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Rate the Dress: 1936 feathers by Charles James

Published by The Dreamstress

Last week you liked Maria Alexandra much better in the conventional fashions of the 1860s than in Russian attire – she scored a 8.5 for her frothy lace confection, much better than the 6.5 of her first rating.  Perhaps it is the genius of Winterhalter compared to the mere skill of Makarov; you certainly comment more positively on Winterhalter’s version of the outfit!

Let’s look at another recognised genius this week, and see if brilliance conquers all, or if even geniuses have bad moments.

Noted fashion designer Charles James began his career in the 1930s, and while his genius didn’t peak until the 1940s and 50s, this 1936 evening gown already demonstrates the masterful draping and sculptural aesthetic that James would become known for.

Evening dress, Charles James, 1936, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Masterful or not, some of James’ more experimental dresses were more challenging than beautiful, and did a better job of showing off James’ ability to manipulate fabric than the charms of the wearer beneath.

What do you think of this evening dress, with its boldly patterned feather fabric, muted colours, and twisted and draped silhouette?  Will it sink in the drapes of fabric, or soar on feathered wings?

Rate the Dress on a scale of 1 to 10.

Better than steampunk

Published by The Dreamstress

Seriously. This is pure awesome.

Better than ‘swords into plowshares’. It’s pistols into pretty!



Could you imagine what you would wear with this tea party?

I’m envisioning a sort of futuristic pastel take on the 1760s. Madame de Pompador with quilted bullet-proof vests.

These pieces of pretty are the work of artist Yvonne Lee Schultz.  What shall we call them?  Porcelain-punk?

Ono kine grindz

Published by The Dreamstress

I don’t talk about it much on the blog, but I’m a huge foodie.  It’s no surprise, my parents grow food (really, really good food), and my sister is a chef.  It’s in the blood.  We’re all foodies.

My trip to Hawaii was kind of one huge food party.  Most of it was healthy stuff from the farm.  But not all of it.

For one thing, there was the malasadas.  Malasadas are Portuguese doughnuts.  And sometimes they come stuffed with haupia, which is coconut pudding.

Mmmmm...malasadas!

And then there were all the desserts my sister (the chef) and I cooked.

Mango kuchen:

Mango kuchen might just be my favourite food in the world, ever.

Nom, nom, nom, nom

Mango kuchens, as beautiful as they are delicious.

And passionfruit cheesecake:

Delicious. It's made with yoghurt instead of cream cheese.

Look at how light and fluffy it is!

There were also slightly healthier things, like passionfruit pancakes:

Just add lilikoi pulp - sooooo yummy!

And poke.  Poke is raw fish.  And raw octopus.  And wonderful.

This is my poke tasting extravaganza:

8 kinds. I'm in heaven. The deliciousness never ends.

There was also the hamburger of wonderfulness, made of local (like 5 miles down the road), organic, grass fed beef, with tomato and avocado from my parents farm, and buns baked by the chef sister.

You have to admit, that is one impressive hamburger.

And then there was the real healthy stuff, like this amazing lunch my Mum and I made:

Who knew that three kinds of salad could look that mouth watering!?!

My Mum bakes the bread herself.  It’s got so much depth and flavour:

It's sweet, and nutty, and light but hearty at the same time

And then there are the salads:

Every vegetable in them from the farm. And my parents make the vinegar for the salad dressing.

Potato salad is a great American tradition. Especially if you make it with all sorts of vegetables that most American's would never even consider

And the avocado:

Avocado is a wonder fruit.

Well, are you hungry yet?  If not, I haven’t done my job properly.

I’m going to go stare morosely into my fridge now, wondering why it doesn’t include a freshly baked mango kuchen and some just-picked lettuce and radishes.