Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Vintage fashion as art

{House of Lanvin, silk & chenille, 1957, London V&A, via}
Hope you had a nice, long (US) holiday weekend! To ease the post-holiday transition, here's some lovely art for you, from 2 favorite museums: London's V&A (Victoria & Albert) and NYC's Met. :)

{Click images to open, click open image to enlarge}
{Givenchy evening gown, silk, 1955, London's V&A, via}
{The gown's sumptuous silk-thread embroidery, via}
Givenchy called this gown Les Muguets (Lilies of the Valley) and it came with long evening gloves. Very Audrey Hepburn, of course.

{Givenchy, ostrich feathers, 1967, London V&A, via}
I sometimes wish people still wore great hats regularly (not just at British weddings, big horse races and such).

{Quant mini-dress, wool & jersey, 1967, London V&A, via}
Without Mary Quant, London in the '60s might not've been so Swingin'. This went with dense tights & a big-brimmed beret or hat (think Twiggy :)).

{McQueen, mille-feuille-like silk organza, 2003, NYC's Met, via}
Couldn't resist non-vintage Alexander McQueen's "Oyster Dress."

{Lanvin evening dress, silk, 1931, NYC's Met, via}
This sweet, soft dress could easily be worn today.

{Lanvin "Roseraie" dress, silk, 1923, NYC's Met, via}
Lanvin painstakingly manipulated ribbon to create every rosette.

{Dior, silk organza & embroidery, 1953, NYC's Met, via}
Dior gone to a garden party -- the pattern is of teeny hand-stitched French knots.
~ Wishing you a great week ahead! ~

P.S. Yes, I have a weakness for Lanvin -- seeing vintage Lanvin up-close is an experience I'd highly recommend to any lover of design, fashion, art or just beautiful craftsmanship!

34 comments:

Signe said...

Wow, that Givenchy Lilies of the Valle dress is incredible. Also love the Dior!

Lisa Gordon said...

Oh, would I love to visit this exhibit!!
These photos are gorgeous!
Have a great day!

Justine said...

these are just so beautiful, you know you can do courses at the V and A on these dresses - one day...

Rosie Grey said...

So beautiful - I'd love to try one on! I couldn't decide which one first, but the Dior is one of my favourites...
:-)

Annie said...

Gorgeous!
Have a wonderful week!!

THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE said...

These are all gorgeous! Thanks for making my morning back to reality more bearable :)

Jude said...

Hi Signe - I love the Givenchy gown also! (Such old-school glamour)

Hi Lisa - thanks so much, hope your loong holiday was great & first official day back is going well!

Hi Justine - oh wow, I didn't know about the courses, how wonderful! Thank you! (I just love the V&A - have visited an embarrassingly high number of times :))

Hi Rosie - I had a hard time deciding too! Well, I definitely have a soft spot for any of the Lanvin's :)

Hi Annie - thanks so much, hope you have a great week too! :)

Hi Alternative Wife - thank you & hope your week also goes smoothly!
(That 1st day is always such a bear :))

Oh, My Darling said...

Wow, all of these pieces are so inspiring!

daily mix LA said...

wow some of those pieces are timeless.

Nicki said...

oh wow! the ball gowns are spectacular! i just watched titanic for the millionth time this weekend. sometimes, i wish I could get all dolled up like rose did (though she didn't really like all the fancy schmancies)!

jeanette from everton terrace said...

I could look at this stuff all day. The Lanvin "Roseraie" dress is my favorite (I think). Thanks for stopping by my blog, it has brought me over to your lovely little place. I'll be back.

Connie @ SogniESorrisi said...

I die over that Givenchy...and that McQueen!!

Unknown said...

it is always good to have a weekness...;))

Unknown said...

It is absolutely amazing to me when fashion couture is absolutely timeless. Any one of those dresses could be worn today, and look fabulous. Just gorgeous!
xo
amanda

Jude said...

Hi Melissa - thanks so much! :)

Hi Daily Mix LA - I totally agree :)

Hi Nicole - yes, something so elegant and timeless about them!

Hi Everton Terrace - thanks so much! Your jewelry piece for Denalee @ Silver Strands was so lovely, I couldn't resist peeking at your Etsy shop & blog. Thank you for stopping by! (The Lanvin Rose dress is also my fave :))

Hi Connie - I love the McQueen too! (Even though I broke the rule & he wasn't vintage :))

Hi If Jane - haha, true true ;) I love that idea!

Hi Amanda - thanks so much! That timeliness is amazing to me too - the reason I love classics of any type! :)

Melissa Blake said...

i literally sat here ofr a whole minute staring at that first lovely dress!!

Jen said...

Lanvin, Givenchy and Dior?? What stunning pieces!! These designs are so timeless!

Lee Oliveira said...

OMG.. Did u go to vintage heaven?
Those pieces are stunning..
The AMcQueen organza dress is to die for

Ps.. Hope u had a fantastic holiday
LOx

Anonymous said...

Beautiful dresses. The detailing is amazing. Hope you had a good weekend.

RD said...

London was really happening in the '60s... Saw Masculin, féminin recently, in which one of the mock/ real interviews has the French girl talking about how young people dress in London and perhaps the trend will catch on in Paris... Quite a post-LD treat... many thanks... bb

Jude said...

Hi Melissa - that's so cute! (I agree classic Givenchy is beautiful :))

Hi Jen - aw, thanks so much! Love the timelessness of these too :)

Hi Lee - hahaa, I feel that way when I'm really in front of these pieces! Fashion can be like magic :) Thanks and hope your wkd was great too!

Hi Ashley - thank you! I've been enjoying the August Break Cont'd posts of yours :)

Hi Bombay Beauty - what a great film to evoke! Now I feel like rewatching it. I do love the way something simple like clothes can evoke and capture a whole era and ethos! Love how you put it :)

Style, She Wrote said...

Beautiful selections. The Philadelphia Museum of Art also has an astounding costume collection. Check it out -- www.philamuseum.org. xo style, she wrote

Stacey said...

I would get a sitter for the day so that i could go to these museums to view these gorgeous, gorgeous, pieces of art(that's what they really are;not dresses:-)). Wow! I especially love the Lanvin "Roseraie." Stunning post! xx

Regan said...

Beautfiul!

Rowena said...

I'm looking at all these gowns and thinking what size of trunk suitcase would be required to travel with them. For sure you could never stuff them in a wheeled Kipling!

K and S said...

beautiful beading!

Jude said...

Hi Style, She Wrote - oh my goodness, I'd *love* to visit the Philly Mus of Art to see! Thanks for the heads-up! :)

Hi Stacey - hahaa, I love that! Totally agree - they are art, not mere dresses :) I think I could spend a whole day staring at these too, starry-eyed (and I also love the Roseraie dress best :))

HI Rowena - heehee, I wonder if they even make those huge travel trunks anymore! (I guess they must, for the jetset crowd, royals, etc) Love the Kipling image :)

Hi Kat - thanks so much, I loved the amazing beading as well! :)

Anonymous said...

Oh my, those wedding gowns are gorgeous!

Emily @ Finding My Aloha said...

WOW! I love the lilies of the valley dress! And that Lanvin silk dress, oh how I wish that was in my closet versus the Met. :)

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! Glad you enjoyed the Dress and a Ditty guest post! If you liked those dresses, just wait for my post! I have stored up some gorgeous dresses!

Jude said...

Hi Cafe Bellini - thanks so much :) - I hope your move has been going smoothly!

Hi Emily - thank you! Haha, I do have a weakness for Lanvin (and lovely vintage dresses) too. I can't wait for your dress post! Thanks so much for dropping by, I'm thrilled I discovered your blog through your guest post :)

Anonymous said...

OH MY GOODNESS. Can I please have ALL of these dresses [?] They are absolutely beautiful!

Punctuation Mark said...

i love when they have this type of exhibits because they show you a different type of art... beautiful!

Jude said...

Hi Sohdalex - Haha, I wouldn't mind having all of these dresses too!

Hi Punctuation Mark - I love that, about the different type of art :) Thanks so much for dropping by!

Michelle said...

I don't think one can ever post too much about the V & A!

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