27 January 2012

tea & Valentino


this week's VALENTINO COUTURE COLLECTION was one of the prettiest collection's of dresses I've seen-
So very pretty. 




When I read Hamish Bowles prose on the collection: Four-leaf clovers or posies of violets were printed over airy organza and shadowed with layers of tulle and lace, like Belle Époque tea gowns- my thoughts immediately went to the William Paxton's painting Tea Leaves.


the Freshness,  delicate Embroidery,  elegant slippers, ruffled high collars of  VALENTINO COUTURE


& a favorite girlhood movie My Fair Lady- a favorite period the Belle Epoque-& darling Eliza Dolittle dresses were designed by Cecil Beaton.




& of Audrey Hepburn herself.












& the women captured by the brush of Jacques Emile Blanche-& the pages of Fantasio & the Gazette du Bon Ton. 

Or the photographs of Baron de Meyer de Meyer photographed many notables of the day and his most beautiful subject- his wife- Olga, Maria Beatrice Olga Alberta Caracciolo.






photo by Maria Robledo Darcey’- Valentino- portrait of Comte Beaumont by Baron de Meyer






The Valentino designers cite Belgian painter Paul Delvaux, the portraits of Marie Antoinette, along with stills from the film Marie Antoinette starring Norma Shearer & the photographs of Deborah Turbeville.
I'll take Tea.






See the full collection and Hamish Bowles review at VOGUE.com here
read Sarah Mower's Preview here & see more photographs of the collection.



















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27 comments:

  1. This is a truly beautiful collection. Feminine and elegant, and beautiful shoes instead of clunkers. Thanks for sharing it. Mary

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  2. I know the image of DeMeyer is Comte Beaumont...in the Beaumonts' villa next door to the Chateau Croix, rented years later by Wallis and Edward.

    Love the Misia Sert ghost that runs thru Valentino collection from her Muse of the Impressionists days...but the Norma/Marie Antoinette connection I fail to see on their part, for Adrian produced iconic gowns in one of my favorite movies of all times...ending with drum rolls to ringing of church bells in the distant background and then crowd cheers...and Tyrone Powers looking heavenward!

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  3. SWAN- thank you for sorting out the Baron de Meyer image! Misia Sert is an entire book- did you read the biography- I need to pull it out again. I have the Norma Shearer movie I need to revisit that too-No I could not see that reference either. There is a good inspiration board image on Vogue- here is that link. http://www.vogue.com/collections/spring-2012-couture/valentino/preview/#/collection/preview/spring-2012-couture/valentino/8
    The gowns are Heavenly-perhaps that's the thread! PGt

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  4. I do WISH so for those slippers, Ikat looking in a way...would go nice with my Balenciaga robe with Ikat Roses...watch the movie, perfection..then Kirsten Dunst version, HEAVEN! A marathon Marie Antoinette festival during Super Bowl, with of Laduree macaroons and champagne while watching Madonna's half time show for an Intermission! I'm looking for my late 80's Manolo Mules right now...

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    1. Yes, I think they isolated a small portion of a print of rosebuds that are seen on a dress on the Vogue runway show. It really does say Ikat. I like the idea of a Marie Antoinette marathon. I have the Coppola version to which I thoroughly enjoyed-the costumes otherworldly. pgt

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  5. So beautiful and so creative. Love seeing the process.

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    1. the gowns are pretty and the links really give Us a beautiful picture. pgt

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  6. What dreamy gowns! I guess these days most of them would be a bit much for tea. I found a pair of Noritake “Allenby” cups and saucers at a thrift shop not long ago, and I reserve them for my Sunday morning breakfast tea. A little elegance goes a long way at my house!

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    1. well said, tea can be from a mug or fragile china cup. I have always felt it never hurt to use beautiful fragile things everyday. I guess that was due to my Mom-she let the 3 children use goblets, china, champagne glasses etc and we managed to break a number of them, but boy we had fun toasting each other. I love to dine with my Marie Antoinette RAYNAUD bowl & Chrysanthemum Tiffany spoon on a feast of Cheerios and Milk. Delicious.

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  7. Your posts are so well composed with attention to every detail. They are a work of art and Valentino...? what more can I say?

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  8. please see Tea from Barbara- She has a beautiful history and art blog http://bjws.blogspot.com/search/label/Tea

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  9. Gaye - you are SO on a roll - each of these fashion posts is a mini masterpiece!! I am holding up my petticoats in a deep curtsey!!

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  10. I know nothing about couture, but I love that Paxton painting (since it matches your name, you should consider it as a header photo). I have a Chinese pewter tea canister that matches the hot-water urn in the painting; I'll link here when I get around to writing on it.
    --Road to Parnassus

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  11. Replies
    1. this is such a pretty collection of dresses it had to be on little augury! especially love the slippers.

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  12. You are so right choosing William Paxton's Tea Leaves for the spirit of the Valentino couture show! It really made me appreciate the collection even that much more. Now I am off to have a cup of green tea and dream about layers of tulle and lace and airy organza printed with four leaf clovers...

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    1. Rare Vintage, I so appreciate your comment- I love your vintage couture pieces and your blog. pgt

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