Has it really been a year?

After a long Hiatus I am finally back blogging!
I've just noticed it has been a few days over a year since I began this blog and I thought I would take the opportunity to say a big thank-you to the readers - I've really enjoyed your company on the blog ride!

We've had some delicious dresses





And delicious men (stricly looking at the leather Kilt lol)

Historical fashion




Crazy Celebs




Crazy Wanna be Celebs


Funky Shoes


Burlesque Dancers from Finland


Personal style


and much more - So join me for the next 12 months and see what I have in store :)

The passing of a legend

The passing of a legend

I’m at a loss for words today; this doesn’t even seem real.
Michael Jackson, music legend, dancing phenomenon and fashion icon (say what you will he brought military style to the masses) has passed beyond our reach.

Michael was voted number 31 of the most influential people in fashion ( including designers etc)no mean feat for a recording artist.

This post is disjointed as I feel as though I have lost someone dear to me - all my life he has been there to inspire me and renew me when I felt jaded.
His passion for making the world a better place made me strive to be a better person.

I woke up today with 'Man in the mirror' in my head and I hope that with his passing the message Michael tried to spread gains momentum


Fallen Star

They could never understand
what you set out to do
instead they chose to ridicule you
when you got weak
they loved the sight
of your dimming
and flickering starlight
How could they understand what was so intricate
To be loved by so many, so intimate
they wanted to see your lifeless corpse
this way you could not alter the course
of ignorance that they have set
To make my people forget
what they have done for much too long
To just forget and carry on
I had loved you forever because of who you are
and now I mourn our fallen star

By Tupac Shakur




R.I.P Michael you brought sunshine into so many lives, even while you lived through some dark, dark days. I pray that you find peace and happiness.

Oh thank-you!

When I started this blog I really did not know what would become of it.
I had no clearly defined ideas about what I would write and I guess it still is a work in progress.

One person though has been a reader since quite early on and I have been an avid reader of her blog since discovering the online world of blogging.

That blogger is Frances of Topaz Horizon who not only blogs about her perspective on fashion but tackles real issues such as the excessive new tax being levied on all imported books in the Philippines, domestic violence, health and many other issues. I admire her blog and the person that shines through that blog.

Frances has honoured me with the Neno blog award
'For bloggers that clearly enjoy blogging and love encouraging friendship through blogging'

When it comes from this lady it means a lot. So thank-you very much Frances I am very happy to receive this award from you!

I would like to pass this on to Morena of 'Too Haute to handle' and Proudly of 'Mom and Son'

Although there are many other deserving bloggers out there I did not want to start an avalanche :)

I'm selling this on E-bay

Just a quick note to let you know that I am selling this cute little vintage Mod dress on E-bay for minimum bid of AU14.00

Item Number 220429089990



It's quite small and nicely shaped - all details are on the E-bay listing feel free to ask me any questions and I will answer ASAP. I have two of these dresses and the next one will go on E-bay in a week - unless someone else wants it.
I will accept anything over $14.00 and I'll post measurements soon.
Make sure you refer to the auction for details though.

Shoe love from the history books

The platform shoe brings to mind the funkadelic 70’s disco scene … right?



While the platform shoe had it’s revival in the 70’s (and subsequent mini revivals since) the platform (a shoe formally known as the chopine) was originally a fashionable all the way back in the 14th century and hit the height of their popularity in the 1600’s.

Originally used as an ‘overshoe’ (literally worn over the dress shoe) to prevent damage to delicate hems of gowns and shoes from mud and dirt the chopine was worn as a status symbol.

The Chopine allowed women to ‘tower over’ other women and thus the higher the status of the wearer the higher the shoe should be.

Often reaching 5 - 9 inches tall, the Chopine sometimes reached up to 3 ft tall!

Usually two servants were required to assist the lady in donning the Chopine's and often there would be two attendants to assist the lady in balancing herself whilst walking in these prodigious shoes.

The below are the remnants of a 29 inch Venetian pair from the 16th century (these shoes were most popular in Venice for obvious reasons).


And the below pair is on display at the Bata shoe museum and they describe the shoe quite well so here is a portion of what they have to say:

"This pair of chopines is in surprisingly excellent condition considering that it was made and worn sometime between 1580 and 1620. Each shoe is carved from a solid piece of wood, probably alder, that has been hollowed somewhat to make the shoes lighter in weight. Since the chopine is such a large shoe, it provides a grand base for decoration with luxurious fabrics and ornaments. These in turn advertise a family’s wealth and position. This pair is covered in gold velvet, and is decorated at the base and at the toe with delicate, silver Maltese lace (which is now very tarnished) called “reticella”. Each shoe also features silver tacks and long silk tassels. The leather insole of each chopine has been tooled with a concentric square design, so that the viewer sees every surface holding a more luxurious decoration than the last."


Another example from the 1740's


Although some women required attendants to enable them to walk in these tremendous (in both senses of the word)shoes it has been said that ladies of the day who wore them regularly managed to walk and dance with elegance and grace.

Now I know I've promised you more outfit posts but I just had to post these shoes! Also I can't find my camera cord but I have taken some pics which I hope you will like. To be posted this week!

Some housekeeping

Alright this is just a quick post before my next personal style post (I know about time right).
Thank-you to everyone who is following me I appreciate the support and I will be posting more in future with a mix of historical fashion and influential designers in history and personal style, a little music and anything else that comes to hand that may be of interest.

I've also been tagged by the lovely fröken lila a little while ago - sorry for the delay. So here are my answers.

the rules are:
1. answer the questions on your blog
2. take away one question you don't like and add a new one.
3. tag 4 other people
1. which perfume do you use?
A few but Christian Dior’s Hypnotic Poison has been a favourite for years


2. song of the day?
Aretha Franklin’s version of Sam Cook’s classic ‘A Change is gonna come’.

3. what's for dinner today?
Tonight I’m having roasted vegetables with wild pork in a home made Cranberry, Pomegranate and Mandarin sauce (which is leftovers from last night).

4. Current fashion lust item
Flat suede over the knee boots in a dark grey


5. what whould you really like to learn?
To speak fluently in a few languages, millinery, and more sewing skills.

6. what was the last thing you bought?
Another bottle of Chandon

7. what's your favourite animal?
Oh tough one but I’d have to say the Elephant




8. what's your most important goal at the moment?
Getting into a new hobby to stop me getting lazy!

9. what do you think of the person who tagged you?
Wonderful sense of style and a wardrobe to match – she has a beautiful blog!

10. what's the colour of your eyes?
hazel (green and brown)

11. if you could change something with yourself, what would that be?
I would make myself more motivated!

12. if you could be anywhere in the world for the next 4 hours, where would that be?
In my hometown at my favourite swimming hole (it’s always warm there and I’m SO homesick.
Here are some actual pictures of the place I love !





13. what do you find important with your friends?
respect, loyalty and kindness

14. who would you like to meet sometime?
Boudica

but since that ship has long since sailed so I’ll say Nelson Mandella

15. what's your dreamjob?
Archaeologist love my ancient history.

16. what's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?
Wow that is difficult I’m not sure I can choose – maybe my latest purchase


(still waiting for it to arrive).

17. do you have any favourite models?
Sure do I’ll take a tall glass of Tyson Beckford please!





18. three things that make you smile
Sunshine on a rainy day (sun showers)

Cuddles
Breakfast in bed!

19. what's your favourite song at the moment?
Oh wow that is really tough – I guess it’s ‘A change is gonna come’ by Sam Cooke – it’s just so soulful and moving!

20. what's your favourite tv-series?
I rarely watch tv to be honest – I’m not sure I have a favourite show.

21. what are you wearing at the moment?
a blue maxi dress from Witchery a few years ago with grey long sleeve top and grey cotton tights, black leather ballet flats a tan woven leather belt and a white leather handbag with a black headband.

22. what's your favourite sweets?
Cranachan


23. who's your role model for style?
I honestly can’t pick anyone as a style role model – I am influenced by everything I see.

Oh and I Tag :
http://www.topazhorizon.com/
http://clothesbeforehoes.blogspot.com/
http://blackvanillarose.blogspot.com/
http://chicheroin.blogspot.com/

Poiret - the Picasso of fashion - image heavy post

All images are clickable and the details are worth it!



Perhaps not as successful as Ms Bertin; Paul Poiret is no less significant.

Paul Poiret is credited with releasing women from the curse of the ' s bed corset' of the Edwardian era, advocating a more slender less curvaceous look.

Poiret introduced the Turban


(one of Poiret's original's)

Harem pants




(more original Poiret)

and the kimono coat


(yes again another original - I love that his designs are still around)

to western fashion.

Born in Paris on the 20th April 1879, Poiret was the son of a cloth Merchant.

He was apprenticed to an umbrella maker by his parents “in an effort to rid him of his natural pride” where he began designing clothes using the scraps of silk leftover from the umbrella making as inspiration.

Soon Poiret was selling his designs to prominent dressmakers of the time and eventually he would work for the prestigious 'house of Worth'.
However Poiret's designs were too flamboyant for the clientele of the house or worth and eventually Paul Poiret branched out on his own in 1904.













He made stunning items with a view to please the eye from afar, as such often the workmanship would suffer which would eventually end his career when fashion houses like Chanel opened and begun selling simpler, more well made clothes.
Poiret found himself to be out of fashion.

Now does anyone much read these posts or should I keep the information to a minimum?
I have a lot more information on Paul but I need some feedback please?

Here are some more images of his work !

"there is nothing new except that which has been forgotten"

In that case is Marie-Jeanne Rose Bertin the new black?
NOTE ALL PICS ARE CLICKABLE AND I URGE YOU TO CHECK OUT THE DETAIL!



Born 02/07/1747 Died 17/09/1813.

Many of you will not have heard of her but you would have seen her work in paintings at the very least.

this for example is some of her work:



A true business woman Marie-Jeanne Rose Bertin rose from very humble origins to become no less than Queen Marie Antoinette's personal Milliner and Modiste.
Bertin became a friend to Marie Antoinette almost from the moment the Dauphine arrived in France.

Almost every new dress Marie Antoinette had made from their meeting was concieved and made by Marie-Jeanne Rose Bertin.

Bertin had become apprenticed to a milliner, Mademoiselle Pagelle as a young woman and eventually became her business partner. It was during this time that Bertin had a chance meeting with the princesse de Conti whom she had mistaken for a servant whilst delivering gowns to a client.
The princesse de Conti began talking to Bertin and asked to see the gowns, she was most impressed with the gowns.
A servant came upon the unlikely pair and Bertin discovered that her companion was indeed the princesse de Conti.
Bertin, who after begging forgiveness for her informal manner earlier became a favourite of the princesse de Conti's.

She set up shop soon after, Au Grand Mogol, on the Rue de St. Honoré. The shop was painted yellow with purple accents, and Bertin kept pretty shop girls to help as costumers.

Bertin was almost single handedly responsible for every fashion trend from France in her era.
I could endlessly rattle off details but I know you are all waiting for the threads and here are some glorious examples of her work:







This dress was for Marie Antoinette. The dress dates back to the 1780's satin fabric, silk floral embroidery, ribbon appliqués, spangles and glass stones. Due to its delicate nature, the dress can only be exposed to light for short periods of time. This is the only surviving gown I can find I'm afraid.



hats and hair 'poufs' were also designed by Bertin, including the famous the the "Belle Poule," which was also in the Marie Antoinette movie starring Kirstin Dunst.

The fashion at the time was to create hair and hat arrangements depicting current events. Everything from a husbands infidelity to current gossip was portrayed on the heads of the wealthy ladies of the day.

Bertin was also nicknamed the 'Minister for fashion' by critics of the french monarchy and spent many hours in talks with Marie Antoinette. She became a target for hostility during the early stages of the revolution and eventually moved to London after many of her customers were executed (her gowns were costed at more than 20 times the average annual salary of the time) and the wealthy were prime targets of the revolution.

Marie-Jeanne Rose Bertin is a fascinating historical figure and I urge you all to investigate her if you are interested in either fashion or history.

Here is an article on her from 1913

Burlesque Beauty spot - Olivia Rouge

I am captivated by burlesque and the adorable style of it's stars.



So when I came across an online store filled with Vintage inspired garments and accessories of the glorious burlesque star Olivia Rouge I was very excited.



Olivia is one of Finlands pioneer Burlesque stars and is making quite the splash in the european scene, she has been making clothes since she was 12 years old and is now quite accomplished.

Some of you might remember an earlier post in which I featured some of her brooches that I am mildly obsessed with.

In this post I have included pictures featuring Olivia's designs and only one costume. Although her costumes are AMAZING I don't want you having to wait forever for the page to load so please go to her blog and her website and check out the pictures there - they are amazing!

Well Olivia has agreed to answer some of my questions and so without further ado here is my very first interview post as a blogger:

When did you begin to practice Burlesque and what inspired you to do so?

Olivia -I have been doing burlesque for a bit over a year now and first I started as a pick-up girl in the first Helsinki Burlesque Festival. The first inspire was Dita Von Teese, as it might have been for most of the new performers. Nowadays I have other performers that inspire me.



How do you feel Burlesque is perceived in Finland and do you feel that it is culturally acceptable there?

Olivia - It is still such a new thing in Finland, but spreading so fast. It is becoming very acceptable here, which I am quite amazed, since finnish people aren’t usually the most open ones to new things. But yes there are starting to be a lot of events and also performers.

What inspires your choreography and costumes?

Olivia - For a choreography, mostly it’s the music and most of the time I hear a nice tune and want to use it in my show and then I start to imagine what I could do on stage. The costumes just pop into my head and the other way of getting an idea for a show is through the costume. Sometimes it is quite hard to get people to understand the story behind the costume, but as long as I’m happy with it, I’m satisfied. But for general inspiration, old technicolor movies are propably the number one inspiration.

On average how long does it take to get into costume and make-up for a performance?

Olivia - Umm well the hair thing is the trickiest, usually I put some hot rollers on my head during the morning or before afternoon and then I just hang around in them as long as I have to go to the venue, where the event is being held and then I start to put on some make-up and that usually takes about an hour if I’m lucky enough to have that much time. But sometimes when I have to go to work during morning and then have a show in the evening, I really can’t have the actual rollers in my head, so I roll the hair and then pin it with some bobby pins for the whole day and put a scarf on my head. It works out quite nicely and gives a sort of 50’s rockabilly look. Getting into clothes usually takes about 15 minutes or more so longer than the actual show.

Do you feel that your Burlesque career influences your dressmaking or vice versa?

Olivia - They go hand in hand, I have been working with theatre and such so I love big costumes and so I realised I could make those amazing outifts for myself through burlesque and then if you think of my online shop, I do get some inspiration from burlesque, but I try to keep the main thing with the Olivia Rouge Shop quite traditional, so more people can wear the clothes. But I’m planning on doing a burlesque inspired line as well.



Any funny stories from your performances?

Olivia - Well the first actual burlesque show that I ever did, was in a corporations Sauna event and the person who had booked me, was the only woman and knew what was going on. The rest of the group was guys and they were not getting it so when my show ended there was only few applauses. Oh and I fell on my butt during the show, so not such a nice starting of my career, I could say. But hey here I am stronger than ever!

Do you make all of your own costumes?

Olivia - Most of them yes, one for my Edward Scissorhands show, was made by my dear friend who owns a company called Illusion Costumes. Other than that the costumes are all by me.

photo by Aliisa Piirla

Burlesque dancing puts a focus on a flawless complexion do you have an extensive beauty routine to keep your skin in shape?
Olivia - I seriously am not the flawless performer and to be honest, it really isn’t about being “perfect”. People mostly know Dita as “the” burlesque peformer and it is quite sad, since there is so much more to being a burlesque performer than looking like her. Like me, I have big thigs with lumps on them and I don’t have the tinyest waist, nor the perfect skin. So if you take a look at burlesque performers in a bigger scale, there is only few who are so called “perfect”, but then again, I love being me and wouldn’t change it for anything.

How do you keep your body in shape, is dancing your only form of exercise?
Olivia - Honestly I don’t really do exercise that much other than in my real job by carrying heavy boxes. I’m not saying that people shouldn’t exercise, and I do like to do some astanga yoga or dance but I don’t have the time nowadays. But do your exercise people!

Describe the style of the garments that you produce?

Olivia - Well the garments for sale have a hint of 40’s or 50’s in them and I like to use cotton as the main material since it is very easy to take care of. My inspirations vary very much so next collection is going to be something a whole lot different. The only thing that I think, I’ll always have on my collections are the fifties bell skirts, or whatever they are called in english. But they are pretty and very easy to use and combine.



Who is your style icon?

Olivia - Most of the old hollywood stars, in general I do like people who wear vintage or vintage inspired clothing and have the look of 40’s or 50’s, but I really can’t name one person. Well ok Dita von Teese does have a very nice style, I can’t argue with that, but so does Immodesty Blaize and that is for some celebrities. But then I have to say my dear friend and milliner Fiona Timantti is the number one person to look up to when it comes to being stylish.

What are your top 5 must have wardrobe items?

Olivia
- Seamed stockings, and not tights, but stockings. It is always nice to go to town and think that you are the only person on the streets that know what is underneath your skirt.

- Minna Parikka shoes, who wouldn’t love to have these in their closet?

- Pencil skirt ,gives you an hourglass figure to die for!

- small hats, gives that little “it” to the outfit, and if your hair isn’t at it’s best, just put it in a bun and add a hat, all the eyes are on the hat then.

- lovely lingerie that is the right size! Don’t be afraid of bigger cup size, usually the cup size in a bra is small and the measurement too big. Try a smaller measurement and bigger cup! Oh and put some money on a good bra, you will thank yourself later when your boobs aren’t so saggy.

What advice would you give to anyone who might be interested in becoming a Burlesque performer/ dress maker?

Olivia - Just be yourself, don’t think that you have to be a certain type. Almost everything is possible in burlesque and everyone is welcome so just get up on that stage and do your thing! And don’t let anyone get you down, remember my first show and how am I doing now?

Thank-you so much for your time Olivia and for answering all my questions in English!! All the very best for the London Burlesque Festival.

Monday I have Friday on my mind ....

My Latest Purchase is so very cute and although I have yet to wear it I am in love.
It’s a ‘Bettie Page’ Dress in black and white and I have the most perfect shoes to wear with it but they are in storage and will have to be dug out!

The dress is very similar to the one in my last personal style post but there are some major differences too.

I am falling in love with this style of dress because it's so chic and flattering.

Here is a sneak peek at the dress - I will be posting this beauty very soon.


Photo credit - Bettie Page website

I hope everyone has a great week. xox