A Fresh Start
New year – new calendar. This time round I bought one for myself (last year’s calendar was a gift from my sister), and left it rather late in searching for one. There seemed to be a curious dearth of calendars, but perhaps I didn’t go to the right stores. In any case, I usually do like the Frankie calendar, with its selection of twelve artists that vary every year, and who have previously been featured in the magazine of the same name. The illustrations are always quirky and fun.
January’s calendar is by the textile designer and craftsperson Esther Sandler. I like the cool, leafy jungle setting for summer. The lighthearted image is perfect to create a fresh mood for the first month of the year.
However you begin 2017, here’s to hope and anticipation, and promises, joys and ambitions fulfilled. Happy New Year!
You can see more of Esther’s work on her website.
December Drawings
Fashion drawings from the House of Worth, 1950–51It’s hard to believe it’s almost the end of 2016! The year has simply flashed past. December is party month, whether you’re celebrating religious holidays, or simply the end of the year, and the House of Worth has some black taffeta and tulle evening gowns for our delectation.
Imagine what a rustle of silk this gown on the left especially would make – that sound instantly puts one in the mood for celebration. These gowns are from the Sortilège and Tabou collections of 1950–51.
I hope you have a fabulous December (what’s left of it) as the year draws to a close, and some fun frocks lined up for the next couple of weeks.
November Angels
Grey and yellow is a lovely combination, especially this sombre stormy shade with that cheerful primrose. I like the skirt and top, but suspect that gown would be rather meringue-like in fabric form. The illustrator has sculpted them both quite skilfully and evocatively however. There is no credit throughout the calendar, so the illustrations were likely executed by some nameless minion on the payroll.
Both these ensembles are from the Angèles collection of the House of Worth, 1948–52.
Hope you are in the throes of a lovely spring-like – or autumnal as the case may be – November.
Winter’s Gone in a Snap!
Rayon Vert collection, fashion drawings, House of Worth, Paris 1950–51I have been neglecting my poor Sketchbook for months – longer in fact! I have not even posted any calendar pictures, but here come four in a row: you never saw winter flash past so fast!
Purple and green are the themes for the last few months. What sumptuous colours that got me through winter. As lovely as these illustrations are – the clothes are rich, and the figurative parts are serviceable – I do have a question: why does the model’s face always look exactly the same?
Delicieuse and Matinale collections, fashion drawings, House of Worth, Paris 1950–51Perhaps in this case the House of Worth’s illustrator was working with a house-model (she always looks surprised, too), but I have noticed this phenomenon in modern-day fashion illustration too. Any given fashion illustrator invariably draws the same face – a pretty, but characterless, default face. Granted, fashion illustrations are not portraits, per se, but it still bothers me. I would rather not see any features at all, as for example, in Mats Gustafson’s beautiful watercolours. What do you think?
Manon and Anne collections, fashion drawings, House of Worth, Paris 1950–51
Taquine and Dans le Nuit collections, fashion drawings, House of Worth, Paris 1950–51
Olive Winter
A cold snap has hit Melbourne in the last week or so, heralding winter. The lovely thing has been the clear and sunny weather, although that is also what has made it extra cold, there being no insulating cloud cover.
When I look around the streets of Melbourne, the predominant colours people are wearing are black, grey and navy, with the odd flash of scarlet, or white; it’s a sea of drabness and even this sober shade of green would improve it. While olive is never a colour I will reach for – I wore it every day when I was a schoolgirl, our uniform being olive and grey – I love winter … fashions though. (Spot the pun.)
These elegant swathes of pleated chiffon by the House of Worth are from the Mille et Une Nuits collections of 1950–51. I can just imagine how crisp and delightfully swishy these substantial skirts would be, which surely is a testament to the illustrator.
Enjoy your June, whether you’re rugging up under leaden skies, or lucky enough to be basking in sunshine (wearing brightly coloured clothing).