56 Search Results for: five for friday

Art Deco Weekend roundup

Published by The Dreamstress

Last week I posted the tiniest bit about my wardrobe for Art Deco Weekend 2012, but I didn’t really tell you much about what it was about. Napier holds an annual Art Deco weekend because an earthquake (and resultant fire) on Feb 3 1931 devastated the city, killing 256 people in the greater Hawkes Bay area, and necessitating the rebuilding of the entire downtown business district.  All the rebuilding was done in the Art Deco and Spanish Mission style.  So every year Napier holds a festival to celebrate it’s Art Deco heritage, and commemorate the earthquake. Or so goes the official line.  Sadly, my impression was that the festival was really just an excuse to sell stuff, wear silly clothes with only the barest veneer of historicism, and drink too much.  There were a few tours about architecture, and a 20 minute ceremony about the earthquake, but I found the lack of history and recognition of why the event was held vastly disappointing. Also, the whole event puts a huge emphasis on the 1920s.  The …

Portfolio: 1660s dress for Ninon de l’Enclos

Published by The Dreamstress

The Idea and Inspiration: To make a  a 1660s gown for the celebrated 17th c French beauty, arts patron, and sometimes nun, sometimes courtesan,  Ninon  de l’Enclos. And it had to be out of golden yellow duchesse silk satin. As there are no images of Ninon that were made in her own life, my design is based on a 1670s portrait of  Ã‰lisabeth d’Orleans, with further inspiration from  Bartholomeus van der Helst’s 1660-61 portrait of a couple, the 1660’s Bath dress, and a 1660’s bodice (in yellow duchess satin!) from a German collection. In order to really experience the work of a 17th century seamstress, the ensemble is  entirely handsewn except for the boning channels on the bodice support (sorry, done that once, never doing it again).  As much as possible I have researched and used  17th century stitches and garment construction. Inspiration Gallery Élisabeth d’Orleans, Beaubrun, 1670 Couple, 1660-61, van der Helst Bodice, probably German, 1660s Dress, 1660s, Museum of Fashion     Mary, 1652, van der Helst Fredrick & Louise, van Honhurst, 1650 …