Evolution Revolution: Versace

Showing posts with label Versace. Show all posts

Thursday, April 2, 2015

A Look At Lucite

This material has a wide rang of applications from furniture, jewelry, handbags, windshields and more. I love Lucite in shoe form, not the exotic dancer variety but those that saw widespread popularity in the 1950's.

Lucite was commercially available by 1937, and the material was soon being used in various designs. It's primary function during WWII was for military use but post war it was widely licensed to many products, including shoes.

Marilyn Monroe made the Lucite platform famous long before your neighborhood exotic dancer did. She took lounging to a whole other level.

With costume designer William Travillia on board she wore her Lucite heels in the film, "How To Marry A Millionaire" (1953)

In recent years high end fashion designers have resurrected the material in the form on heels and platforms. Prada, CHANEL, Stuart Weitzman in season past.

For 2015 DIOR, Christian Siriano, and Versace are a few of the names bringing back the look of Lucite. I sent someone a message last August saying how fabulous it would be to re-create the Marilyn shoe with a current twist. The 2015 runway's are a step in the right direction.

Siriano

Versace

Lucite & Latex at DIOR

Why Lucite?

To me they are feminine and reminiscent of Cinderella's "glass slipper", in this case plexi-glass. Many of the vintage Lucite heels are embellished with stones, engraved with feminine, whimsical designs and are like another piece of jewelry.

When Lucite is done right it can be magic!

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Never Forgotten: Gianni Versace

Seventeen years ago today fashions brightest light was brutally extinguished. It was because of Gianni Versace that I fell into my life long love affair with Fashion. What remains is an amazing legacy of bold, unique, designs and a giant gaping hole in the industry. He will always remain an inspiration to me.

I still remember where I was when I got the news. I didn't want to believe it and I still don't. Seventeen years later I look back at the child I was, so enamoured with this man's vision for women and liberating them through garments that were way ahead of their time. Garments that the house of Versace continues to make a gallant attempt at emulating but never quite hits the same mark. He was a genius, icon and will always be an muse to me.

I can't help but believing that the style and fashion landscape would be a different place if Gianni were still here. I long for the day's where the supermodels reigned supreme and the celebrities only occupied the front rows at fashion shows, not the magazine covers. He created the supermodel, the spectacle that we now know as fashion shows and presentations with his over the top cast, music, orchestration and front row. From his mother's dress shop in Southern Italy (Reggio di Calabria) he was THE trailblazer to the celebrity, the supermodel, unique textiles and glamour that was so bad it was way too good.

Image: Helmut Newton

Gianni had an attitude in the business I wish more designers and successful people in general would replicate; There is room for everyone. He would give "unknown" creative's (like Brian Atwood, Todd Oldham, etc..) opportunities that they never otherwise would have received. His pursuit was beauty and expression. He never wanted to stop learning, experiencing and growing from all corners of the world and culture.

1990

In the wise words of Mr. Versace, "Beauty will save the world"

And he is still right.

1946-1997

Saturday, June 8, 2013

SATC Fashion: Samantha Jones

June 6th marked the 15th anniversary of the first episode of Sex and the City airing on HBO. The most enrapturing part of the show for me was of course the FASHION! Fashion was the 5th character of the show and films to me.

I want to start this 4 part series with the boldest of them all. Character Samantha Jones portrayed by actress Kim Cattrall.

Samantha's character is a female powerhouse PR executive who is highly sexualized and completely scandalous. I truly love her character and her boldness, thank to Stylist Pat Field is directly reflected in her clothes. Her character was witty, hilarious and FABULOUS!

Kim and Pat Field

We saw this character's style evolve through the series and movies but her 'style' was always sexy, bold, and bright. I love the bright colors, mixes of prints and amazing accessories. She was the ultimate professional by day and party girl by night! The glimpses of just enough skin to be age appropriate is an inspiration to us all that no matter what your age you can still be chic and sexy.