I highly recommend that you see it. The clothing is amazing and the timeline that tells the history of YSL and Halston is really enlightening!

...as always more later!

Valentino: The Last Emperor ~ The Movie

Friday Night I went to see Valentino: The Last Emperor with a friend. It was really good and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This movie is totally different from the Chanel series that we all either watched on public television or on YouTube. That series focused more on the making of a collection...there were a lot of workroom shots...and behind the scenes shots.

This was all about Valentino and his career. Yes, you saw a few shots of the work room and the seamstresses, but the movie is predominately about Valentino...the man he was, the man he became, and the man he now is. There are also a lot of celebrities and famous women he dressed mentioned, as well as, featured in the movie...and an entire segment on his 45th Anniversary Celebration!

It is definitely a documentary but it also is engrossing and interesting right up until the end. I even got a little teary eyed at the finish...I know it's in limited release but a friend of mine sent me the schedule...which of course reminded me that I hadn't seen it yet. Listed below is a synopsis of the movie as well as cities and states where it's playing...(thanks Patti & Patty!)

VALENTINO THE LAST EMPEROR

a film by matt tyrnauer

SYNOPSIS

"Shown in film festivals around the world to wide acclaim, VALENTINO THE LAST EMPEROR is a feature film that has captured the hearts and imaginations of audiences. Directed by Matt Tyrnauer, the film takes the viewer inside the singular world of the legendary designer Valentino. With unprecedented access, VALENTINO THE LAST EMPEROR follows the Italian maestro for the final two years of his celebrated career, capturing the end of an era in global fashion. But at the heart of the film is a love story: the unique relationship between Valentino and his business partner of 50 years, Giancarlo Giammetti."

96 minutes - USA - Color - in English/Italian/French with English subtitles

NOW PLAYING NATIONWIDE :

NEW YORK CITY - Film Forum and Lincoln Plaza and CC Cinemas 1,2,3
HUNTINGTON, NY - Cinema Arts Centre
CHATHAM, NJ - Chatham Cinema
MONTCLAIR, NJ - Clairidge Cinemas
GREENWICH, CT - Bow Tie Cinema Plaza 3
CAMBRIDGE, MA - AMC Loews Harvard Town Square 5
BROOKLINE, MA - Coolidge Corner Theater
CHICAGO. IL - AMC Loews Pipers Alley 4 and Landmark Renaissance Place (Highland Park)
LOS ANGELES, CA - Laemmle Sunset 5 and AMC Century City 15
ORANGE COUNTY, CA - Edwards Island 7 and Edwards University Town Center 6
PALM SPRINGS, CA - Camelot Theaters
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Landmark Embarcadero
BERKELEY,CA - Landmark Shattuck
SAN RAFAEL,CA - Smith Rafael Center
SAN JOSE, CA - Camera 7

STARTING APRIL 24TH
BUFFALO, NY at Dipson North Park
DC (BETHESDA, MD) at Regal Bethesda 10
PHILADELPHIA, PA at Clearview's Bala Theatre 10
ENCINO, CA at Laemmle's Town Center 5
SACRAMENTO, CA at Tower Theater
HOUSTON, TX at Angelika Film Center
AUSTIN, TX at Regal Arbor Cinema @Great Hills

STARTING MAY 1ST
HONOLULU, HI at Reading Kahala Theaters
BALTIMORE, MD at Charles Theatre
PORTLAND, OR at Cinema 21

STARTING MAY 8TH
DALLAS, TX - Angelika Film Center
PLANO , TX - Angelika Film Center
MEMPHIS, TN at Ridgeway Four
SAN DIEGO, CA - Reading Cinemas

STARTING IN JUNE
NASHVILLE, TN at Belcourt Theatre
SALT LAKE CITY, UT at SLC Film Center

MORE CITIES TO BE ANNOUNCED IMMINENTLY WWW.VALENTINOMOVIE.COM

I hope that if it's playing in a city near you that you will take the time to see it!

Sybil Connolly - I'm a Fan

Several months ago, I really got into this vintage pattern state of mind because I was looking for distinctive details for my garments that modern RTW is just not offering. I started out innocently enough on Ebay and have progressed to quite a few vintage online pattern sites.

I was originally attracted to 60's styles and Jackie Kennedy's White House years look because these looks translate so well into my corporate lifestyle. Being a young girl in the 60's, I wasn't yet sewing...learned when I was 11...and I didn't have a mother who sewed. So, this has been a hunt and a learning process for me.

One of the designers that I have become enamored of is Sybil Connolly.

I like clean cut minimalist clothing with detailing that enhances the garment...that's not just there for show or to bring attention. The patterns she designed for Vogue Patterns during the 60's and early 70's fit the look I'm trying to achieve...so now I'm stalking the internet's pattern sites and auctions trying to purchase all of the patterns that I like!

But more on Sybil Connolly...she was born Sybil Veronica Connolly in Swansea, Ireland, on January 1921. She was educated at the Sisters of Mercy Convent. Her career spanned many decades and she began as an apprentice dress designer, Bradley's, London, 1938-40, an apprentice to Jack Clarke at Richard Alan, 1940-43, a director, Richard Alan, 1943-57. In 1957 she opened her own Dublin Fashion House where she continued to design until her death in 1998. She was also a consultant and designer for Tiffany's, New York, 1984-98, and an author and editor, 1986-98.

Her book, Irish Hands: The Tradition of Beautiful Crafts, New York, 1994, is winging its way to me now. And I presently own these patterns:

From BestVintagePatterns.com

Vogue 2183

From LanetzLiving.com

Vogue 2533

From Silversnow Antiques and More: Vogue 2919.

I currently have bids out on several more...so please don't bid against me! *LOL* And a listing of some of her patterns can be found here on Wikia. This listing is not complete but it was a good starting point for me.

I found this quote of hers and believe it is so apropo of today's fashion scene:

There comes a moment in everyone's life as a designer when you have to decide whether you want to create the beautiful or the merely fashionable. Sadly, there can be a conflict between the two.

Sybil Connolly

Of course you will see some of her design elements featured in my upcoming fall wardrobe. I am a fan and I hope that you will be too!

I played this weekend

This was a lazy weekend for me...I didn't really feel like "pushing" out garments. I actually wanted to take my time and explore an idea that I had...because I just don't know when to quit with a garment...or better still I just have to let an idea play all the way out before I can move on creatively.

So I was working on one more dress...and this dress is inspired by some old DKNY. I don't know if you fashionistas remember when Donna Karan burst onto the scene with her own label but she revolutionized woman's career wear with her menswear fabrics and lace. Lately that theme has been playing in heavy rotation in my mind...I loved it then but now I totally get it. See in a world where suits are a daily occurrance, you need something that subtly sets you apart. Nothing that makes you stand out and look like a freak but something that says you have style and aren't a clone just getting dressed to get through the day.

I explored that theme in the tank top that I made from Simplicity 3631 - but it wasn't a true replication of Donna Karan's statement. However, I had to put my little toe into that pool and see if it would work in MY corporate environment. This version worked for a business casual friday maybe because I haven't gotten around to making the coordinating skirt *note to self - that needs to be made up soon!*

But this particular idea is for a dress. My pleated front dress was so well received that I wanted to make it again with a change...after casting about in the vastness that is my mind *okay not really but it sounded kewl* I knew that a little DKNY was called for! So here is a peek at what I'm doing...

This dress has some other interesting points...a handpicked zipper...yeah, I'm getting into hand sewing big time...how the lace and menswear plaid work in the pleat...some special touches on the sleeves...yeah, I'm really excited about this one. It's hanging on my closet door now so that I can see it when I wake up and each morning I am more thrilled with it.

It's not done yet because I'm enjoying the construction process so much but soon, very soon I will have something to share with you! In the meantime...a few questions....How influenced are you by fashion? Does it invade your everyday wardrobe or is it something that you wish you could wear? Have you figured out how to bring the looks of today into your closet? Or are you still purchasing fabric for the life you want to lead instead of the life you are presently leading?

I might not be around much this week...lots of work and after work commitments but I will be back with a fierceness this weekend...it's a three day weekend you see and I've got sewing plans!