Coco Avant Chanel

Well, I got to see Coco Avant Chanel at 11.50 this morning and have been reignited with inspiration ever since.
My husband has offered a romantic evening of film watching and dinner and I just want to lock myself in my studio and make more dresses! (I won't, because I do that most nights)

The film was beautiful, subtle and had some really stunning scenes. At the beach with Boy Capel was just incredible and there were tears flowing as she made her first little black dress and captured inspiration from the fishermen in striped sweaters.

These scenes of her designing evoked so much emotion, I just wish there had been another hour of her work in the 20's where she really (in my eyes) became the strong, inspiring woman that was Chanel and her beloved work. Maybe there will be another beautifully shot film documenting her life after love?

The final scenes with her later collections as a mature, Solitude Chanel were a perfect finish and took a while for the overwhelming tears to stop. (please note I cry at all good films, sometimes just out of happiness that someone made such an incredible, worthwhile effort)

As a huge Gabrielle Chanel fan, the designer I really first fell in love with from a young age, I adored pouring over any type of books on her, I couldn't afford to even look at a real Chanel piece. Solitaire is one of my favourite books by Claude Baillen and is a wonderful insight into the woman that is Chanel in the last ten years of her life.





Above is my favourite ensemble from the film, a mans suit with the ankles rolled up, a white dinner waistcoat and collarless mans shirt. This look was incredibly sexy on screen and so, so chic. The playful, androgynous image is perfect.

At Last, the Sailor is Here!

Ok, sorry this has taken a while! Here is the long awaited sailor dress......... made in a plum vintage wool crepe found in my store and edged with cotton bindings and ribbons!

I love crepe, everything about it, drapes and fits perfectly every time, that's why I love 1930's dresses so much too!

Have also completed a few more dresses in at last a size 16. They're perfect for curves with tightly fitted bodices and full circle skirts, rockabilly style. The first has an asymmetric sweetheart bodice with a white satin bow at the shoulders and a polka dot full skirt made from another vintage find of fabric.

Really, really enjoying making an individual dress each time. It gets the ideas flowing and makes each one develop organically in it's design. Each dress has to stand up for itself on it's own instead of having other pieces in a collection to back it up.
Anna, a wonderful friend who is creating the dresses has constructed them beautifully with satin bindings inside. She has far more patience than me for sewing!

On another note, cannot wait for Barbara Hulanicki's new Topshop collection. Have a complete obsession with Biba, not just the clothing but the whole brand, the illustrations, the interiors the excitement. Most defiantly want something with the prints and that amazing red print mini dress! Apparently will be distributed to all stores but I'm guessing the Weston Super Mare store may not have the best of the collection. (they always have the slightly mundane pieces to suit Weston's customers!)