All Hallow's Eve

Yes I do have just one blue eye. (No Bowie costume would be complete without it). 

Note for next year: Platforms? Fine. Leotards? No problem. Contact lenses? Never again.
"Making love with his ego, Ziggy sucked up into his mii-ind."

Dorian Gray

A step away from my usual fashion & retail posts but I just cannot wait to see this film. Desire? Period costume? 2 gorgeous leading males? Enough said?

Brave Blair.

Not to turn this into a celebrity gossip magazine with "circles of shame", but what the hell is Leighton Meester wearing at the 'Model as Muse' Costume Institute Gala (see previous post)?? The Gossip Girl is usually immaculately dressed.

Louis Vuitton clad is all very well and good but there is such a thing as overkill. The contrasting prints, statement shoes and big shoulders are all very big trends for this season on their own but together and partnered with bold make-up & hair... boy oh boy. 

It's Show Time!

I have been extremely bad at posting recently due, in large part, to my participation in a musical theatre production of 'The King and I'. Here's a couple of pictures of me and the girls in our costumes.   

The King of Siam has his women dress in crinoline dresses for the visiting English. It was so much fun wearing a wire ringed skirt underneath these beautifully decorated dresses and I would wear it every day if I could! I'm the one in the middle.

King Simon and his slaves - I am the slave on the left and yes these masks were a nightmare. Particularly since we were doing very energetic dancing and couldn't see, hear or breathe. 

Photographer Eugenio Recuenco

I recently came across the work of the Spanish fashion photographer Eugenio Recuenco and I loved it immediately. Some of his work bares a striking similarity in style to that of Tim Walker (see the post I did before on Tim Walker photography) in that he uses lavish sets to create a fairytale image. 

I also discovered that he was the creative mind behind the beautiful Nina Ricci perfume adverts (starring the now, sadly deceased model Ruslana Korshunova). You can also watch the making of this film on his official website.

However there seems to be a darker, more mysterious side to a lot of Recuenco's work which is not present in Walker's work. This eerie element gives his work an edge making it perfect for the world of fashion photography and his work is often featured in editorials for Vogue amongst others. 

Expect to see Marchesa on the Red Carpet.

Since it has now reached red carpet season I wonder what splendors the designers and stars have in store for us. I expect to see quite a few Marchesa gowns cropping up. The brand has established a loyal following in the 4 years since it started:

I recently went bridal dress shopping with my elder sister who is getting married and we looked at some gorgeous dresses. In the future I dream of walking down the aisle in a Marchesa creation (can't you just imagine their dresses in white?). Here are some (there are just so many) of their gorgeous red carpet gowns. You can really see the influence of costume design in some of them. 

'The King and I' Costumes

I have recently joined a local Operatic society with 2 of my friends because I love to sing and be involved in productions. We will be professionally performing 'The King and I' in March. I have taken some screenshots from the movie. This is a gorgeous scene where the King of Siam's slaves put on a show for the visiting British.


On Thursday we were all measured up so that we could have our costumes made to fit. I am extremely excited about this. Most of the time we will be dressed in Siamese traditional dress with gorgeous exotic colours and detailing. But there is also a scene where myself and others have to dress in mid 19th century Western dress. I love that the Siamese women in the film initially think that Western women's bodies are shaped the way their crinoline dresses suggested.

I watched the film the other day and I really hope the costumes are similar to these. I can't wait to wear a crinoline dress like this! I'm also hoping there might be some way of me being able to get involved in the costume making process but we shall see.