Have fun, stay safe, and enjoy yourself tonight! Happy New Year everyone!
Couture Allure Steal of a Deal Sale - Let's Have Some Fun!
Announcing our first ever Steal of a Deal January Sale!
Each day during the month of January, I'll be taking 50% off the price of one item on my website. I'll announce the item every morning here on my blog at about 9AM Eastern. The 50% markdown will be effective from 9AM - 8PM Eastern time, and there will be a new item announced every day until February 1.
This will be a first come-first served sale, and at 8PM Eastern each day, if the item hasn't sold, it will return to full price.
Will the items shown here go on sale? Maybe.........but you'll have to check here on my blog every morning to find out!
You can subscribe to an RSS feed of my blog or follow it in Bloglovin'. Or just bookmark it at www.coutureallure.blogspot.com.
Don't miss this fun sale! We'll see you every day in January!
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Glove Love
I have always been into gloves. Since childhood, I have always had freezing cold hands and feet. This "problem" is known for anyone who has a poor blood circulation... getting more to the point... Back home, whenever I shook hands with someone I knew 9 times out of 10 a comment would be made about the coldness of my hands!!!
I loved when I first moved to London, it was around September, getting a little chill and my hands were frozen, sooner than never I heard the saying " Cold hands, warm heart". I liked it, I was extremely surprised to hear a positive comment about my hands. Yes, they were cold but so what. I finally felt understood by people. Smiles.
Nevertheless, when winter comes, oh goodness, it feels like my poor little fingers are about to suffer from frostbite(!!!)LOL
So gloves are essential and they must be fabulous too! I shall never be seen wearing anything but leather, all types, but I am not so keen on suede as it does not last very long (my opinion) the weather can be very harsh on them.
A girlfriend of mine has the most beautiful pairs I have seen!!!! I almost had a heart attack when I saw her with an amazing fingerless pair, in python and leather, sooooo chick rock...
Ohhh to die for...
They are from Nina Peter .
Please take a look on her website,www.ninapeter.com , as you can also buy online if you feel like splurging this New Year.
They are also available at Harvey Nichols!
So hurry...In my opinion they are definitely a must have... I would better start saving up as from now!
One of My Favorite Thrift Store Finds This Year
I went to one of my local thrift haunts last week a couple of days before Christmas. The store was really quiet, and I found quite a few goodies, among them one of my favorite finds ever.My husband and I are art lovers and we have a very eclectic mix of art, much of it found at estate sales, auctions, and thrift stores. I always check out the art at this thrift, because you just never know what you'll find, and I will often buy a piece just for the frame. When I was at the store last week, the bin was overflowing, with several pieces piled on top of one another. I got this professionally framed Chagall poster for $2.99 because it was at the bottom of the pile and the glass had broken.
Yesterday, I went to my local hardware store and picked up a new piece of glass. I took the frame apart and found that this isn't a poster, but rather a print on heavy tagboard. I replaced the glass, and we hung it this morning in our bedroom. For less than $20, and a little DIY, I'd say this is one of my best deals this year, too.
The piece is called "La Sainte Famille", and from my research, it appears it was originally done as a lithograph in 1970. I just love it!
Three Women - One Givenchy Dress 1962
Vogue Magazine, July 1962 featured an article about "The Beautiful People", which discussed what the rich and titled were doing for the summer. These gals were the Princess Diana's and Paris Hilton's of their time. The three Frenchwomen were considered fashion individualists, yet they all owned the same dress from Hubert de Givenchy's Spring/Summer 1962 collection. The short dinner dress was made of silk crepe, and the wide bateaux neckline dropped to a V in the back. The soft gathers at the waist were a hallmark at the time.Above, Baronne Guy de Rothschild (Baroness Marie-Hélène de Rothschild) owned the dress in pink and wore it with a large diamond brooch at the side waist. The Baroness was an active socialite in Parisian circles, and was also well known for refurbishing the Château de Ferrières in the country outside of Paris. The Chateau had been occupied by the Germans during WWII, and sat empty until 1959.
Mme. Françoise de Langlade was the editor of French Vogue. She owned the Givenchy dress in turquoise. Langlade had worked for designer Elsa Schiaparelli and at Harper's Bazaar before joining Vogue. In 1967, she was married for the third time to Oscar de la Renta.
Countess Roland de Solages, the former Eliane David-Weill, was a member of the family that owned the Lazard Frères banking empire. She also owned the Givenchy dress in turquoise.
Valentino at Dessès - 1954
The evening gown I showed you yesterday was designed at the Jean Dessès atelier in Paris in 1954, but was never actually made by Dessès.At age 18, Valentino Garavani was hired as an apprentice by Jean Dessès. There, he dressed windows, greeted clients, and did many sketches of ideas for garments. Most of those early sketches were lost.
Original sketch by Valentino
at Atelier Dessès, 1954
In 1989, as part of the execution of a special international exhibit, "Valentino, Thirty Years of Magic", Maison Valentino made 10 garments from early sketches that the designer had done while working for Dessès. The garments were produced especially for the exhibit and were never offered for sale by either Dessès or Valentino.
So, is the gown a Dessès or a Valentino? Good question.
Jean Dessès Evening Gown 1954 - Sketched by Valentino
The Madame Impériale evening gown sketched at Jean Dessès by Valentino Garavani in 1954. More on this gown tomorrow.
I am a Virgin: Adriana Lima
Adriana Lima, who's one of the world's best paid supermodels, insists that she is a virgin.
The 27-year-old beauty, who has been a Victoria's Secret Angel for eight years, is planning to marry Serbian basketball player Marko Jaric, who plays for US team the Memphis Grizzlies, next June, reports The Daily Telegraph.
The stunner's first fashion show for Victoria's Secret was in 1998 and since being contracted as an Angel in 2000, she has appeared on subsequent shows ever since.
She starred alongside Mickey Rourke in 2001 film The Follow and played herself in an episode of Ugly Betty this year.
Meanwhile, Adriana was also in news for being the face of world's most expensive bra costing 5 million dollar.
The 27-year-old beauty, who has been a Victoria's Secret Angel for eight years, is planning to marry Serbian basketball player Marko Jaric, who plays for US team the Memphis Grizzlies, next June, reports The Daily Telegraph.
The stunner's first fashion show for Victoria's Secret was in 1998 and since being contracted as an Angel in 2000, she has appeared on subsequent shows ever since.
She starred alongside Mickey Rourke in 2001 film The Follow and played herself in an episode of Ugly Betty this year.
Meanwhile, Adriana was also in news for being the face of world's most expensive bra costing 5 million dollar.
Schiaparelli Evening Cape 1938
1938 - An evening cape by Elsa Schiaparelli. The Greek God Apollo rides in his chariot pulled by 5 horses in a magnificent celestial design. The embroidery was worked by the House of Lesage in gold sequins, beads, and thread on black velvet. Click on the image to see the details.
Gianni Versace Beaded Top
In late 1992, I was lucky enough to see the massive retropective exhibit of Gianni Versace's work at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Titled Gianni Versace: Signatures the exhibit lives on in my memory as one of the best I've ever seen.Above: Detail of the back of a top entirely hand embroidered and beaded. From Versace's Autumn/Winter 1991-92 collection. The front of the top is seen below in the center. Click the images for a larger view.
Claudette Colbert in "The Gilded Lily"
Claudette Colbert plays a stenographer who becomes a star in 1935's The Gilded Lily. Travis Banton designed the costumes.
Thinking ahead
This is my last post before Xmas, I will be off to the country and will be back soon after boxing day.
When back in town, I shall be ready to hit the sales! Oh... the sales... Always a time of celebration! When most of the stuff you dream of is half price. Or sometimes even the stuff you didn't know you wanted is there with a shine big 1/2 price sign on it and straightway it becomes kind of somehow needed. I'm sure you know that feeling.
So, normally at this time of the year I would have already browsed thru the previous months around the shops, for anything interesting, for sizes, for colours and ect...
It might be a mission sometimes to brave the shops at Xmas time and at normal times, depending of the shop, anything like Topshop or Primark is always a mission - Isn't it? - and also at the sales but honestly it just makes it so much easier if you do go before hand and prepare yourself with a list... you may not have time to try things on or, the queues for the changing rooms can be far too long, anything can happen. So, being prepared just avoids all the hassle.
Unfortunately, this year I don't intend to spend money -HA! or much if I must- on the sales. I have already been very naughty with some other buys before hand not leaving me with much cash to spend now ...
A place where I normally would enjoy the deductions is at Selfridges. Good choice, variety, all under one roof. Urban Outfitters is always very good for all sorts of funky bits and bobs, I love all their Religion and Lux stuff and as a whole I find their stock very rock chic, cool. I like Gap for the basics. Some boutiques around Notting Hill/ Portobello area are also on sale with unique finds.
Ahhhh! Must mention any SHOE shop on sale will be part of my list...
Well, let' s see on this one... I have to face the facts that I have no room, or running out of room -as I say- for more shoes still, I would love to have a pair of suede flat boots over the knee (panto style). Topshop has a really nice one I shall keep my eyes on it.
Shoes are always a MAJOR danger when it comes to the sales time... 2 pairs for the price one if we were to pay full retail prices in most of the cases!!! How can you resist?!?!?!?!? Often, I just remember the Girls Aloud song..."The promise I made started to fade babe..."
I'll try to resist but it so hard!
Note: Whilst searching pictures for this post I came across the most cute ankle boots which I had my eye on for a while... Oh God... What is a girl supposed to do?
Promise I made, promise I made started to fade ...
I'll avoid Westfield at all costs as I'm sure it will be a nightmare !
I hope you have a wonderful Xmas!
x
Movie Costume - Loretta Young in "Suez"
It's the holidays, and time for a break. This week, I'll be posting some fun Eye Candy photos for you and I'll return in full force next Monday. Happy Holidays everyone!
Loretta Young wears an embroidered velvet coat trimmed in fur over a giant hoop skirt for the film Suez in 1938.
Loretta Young wears an embroidered velvet coat trimmed in fur over a giant hoop skirt for the film Suez in 1938.
And we are still talking about X mas...
As we are getting closer, many of us are probably wondering what are we getting for Xmas ?
Are we getting those fabulous things we are all posting in our wish list or is it gonna be more like that advert where everyone goes to the garage store at 12:00 AM Xmas Eve to buy whatever is left?
I supposed I have been an extra good girl this year (not) as I already got my prezzie really early.
I saw a picture of this amazing coat on a magazine, shortly after I had a clear out and ended up throwing the magazine away (so not like me). It wasn't until a few days later when I saw a girl wearing it I suddenly remembered it and all I could think all night was I WANT ONE!
Next day a girlfriend from work goes to Westfields and I gave her fully instructions -LOL-to go and search for the coat for me. I gave her the option to go to Mango or Zara and she came back empty handed not even knowing from which shop it was from for sure. I kind of decided to ask around in the hope that someone at work would have seen it and sometimes it pays off to work in a place full of girls with few shopholics mates!
I reckon it was my lucky day. I found out the coat was from Zara and luckily for me I live next door to one! I had to call my boyfriend and do the begging thing over the phone sometimes it takes a little convincing, you guys know, especially if is a football day...Finally, he was going there to have look for me and he did the best. I had never seen this coat in there before...It was the last one and just my size!!!!!!! It was in the storage room completely hidden from everyone's eyes!!! So, snap! My beloved goes and gets it for me!
Are we getting those fabulous things we are all posting in our wish list or is it gonna be more like that advert where everyone goes to the garage store at 12:00 AM Xmas Eve to buy whatever is left?
I supposed I have been an extra good girl this year (not) as I already got my prezzie really early.
I saw a picture of this amazing coat on a magazine, shortly after I had a clear out and ended up throwing the magazine away (so not like me). It wasn't until a few days later when I saw a girl wearing it I suddenly remembered it and all I could think all night was I WANT ONE!
Next day a girlfriend from work goes to Westfields and I gave her fully instructions -LOL-to go and search for the coat for me. I gave her the option to go to Mango or Zara and she came back empty handed not even knowing from which shop it was from for sure. I kind of decided to ask around in the hope that someone at work would have seen it and sometimes it pays off to work in a place full of girls with few shopholics mates!
I reckon it was my lucky day. I found out the coat was from Zara and luckily for me I live next door to one! I had to call my boyfriend and do the begging thing over the phone sometimes it takes a little convincing, you guys know, especially if is a football day...Finally, he was going there to have look for me and he did the best. I had never seen this coat in there before...It was the last one and just my size!!!!!!! It was in the storage room completely hidden from everyone's eyes!!! So, snap! My beloved goes and gets it for me!
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I love the versatility of this coat open or closed with a big waist clinching belt, teamed with my pirate Vivienne Westwood boot.
It was a great winter buy. Bearing in mind I had never tried the coat before, just seen it on a magazine, it was love at first sight and I'm ever so happy.
So thanks my dear Santa !
I hope you all get what you want , there is nothing nicer than to enjoy a good present.
Eri
Coat:Zara, Belt: Primark, Cardigan: Benneton, Hat: Xmas prezzie, thanks Babs! , Jeans: River Island, Boots: Vivienne Westwood.
And we are almost there...
And once more it's again that time of the year where everyone says: "OMG I cant believe it has gone so quickly ..."
I enjoy Xmas and especially when it comes to putting the decorations and Xmas tree up!
At first, it always seems that is going to be a hell of a lot of work , I have a huge tree which I bought at Argos few years back, it is 7 ft long!!!
...The difference in price between a big one and a small one was nothing and I had always dreamed of having a big one. 'So, why not?', I thought at the store... It was all good until I had to get on a bus with it and carry it a few floors upstairs...
One of my favourite tree decorations is a Vivienne Westwood shoe which a I bought at the V&A exhibition in 2004.
This shoe alone inspired and gave me the go ahead to buy a huge tree...
Whilst in Brazil a few months back my mum gave me all the decorations from her tree... I was so happy to be reunited with some oldies which brought back so many nice memories. All my candy cane string and some bits that i had made myself when I was 6 or 7. Stuff that had to travel 5000 miles and took up (precious) room in my suitcase - but all well worth it.
All and all I love all the musical snowman and reindeers and it always makes my tree a mixture of bears and snowman, sweets and toys.
So sad when all has to go in January :(
Happy holidays!
Eri
Links à la Mode: December 21
The weather outside is frightful. We've had 10" of snow since Friday with more expected today and then a nice ice storm to top it all off. And the damper to the fireplace broke on Friday night, so I can't even make a cozy fire. Drat.Oh well, hunker down with me and enjoy some great links from my colleagues at IFB:
Links à la Mode : December 18th
- 39thandbroadway.com - What really happens to Project Runway alumni and why we are sick of hearing, “You should go on Project Runway”!
- A Few Goody GumDrops - A Few Goody Gumdrops gets Bright for the Holidays with her new Orange Louis Vuitton Tote!
- All Chic - Christmas Jewels
- AlysiaMarie - This Month’s Celebrity Hair Trend; Ponytails!
- Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy - How to wear scarves without looking like an emo kid
- Caged Lilies - Pretty and CHEAP gifts for friends. everything under .
- Capitola Girl Jewelry Blog - Chasing the winter blues away by shopping handmade…
- Clutch 22 - Stylish gift giving on a budget - there’s still time to do your holiday shopping!
- Couture Allure Vintage Fashion - Couture Allure shows how to dress up your shoes for a touch of evening glamour.
- Debutante Clothing - A Tribute to Bettie Page: 5 Reasons We Loved Bettie Page
- Decline Designs - Petticoat tutorial - so your vintage skirts can have the look they deserve!
- Dirty Laundry - How-To: Boyfriend Jeans
- dramatis personae - Alternative Uses For Fur
- Dress Me Up Dollie - A little DIY chases the winter doldrums away.
- Fashion Birdcage - Of Cabbages & Kings Spring/Summer 09 Collection
- fashion fille - Fashion Fille spreads the cheer around through boosting fashionistas to enter the weardrobe contest.
- fashion in my eyes - Beauty&The Beast with Drew Barrymore
- Fashion Pulse Daily - Fashion Pulse Daily gives tips on how to get the biker chic look without having to jump on a Harley.
- Fashion Therapist - Where to find the perfect ugly sweaters for all your holiday themed parties:
- Fasshonaburu - A shopping gift guide for the self-proclaimed “hipster” on your list this holiday season!
- Going to Hell in a Handbag - Consumed by Coats
- greystrawberrys - whats in your make up box?
- Hot Beauty Health - The Smurfs enters beauty world with a Smurfette Collection
- In Life and In Fashion - Easy Holiday Dressing Tips
- Independent Fashion Bloggers - We Really Like Your Style
- Iole in fashion - Red (dress) fashion tree
- Iwanttowearit - Manicurist Yuna Park puts fashion in the fingers of the hottest models for the freshest magazines.
- Logical Harmony - How To Find Deals at Thrift Stores : Beyond The Basics
- Mademoiselle Robot - Interview with fashion photographer and club promoter Pavla Kopecna.
- Nico Assatly - Hot Holiday/Silver bells! cute look for the holidays !
- noiretro // style deficit disorder - Limi Yamamoto Spring 2009 collection & DIY Martin Margiela Sandal Booties
- Or False Glitter - Going grunge with Sonic Youth
- PONY RYDER - exclusive interview with TOPMODEL Iris Strubegger!
- Retro Chick - Comfy Christmas Glamour
- Shopping and Info - Shopping and Info loves what Jennifer Aniston wore to the Marley & Me Premiere.
- Style Amor - Alice In Wonderland Fashion + Movie Frenzy for 2010, Johnny Depp and Mad Hatter Fashion. Yes be ready
- Style Discovery - Confession of a jewellery addict and brining an order and clarity to a pile of necklaces.
- Style Symmetry - Eyeliah finds inspiration in the Wardrobe Remix Pool!
- Summershoes - 11 steps to a perfect homemade manicure
- Sweety P Style Files - The Wardrobe Recession Diaries: Stalkin Clerks in the Mall and a Houndstooth Dress
- The Bare Skinny - The Bare Skinny gives you the scoop on the unmentionables: undergarments
- THE COVETED - Last-Minute Gifts that Pamper and Relax
Weekend Eye Candy - Jacques Heim Draping
Couturier Jacques Heim shown in his workroom draping an evening gown on a model. Draping is a technique used by some designers to create a garment directly on the body. Here, Heim drapes the fabric directly from the bolt onto the model's body and secures it with pins. The workroom will then mark the fabric and make a pattern directly from it.
Classic Holiday Gift - Purse Accessories
Most of these items would be considered obsolete today, but it's fun to imagine that someone had enough money to purchase these trinkets from Cartier in the 1960's. Who needs a 14K gold case for their matches anyway? Though I suppose if you want to buy me an 18K gold pillbox, I won't say no.
December 1966 - "Say it with gold gifts from Cartier." From the top:
- 14K gold carryall clutch, $1400 ($9300 today)
- 14K gold lipstick case, $160 ($1065 today)
- 14K gold powder case, $530 ($3500 today)
- 14K gold cigarette lighter, $90 ($600 today)
- 14K gold matchbook case, $210 ($1400 today)
- 18K gold cigarette box-case, $800 ($5300 today)
- 18K gold cigarette case, $920 ($6100 today)
- 14K cigarette holder, $66 ($440 today)
- Pillbox in 2-tone 18K gold, $365 ($2400 today).
By the way, the "today" prices were calculated using a CPI calculator which shows that if I bought something for $1.00 in 1966, in 2008, that item would cost $6.65. The "today" prices are not meant to be an appraisal or estimate of the current value of these items.
December 1966 - "Say it with gold gifts from Cartier." From the top:- 14K gold carryall clutch, $1400 ($9300 today)
- 14K gold lipstick case, $160 ($1065 today)
- 14K gold powder case, $530 ($3500 today)
- 14K gold cigarette lighter, $90 ($600 today)
- 14K gold matchbook case, $210 ($1400 today)
- 18K gold cigarette box-case, $800 ($5300 today)
- 18K gold cigarette case, $920 ($6100 today)
- 14K cigarette holder, $66 ($440 today)
- Pillbox in 2-tone 18K gold, $365 ($2400 today).
By the way, the "today" prices were calculated using a CPI calculator which shows that if I bought something for $1.00 in 1966, in 2008, that item would cost $6.65. The "today" prices are not meant to be an appraisal or estimate of the current value of these items.
John French
John French:(1907-66), often overlooked in surveys of British fashion photography of the 1950s and 1960s in favour of his two famous one-time assistants, David Bailey and Terence Donovan. Yet this quintessentially English gentleman took fashion photography to a mass audience with the elegant, graphic images he published not only in fashion publications like Harper's Bazaar, Vanity Fair, and The Tatler, but also in newspapers. Recognizing Fleet Street editors' desire for contrasty pictures, but also aware of the aesthetic limitations of printing them on cheap newsprint, French saw that low-contrast, ‘high-key’ prints—where most of the detail was in the lighter areas—would reproduce best. To do this, he rejected popular direct tungsten lighting for softer daylight photography, bouncing light off reflector boards. Taking few of the photographs himself, French preferred to work closely with his models (including Pauline Stone and Jean Shrimpton), calmly instructing his assistants to make the exposures.
(Swinging Sixties, Getty Images, The Fashion Book)
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