Final Project 2011...

Well, I'm finished with all my projects for the year so I figured I should probably start to put it up on here for people to see. This was our final project for school based on Madame Grés and Animals, the project was sponsored by an Italian jersey company. My concept was about the abstraction of spider webs. Difficult to explain, plus I'm pretty sure I just made half of it up. 

Navy Blue ribbed jersey jacket. It has three pleats in the front that drape around to the back, and two that extend up around the shoulders to connect the whole piece. D-ring and twill tape closure on the front. 

Black asymmetrical jersey tank top with a drawstring hem in the back. 

Black jersey drawstring shorts with exposed pockets. 

For the runway show I wore the outfit with these shoes by the Italian ballet footwear company Anniel. I saw them at the Bon Marché and Printemps a few months ago and fell in love. I knew they were just perfect for this outfit so I had to get them. They are in buttery soft suede and it feels like you are not wearing anything. I need to find a place in Minnesota that sells these, because I know I will be wanting them in every color. 

The Gardens...

Monet's famous gardens in Giverny. I would love to see it throughout the year as it changes. 

Lurking up on bugs, I was doing it all day. 

Why leave?

Could there be a better place to read? Actually yes, a bit to many tourists around for my leisurely reading. I saved my book for the banks of the Seine. 

That famous bridge. 

Love Bugs.

One day I want an all black garden. 

Vernonnet In Color...

Specifically that distinctive warm glow that the French sun gives off. It's the most striking thing about going to the countryside. 

Vernonnet In B&W...

Flip Flops...

It doesn't take long to know that I am basically a collector of Havaianas. I swear by them as the most comfortable and long lasting flip flops my summer time feet have ever known. Their new collaboration with the CFDA award winning New York based designer Michael Bastian is bound to be making an appearance in my collection this summer (The black leopard ones have my name all over them). At $40 a pop on their website it's as Michael said "by far the cheapest item I have ever made", and the same price as most of their Limited Edition footwear. Sounds like a steal of a deal to me. 

Leica Lovin'...

A few of my friends here have Leica cameras, and another one just got herself a D-Lux5. If I've ever seen a perfect camera it is this one. I want one, need one, gotta get one. 

Madame Grès...

This morning the fashion department went to the brand new Madame Grès exhibition going on at the Musée Bordelle. We are using her work as partial inspiration (along with animals, and independence) for the end of the year runway show on May 18th. Her work is absolutely amazing, and worthy to be in the ranks of the greatest couturiers ever. It was a real treat to see the work in person, and amazingly you could practically get right up in the garments. 

A dramatic arm.

She does seduction so well without being vulgar. It is the slivers of skin that peak out that I love about her work. 

Like I said, you could practically get into the clothes. It is so important I think for fashion exhibitions to be able to get close to the garments. Especially someone like Madame Grès. 

I don't even want to think how many hours went into each one of these gowns. Each tuck pleat is hand stiched down, and every dress in all these photographs is made entirely of tuck pleats. Decades of ignoring trends and focusing on making tuck pleated gowns in silk jersey make her work so timeless. You would never guess that these dresses were made anywhere from the 1930's to the 1980's.

My favorite detail shot, this one is the neck line. The top of this dress was so clean and simple, and all the tuck pleats were at the bottom. 

You can see why her work is one of fashions great mysteries. Not only are the pleats incredibly difficult to replicate and understand, but quite often the dresses are only made of one or two pieces of fabric. 

The setting, at the Musée Bordelle, made a wonderful backdrop to the gowns. Only a few were behind glass like this, in rooms like this studio where the temperature and humidity were hard to regulate. 

My favorite, and one of her most iconic dresses. This is really the best example of how her work can be so seductive. The dress is floor length, with 3/4 sleeves, and a turtle neck high neckline. But very low on the back, almost hidden by the draping, is a small piece of exposed skin.