The Ornamented Being
Ornamented: -verb: Adorn; beautify. Be·ing: -noun: Fulfillment of possibilities; essential completeness.
-
-
In costuming, it seems like shoes are always the hardest thing to re-create for the appropriate look you are trying to achieve. The “Astoria” in white is a beautiful shoe that can be left as is or dyed to match your creation. The American Duchess designed them from extant examples for costumiers and re-enactors, but they are also wonderful for all of my friends who do Steampunk and Lolita, as well!
P.S. I am wearing mine for everyday use too…they are too beautiful to keeps under wraps :-)
-
I am ordering mine in black….too amazing!
Click on the photo for ordering information
-
Well I just found my winter coat!
-
Beaded black lace dress, c.1918
“Black lace has been associated with romance and mystery for 400 years. In the 17th century, Spanish ladies appeared in the mantilla (a lightweight lace scarf worn over the head and shoulders) as shown in the portraits of the great painters Velázquez and Goya.
A well born Spanish lady led a more sheltered life than that of other European women. Over time, black lace came to signify a woman who was desperately desirable but ultimately unattainable. Black lace conveyed a subtle yet unmistakable sexual frisson… “
(Source: vintagetextile.com)
-
I’ll end here with one of my favorite Worth gowns.
circa 1898–1900
“A superb example of dressmaking from the House of Worth, this dress exhibits the aesthetic of the last years of the nineteenth century. The fashionable reverse S-curve silhouette of the dress and the dramatic scroll pattern of the textile reflect the influence of the Art Nouveau movement. The striking graphic juxtaposition of the black velvet on an ivory satin ground creates the illusion of ironwork, with curving tendrils emphasizing the fashionable shape of the garment. In order to achieve this effect, the textile was woven à la disposition, with the intent that each piece would become a specific part of the dress. With this technique, the design of the fabric is intrinsic to the design of the dress.”
