Inspiration Comes from Anywhere

In the March 2006 issue of Bazaar, there is an interview with designer Marc Jacobs on the occasion of the opening of the latest Louis Vuitton store in Hong Kong. Marc speaks about design inspiration when he states, "Everything I see and do gets digested and comes out (in my designs) someway, somehow." Designers have a distinct way of looking at the world around them and translating what they see into something new and beautiful.

Take beadweaver and designer Susan Mandel as an example. Sue just bought this lovely Victorian era reticule from me. Sue states, "I find a lot of inspiration for my beadwork from past styles and designs - some designs are timeless."

We can't wait to see how Sue translates this Victorian design into something that works for today! Take a look at Sue's Beadweaver Blog. Or, if you're feeling inspired, purchase her beadweaving patterns.

Just Tip me Over!

We've talked before about how a designer sometimes uses the design of the fabric for inspiration. Such is the case with this sweet late 1950's dress. The fabric is a cotton pique with a large scale black and white plaid. Line drawn daisies fill the white squares of the plaid.

But the designer of this dress decided to make things more interesting by cutting the pattern on the crosswise grain, thereby tipping the daisies on their sides! What a great idea to add a bit of whimsey and visual interest to a simple summer sundress!

See this dress and more at Couture Allure Vintage Fashion .

Mom Said "No!"

I must admit that I am old enough to have been able to wear this jumpsuit during the Disco era 1970's. But there is no way my mother would have let me out of the house in this ultra-sexy jumpsuit by Mr. Boots.

The designer plays a trick by making the back of the jumpsuit look especially demure and plain. But turn around, and you'll have all the guys panting! The bare midriff is accented with criss-cross corset lacing that holds the front upper bodice in place over the breasts.

See this jumpsuit and more at Couture Allure Vintage Fashion .

Details Make the Difference

Details can make such a difference! This cute red, white, and blue stripe dress dates to the early 1940's. This is not a "designer" garment. It is an everyday dress that was probably purchased at a small town dress shop. But, even though it wasn't an expensive dress, take a look at the attention to detail in the construction.

The patch pockets are made from 3 separate pieces for visual interest by varying the direction of the stripes. The red, white, and blue circles of the buttons complement the stripes.

Also notice the attention given in matching the stripes at the center front and back seams of the skirt. If you sew, you know this is not easy to do. The pattern pieces must be cut and then sewn with great care to get the match exactly right. This type of matching is only found in the most expensive garments today, but was considered the norm back in the 40's!

See this dress and more at Couture Allure Vintage Fashion .

Letting the Fabric Define the Design

Sometimes the print of the fabric will dictate the design of the garment. Such is the case with this simple sheath dress by Krizia. This dress was designed in the 1980's and the straight silhouette with the boat neckline and kimono sleeves serves to set off the splashy print of the cotton fabric.

The clean straight lines of the dress with minimal seaming allows the textile to become the main focus here.

See this dress and more at Couture Allure Vintage Fashion .

Every Girl Deserves One

You can't call yourself a vintage girl until you have at least one alligator purse in your closet! There's nothing like the luxurious look of alligator, crocodile, or snakeskin to glam up your look.

And if you don't care for genuine skins, there are great vintage finds in embossed leather and vinyl to suit your taste.

See these purses and more at Couture Allure Vintage Fashion .

Pauline Trigere - Innovative American Designer

Pauline Trigere was one of America's finest and most important designers. She started her own line in 1942 and continued to design into the late 1980's. During that time she won the Coty American Fashion Critics Award four times, and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 1959. In 1993, Trigère received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

Trigere was known for her crisp, tailored cuts and innovative ideas, particularly with outerwear and this coat is a fine example. Dating to about 1963-64, this coat is fashioned from a heavy black wool accented with horizontal lines of red wool stitching.

This coat is from the high end Pauline Trigere designer label, not the mid-range licensed line. The coat is very sculptural in its design and the wool is backed with stiff interfacing to hold the lines of the design.

What makes this coat so innovative is the use of small tucks at the back of the shoulders which flare out to the hem and make the back look like a cape.

The button and loop closure is completely hidden behind an extended front closure that snaps at the neckline.

See this coat and more at Couture Allure Vintage Fashion .