Tuesday 28 August 2012

Raf Simons, feel the love.


Ever since Raf Simons showed his debut collection for Dior at Couture Fashion Week, there has been a bit of Simons love fest going on - and with good reason. As the fashion world eagerly awaits the ex-Jil Sander designers first ready to wear collection, celebrities have been keeping Dior on the red carpet radar over the past few months. The collections first outing came courtesy of the actress, Marion Cotillard (what a lucky lucky lady), with Jessica Biel and Rachel Weisz following suit. Kirsten Dunst -who is currently promoting her latest film, the Bachelorette - also jumped on the bandwagon last night, wearing a stunning black strapless gown, reminiscent of vintage 50s Dior. Personally, Kirsten's look has been my favourite of all (I will have a photograph to post up shortly). Who gets your vote?





Sunday 26 August 2012

Hollywood Costume at the V&A



"Costume designers are storytellers, historians, social commentators and anthropologists. Movies are about people, and costume design plays a pivotal role in bringing these people to life." 
                                                                                                Deborah Nadoolman Landis

Amen. This is the opener of curator, Deborah Nadoolman Landis' intro to the V&A's highly anticipated Hollywood Costume exhibition, which opens on October 20th. The exhibition will explore and celebrate those extraordinary visionaries whose masterful creations make characters come to life. From Adrian's gingham creation for Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale in the Wizard of Oz, to Jacqueline Durran's silk green gown for Kiera Knightley in Atonement - it's impossible to capture the essence of a character without the Costume Designer. The amazing Edith Head cracked it in a nutshell when she said, What a costume designer does is a cross between magic and camouflage.” 

The exhibition will be split into 3 parts; Deconstruction, Dialogue and Finale, which will include case studies, examples and film clips, which will no doubt amaze and inspire its visitors. As a bit of a film buff, I cannot wait to visit, and see up close costumes designed by the greats. I imagine I will spend all of half hour most likely staring Hubert de Givenchy's Holly Golightly dress, worn by the delectable Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's (best film ever, obviously). 

Hollywood Costume at the V&A museum, 20th October 2012 - 27th January 2013