Week 15: Downton Abbey. How to steal Crawley sisters' style?

I was thinking of having a Downton Abbey themed week ever since I first launched Pastiche.today, and today it is finally here with an early Friday start. This brilliant British period drama about the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the post-Edwardian era has captured my heart. The storyline in all 6 seasons of Downton Abbey is great, the acting is phenomenal and, of course, the fashion... Oh, the fashion! The Crawley sisters' outfits are utterly gorgeous, interesting to look at and are quite historically accurate (although my favourite blogging ladies from Frock Flicks write about it in more detail).

Today I am sharing my pastiche of 20s' era daytime attire inspired by the ladies in Downton Abbey and adapted for 2016. I am particularly excited about the cloche hat that my husband bought for me at the Michael Arenella's 11th Annual Jazz Age Lawn Party in June. I wore the hat with this beautiful light print dress by Walter Baker (his designs are always so amazing!), my all-time favourite Louis Vuitton bag and the most comfortable heels of the summer, Slithur shoes by Steve Madden.

The outfit turned out to be very modern and classy, but with a very distinguishable 20s twist. I never thought I would say this, but I think every woman should have at least one cloche hat. I am looking forward to getting a warm wool one for winter as well :)  

The pictures were taken by my friend Julia at the MET museum. I specifically wanted photos for my 20s look to be taken with these insanely beautiful ART DECO stained glass windows exhibited in the museum. We also took photographs on 5th Avenue.

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Week 13: Grace Kelly. Manus X Machina. Fashion in an Age of Technology.

Do you remember the latest MET Gala? The MET Galas are traditionally held to celebrate and support fabulous new exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum. This year’s celebrated exhibit is Manus X Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology. The exhibition explores the marriage between technology and fashion, showcasing astonishing creations by the most famous fashion designers which illustrate the perfect symbiosis of complicated handmade pieces with machine work.

The exhibition is open at the Met Fifth Avenue through August 14, and I strongly recommend you see it. From the moment you step in you will feel a grandness and sacredness of the place, the kind that you experience in lavish medieval cathedrals or mosques.  The circular exhibition space beckons us to look into its numerous alcoves with couture creations which are placed on pedestals like sculptures of Saints. The dimly lit museum wing is haunted by beautiful soul-reaching melodies. Only the fashion artifacts are magically lit, attracting your gaze.

Despite the spellbound crowd with their iPhones glued in hand, the experience is almost mystical and pilgrimatic. Find all hope - You Who Enter Here should be written before the entrance, because Manus x Machina will leave you inspired.

The centerpiece of the exhibition is this exquisite Chanel gown created by Karl Lagerfeld. 

This dress's meters-long train sparkles like a gilded altarpiece.

This dress— made of a synthetic fabric called scuba knit— was hand-molded, machine-sewn, and then hand-finished, with intricate embroidery in pearls and gemstones forming a glittering baroque pattern.

Why have I decided to include this exhibit in my Grace Kelly Week? Because I believe some of these gorgeous pieces could have easily been worn by Grace. 50s silhouettes are definitely my favourite!

If the Devil wears Prada, Demons certainly wear Alexander McQueen.

Fabulous handmade Chanel gown from Fall/Winter 2005 Haute Couture collection.

I call these the hedgehog-dresses.

The famous Yves Saint Laurent dress known as "Sardine" is even more stunning in real life. The photograph cannot reflect how brilliantly the "fish skin effect" was created. It is mesmerising.

I hope you enjoyed the post! Let me know if you would like to see more exhibition reviews or want me to attend and photograph a certain event/show for you.

Week 10: Timeless Essentials. The Life & Style of Jacqueline de Ribes

When I got invited by my friend Julia to see the exhibition dedicated to the personal style of Jacqueline de Ribes at the MET museum, I did not know much about de Ribes. But after marvelling at every single exhibited dress and reading fascinating stories about the beautiful Countess Jacqueline, I was eager to learn more and share with you.

About Jacqueline de Ribes

The Countess Jacqueline de Ribes was born with her title in 1929 and married at the age of 18 to Vicomte Edouard de Ribes, a very rich banker who later became Comte de Ribes. The Countess was everything and more of what you might imagine a French aristocrat to be. She was raised in a lavish chateau with a myriad of servants and the best Parisian dressmakers willing to satisfy her every fashion whim.

By the 50's, the Countess de Ribes earned the title of  "Reigning Queen of Paris" and became the centre of attention at every gala and masquerade ball she attended (and she attended hundreds of them!). Early on, the Countess mastered the art of the grand entrance. She would plan every detail of her appearance thoroughly and was almost always ridiculously late even to the most important events.

LE BAL ORIENTAL

Tiepolo's fresco version for the ballroom in the Palazzo Labia, Venice. 

In 1951, de Ribes made quite an impression at the Venetian Ball du Siecle at the Palazzo Labia. Just so you can understand the extent of how difficult it was to stand out at that 1951 ball, I will give you a little glimpse into that night.

Le Bal Oriental was hosted by Charles de Beistegui. Invitations were sent out 6 months(!) prior to the event to give guests enough time to design their elaborate, over-the-top costumes. The ball's theme  The Banquet of Cleopatra was inspired by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo's famous fresco in the Palazzo Labia that Beistegui, by the way, owned. The guest list included everyone who was anyone. Christian Dior attended the party in a costume designed by Salvador Dalí, and Dalí showed up in a creation by Dior. The majority of guests were dressed in lavish, opulent costumes made from exquisite fabrics and adorned with ridiculously expensive fine jewellery. The ball was the ultimate, exquisite masquerade, that could have rivalled one of Marie Antoinette's own parties.

Daisy Fellowes, with James Caffery as her page, poses in her Christian Dior Queen of Africa costume.

Guests rehearsed their arrivals for days in advance of the ball.

In the middle of that visual feast appeared the young Countess De Ribes, un-fashionably late of course, but dressed in a white dress as seen on an 18th century painting by Pietro Longhi, accompanied by two identically attired women to complete her costume. Since then, her entrances were impatiently awaited.

Last Queen of Paris, Jacqueline, comtesse de Ribes, multiplied herself by commissioning matching costumes for two attendants.

Jacqueline de Ribes would combine the unimaginable: creating looks so memorable people would discuss them for years, re-designed couture pieces and wore extravagant headpieces, doing so with immeasurable grace and confidence. Her father-in-law once described Jacqueline as a cross between a Russian princess and a showgirl from Folies Bergere.

““She would arrive at a fitting in a cabriolet,” recalls Valentino. “A mixture of great Parisian chic and the allure of a diva.””

The Countess photographed by Avedon

The Countess was photographed by the most famous photographers of the time, including Richard Avedon who called her his muse. She was a patron of many designers including Dior, Valentino and Yves Saint Laurent.

With her love of couture fashion, it was only a matter of time before the Countess launched her own fashion line. On her 53rd birthday she informed everyone that she was starting her pret-a-porter clothing line. Her husband, children and friend, Yves Saint Laurent, supported her and the line was a success. Unfortunately, due to health problems,  Jacqueline had to dissolve her fashion house in 1995.

At the age of 86, Jacqueline still turns heads and looks as elegant as ever. The MET exhibition dedicated to her style was a great success and I am happy to share a few photographs from the exhibition with you all. In the future, I would love to re-create some of the Countess de Ribes' iconic looks, but for now enjoy the fashion feast!

““She was a real femme du monde. She had an art de vivre,” says Pierre Bergé. “I think she may be the last to know how to live like that.””

Week 3: Cleopatra. My Egyptian Queen Look

I am very excited to share my modernised version of Cleopatra look with you that was shot at the Metropolitan Museum of Art by my fellow blogger Julia Fashionista. We started the shoot at the famous Sackler Wing (part of the Egyptian part of the MET) with its Temple of Dendur, surrounded by the pool that represents the Nile river.

Almost immediately after we started shooting, I was surrounded by tourists asking to take photographs with me. There were big families, couples, students, kids. All of different nationalities and all wanted to take a picture with "Cleopatra" and not with ancient priceless treasures of history around them. I felt bad refusing them as everyone was so nice and friendly, so I posed and posed for 20 minutes until... we were asked by the MET representative to be anywhere, BUT the Egyptian room as we cause distraction! 

Cleopatra sculpture by William Wetmore.

Initially I was upset by the whole incident, but luckily we found another beautiful naturally lit room at the MET and took wonderful images. It is, quite interesting, that the statue I am posing next to is The Libyan Sibyl created by William Wetmore.

I remember posing next to it and thinking how it reminds me of Cleopatra. So imagine my surprise when I during my research on images of Cleopatra in art, I found out that William Wetmore also created almost identical to The Libyan Sibyl, sculpture of Cleopatra! 

Enjoy and let me know what do you think about the look! 

Oufit: Herve Leger dress, Black Wig and bracelet NYC Costume, Ring Kenzo, Heels Christian Louboutin

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