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Glamour Women: Iconic Fashion Models

In anticipation of my upcoming collection "41 Avenue Montaigne"

(arriving December 2010), I have created this video montage.

A tribute to the glamour and timeless elegance of the world's

most alluring Mannequins of the late 1940s and 1950s; for

whom Avenue Montaigne in Paris was their second home.

Chic Fashion for Autumn

Handbags and shoes always make a statement. Here

we showcase ensembles that are perfectly chic for 

Autumn!

Cinema's Fashion Masters

Cinema has always played a relevant role in terms of showcasing

glamour. Thanks to its most alluring female stars and the creative

genius of its most prolific costume designers, Hollywood's Golden

Era had influenced the world of fashion like no other.

Fashion & Style: Theatre de la Mode

At the conclusion of WWII in 1945, Paris was in complete disarray. Because of wartime disruptions, virtually everything was in shortage, including textiles, electricity and the wealthy couture-buying upper class.

Fashion & Handbags - The 1980s

Fashion in the 1980s marked a clear departure from the 1970s; even though it did not start that way. Still, it was destined to become a distinctive decade for many reasons; and fashion certainly was one of them.

Fashion & Handbags - 1970's

The 1970's vibe for fashion was an eclectic mix of diverse styles inspired by looks from all around the world. This decade's fashion sense is often referred to as ethnic because international influences were used to inspire numerous looks.

Fashion & Handbags - The 1960's

The 1960's signified a big departure from the conservative 50's; although this was not quite noticeable during the first years of the decade . . .  this video vividly showcases such a remarkable and revolutionary decade.

Fashion & Handbags - Part 2

The 1950's were characterized by accentuating the hour-glass figure. Accessories such as hats, gloves and handbags began to occupy their proper place in the world of fashion. Beautiful Mannequins graced magazine covers and adverts of the time, bringing their aura to a new level of sophistication.

Handbags make such a statement, don't they? However, back in the 1930's and 1940's, they were just complements to the fashion ensemble.

This is a video I created to show the beauty and elegance in fashion during those glamorous decades - the 30's and 40's -

The presentation of our label for SQUA.RE - London.

Need I say more? Of course, you may recall that
our "FAY DORYS" in luxurious alligator
achieved "It" status in 2008.  Here "she" is 
in very good company!

1940s Glamour Fashion - Hedy Lamarr

One look at this beautiful, intelligent and most glamorous Star

who was amongst the very loyal clients of Callot (Maison Calvet),
and it is easy to understand why I named one of my most

stunning minaudière in her honour:  "LAMARR"
while selecting this Signature shade which  resembles
the colour of her expressive eyes!

Glamour Daze - 1920's Fashion Film

Aside from the fabulous Couture, one can observe that

it is during this time, when handbags slowly but surely

make their transition from mere "complements"  to become "accessories"

thus, taking their rightful place in Fashion as part of the overall ensemble!

1940's fashion - A Vintage Guide to Glamour

What is Glamour? Let's hear its definition circa 1940.

We are in 2010 and if true Glamour seems to be a bit lacking,

then we need to bring it back!

1940's Fashion - A Vintage Guide to Good Posture

It was recently recommended to me to pay visit to a site named

"Glamour Daze" (from Ireland), which I found to be quite nice and very

interesting, particularly these vintage Fashion and Beauty video gems.

I have selected just a few of them to share with you.  Enjoy!

Oui Madame, elles sont les Soeurs Callot

In her brief article published by Suite 101, Lisa Anderson accurately writes about the famous Callot Sisters.  We all know that eventually, the House of Calvet aquired this label, and since Callot are amongst the couture labels showcased at the Met Museum "American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity", I felt that a bit of history about these four very talented Couturieres was in order.   Let's  read on.  Merci !

In 'The Bolter', Frances Osborne describes the Callot Soeurs store as an 'Aladdin's Cave', full of exquisite lingerie, beautiful lace, and ball gowns.

The fashion house of Callot Soeurs was founded in 1895 by four sisters – Marie, Marthe, Regina and Josephine. The sisters came from an artistic family. Their mother was a lace-maker who trained them to do delicate lace work. Their father was an antique-dealer with an eye for design

Callot Soeurs Become Famous

The Callot Soeurs eventually became famous for their rich fabrics, detailed work and innovations. Their innovations included being amongst the first designers to use gold and silver lame and their practice of draping their designs on live models. Their gorgeous ball-gowns and feminine lacy lingerie was much favoured by the famous and wealthy.Their capes were much admired. They were credited with inventing the ‘manteau d’abbe’ in 1920. This was a short cape worn with coats and evening gowns. Their Le Roi de Bacchante was highly praised by The New York Times in their 1916 collection. This was a cape of wine-coloured red silk with metal threads of different colours. The colours and designs of the two sides were different. There was also a cape of heavy grey wool based on those worn by the messengers of official dispatches during the war.

Evening gowns were often made of rich brocade. The sisters often used panniered skirts and pretty floral designs reminiscent of the eighteenth century. They were also influenced by the Orient and Russian clothes. They gave the evening coats in one of their collections Russian names, such as ‘Petrograd’ and ‘Grand Duke Nicholas’.

Marie Gerber, the eldest sister, was called the ‘backbone of the fashion world of Europe ‘.

The End of Callot Soeurs

The dramatic designs of Callot Soeurs became very popular in the 1920s. Actresses and wealthy Americans especially liked their clothes. In 1928 Madame Gerber’s son, Pierre, took over the business.

The sister’s fashion house expanded into perfumes but their expensive designs couldn’t compete with the comfortable new clothes made by such couturiers as Chanel. These were made for modern career women.

The fashion house was absorbed into the house of Calvet in 1928. Now the designs of the sisters are, unfortunately, largely forgotten. However, they are very popular with collectors and very expensive.

VIVE LA MODE !

Such is the title of this week's Luxury Culture newsletter.

Honestly,  Assouline Media are so brilliant!  May I share

with you what VIVE LA MODE is all about?

"Fashion is a form of self-expression that is meant for play.

It shows fragments of one's personality, tempo of thought, and 

variety of experience."

Goes on . . . "English philosopher Francis Bacon once expressed

it well when he wrote Fashion is only the  attempt to realize art in

living forms and social intercourse."

I personally agree. We do express ourselves through fashion

and that is how elements of our personality come out for the

world to see.  We do not need to say a word since what we wear

 at any one particular moment, allows the world to know

how we feel and how we want to be perceived at

that particular time.  

Fashion is ever-evolving, never static. Fashion is art

That is the beauty of it. Those of us who create fashion in all
its dimensions,  sometimes forget that we are artists.
We create wearable art.  Intimate art.

VIVE LA MODE !

Théâtre de la Mode  - 1945

Divine Coco

Having just received Yaffa Assouline's weekly e-mail

(publisher of Luxury Culture, a publication which I adore),

which mentions Douglas Kirkland and his 1962 photos of Madame

Coco, I had to take a look. It is truly wonderful work.

Mr. Kirkland spent two weeks with Coco Chanel in Paris.

He was 27 at the time. Her portraits are intimate ones, and

if one looks closely we may be able to see that she looked

tough at times but vulnerable at others.

My Grand-maman knew Coco. Grand-maman

also knew that one day I would be involved in the world of fashion;
something that became quite evident to her early on.
I was nicknamed Coqui in honour of her friend.

BAF week 2010

Has just started. Buenos Aires Fashion Week, a must visit if you happen

to be in the Paris of South America! Great fashion, avant-garde

designers, superb shows. A truly nice, friendly, stylish but yet relaxed atmosphere.