Art Meets Jean Patou

By now, you probably know that, in addition to being a vintage clothing fiend, I am an art fanatic. This morning, I was flipping through the pages of a Vogue magazine from 1962, and came across this image. I love it when two of my favorite things mesh so beautifully. In the photo above, taken by Helmut Newton, the model wears an evening gown made from Vogue pattern 1153, designed by Jean Patou and sewn in a gorgeous floral silk.

Love that open back. And the fact that it has a little jacket to match? Perfect for day-to-date in the shorter version.

That wooden structure the model is draped across? It's a sculpture by European artist Martha Pan. It was shown at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris as part of the 1962 exhibit "Antagonismes", which was devoted to objects for the new "art of living". The floating sculpture was designed as a diving board for a lake in the Kröller-Muller Museum's sculpture garden in Otterlo, Netherlands.

I can't find much information in English about Martha Pan, but there are several images of her sculpture if you Google her. Most seems to be for outdoor spaces, including this one in Paris.

The Kröller-Muller sculpture garden underwent renovation in the early 1990's. This Martha Pan sculpture is now the one that floats in the lake. Perhaps the wooden one needed to be replaced? Wouldn't that Patou gown also look great draped on this one?

January 7 - Steal of a Deal

Today's Steal of a Deal is this gorgeous vintage 1950's dress with the most wonderful black satin drape at the back. Original price $125.00. 50% off today only - $62.50.

January 6 - Steal of a Deal

Speaking of coats, today's Steal of a Deal is this late 1930's wool coat with fur collar. It's a small size, so please be sure of the fit. Original price $245.00. 50% off today only - $122.50.

Staying Stylish in Cold Weather

You've thought about what you're wearing today. You've chosen a flattering outfit, added accessories, picked out just the right shoes and handbag. Then you realize you're running late, grab a coat and go. Does that coat complement your outfit or just cover it? Are you choosing accessories that work with your coat, or does the image you're presenting to the world in cold weather look sloppy and thrown together? They say first impressions are everything. Your outerwear is that first impression.

Does the length of your coat flatter what you're wearing underneath? Take a second look and make sure the proportions are balanced and pleasing to the eye. If your skirt hem hangs 1-2" below your coat, it can look awkward and give the impression the coat is too small for you. The same can hold true if there is too much space between the hem of your coat and the top of your boots.

Add a neat scarf at the neckline. Wear a hat if you like. Do your gloves look right? Consider wearing a belt for a change of pace. If you're wearing a dress coat, don't make the mistake of wearing your ski accessories. Those puffy polar fleece mittens just won't work with your wool topper.

Another way to stand out? How about some color? Who says your coat has to be black, navy, or brown? I love the look of this 1949 orange swing coat mixed with a green scarf and yellow gloves. But if that's too over-the-top for you, solid black or brown accessories would work really well.

If you love coats, you can't do better than vintage! We've got a great selection of vintage coats at Couture Allure. Like the orange coat above? Here's one in orange from the late 40's available at our website.

January 5 - Steal of a Deal

Today's deal is this 1950's Tiered Lace Party Dress by Simone de Paris. Original price $135.00. 50% off today only - $67.50.

Amelia Earhart Luggage

After Amelia Earhart made her famous trans-Atlantic flight, she became an American celebrity. Of course with celebrity comes product endorsements. Book publisher and publicist, George Putnam, who was one of the project coordinators for the famous flight, arranged for Earhart to go on a lecture tour, and then promoted her image in multiple product endorsements, including the luggage line.

Earhart was actively involved with the products she endorsed. The luggage that bore her stamp was ensured to meet the demands of air travel. The pieces shown here from 1949 were made of molded plywood covered in colorfast cowhide. Sorry, no wheels attached!

January 4 - Steal of a Deal

Today's Steal of a Deal is this lovely 1940's beaded dress. The dress has some minor damage, so please read the Condition Report. Original price - $65.00. 50% off today only - $32.50.

Links à la Mode: January 4

Please enjoy these links from my colleagues at IFB:

• Capitola Girl Jewelry Blog - A little New Year’s bling…
  
• Consume or Consumed - Gabriel Brothers Shopping: A Retrospective with Tips!
  
• Couture Allure Vintage Fashion - Couture Allure looks at an evening gown produced from a 1954 sketch by Valentino.
  
• Dogmom’s Dish - Review of the Thakoon for Target collection
  
• dramatis personae - Lime Crime Review & Tutorial!
  
• fashion in my eyes - To Russia with Love from Natalia Vodianova
  
• Fashion Ivy - The Best & Worst Dressed For 2008
  
• Fashion Pulse Daily - We gave the latest Norma Kamali for Wal-Mart collection a test run - read on to find out what we thought about it!
  
• Fasshonaburu - Some tips on how to avoid going nuts on all the post-holiday “OMG we didn’t sell enough stock” sales
  
• Hello, Lover… Shoe Daydreams - A thwarted obsession leads to a shoe customization project.
  
• Independent Fashion Bloggers - The 2009 Calendar of Fashion Events
  
• Mademoiselle Robot - Shoes vs trainers
  
• only style remains the same - only style remains the same gets dressed for five different kinds of dates.
  
• SMG - Keep your eyes on a new fresh faced model from Helsinki, Finland
  
• Solo Lisa y Nada Mas - Lisa receives a delightful parcel in the mail a week before Christmas.
  
• Style Discovery - Have you been to Shanghai Tang?
  
• Style Symmetry - Eyeliah wants you to check out Fluffy’s Blog.
  
• Stylistique - JOLIBE: New American Based Designer Crush
  
• Summershoes - Preparations for the last night of the year, grooming yourself to be extra fabulous!
  
• Technology Starlet - When Robot USB Memory Storage Behaves Badly
  
• THE COVETED - They might be resolutions…
  
• the musings of ondo lady - Ever wondered why Kate Moss is such a genius when it comes to fashion?

January 3 - Steal of a Deal

Today's deal is this gorgeous Vintage 40's Herringbone Skirt Suit. Original price - $145.00. 50% off today only - $72.50.

Weekend Eye Candy - Bill Blass Cocktail Dress

More Bill Blass. This cocktail dress from the late 1980's - early 90's is fashioned of metallic gold embroidery on lace layered over black silk.

January 2 - Steal of a Deal

Today's Steal of a Deal is this incredible 1960's Emerald Sequined Evening Gown. Original price - $165.00. 50% off today only - $82.50.

Saying Goodbye to the Bill Blass Label

NexCen, owner of Bill Blass, Ltd, has decided to close the business and shut the label down after failure to sell the company. It's a sad end to one of the most famous of American design houses.

Bill Blass was born in 1922 in Fort Wayne, IN. He began sketching fashion ideas at a young age, and at 19, left Indiana for New York. After service in the Army, Blass worked for Anne Klein and then at Anna Miller, where he became the head designer. When Miller retired in 1959, Blass remained with the business as it merged with her brother's company, Maurice Rentner. By 1960, the name Bill Blass was on the Rentner labels. In 1970, Blass bought Rentner's company and renamed it Bill Blass, Ltd.

Early 60's

Well known for his suits and evening wear, Blass prefered to work with natural fibers: silk, wool, linen, and cotton. He loved bold patterns and bright colors.

1966

Following his farewell collection in September 1999, Blass sold his company due to his continuing fight with throat cancer. He died in 2002.

1978

Bill Blass, Ltd. limped along for nearly 10 years with two owners and several designers, but sales plummeted and the line never again had Mr. Blass's caché. It is a sad end to a great American design house.

January 1 - Steal of a Deal

Welcome to the Couture Allure Steal of a Deal January Sale! Today's deal is this 1950's Pink Faille & Black Velvet Full Skirted Dress. Original price - $135.00. 50% off today only - $67.50.

1942 - How Ovaltine Can Improve Your Life

I was leafing through one of my magazines from 1942 yesterday, and found this funny soap opera type ad for Ovaltine. Poor "Plain Jane" who is exhausted and rundown, can improve her life by drinking malted barley, sugar, and chocolate three times a day. Yep, that sugar high will keep you going gals! AND it will make your love life sooooo much better. Happy New Year!