COLOR-BLOCK MATCH

Recently my 15 year old niece found these amazing color-blocked shoes and I told her, that I had done an outfit for her mother in the exact same colors years ago.

She went home, tried the silk-corset and dark blue organza-skirt of her mother on and the outfit fitted her perfectly. So, of course she wore it at my parents anniversary party.

FIFTY YEARS LATER

1962

In this previous post some weeks ago, I promised to show you how the dress for my mother finally turned out.

A simple and flattering cut for her, in a rich lace and silk-charmeuse, that I purchased in Montreal a few years back. She was happy and they had a great time celebrating their Anniversary.

2012

STYLISH SIGHTSEEING

Photo: John Frantsen

A snapshot of a stylish tourist, taken on a sunny day in The Coit Tower, San Francisco, december last year.

MARY´S BOTTOM LINE

-Is a new very interesting documentary on Channel 4 in Britain, hosted by retail guru Mary Portas.

"Britain used to be a manufacturing colossus, renowned for its worldclass clothing industry. But today, most fashion is made cheaply abroad.
In the middle of the worst recession, she believes a window of opportunity has opened to restore some life back to British manufacturing.  Since transport costs and foreign labour costs are rising, Mary Portas wants to reignite the UK clothing industry by starting her own production line to manufacture a key staple in any woman's wardrobe: 100% British made knickers.
Therefore she is heading to Middleton, Greater Manchester, to set up the new production line. Mary wants consumers to understand the value of buying British: skills, UK jobs, pride in our manufactu-ring heritage".

What a great initiative. I really hope she will succeed in her admirable cause. 

 

I think that Denmark as well as Britain have "suffered" more than enough. Because of the growing costs to produce locally is forcing manufactures to move their production east, causing unemployment here.

I hope our politicians have learned that lesson by now, but also have made the manufactures think about their role.
Maybe they need to take a look at this program on Channel 4 and learn about pride and the consequences of their decisions.

Update 2018! This series is now available on Netflix.

THE BAND SHIRTS

-Is a brand new assignment, that I´m quite excited about. It´s a vocal group that needs shirts for their new tour.

After a meeting in Copenhagen last friday with their stylist, I brought home a full bag of clothes, that I have to costumize as their temporarily outfits, until the real shirt-fabric is here.

If possible I will show the result when the shirts are all done.

Basix

ROYAL GALA - A REVIEW

Her Majesty The Queen of Denmark
by Andy Warhol

With much anticipation I finally had a chance to take a look at The Exhibition Royal Gala - Fairytale Haute Couture on the occasion of The Queens 40 years as Sovereign of Denmark .

The Exhibition, that I mentioned in this previous post, was on display at The Chronological Collection of the Danish Kings at Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen.
A selection of dresses from 4 decades were on display. Most of the dresses were made by couturier Jørgen Bender (1938-1999) in cooperation with the Queen herself.
The Queen´s style is her very own, unconventional and bold. She is not afraid of colors and that is quite refreshing.

There was a few dresses from Erik Mortensen (1926-98) of Balmain. The Queen have through the years recieved several dresses as gifts from Jørgen Bender and Erik Mortensen at different occasions.

Verner Enquist, the compagnon of Bender, took over when he died and have made a few dresses too.

Their successor was taylor, Mogens Eriksen, who also did quite a few of her dresses.

Uffe Frank, a danish designer in Milan, Italy, designed the dress for the Queens 60th birthday and the Wedding-dress of Crown-princess Mary.

Recently tailor Birgitte Thaulow have been the one, who has executed the dresses of the Queen. This process was by the way shown with a small display within the exhibition.

As a professional I was excited to have a closer look at the designs and the execution of the dresses.
But, I must admit that I was slightly disappointed about the very traditional display.
Because most of the dresses was only shown from one side, since they were protected behind glass. Except 4 dresses in a montre that you could walk around. Five of the oldest dresses from the 60´es were even placed several meters away from the viewing point.

Some mirrors here and there would have been nice or some of the dresses slowly turning around, would have given the visitors a better experience.
Apart from that I was happy to see this exhibition, that is recommendable if you are into tailoring, fashion history and royalty.

But I will definitely look forward to the other exhibition.

Coralred silk taffeta gown by Jørgen Bender 1994

 Black, bold tulle Ballgown for her 60th birthday, by Uffe Frank

Changing midnight-blue silk taffeta gown for her 50th birthday,by Erik Mortensen/Balmain 1990, altered a few times with added black lace. Photos: Roberto Fortuna

NEW DESIGN-SKETCH

For a while I have thought about posting new design ideas here on my blog. Because to realize and execute an idea takes quite some time. Too long, when I would like to post more often.

Second I had doubts, because I would like to avoid copying. But then again, you don´t get anything back if you don´t share - and nobody does it like I do, anyway.

Most of my ideas is a continuation of previous designs. This particular one is inspired by lines, colours and textures. The rest I will reveal in time, when it´s done.

GOLD ANNIVERSARY

It´s been a while since my last post. But I have been busy with a special project. That is preparations for my parents Golden Anniversary later this month.

My mother asked me to do her dress for the occasion, since she had a hard time finding one. 

 

We agreed on a dark blue silk-charmeuse with a rich lace-top attached, You can see a glimpse of the lace here. I will try to persuade her to pose, to show you how it turns out.