Back to WOOORK!! - 7/25/11

            Mondays ugh!.... Am I right?  Don't get me started.  Don't EVEN get me started!  Take a cue from Anita Page.  Throw on something rife with sex appeal, give Monday a sassy look and say "Put an egg in your shoe bustah.... and beat it."

Philip - In Brooklyn

Back to WOOORK!! - 7/11/11

            Monday is upon us once again.  Let's all take a lesson from Miss Dietrich.  If you have to work.  You may as well show up looking like this.  WOOOORK!!

Philip - In Brooklyn

Back to WOOORK!! - 6/6/11

           Welcome back to work babies!  I hope you had a wonderful weekend as we have had.  If there is one thing that exemplifies WOOORK it's an amazing clothes horse that marries the boss! 

           Miss Norma Shearer, I respect this broad's moxy.  Not only was she a great actress and drop dead gorgeous, she also married Irving Thalberg.  Thalberg just happened to be one of the heads of MGM.  Come to think of it Norma was a contracted star at MGM.  Well itsn't that convenient?  You go girl.  Make sure your bills get paid.  The essence of WOOORK!!

Oh yeah... can we talk about that gown.... UGH!  Sadly I don't know much about this picture.  I downloaded it a while ago and didn't make notes of what it is in reference to... Help a brother out guys!

Philip - In Brooklyn

Back to WOOORK!! - 5/31/11

           Yesterday was a holiday, and if you had to work I pity you.  For the rest of us today is our "Monday".  In order to keep our spirits high I thought I'd dig up some work-ness from the movie "Gypsy" starring Natalie Wood as Gypsy Rose Lee.  The montage of Gypsy 'stripping it up' near the end of the movie is one of my favorite scenes.  They squeeze in a few different Orry-Kelly costume changes and the last one is to die for!  The true essence of WOOORK! 

As Gypsy says "And if you're real good.  I'll make you feel good.  I want your spirits to climb!"

Philip - In Brooklyn

Back to WOOORK!! 5/23/11

           Getting back to WOOORK on Monday is tough.  So enjoy this beautiful Cecil Beaton sketch from the opening scene of "My Fair Lady."  All this Cocoon Coat work-ness really cuts the edge, like finely processed cocaine... I mean coffee!  Like a finely processed COFFEE!

Enjoy... and get back to WOOORK!!

Philip - In Brooklyn

RIP - Elizabeth Taylor

Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor

1932-2011

You will be missed.

Philip - In Brooklyn

RIP Jane Russell

1921-2011

Photos via Stirred Straight Up and With a Twist

Back to WOOORK!! 12-27-10

            For those of us who have to work this Monday I know that we'll need all the help we can get.  Luckily we have Louise Brooks to help us out.  And thankfully she came with reinforcements... her ensemble!!  Now get back to WOOORK!!

 

Philip - In Brooklyn

Back to WOOORK!! 12-6-10

            Well hey there beautiful Patterned History readers!  Yes another weekend has passed us by and it is time to get back to WOOORK!  Imagine if this was your work uniform... so quit bitchin about your hangover.

  

Philip - In Brooklyn

          

Back to WOOORK!! 11-29-10

Hey Y'all!

Just another Monday posting of fabulousness to get you through your WOOORK week!
It's cold out there.  Don't forget what a wonderful opportunity this is to don your gay apparel, such as the dashing hat and gloves modeled by our good friend Jean Harlow below.
Enjoy!

-Kathleen, In Oakland

THIS JUST IN! Mulligan Cast in Luhrmann's Gatsby

           The Oscar nominated actress of "The Education" was on the red carpet last night for the CFDA's when she received a phone call.  On the other end was the director of "Moulin Rouge" Baz Luhrmann.  He said "Hello, Daisy Buchanan". 
            This was his slick little way of signaling to Carey Mulligan that she had in fact won the role in F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 classic novel "The Great Gatsby".  The film is set to be released in 2012 by Columbia Pictures.  Already cast is Leonardo DiCaprio, as Jay Gatbsy and Toby Maguire, as Nick Carraway.
            Personally... I'm pretty stoked for this.


Mulligan Photographed During her Audition


Philip - In Brooklyn

Back to WOOORK!! 11-14-10

           It's Monday again and it's time to get back to WOOORK!  Today's installment is brought to you by Schiaparelli, the makers of "Shocking Pink".  Elsa Schiaparelli was brought in to design the gowns for Miss Zsa Zsa Gabor for the 1952 MGM film "Moulin Rouge".  There's nothing better than a sassy Hungarian in some French haute couture to stoke the fires.

 

Philip - In Brooklyn 

Back to WOOORK!! 10-25-10

            Happy Monday!  A little extra WOOORK to help you get through the first day of the work week.  "Ziegfeld Follies" was a musical spectacle where MGM brought the epic stage production to Hollywood, and I for one loved every minute of it! Every star who had a voice or a gimmick was featured.  One such number was where Judy rocked a Helen Rose gown and sang about the inventor of the safety pin. The movie was directed by her then husband, a giant closet case, Vincente Minnelli.  WOOORK it out Judy! 





 

Philip - in Brooklyn

Pattern Envelopes Are Filled With Love

           Hey there gang!  Since I'm waist deep in Halloween tranny-ness I thought I just share with you some vintage patterns I've found on Ebay.  I love fashion illustrations from the days of yore.  I don't own any of these patterns, but whoever won these auctions are probably a lot happier than they were before.

Oh Pauline!  Ms. Wintour has never looked happier!

Schiaparelli 3 piece suit.  There is no doubt why this one sold for over $100

Givenchy.  I love this design, how the skirt is gathered into a seam at the back.

Oh Anne!  You know I adore a peplum!

Philip - In Brooklyn

Costume Illustration - Helen Rose

            I love costume illustration.  They really knew how to make an impact back then.  Helen Rose was MGM's costume designer through the 1950s where she designed over 200 movies and won 2 Oscars.  One of her best know works was Grace Kelly's wedding gown.  Here is some example of her mad skills.

 For Joan Crawford in "Torch Song"

 For Debbie Reynolds in "Goodbye Charlie'

 For Grace Kelly in "High Society"

 Grace Kelly's Wedding Gown

 Helen Rose

I wish I knew who illustrated for her so I could give them a shout out.  If you know hit me up!

Philip - In Brooklyn

Taking a Moment for Travilla

            So my niece has been campaigning to have me design her prom dress.  Now how could I say no to her sweet little face.  Not to mention she greased the wheels by saying she wants to look like Marilyn… MARILYN!!!

            To the Google!  I swiftly typed in Marilyn and all the related movies where she looked super Faboo!  That’s when I was reminded of her near personal designer William Travilla, Billy… he let me call him Billy.  We’re tight like that.

            Here is the link to his Wikipedia page.  I’m not gonna yammer on about his life when his work speaks for it self.

Marilyn and Jane on set of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”.  Work that Coca Cola!

Costume illustration for Loretta Young

Two sketches for “Valley of the Dolls”

Random costume sketch that was printed as birthday card

Costume test photo of Marilyn for “Gentlemen”

 

A costume test photo of my favorite gown from "How to Marry a Millionaire"

 The costume sketch for the most famous dress on celluloid

Philip - In Brooklyn

Louise Dahl Wolfe

            I don't know who this Loise Dahl Wolfe woman claims to be, but if she looks like that then I need more of her in my life.

 

The Blog I found this on.

Philip - in Brooklyn