n 5/23/2010 6:44 AM, R Lloyd Mitchell wrote:
I know there is a fashion idea of Cheap chic, but I think this particulaly is
more akin to the bordello or boudoir...even if they show the portential of a
Sport line. The last time around (70's/80's) the theme seemed to be in to the
re-use or reclaimed clothing mode.
Found myself wondering what event these tatty?garments would fit and couldn't
think of one.
They're not intended to be 100% authentic historic for the
conservative--but hey, they're not my creations, so say what you will.
To the designer, if you like. For myself, I just bought three of their
jackets.
I live in San Francisco, where the attitudes are liberal, the climate is
warm, and women aren't obliged to adhere to conservative, middle-aged
stereotypes. I happily go around all day wearing boho, which I've been
loving being able to do for the past few years. I've got ombre tiered
skirts from India (I bought a big lot at $12 apiece off eBay from a Thai
seller two years ago), and I've got all kinds of really interesting
ruched skirts, tunics with irregular edges, 70s gypsy couture stuff I
saved since the 70s, my tablecloth and dyed creations--the lot. I
combine them with my original Victorian and Edwardian clothes--I've
always loved underwear as outerwear, and the 1910s skirts work well just
now. I just bought a couple of oversized Edwardian chemises cheap off
eBay to dye and turn into lagenlook tunics, by ruching and shaping the
edges, because I couldn't face dyeing and cutting up any of the ones I
already have.
There are some really creative labels and designers for the new boho,
much of which is fairly different from the 70s and also, structurally
more complicated. Check out the US designer/manufacturer XCVI (for riffs
on 1880s bustle skirts), Krista Larson (Victorian/Edwardian inspired),
Homefrocks (often also Victorian/Edwardian inspired), La Journee
(Goth-inspired, but I haven't seen a lot of their stuff lately), and
Spirithouse (which has done some interesting things with bustle skirts
and with using surface texture). Cynthia Ashby's designs tend to be too
bulky and blocky for my taste, but I have a few of them that I like.
Then there are the European labels for what they call the "lagenlook"
(German for layered look) in Europe and England. The lagenlook
designers/manufacturers include Completo Lino (linen tunic-dresses),
Privatsachen (I've bought some beautiful Fortuny-like, 1910s-ish pleated
silk dresses from them), Martine Samoun (fluid draped styles), Zuza Bart
(some great knits), Ewa i Walla (much of which is too
little-girls-in-pigtails for my taste, but some interesting riffs on the
18th century), Hebbeding (more conservative than Completo Lino but some
interestingly shaped tunics), Barbara Speer (knits, less expensive than
Zuza Bart). They're doing some fascinating things playing with
structure. Their creations often are for the tall and stout, and since
I'm not, I have to make sure I'm not overwhelmed. I usually wear the
tunics as dresses and cut down on the layers.
Anyway, if you want to see some of them, check out these stores:
http://www.2chicboutique.com
http://www.artfulwears.com
http://www.tcboutique.com (they usually have a good XCVI selection)
That's one of the great things about both boho and my geographic area:
I don't have to wait for a historic event to wear interesting clothes.
And as someone who loves them, I'm not going to sit inside and wear
black for the rest of my life (yes, I know black is chic, I just prefer
fall colors).
Fran
Lavolta Press
www.lavoltapress.com
_______________________________________________
h-costume mailing list
[email protected]
http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
