Arrrgggg

Here is my last installment of photos inspired by LACMA's exhibit, a lobster bikini by Mary Ann DeWeese for Catalina Sportswear.  My apologies for the delay (I've been on background costumer duty). 

This little number is from 1949, and is truly a surreal dream, a la Schiaparelli and the ilk.  I thought she needed an eyepatch; Daryl Hannah in "Kill Bill"anyone?  This was perhaps a bit heavyhanded, and I added some major outlining, but it was awfully fun to do.  Some softer things will follow tomorrow...

The Other (medium)

Immmmaaa back! I was out of commission due to winds (I'm allergic to everything and have the disposition of a pre-Raphaelite woman), but I'm going to continue my posts about LACMA's exhibit this week, because I just find it so darn interesting and I so love my Mid-Century.

In 1940's California, women's fashion began reflecting the growing interest of Mexican design (the state was adjacent to the country, I'll have you know).  Of course, it was romanticized and exoticized, but when put on 1940's dresses the bright stripes were oh-so-fun.  

Scandal!

 Oh Rudi Gernreich, what are we going to do with you? 
His infamous topless bathing suit caused quite a scandal  but I never really thought it was that great of a design, so I didn't fully appreciate him until I went to LACMA's Costume Council talk "That California Look: Mid-Century Fashion Magic With Curator Kaye D. Spilker."  The lovely Ms. Spilker spoke of just how influential he was, and highlighted some of his other brave designs, like this one from 1965.

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.

Setting the tone...

The trick with rendering skin with marker is to not be afraid to lay it on in there.  I usually use my lightest color first to cover a larger area, and then go back in with darker shades to slowly build it up.  With darker skin tones, your lightest color will already be darker than a paler skin, so you just have to not be afraid to go for it.

Now, if my hair could look like the bouffant all of the time, I'd be a happy gal. Of course, I can't say the same about the lips, I think she's had some work done...