Hitchcock

Growing up, I always looked forward to watching a Hitchcock movie when it was on AMC.  While the stories were the best part, Hitchcock's famous "cool blondes" were always fun, in a beautiful, slightly sinister way.  Kim Novak, Grace Kelly, Eva Marie Saint.  Some better actresses than others, but all perfectly in the theme.

Happy Mother's Day!

My mother and grandmother in Pasadena, 1956.  

Wonder Bread

The introduction to LACMA's exhibit begins with a quote by Wallace Stegner: "California's American, only more so."  I think Margit Fellegi's little beach set for Cole featured in the exhibit reflects this perfectly.  Designed for warmweather, with primary polka dots that suggest both innocence and streamlined modernity, the outfit is a celebration of a post-war lifestyle.  Plus, it was mass produced for the lady sick of sewing.

Mid-Century Madness

This week, in honor of LACMA's exhibit California Design, 1930-1965: "Living In a Modern Way", I'm going to focus on Mid-Century fashion and all its glory.

1950's Hybrid

Sometimes when I'm designing, I have so many inspirational images that I adore, but are so incongruous that I don't know what to do with them.  So I end up drawing a pleated, tucked, ruched, satin, plaid, velvet number that looks like one of those hybrid animals I used to make back in the day: Twisty Critters.

I find that when this is the case, the best thing to do is to take a break, come back and then sketch again without looking at my research.  This is what I did for my 1950's dame, successfully inspired by Charles James, Frank Starr, and Balenciaga.