Sunday, September 30, 2012

What the Art Teacher Wore #36

Every Dress Should Have a Gradation Monday: I mean, holy moly. It's the ultimate waist slimmer! dress: vintage, picked up in Orange, CA; belt: vintage, gift from a friend; key tights: best little tights shop on etsy!; shoes: Ninewest, thrifted
 I hope you all have had a great week. Mine, particularly the weekend, was just wonderful. I made the long drive from Nashville, Tennessee to my hometown of Wabash, Indiana. It's about a 6 hour drive and I'm the World's Worst Car Traveler. After about hour two, my butt goes uncomfortably numb and my eyelids become exceptionally heavy. Thankfully, I had a frightening book on CD to keep me going (I find that the spookier the story, the more awake I stay) and plenty of candy, gum and caffeinated bevies to keep me going.

I rarely make it home but I just had to this weekend. We celebrated a family reunion on Saturday and the fall weather couldn't have been more perfect. That evening, I caught up with some high school buddies for casual class reunion. I also had a chance to catch up some of my favorite friends and stay with my wacky mom. She and I always have too much fun together. 

But enough about me, let's talk about...well...me. And what I wore this week. I'm also throwing into the mix a fabric designer that I can't believe I'm just now discovering: Celia Birtwell. I love her designs...as well as the story of how she and her then husband revolutionized fashion in the last 1960's. I think you'll like her work as well. 

Until next time, have a great week!
Celia Birtwell was a fabric designer with a strong love for Picasso and Matisse. I think you can see that influence in her work. What I think is especially cool is that later, she and her (then) husband Ossie Clark designed clothes for Picasso's daughter Paloma. That must have felt pretty incredible. Images via pinterest.
Celia was the fabric designer and Ossie crafted the clothing. Aside from Paloma, such amazing folks as Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles wore this couples haute couture designs.
That In-Between Time Tuesday: So it's been cool in the mornings, warm in the afternoons, cool in the evenings. I'm not so sure I'm ready to pack up all of my summer duds yet, so I'm doing this in-between thing: sweaters with summer dresses. It's not going to last much longer...but it's allowing me to put off the dreaded Closet Season Change that is sure to happen within the next couple of weeks. You know, packing away all of the summer clothes and getting out all of the fall/winter. It literally takes me a weekend to make the change. sweater: Anthro, thrifted; dress: vintage, thrifted; tights: dunno, Target?; headband: Peachy Tuesday; shoes: Dolls by Nina
To showcase their designs in the late 1960's, Celia and Ossie came up with the first concept of a catwalk fashion show. They created a runway, had music playing and invited as many folks as possible. Their flowy frocks and tops were best showcased by moving models.
Poochie and Paris Explosion Wednesday: Complete outfit details here.
The artist David Hockney was completely smitten with Celia and considered her his muse. Many drawings and paintings of Celia and Ossie were created by Hockney.
Pencil drawing of Celia by David Hockney.
Flower Power Thursday: I scooped up this Very Brady dress on my trip to St. Louis. I wish I had the pattern for this dress, I love the design. Maybe one day I'll be able to figure out how to create a pattern from a dress...any of you sewing geniuses know how to do that? dress: vintage; shoes: Indigo by Clarks
Ossie and Celia in the late 1960's.
Painting of the couple by David Hockney.
Headin' Home Friday: After school, I hopped in the car and made that trek home. It made for a long day but it was totally worth it. sweater, dress: vintage; belt: gift from a friend; boots: old, Seychelles
Celia and Ossie are no longer together. After their divorce, Celia dropped out of the fashion scene for many years. She's back now. And I highly recommend you check out her designs here, they are simply amazing. Love the fabric, love the flowy romantic designs.
And I love her sketches. These especially remind me of early Betsy Johnson sketches. Another of my fave designers.














8 comments:

  1. Those sketches are fabulous, your whole post is a whole lotta fabulous I must say! Your key printed tights and amazing gradation dress are perfect for each other and well.... I just really love every photo I'm seeing here.

    As for the road trip, you're funny! Although I do know someone who doesn't do a lot of car travel for anything requiring more than an hour and I'm talking Canada, where we have lots and lots of space.....

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    1. I know, I love her work, don't you? As for the key tights, thank you. They are one of my faves.

      Oh yeah, Canada? Driving around there, you'd be in the car for days, not hours! I just can't do it. I made my 6 hour drive in to a 7 hour one because I stopped so stinkin' much. It's the worst when you are goin' it alone :)

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  2. I also love the key tights and graded dress. Was it that way when you got it, or did you dye the gradation yourself?

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    1. Thanks, Phyl! The dress was that way when I bought it...I'm sure there's a way it could be done...maybe I'll give it a try on one of my already-stained-or-ruined-somehow dresses. I see a DIY in my future :)

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  3. Anonymous10/01/2012

    Whoa! I adore your gold ombre dress - fantastic!!!

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  4. Anonymous10/04/2012

    Regarding wacky....it takes one to know (create?) one! ;-p

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  5. Anonymous10/04/2012

    Was it your intention to somewhat match the photo of the sculpture hanging on the wall in the background of the first photo or was that just a coincidence? : )

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  6. I noticed that after the fact! I think I just got lucky :)

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