my favorite fashion mag + period drama that i never watch

The two British period dramas that I wish I had time to watch - Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey.  I've seen two episodes of each, and am completely hooked.  (Well, not hooked enough to go out and buy the complete seasons on DVD, but pretty fascinated all the same...)

I heard about the ladies of Downton in the latest issue of Vogue UK from enchanted serenity blog - and don't they look lovely!

black and white

so dynamic....and yet...so ruffly...

striped satin dress from Broadway musical, Cabin in the Sky

ballet - afternoon of a faun

and....I have no more MIT FAST pictures as of now.  So here's another ballet post.

I don't know why all the pictures I find invariably end up being from the Boston Ballet...

Boston Ballet photo by Andrea Mohin.

...and, here's some music.  Just because I love Debussy :)

ballet costume part 3

I would love to have seen this in person.

Megan Gray (center) and other Boston Ballet dancers rehearse one of the pieces in Kylián's ''Black and White'' program. (Photo by David L. Ryan/Globe Staff)


Also...happy Mothers Day! :)

ballet costume part 2

Let's take a look back...

...to Tamara Karsavina in the role of Firebird (1910).

costume and the avant-garde ballet

I haven't been to the ballet in a while, but I think it's high time that I start going.

The newest over here is Boston Ballet's Bella Figura, which I hear is causing a sort of commotion due to its scenes of partial nudity.  It's a fascinating subject - the way costume works in modern ballet.

Perhaps it's just that I'm not particularly familiar with the newest artsy performances out there - it's not like I have time to see every production (or in that case, ANY production) put on the Boston Lyric Opera, the Boston Ballet, or hey, (just for kicks), the Cirque du Soleil.  And this is only Boston we're talking about.  A small city.  But in any case, it seems as if the most exciting aesthetic, modern advances come from ballet.

Marie Taglioni's shortening of her skirt in her 1832 performance of La Sylphide - to show off her pointe work - was considered highly scandalous at the time; Stravinsky's primordial (and thoroughly modern) Rite of Spring shocked audiences in 1913.  Can I go as far as to say that ballet is in this unique position at the front of artistic development?  Of course, other performing arts categories should not be forgotten.  Let's not forget Ted Machover's opera of the future, Death and the Powers.  But ballet, after all, incorporates music along with a celebration of the beauty of the human form.  I imagine that modern costumes for ballet would be an incredible challenge for designers.  Fashion design must be beautiful, but ballet design must take into account the way the material works with every movement of the body.  Fashionistas may argue that this happens in fashion design, but modern ballet costume design takes this concept of body and fabric moving together to a while new level.

Of course, the ballet costume follows a certain pattern, and the classical tutu will always exist.  But there will also always be departures from this formula - and the departures are especially striking.  Should these new costumes even be called costume?  Certainly the word "costume" demeans one of the purest of art forms to a masquerade - something that is not real, something that peels off to reveal an interior less beautiful.  I'm pretty sure that the ballet costume is no less than a second skin to the dancer.

I think I'll start investigating these newer forms of ballet costumes (when I find time away from studying...finals are coming up in a few weeks).  Today's photo is from said performance of Boston Ballet's Bella Figura.

Altan Dugaraa, Sarah Wroth, and Yury Yanowsky by Gene Schiavone

...and, i'm back!

first green dress that i can think about off the top of my head -

Keira Knightley's in Atonement.

still fascinated by it.

lovely analysis of the dress (for replication) here.

I'm also back from a lovely holiday home in England.  It's too bad spring break is so short.  Back to school on Monday...

taylor swift

Busy week up ahead!  And a busy weekend! work work work work.  (Which is unfortunate, because I really wanted to go see the Fidelio Trio, which came to MIT and performed last night...).

I've basically been listening to Taylor Swift all day.  Sparks Fly is probably my favorite at the moment (MEET ME IN THE POURING RAIN!), but I still like her other songs - including Love Story :)

Of course I would like Love Story though, because her music video is so pretty.  To be honest, the dresses aren't my absolute favorite, but the idea is lovely.  (and her hair!!!).

This lady's dress is rather interesting though.  The collar and buttons down the front aren't what I would picture for a ball, but I like the design anyway!

pre-oscar hype; the king's speech

costumes - the hats. OH THE HATS.  props to jenny beavan.

i wish i looked as fantastic in hats as helena bonham carter did in the king's speech.

my fair lady part 2

costumes from the movie -

I think the Ascot scene has to be one of my favorites.

my fair lady

audrey hepburn - such a lady.

I have yet to see Breakfast at Tiffany's.

black swan - the good

I saw Black Swan a few weeks ago, and there's no doubt that it's a very well done (and trippy!) film.  I am not exactly a scary movie person, though, and it totally freaked me out (OMG, like, do I sound like a total valley girl right now?).  I probably won't ever want to see the movie again, but there are some great (visual) aspects to it that make me want to go back to it!

1. Costume design by Rodarte.  To clear some things up, this was a collaboration with costume designer Amy Westcott - Rodarte was only really involved with 7 pieces.  I write "costume design by Rodarte" only because the few pieces that I really liked happened to be by Rodarte.  An interesting interview with Amy Westcott here.

My favorite piece was the dress that Natalie Portman wears to the toasting/party; the back was exquisite! Unfortunately I can't find an actual picture of it, at the moment.

I also loved the ballet costumes...although I feel like a lot of ballet costumes look very similar!  Love this shot, though - 

and this sketch of the black swan costume -

2. Gorgeous promo posters by Empire, the handmade likes of which I have not seen in a very long time, if ever!  The first and last ones are my favorite.

something about that face (or color scheme...)

I know these are different time periods and all....still, Marcus Stone's Olivia (1880) reminds me of Kate Winslet in Sense and Sensibility. Must be the colors and general bucolic atmosphere.

masquerade

Phantom of the Opera.  I just love the costumes, in both the movie and the theatre production...

from the movie -

from: long ago captures

Hannibal scenes - London