The La Sirène or “Lobster” Evening Dress by Charles James, designed in 1956, is a masterful example of his sculptural approach to couture. This evening gown was part of James‘ later work, showcasing his deep understanding of structure, form, and fabric manipulation. The dress was named La Sirène (French for The Mermaid) because of its dramatic, fishtail silhouette, which flares at the bottom, echoing the movement of a mermaid’s tail. Continue reading Eye On Design: Charles James’ La Sirène Gown→
“You find beauty in the ugliest places,” maverick fashion designer Alexander McQueen assured jeweler Shaun Leane. Modern jewelry does not always aim to flatter. Some of the most spectacular examples assert mastery over the female body. This is jewelry on the edge; designed to push the limits of glamour, courting danger and even pain. Continue reading Eye On Design: Bejeweled Armoured Yashmak By Shaun Leane for Alexander McQueen→
Alexander McQueen collaborated with the jeweler Shaun Leane to create this silver Crown of Thorns Headpiece (1996 – 97) formed from three intertwined briars. The piece was featured in McQueen’s Autumn/Winter 1996-97 collection entitled Dante, after the medieval Italian poet whose Divine Comedy portrayed an allegorical vision of the afterlife. Continue reading Eye On Design: Crown of Thorns Headpiece By Alexander McQueen→
There’s only one drawback when The Met allows photography at one of their fashion exhibits, and that is that I have way too many great photos to choose from, and simply cannot distill the show down to a single blog post. So, it’s extremely fortunate — for me, for you — that Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology, which has been up since May, was extended to September 5th, 2016, or I’d once again be scrambling to throw something together a day before the show ends.
