Fashion Designer: Charles James

When I was in fashion school, part of our lessons was learning about ALL of the most iconic and influential fashion designers in fashion history. I've been off my fashion game lately and I've decided to get back on it! I have spent the last several months relearning all of the fashion era's and now it's time I relearned about all the fashion icons. I'll start with Charles James since his exhibit is a at the Met now.

I went last night and saw the exhibit since It was Friday and the museum stays open until about 9pm and I was already planning to attend an event that was being held on the rooftop. The rooftop is awesome,by the way! Great view! 

Anyway, the exhibit is split into two parts in two different areas of the museum. The gowns were all in the special exhibition galleries on the the first floor. While the dresses and other sportswear were in The Costume Institute's Anna Wintour Costume Center on the ground floor. The structure and details of the the clothes were astonishing! I will definately be going back several more times.

Charles James:Beyond Fashion at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC from May 8 -August 14, 2014

*Charles Wilson Brega James (18 July 1906- 23 September 1978) was a British-born fashion designer known as "America's First Couturier.

James looked upon his dresses as works of art, as did many of his customers. Year after year, he reworked original designs, ignoring the sacrosanct schedule of seasons. The components of the precisely constructed designs were interchangeable so that James had a never-ending fund of ideas on which to draw. He is most famous for his sculpted ball gowns made of lavish fabrics and to exacting tailoring standards,^[5] but is also remembered for his capes and coats, often trimmed with fur and embroidery, his spiral zipped dresses and his white satin quilted jackets.
He designed the interior and several pieces of furniture for the Houston home of John and Dominique de Menil.

After returning to New York City from Paris, Arnold Scaasi worked for James for two years.^[7] James retired in 1958. Homer Layne, a graduate student at that time, was "James’ assistant for several years until his death in 1978

I just liked this picture. Popular model from the 40's and 50's, Jean Patchett in a Charles James gown.

No one is allowed to take pictures inside of the exhibit so I had to pull pictures from the web of some of the gowns and garments featured.The four pictures above are from inside the exhibit so you can see a bit of how it's displayed. It's dark and each gown was on it's on separate round stage under a spotlight.

Each gown also had this interesting camera that would scan the dresses and on a screen behind each gown you can read about the gown's details or see how the pattern pieces look and how they all fit together. It was rather interesting. I don't know how many gowns there were, but I looked at ALL of them and I plan to go back and take illustrated notes like I saw one girl doing.

This gown is the first one you will see when you enter the exhibit. 

"Four Leaf Clover" I think this gown was called. 

The pictures below are some of the gowns that are on display. 

 

 This is the other part of the exhibit in Anna Wintour Costume Center of the Costume Institute. Again, you can't take pictures of the exhibit so I had to use pictures found on the net to show some of the things in the exhibit. There were a lot more coats in this exhibit, but my web search showed mostly the gowns. I could look harder, but I figure Charles James is more famous for the gowns anyway, so I won't go out of my way to find more of his sports wear items.Also you can go the the mets website for info and pictures,http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2014/charles-james-beyond-fashion

Charles James on seventh avenues Walk of Fame!

R.I.P. Maya Angelou

I was saddened to hear about the death of Maya Angelou today. I'm not really surprised because when I last saw her on Oprah's Super Soul Sunday, a few months back, she didn't look well or as vibrant as she use to but, the body is temporary, but the soul is eternal. It was her time and she went home.

Born: April 4, 1928, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Died: May 28, 2014, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA

Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size

But when I start to tell them,

They think I'm telling lies.

I say,

It's in the reach of my arms

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.

I say,

It's the fire in my eyes,

And the flash of my teeth,

The swing in my waist,

And the joy in my feet.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Men themselves have wondered

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can't touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them

They say they still can't see.

I say,

It's in the arch of my back,

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Now you understand

Just why my head's not bowed.

I don't shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.

When you see me passing

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It's in the click of my heels,

The bend of my hair,

the palm of my hand,

The need of my care,

'Cause I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

God bless and rest her soul.

Met Gala: Charles James Beyond Fashion

I have resisted doing a fashion recaps of events likes this and the Oscars because so many fashion spots cover it  I doubt that I could add anything to the conversation. Upon some thinking, I  realized that as a fashionista, talking about fashion is what I do and I don't have to go all in depth, but I can add my opinion as a student of fashion. I also need to keep on top of all things fashion as well. I have gotten a bit lazy and some life happenings have interfered, but I can do better in my fashion postings, especially since I have for some reason gotten a renewed passion for fashion.

 I will be going to the Met in the coming weeks to get a really good look at this exhibit. I'm pretty sure there will be a rush after the gala last night, so I will wait until the excitement dies down and the crowds have thinned. I made the mistake of waiting for the last weekend to see Alexander McQueen's Savage Beauty and had to wait in line for hours and only get to spend but a few minutes viewing the exhibit. I learned my lesson!

This is an image of some models in Charles James gowns. I do love a great ballgown every now and then. My favorite gown for this event is noted below! 

If you are in New York, Charles James: Beyond Fashion will be at the Metropolitan Museum of Art from May 8 - August 10 2014.

Sarah Jessica Parker in Oscar de la Renta. She always brings it at this event!

Charlize Theron in Dior Couture. This woman can do no wrong!

 Hailee Steinfeld in a Prabal Gurung 

 Karolina Kurkova in a Marchesa. Love the color, the floral design, the angle of intrest in the bodice, the fullness of the two layers. My favorite! LOVE IT! *sigh* 

Liu Wen in Zac Posen

Janelle Monáe in Tadashi Shoji. I like how she remains true to her style.

Stella Tennant in Burberry

 Karen Elson in a Zac Posen 

Arizona Muse in Ralph & Russo Couture. I love red on the red carpet. 

Karlie Kloss in Oscar de la Renta. I just love the pera gloves. They look leather, if they are what a cool way to give edge to such a formal gown!

Donatella Versace. I'm going to guess she is wearing...Versace!

 Gisele Bündchen in a Balenciaga

Amy Adams in Oscar de la Renta

Taylor Swift in Oscar de la Renta

 Kim Kardashian in a Lanvin. Vast improvement from last year! The gown last year was...*shudder*...I didn't care she was pregnant, there were better gowns for pregnant women as Catherine Zeta Jones and Nathalie Portman have shown as they were pregnant win they won thier Oscars and they looked lovely!

Kate Bosworth in Stella McCartney. That is Rhihanna in the background. 

Reese Witherspoon in Stella McCartney.

Kendall Jenner in Topshop. I think she is the prettiest of the sisters and that is all I will say ;)

Marion Cotillard in Christian Dior Couture. I can explain really why I like this, I just do! Shoes...eh, not so much.

Sarah Silverman in Zac Posen 

Monica Bellucci. I don't which designer gown she is wearing, but I love that it is red on the red carpet! Love the cape as well. Only thing that would make this picture better is if the guy wasn't in it! Whats up with those aweful gloves on his hands?!?!

Ivanka Trump in Oscar de la Renta. Granted this looks like upholstery fabric, but I give it a thumbs up because, I like her!

I got all the picture from Vogue.com.You can see the arrivals and some the hot mess dresses here http://www.vogue.com/vogue-daily/article/met-gala-2014-fashion-live-from-the-red-carpet/#1

Eye Candy

This months eye candy is fast rising male model star,Miles McMillen. I don't much about him except that according to models.com he's 6'2 has green eyes (that look light brown) and he was born June 27 in La Jolla, California. I got to see this cutie up close and person a few seasons back at a Richard Chi show. Yeah, he was cute in person if not skinnier and seemingly not that tall. He looks ethnic to me, but I don't know what his mix is, anyway, enjoy!

I wish models did this more often!