Laugh Out Loud

20th Annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design Exhibition

Once again Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising LA is displaying a collection of costumes from current Hollywood films, many of the costume designers up for Academy Awards.

I've gone to this annual exhibit for years and years ( it first started in 1993 ) and it is extremely well done. Aside from the obvious delight in the creativity of the designers it is interesting to realize the actual size of actors. 

This year's exhibit included garments/costumes from 21 different films PLUS some wonderful vintage displays in cases along the walls; Marlene Dietrich gowns, Jean Harlow shorts, top hats, shoes, etc.

The gallery has undergone a renovation and a new prominent feature are security cameras :( So as discreetly as my friend and I tried to snap photos the guards were all over us reprimanding us " NO PHOTOS OR CELL PHONES ". Hello, all this stuff is on film somewhere if I was really motivated to capture the image. It was very annoying and EXTREMELY embarrassing when we finally noticed the security cameras.

Anyways, this gown is from Alice in Wonderland and is quite lovely.

I was dying to photograph the costumes from The Artist and also from W.E. Both films were from the 30s and had wonderful cloche hats and dresses. W.E. is about Wallis Simpson and I have no idea how that film slipped under my radar. I must see it !

The exhibit runs until April 28 Tuesday through Saturday 10am until 5pm. It is a nice way to spend a few hours whether or not you are obsessed with fashion and costumes like me.

All the info is at http://fidmmuseum.org/exhibitions/current/

Knits from FIDM Scholarship Store

If you go to FIDM and do not stop in the Scholarship Store you are nuts! Besides all kinds of wild and wonderful insanely discounted garments and jewelry there is a little fabric spot in the back with all fabrics $2 a yard.
I am feeling more like sewing than shopping so I bought 9 yards of knit fabrics.
Got some definite ideas for the fabric so stay tuned...

Jerome, Arizona

High on a hillside on Highway 89A in Arizona is a fascinating little town named Jerome. It all began in 1876 when copper was found in the hills. Jerome's mind boggling copper mines had literally BILLIONS of pounds of copper extracted ( I know because I watched a video at the Jerome State Historic Park ). The mines were depleted by 1953 and Jerome was almost a ghost town until the hippies moved in!

Apparently there weren't many kids left at the Old Jerome High School so the hippies turned the school into an artist colony and the classrooms all became artist studios. 

Wonderful, unique artisans are not just limited to the Old High School. The whole funky hillside town of Jerome is full of quirky galleries, shops and restaurants. 

And wherever you are in Jerome if you look north the gorgeous painted desert of Arizona is visible as far as the eye can see.

Seeds Studio, Natural Fiber Clothing

Down a hall in the amazing Old High School I found a little oasis and once I entered I just wanted to lock the door and never leave.

The studio is called Seeds and it is a garment and hat making wonderland full of textiles, worktables, equipment, hat forms, dress forms, and everything necessary to create and create. 

The proprietor was no where to be found but, that did not diminish the experience. Everywhere I looked I was delighted. 

The hats were all felted and the shapes were fabulous. Of course I tried on at least a dozen.

Not only are the garments and hats fantastic but, the whole space is simply inspiring. 

I truly wished I had a life that included an escape from the world high on a hill in a room with light drenched windows, an indescribable view of Arizona's breathtakingly beautiful vistas surrounded by felts, fabrics and all the tools/equipment required to create wearable art. 

Alas, it's not me but a couturie're and millinery artist named
Sandy Brown. 

Tamara Lyndsay's Shoe College!

The numerous artists occupying the classrooms/studios are a diverse crowd and my heart leaped when I saw the sign for The Shoe College. 

Is there a female alive who doesn't appreciate a great pair of shoes?

 

Unfortunately no one was home at the Shoe College but, I took this photo through the window because the studio just looks so darn interesting. All the tools were visible to create a variety of shoes. 

( I don't know what fascinates me about labor intensive tasks like millinery, scrimshaw, shoe making, etc. I think I fear the secrets to mastery of many hand crafted skills may become lost in my lifetime and I wish I had time to learn them all!! )

Anyways, the lucky person who gets to make shoes in the awesome studio up on the hillside in Jerome, Arizona is Tamara Lyndsay. There was an article on her in a magazine and you can read all about her at 

http://www.wilmaworld.com/slideshow_flash.html  

Gidday Up in Sedona, Arizona

In beautiful downtown Sedona, Arizona there is this life size majestic horse statue...

with this request posted at the base of the majestic life size bronze horse.

Obviously I have serious impulse control issues :)

Gidday up!