I just stumbled upon this French electronica musical artist while listening to Bjork radio on Last.fm. I’ve only recently begun listening to this particular free and customizable internet radio, and whenever I happen to get a glimpse of the screen (I’m usually away from the computer, listening while sewing), I enjoy the variety in the slideshow feature that rotates through artist images that members have uploaded.

I was intrigued by the eclectic and costumey aspects of a number of Emilie Simon’s photoshoots, and after researching her a little bit, she has become even more intriguing. French native, now living in NYC, Emilie Simon has put out several albums, with her 2 latest albums mostly in English.

Yes, she totally uses that steampunk-looking contraption on her arm in her music!! Read the rest of this entry »

“Draped for dramatic effect and freedom of gesture, the cut of Valentina’s clothing effectively anticipated the wearer’s movement across the stage of life.  Be it costume or private client couture, Valentina challenged the demarcation between theatricality and fashion–for her, they were one and the same.” -Phyllis Magidson in Threads Magazine, Aug/Sept 10, Issue 150

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With an introduction like that, I was immediately drawn into the article on Valentina by Claire B. Shaeffer in the current issue of Threads Magazine.  Designing for the stage as well as elite socialites, Valentina had a masterful way of creating clothes that enhanced the body or minimized its shortcomings.  Growing up in the Ukraine, she had her beginnings as a dancer before emigrating to New York.  She pursued acting and modeling alongside of designing fashion and costume fom the 20′s to 50′s, and is now remembered as one of America’s great couturiers.

Valentina modeling one of her silk jersey dresses

Valentina believed that she was her own best model. She often posed in her designs for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar–she was one of famed photographer Horst P. Horst’s favorite subjects–and held legendary one-woman fashion shows, in which she modeled all the clothes in the collection while her husband entertained champagne-sipping clients and editors during costume changes.

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I recently received an email from an old theatre professor with these images. I am intrigued by this form of costume construction….it’s much different than the fabric treatments I am used to! I wonder if they have problems with the balloons popping on stage?