York Castle Museum...

 

On Tuesday of this week my college class and I travelled to York, where we visited the Castle Museum.

The museum is famous for its mock-ups of Victoria streets and depictions of everyday life, but also has a collection of beautiful dresses. Our trip was for essential reaserch on the Victorian dressing styles and while many diverse items were displayed I found the section dedicated to mourning most interesting.

This is a mourning dress from the 1800's, very plain in style but beautifully made. 

Owing to the sheer size of this garment, I was amazed the lady who would have originally worn it could have moved around.

Victorians had many superstions surrounding funerals, one of which was that you shouldn't wear anything new to a funeral especially new shoes! Just think today we wouldn't dare turn up in old tatty shoes to a funeral.

One fact I learned in the museum was in the 1800's, magazines were published for the confused mourner. Advice was given to a widow as to what sort of cape to wear and how accessorise their morning outfits. The magazines were not all about style they would also tell you how long you should mourn for and when it was appropriate to start wearing different colours again. 

The museum wasn't all doom and gloom though. In the mock street they had a chemist, a cobbler, and a toy shop but my favorite was the jewellers. They had an amazing assortment of Victorian jewels. 

 

Out of all of the pieces shown, the one that I loved the most, was an outstanding red printed cape, made from silk and trimmed with black ostrich feathers. It was stunning but my photo doesn't do it justice

There were many other exhibits and I have many more photos but these are my top picks.
All the items were simple but well made and I'm astounded that while they are about 150 years old, they still look great.
 
I would like to say a big thanks to Kay and Amy for chaperoning us and for a fab day!

Louis Vuitton: My voyages..

Since I was a child I've gone back and forth from my moms to my dads.

Every week I would pack pack a rather less than stylish bag.

I became somewhat like a gypsy, constantly on the move. 

So as the years when on my holdalls changed, getting bigger but not necessarily better. 

When I realised fashion was for every one and not just models I aspired to grander bags.

Bags not only of practicality but of style, and that's when I stumbled across Louis Vuitton.

A bag of style and substance one day I was going to have it.

I talked my self into the thought that it would make the rigmarole of packing twice or three times a week a enjoyable chore. 

The fund was always started at the beginning of the month, you will save up! 

In my head I would say ill save money, honest I will.

Guess what it never happened. I needed the Keepall 60.

After years of dreams my ambitions grew and now I realised other bags would help too.

The Never full GM would be ideal for college and my folders would fit great! 

Ohh and the Speedy fantastic for work more professional than the never full but just as useful.

Once agin I was convinced I needed them too.

The funds never fell in line by trying to save.

But one day I was lucky enough to come in to some money with thanks to my Grandad. 

There i had it, i could get my dream bags...

My grandad, being the tin man! 

My bags, the Keepall 60, the Never full GM and the Speedy 35. Thank you grandad.

It might seem extravagant or a waste but they really have made my voyages back and forth 

less of a chore, now it's something I don't try to get out of. 

 

Marilyn Monroe: Her love affair with fashion.

Iconic, stylish and complicated Marilyn was impeccably dresses at all times.

She could be just relaxing at home or at a awards show and no matter what she looked fantastic.

She was enamoured with Emilio Pucci and she was known to buy multiples of one design in all the colour he made. Her love of his garments went so far as to be buried in her favourite Pucci blouse.

Another one of her preferred designers was William Travilla.

 He made costumes for her in eight of her movies including Gentlemen prefer blondes, How to marry a millionaire and The seven year itch. Possibly the most famous dress he made for Marilyn was 

"The Subway Dress" worn in The seven year itch and was recently sold for $4.6 million. 

My all time favourite of all the gowns she ever wore was so tight she was litarally sewn into it, the gown made her look allmost nude and was covered in approximately 2500 rhinestones.

Of course I'm talking about the 1962 Jean Louis dress she sang happy birthday to JFK in, at maddison square garden in front of 15,000 people. All though when it was sold at Christies in 99' it only brought $1.26 million I believe It to be more of a outstanding piece than "the subway dress".

   

Playing around with ideas

I've been playing with the idea of putting fur back to its skin. 

Not literally but metaphorically. 

I've been designing some dresses that would be shown with slightly grotesque animal heads covering the models faces. 

Each head would correspond to the pelts worn on the gowns.

The models legs would be uncovered by the gown revealing printed leggings or tights. 

The print would be flesh, yes flesh. Flesh, muscles and possibly a bit of bone too.

I know it sounds mad but I think I might be on to something. 

It might even please PETA, but then again I'm not sure if any thing would. 

Let me know what you think, post a comment, let's converse! 

Jewellery: How to style the Little Black Dress....

I love jewellery as it can make or break your perfect look. When styling to show off the clothes try to go minimal, using delicate chains in either silver or gold (pick to match colour pallet) can add a instant luxury edge when done right. 

Some times it can be hard to make a LDB look less bland. 

But work with the style, for instance if your dress is asymmetric go for a large cuff or statement earring on the lesser side of the dress to balance it out. Or for the plain styled LBD, say with a sweetheart neckline you could go for a bib style necklace it will just make your plain dress stand out from the crowd.

Like this one from cartier or......

This more reasonably priced one from H&M. 

Just play around with different looks but try not to over load on style with too much bling.

Jewellery Beautiful Jewellery!

Another great love of mine is jewels, the more colours the better. I recently stumbled across the DIOR CHER collection and I'm in love! 

A jaw dropping pair of earrings from the collection in 18K white gold with diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, demantoid garnets and Paraiba tourmalines.

One of the necklaces in the set is garish but so enamouring, the colours don't really provide a calm pallet but with a black ball gown it would look amazing. The piece comes in18K yellow gold, diamonds, pink sapphires, yellow sapphires, emeralds, demantoid garnets, spessartite garnets, Paraiba tourmalines, purple sapphires and rubies. BEAUTIFUL 

PRADA Floral Fur Coat....

Who wore this better the Anna Wintour or Marc Jacobs?

My current collection of furs.

I believe it is unparalleled for its warmth and durability. 

Fashion: I love it

I've had a strange relationship with fashion.

As far back as I can remember I've drawn sketches but never considered it as a career or some thing I wanted to do until I was twelve or thirteen. I started to look to the likes of McQueen and Westwood and this has given me inspiration for my work. 

I realised fashion didn't have to be so generic, I feel most of my designs reflect this. 

My aim is high quality fashion with a difference.

There is no right or wrong in fashion as long as the garments are cut and finished to the highest of standards. I also feel that it doesn't hurt to stand out from the crowd, we don't all have to dress the same. 

Now, I seek my love of fashion and quality in the likes of Dior, Mulberry and Vuitton as their items stand the test of time. If my name was ever to be mentioned in the same way as these outstanding brands I would be overjoyed because they are the height of perfection when it comes to investment fashion and this is my aim. 

My love of fashion and excellence brings me to fur. 

It amazes me how durable and versatile it is. The looks you can create with pelts are timelessly elegant. One of my favourite ways of using fur is in accessories. You can use it for bags, on boots or even hair pieces because it adds an instant luxury feel to an item even when done in the most subtitle of ways....

....It is also totally practical in the winter seasons. 

                                                                  JAH