Back to WOOOK!! 11/28/11

            I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgivings!  I spent the entire weekend building Ikea furniture and setting up my Black Friday purchases around the house (we only bought interior type stuffs).  We did take breaks every now and again... 7 - 40 minute breaks in fact.  This was the perfect amount of time to fully take in the glorious show that is "Downton Abbey."  We watched the entire first season over the weekend.

            I'm not going to bore you with details about the show or how much I loved it (WHICH I TOTALLY DID!)  I will however let the pictures do the talking!  Look at all this workness!

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

Back to WOOORK!! - 4/25/11

So it's Monday yet again... lovely, I know.  The silver lining though is that through my aimless internet wandering I came across the auctions of the costumes from "On A Clear Day You Can See Forever".  This costume sold for over $8,000 to benfit the Barbra Streisand foundation.  I hope these amazing images of this Cecil Beaton design brighten your Monday.  But seriously.. get back to WOOORK!!!

Philip - In Brooklyn

Back to WOOORK!! - 4/18/11

           It's Monday and we could all use a shot of glamour in our morning cup of Joe.  Today I'm going with some Leslie Caron for desperately needed that pick me up.  Hollywood's French Prima Ballerina is oozing with unscrubbed beauty that most girls pile on the make up to look like. 
           In the 1955 film "The Glass Slipper" Leslie plays Cinderella perfectly.  That hoe shows up to the ball to holler at her man in a gown that is the defenition of WOOORK!!  Not to mention her "F*&# Me Pumps" made of glass.  That bitch is serious!

Philip - In Brooklyn

RIP Jane Russell

1921-2011

Photos via Stirred Straight Up and With a Twist

Back to WOOORK!! - 1/31/11

           I'm not gonna lie to you kids.  Daddy had a rough weekend.  I lost my camera!  That's gonna put a damper on my posting skills.  It's alright though I'll be getting a new camera.  So in order to prop me up-right on this most evil of weekdays I called in the only thing I knew that could help. 

           There they are, Miss Kay Kendall's epic eyebrows.  It's funny I have the same outfit in Black.... no I don't.  I said earlier I can lie to you guys.  You do have to admit Orry-Kelly knocked it out of the park on the "Les Girls" costumes.  Essence of WOOORK!!!

Philip - in Brooklyn

Back to WOOORK!! 1-3-11

           The first Monday of the new year!!!  But it's still time to get back to WOOORK!!  Don't you worry though.  The 2 time Oscar winner Miss Barbra Streisand is here to help!  Decked out in her Friday night finest.  Poor Carol she didn't see Barbra's chops gleaming in the night, salivating for her role... but on the bright side Irene Sharaff did I pretty awesome job once again.  We all love a jewess ina fully beaded gown and hand made gloves.  The very essence of WOOORK!!

 

Philip - In Brooklyn

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!! - 12-13-10

            Allow me to introduce Alla Nazimova.  Being that it is Monday she'll be helping you get back to WOOORK!!  This striking image of the silent film star from the 1923 release of "Salome" shows some serious use of pearls.  Keep up the good work kiddo!

 

Philip - In Brooklyn

Mystery Solved!

            So I did some reading and Googled some film titles and figured out that this little gem is Lili Damita in the 1925 film "Red Heels". I need to check this little puppy out one day.  Look at these faboo scenes below!  Thanks for all the help guys!

 

Philip - In Brooklyn

Feast for the Eye

             Um.... Ok.  So this picture, which I ran across on the internet, is AMAZING!  The way she is posing... such grace and elegance.  The cut of that dress is breathtaking.  Now the only problem is I have no idea where this pitcure is from.  It looks like it's a still from a movie, but which one?!  And who is she?  And furthermore, who made her gown?!  I must know!  If anyone has any information please alert the authorities!

Philip - in Brooklyn

Back to WOOORK!! 11-22-10

           Well it's time to get back to WOOORK!  This edition is featuring none other than Miss Millie Dilmount.  Julie Andrews, in "Thoroughly Modern Millie", portrayed a young "modern" in 1920s New York City.  Millie is looking for love, types 40 words per minute and excels in singing catchy bad ass musical numbers.  Also while all this is going on she rocks a Jean Louis ensemble that really delivers.  No I mean REALLY delivers!  This is one of those "Punch a Bitch in the Face" kind of looks that leaves your jaw smartin' for days!  Little known fact is that Miss Dilmount, in the opening sequence of this movie, is the original inspiration for the term "WOOORK!"

 

 

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!! 11-8-10

          Welcome back to work friends of Patterned History!  I know Monday's are no fun but at least you can ogle Ms. Pfeiffer in her starring role as Countess Olenska from Martin Scorsese's "Age of Innocence" (1993).  The costumes in this movie are just plain beautiful and Gabriella Pescucci did an amazing job.  Below is just one example of the many gowns in this movie.  Check out this review of the movie on Period Movie Review.

Philip - In Brooklyn

Princess Ozma …A.K.A. “Mom”

Hey y’all,

So…I am re-purposing/re-cycling a dress and accessories to make a Princess Ozma Costume…

“Help me step through the glass, Dorothy.”

My 1^st attempt at making a Princess Ozma Costume was back in January.  I only had one week to make something, so all I had time to do was create some pieces:

January 2010:
Collar made from brocade gold scraps
and green ribbons, worn over a
simple muslin empire gown
I already had on-hand.



January 2010: Wire headdress inspired by the costume from “Return to Oz” and the various cover art images from the Frank Baum books.

  

White Lace knee-length dress I purchased earlier this year at a cheapie “Forever 21-type” store in Berkeley for like 20 bucks.  This will become the Princess Ozma Gown.

Sparkly bright green edgestitching I added to the bottom hem and tulle ruffle on the underskirt.

The dress, with my old Ozma collar thrown over it, and green ribbon laced up the front.  ***I am not happy with the optic white shade of the dress. 

Since the dress is made from 100% cheap poly and nylon, I decided to separate the bodice and skirts and sponge paint the pieces in various shades of ivory, gold and pearly green.

Stay tuned for more progress on the Ozma Costume once the pieces are dry!

It's gonna be fun, and invloves green hologram thread.....woot!!!!

Kathleen -In Oakland

She’s Crafty! Halloween: West Coast Entry

Hey y’all,

I just had a very productive weekend creating fabulous costumes for Halloween!!

As you can probably tell from Philip’s posts, this year’s Halloween them for Patterned History is “Repurposed Princess” 

While Philip is utilizing a previously made skirt for his Princess Toadstool ensemble, I will be re-using a dress and accessories to make a Princess outfit too….here’s a little hint:

Emma Ridley as Princess Ozma in Disney's "Return to Oz" circa 1985.  Hands down, one of the greatest Disney movies EVER made.  Costumes designed by Raymond Hughes.

I have always loved the Art Nouveau style in which Ozma is depicted 

And here’s a little magical awesomeness for your viewing pleasure:

Kathleen -In Oakland

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