I Like to Choose Dresses For Famous Celebrities

Since a lot of my time is spent sorting and listing vintage and out of print sewing patterns, I often like to play choose the dress for the celebrity. It's my version of playing fashion stylist. This one, I've selected for Kate Hudson. It's long, lean and elegant. The design is by Tom and Linda Platt whose design philosophy is “Life is complicated. Clothes should be simple.” Elemental line and form creates a simply stunning dress.

Jacques Tiffeau -- Master of Modernism

While reviewing the gowns worn to the Academy Awards I realized that there's nothing more attention getting than elegant simplicity. (Case in point, Angelina Jolie) Some designers just get it. According to Diana Vreeland, Jacques Tiffeau was "in tune" with designs that created heightened visual impact based on color, cut and design. Jacques Tiffeau (1927-1988) was one of the more popular designers in the heyday of the miniskirt. His design to the left (a vintage 1960's pattern from McCall's) is stunningly simple. It's constructed of six panels with a bias fold-over collar, pockets in the side seam line and a zipper in the back center seam line. Plain and simple, yet modern , easy and elegant. He said, "The secret of good clothes is to keep taking off, simplifying, trimming down—yet to capture the shape of the human body." As tastes changed in the 1970s Tiffeau was accused of merely "rehashing" his old styles and was never again able to regain the spotlight. He ended his days quietly as a fashion design instructor.

Emilio Pucci

Emilio Pucci ~~ Heir to a Florentine family, Pucci was famous for his designs distinguished by marvelous cut and construction and his Pucci prints. Marilyn Monroe was buried with one of his dresses, and his designs were worn by everyone from Sophia Loren to Jackie Kennedy. After Emilio's death in 1992 his daughter, Laudomia Pucci, continued to design under the Pucci name. Other designers who have worked for the label include Stephan Janson and Julio Espada. This dress and coat combination is a wonderful example of his tailored, streamlined designs. The coat is set-off with large buttons and is cut to emphasize the neckline. A seven-eighth sleeve length serves to highlight the arm-line and make the figure seem longer and leaner than it really is. Up swept dart lines in the coat and dress add to this illusion. A beautiful design from a master designer.

Lanvin

This is a late 1960's design from Lanvin. The House of Lanvin continues to produce beautiful designs and is the oldest design house still in operation. For me, Lanvin reminds me of my Grandmother. Her favorite scent was Arpege (also worn by the late Princess Diana, among others). It is a luxurious, gentle, floral fragrance with notes of honeysuckle, jasmine, roses and orange blossoms with accents of vanilla and sandalwood. It was reorchestrated in 1993 and doesn't smell quite exactly the same. Definitely not as sweet, but a lovely reminder of a person who played an important role in my life.

Molyneux ~~ It's Just Apparent

Edward MOLYNEUX reached the height of his popularity in the 1930's when he took the fashion world by storm, by streamlining fashions. His coats and dresses had single unbroken lines with a gracefull fluidity. He dressed such stars as Greta Garbo and Vivien Leigh. Vogue Pattern 2872 very much follows the graceful lines that distinguished his fashion influence. This pattern is circa 1973. This is one of his last designs, in collaboration with his nephew. Edward Molyneux died in 1974.

This pattern is in stock at http://www.sandmarg.etsy.com/ in size 10.

Who Doesn't Love a Givenchy Dress?

This is a stunning dress design for evening or red carpet wear. This dress has perfect lines that emphasize body length, shoulder and neck. The dress is fitted and lined and falls above mid-knee. It has a foundation to ensure a proper and forgiving fit and a right side front seam. The ruffle can be made in the same material as the dress or in a contrast material.

Givenchy's long history and success has been closely associated with a famous clientele including: Lauren Bacall, Babe Paley, Greta Garbo, Elizabeth Taylor, Marlène Dietrich, Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis, Princess Grace of Monaco, Wallis Simpson and Audrey Hepburn.

This dress pattern was sold on http://www.sandmarg.etsy.com/.