Farewell L'Wren

So much has been flying around in the media about the tragic passing of Fashion Designer L'Wren Scott. Everyone cannot stop talking about her famous boyfriend and now tragic death but I want to focus on her creative contribution to our world. 

Her biggest accomplishment, obviously was the lives she touched as a friend, sister, daughter and creative spirit. Also the impact she had on fashion. She produced 14 collections starting in S/S 2008. She seemed like an inspired designer who produced looks that were tailored, sleek and feminine.

She got her start in the fashion industry as a statuesque 6'3" model who was discovered by legendary photographer Bruce Weber. Those 42" inch legs worked the runways of Paris in her early modelling career for Theirry Mugler, CHANEL and others. Her foothold in the industry was firm as she transitioned into her role as Stylist and then Costume Designer ("Diabolique", "Mercy", "Oceans Thirteen", "Shine A Light" - Rolling Stones Documentary). Spring/Summer of 2008 saw her first collection "Dragonfly Blues" walk the runway. She has a large celebrity clientele and list of friends who loved her and her designs.

I followed her on all social media outlets and enjoyed her Instagram posts as she shared her global inspirations. The last I  can recall seeing was her trip to India; the fabrics, architecture and immersing herself in the culture. She also shared many Vintage images on Instagram with the title/hashtag 'Inspiration'.

I have been a fan of her aesthetic since her first started her career as a designer. I featured the dress Sarah Jessica Parker wore from her "Yorkshire Pudding" Collection from S/S 2013 in a past blog.

L'wren was also personally VERY stylish. Great personal style is not necessarily synonymous with being a designer or stylist for others but L'wren was in a word, CHIC.

I loved seeing her on the red carpet in many of her own designs. I read somewhere that she started designing because she could never find clothing that was 'fitted properly'.  I have enjoyed reading all of the messages and tributes to L'wren about how much she meant to them and what kind of designer she was. I would like to contribute to those tributes as she was MUCH MORE than "Mick Jaggers Girlfriend"

Farewell L'wren. Thank you for your contribution to the world of fashion and making our world a more beautiful place.

Sole Sister Sunday: Shinnovation by Kobi Levi

I am loving this weekly shoe feature which feeds my personal obsession with all things footwear.  The best part for me is the collection of knowledge and having the ability to pass it on.  In my travels I came across a real Shinnovator (Nope not a real word but means: Shoe Innovator) in designer Kobi Levi of Tel Aviv Isreal.

The designs are creative and quirky statement pieces that are "Shoe Surrealism".  From coffee pots to cartoons, art can imitate life on your feet for a price, a hefty price. He translates his inspiration literally in his shoes.

His nod to Madonna's Blond Ambition

An Ode to Olive Oyl

Animals

 SWAN

 TOUCAN

 SHARK

MIAO

Objects/People

Sling Shot Sandal (2009/2010)

BLOW

Mother Daughter

BANANA

COFFEE

His Unique boots were worn by Lady Ga Ga in the "Born This Way" Video

My FAV's

CONTEMP. CHINESE

Which designs are your FAV?  Are you bold enough to wear Kobi's Shoe Art?

Connect with him on Facebook & His Blog

Embrace the LACE

Vintage Balenciaga Lace Hat

I Love LACE! It is a style element that can reflect two sides of the fashion coin; it can make a look soft and feminine or give it Edge and Rock'n'Roll. Lace is all over the place, but has a very Rich history. The concept originated with the Pharaohs using flax cloth decorated with colored threads working them into their own geometric designs.

Balenciaga 1950's lace dress

The site ERAS OF ELEGANCE gives a fabulous and concise history of lace, how it was created and used in FASHION! "The ancient Greeks and Romans also ornamented their togas with colors or gold. A new garment needed no ornament about the immediate edge, but as it became worn and frayed, the threads had to be twisted and stitched together. Lace was derived from the twisting techniques used in decoration of the fringe ends of woven fabric.

True lace was not made until the late 15th and early 16th centuries. In Flanders, lace is called "kant", meaning border or edge. The birthplaces of lacemaking are generally recognized as Flanders and Italy. A true lace is created when a thread is looped, twisted or braided to others threads independently from a backing fabric. Originally linen, silk, gold, or silver threads were used. Now lace is often made with cotton thread. Manufactured lace may be made of synthetic fiber. A few modern artists makes lace with a fine copper or silver wire instead of thread.

For firm evidence of the origins of lace, written history indicates that Charles V decreed that lace making was to be taught in the schools and convents of the Belgian provinces. During this period of renaissance and enlightenment, the making of lace was firmly based within the domain of fashion. To be precise, it was designed to replace embroidery in a manner that could with ease transform dresses to follow different styles of fashion. Unlike embroidery, lace could be unsewn from one material to be replaced on another. Lace became fashionable on collars and cuffs for both sexes. Trade reached a peak in the 18th century.

Additionally, the vogue for lace also is recorded in pattern books as early as 1540. Early reticella designs usually included pointed or scalloped edges. By the time of Charles I, lace was used extravagantly for both costume and interior decorating; by 1643, lace making had become an established industry. In France patterns became increasingly more detailed and delicate; the light, flowery point de France was used for every conceivable decorative purpose. Later the laces of Alencon, Argentan, and Valencienne exemplified French style and design. The making of bobbin, pillow, or bone lace, which is mentioned as early as 1495, passed from Italy to Flanders, reaching its height of production there in the 18th century.

Machine-made lace first appeared circa 1760, and by 1813, a bobbinet machine was perfected. After 1832, cotton thread somewhat replaced linen. In the 20th century, many lace patterns have been revived and modified, and called Cluny lace. The chief modern centers of lace making are France, Belgium, England, Ireland, and Italy."

Lace looks have spanned all era's Madonna has ALWAYS been a LACEY LASS!

Lace is still relevant on the red carpet and runways today. Black is the basic and most classic but colored lace has made a chic comeback.


There are too many "Types" of lace to list so if you are interested you can explore via the LACE FAIRY IDENTIFICATION PAGE

Get LACED From your FACE
Carol Alt - 80's lace veil

to your FEET
DIOR


Can you EMBRACE the LACE? SHOP EVOLUTION VINTAGE


Want to go BOHO? Check out this Vintage 70's beauty from 4BirdsVintage
"Lace - the invention of a goddess and the occupation of a queen" - Vincio

Persnikety Vintage has the BLUES