You can never be overdressed
or overeducated.
Oscar Wilde
Iconic photograph by Cecil Beaton of 10 of Charles James’ designs
© Conde Nast
Charles James, the most influential couturier of the 1940’s and 50’s, is largely unknown to the general public though his revolutionary designs have graced the covers of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Town & Country. Recognized for his genius in the magical use of color and artistic drapery, he started out creating the legendary Gypsy Rose Lee’s breakaway striptease costumes and is best known for his gloriously sculpted ball gowns. I share his great love for the theatrical, the grand and the magnificent!
This week, the Met’s Costume Institute launched an exhibit of his life and designs: Charles James: Beyond Fashion. Curator Harold Koda describes James as “one of a handful of designers to have changed the métier of design. Christian Dior has credited James with inspiring his New Look. And Balenciaga said, ‘James is not America’s best couturier; he is simply the world’s best.’ When you have the two perhaps most important male designers of the mid-20th century endorsing you, you can understand that it’s something of a lack that the general public is not aware of this man’s work.” James invented the spiral-cut taxi dress, the figure eight shirt, the puffer jacket, the no cup bra, and a waistline that expanded with your meal. Koda told Style.com, “[He] was really radical. He treated the creation of clothing as an art”–combined with the exacting precision of structural engineering it seems.
Admire the genius of Charles James at the Met’s Beyond Fashion until August 10, 2014.
Click on “Leave a Comment” (above left) to share how your life is an art.
xoxox
Elettra Wiedemann in James’ Clover Leaf Gown at the exhibit’s opening night
(Photo by Hannah Thomson)
The Tulip Gown
Nancy James in one of her husband’s creations
Charles James pinning a model
photo by Cecil Beaton © Conde Nast
xoxox
Sharon Birke
201 697 1947
Sharon@PowerfulGoddess.com
Glamour Portraits of the Goddess in Every Wife & Mother
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May 19, 2014 @ 08:50:40
Fashion, I’ve said it before…I know not! I like the third photo because the woman on the right reminds me of Grace Kelly and ball gowns are one thing I think of when I think of her, beautiful, graceful and flowing.
Mountain
May 20, 2014 @ 17:14:10
I’m looking forward to the movie “Grace of Monaco.”
xoxox