Rouge My Knees


WWDVTD?
December 19, 2011, 11:44
Filed under: burlesque, costumes

What would Dita wear?  What would Dita do?  In case you’ve ever wondered, the NYT did a feature on Ms. Teese offers some insight.  I clipped it out and hung on my bathroom door.  If ever I’m uninspired, I’ll just ask WWDVTD?

Born Heather Sweet in Michigan, Dita Von Teese, 39, has been performing burlesque since 1992. Among several projects, she is working on a women’s clothing collection (Dita Von Teese Muse) and a lingerie line (Von Follies), both of which are to be introduced next spring. Ms. Von Teese lives in Paris and Los Angeles.   -BEE-SHYUAN CHANG

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 7

I woke up at 5:30 in the morning in my Paris apartment to catch a flight to Cologne, Germany. It’s getting quite cold in Europe, so I chose one of my favorite winter dresses, a ’50s tartan dress woven of purple, blue and black wool with a classic fit and flare shape. After a delayed flight, I appeared on Germany’s top chat show to promote my perfume, and I chose a green wool crepe one-shouldered Elie Saab dress that I’ve been wearing over and over for several years now. It’s everything I love in a dress: beautiful fabric, hourglass shape and perfect below-the-knee hemline. On the one shoulder, I pinned a teal green lacquered brooch with amber rhinestones by a fabulous designer I collect named Larry Vrba. Lastly, I wore six-inch round-toed green silk pumps with a curvy heel. Christian Louboutin made them for me when I performed at the Crazy Horse in Paris.

THURSDAY, DEC. 8

Flew to London to make an appearance at the Cointreau Privé pop-up bar — I’m the brand ambassador. Some of my fans were there, so I decided to give a sneak peek of my new dress collection by slipping on a luscious black silk velvet dress. It has a deep plunging décolletage, and I wore it with a black lace overwire bra from my Von Follies collection that peeked out the top. I wore diamondback seamed stockings and black lace Louboutin heels to match the black lace of the bra. I also had on a veiled Stephen Jones hat with little black mink pompoms. When I was a little girl, my mother would buy me old veiled hats from yard sales, and I would wear them around and dream of being a grown lady, so veiling my eyes has been a longtime obsession.

FRIDAY, DEC. 9

I headed out to the English countryside for my friend’s weekend-long birthday celebration. It was at an incredible estate with lots of grand taxidermy and objects of curiosity. I donned a sleeveless ’50s New Look dress with a plunging neckline. It’s heavy black wool with little flecks of pink, and has a slim waist and full skirt. On one very chilly Paris day, I discovered that it looks especially nice in the wintertime with my black Diane Von Furstenberg sweater underneath, so I wore it like this. I wore new over-the-knee leather flat boots that buttoned up the sides.

The dress code for the evening’s dinner and parlor games was pajamas, which was right up my alley. I’ve been collecting vintage loungewear for almost 20 years. I chose a royal purple silk loungewear set that has huge Chinese-frog closures decorating the front and ties at the waist with a big silken cord. It’s actually a reproduction of a 1940s pajama set I have that is extremely rare and beautiful. And I wore a pair of mink bunny slippers that my friend Catherine D’Lish made for me as a birthday gift. They are exquisite, with Swarovski eyes and pink silk in the insides of their ears.

SATURDAY, DEC. 10

I woke up in a stately four-poster bed and remembered I was in the countryside. After a leisurely breakfast, we dressed for a walk. I wore a Louis Vuitton tartan waistcoat and paired it with a heavyweight black wool slim skirt, a ’40s trilby hat and my button-up boots with flat heels. When we got back to the house, our boots were covered in mud. I changed into black thigh-high leather Moschino boots — perfect for our afternoon of ferret racing. Yes, I said ferret racing. I had never seen anything like that. It was kind of hysterical.

SUNDAY, DEC. 11

Caught the train from London to Paris. I love the challenge of dressing glamorously for travel, and one of my best tricks is to wear a beautiful coat. I put on a black coat I wear every winter with fox fur cuffs and collar. It reminds me of a coat I once saw on display in a museum, a Dior coat from the ’50s that belonged to the ballerina Margot Fonteyn. Underneath, I wore a fitted black cashmere dress from the ’80s. I bought it at a fabulous vintage store in L.A. called the Way We Wore.

MONDAY, DEC. 12

I spent the morning doing some light housekeeping in my Paris apartment. I rushed from room to room in a vintage slip and one of my Wheels & Dollbaby cardigans. When I was in high school, I couldn’t afford the latest jeans, so shopping for cheap vintage pieces, like slips, was my way of being stylish. To run to the market, I threw on a forest green Sonia Rykiel coat over my slip and put on a pair of Chantal Thomass lace tights and ballet flats. I stayed in my slip all afternoon until my Pilates class. My Pilates uniform is simple; black capri leggings and a Rachel Pally fitted black T-shirt.

TUESDAY, DEC. 13

My friend Alexis Mabille came over to do a fitting. He designed a tuxedo for the latest incarnation of my martini-glass act. The tux is fitted over a very tight, sculptural Mr. Pearl corset, so it takes many fittings to get it just right. We started the process earlier in the fall, and it should be ready in January. Haute couture takes time! After the fitting, Alexis and I went to dinner together, but I also had a romantic rendezvous organized with a special someone afterward. So, I chose a simple black vintage sheath dress that I had tailored to perfection, and it has an adorable “Made in the U.S.A.” label that says “Mam’selle.” Perfect for Paris, non?



show me your teeth
July 12, 2011, 07:27
Filed under: costumes, COVETABLE

Zana Bayne.  I think I have to have one.  Birthday prezzie to myself?  YES.

Check out Zana’s blog GARBAGE DRESS HERE.  Lots of GAGA love, as well as fantastic shots of Zana’s outfits.



Pleet 2011 Fall RTW
March 4, 2011, 14:41
Filed under: costumes, COVETABLE

Samantha makes the best jumper/rompers. I own two and am pleased to say they are also the shortest items I own…which makes it all the more fun each time I wear one.

I’m a little obsessed with this green one from her Fall collection.   So diggin the pompom details…reminds me of Mexico…or New Mexico.  I’d also really like to run around in that cape and cause a bit of havoc.

More at Elle.com



F/W ’11 Ready-to-wear for under $25.
February 13, 2011, 19:34
Filed under: costumes, wardrobe

Two of my favorite shows so far are Vena Cava and Band of Outsiders.

I’m loving on two small touches that each brought with them.

Vena Cava – the silver and gold modern plate necklaces caught my fancy.

So modern and so not in my normal repertoire.

I was inspired to add something new, so I found this lovely girl on Etsy for a solid $19.

Band of Outsiders – boots with RED laces.  Rugged red laces.

There are tons of options online, as well as at your local JCrew men’s dept.  All for a solid $4.

Both of these items will spruce up my look.  My black stand-by lace up boots will get a nice lift and my neck will have some fun.

 



put your paws up for Mr. Alan
February 11, 2011, 12:00
Filed under: costumes, COVETABLE

I can’t decide which I would wear first…prob the second suit down…

via new york mag.



In a love affair with the color beige
November 5, 2010, 11:18
Filed under: costumes

Beige is a very pale yellowish-cream color.

The term originates from beige cloth, a cotton fabric left in its natural color. It has since come to be used for a range of light tints chosen for their neutral or cool appearance.

Beginning in the 1920s, the meaning of the term beige expanded to the point where it is now also used for a wide range of pale brown shades.
The first recorded use of beige as a color name in English was in 1887.

 

.all.from.fashion.gone.rogue.



Fall into a Hat season…
October 17, 2010, 18:45
Filed under: costumes, COVETABLE

 

Fall is the perfect time to flex your hat wearing muscle.  get to it.

angie images from Vanessa Jackman.

Rest from fashion gone rogue.



cat in leather harness, cat in pink goggles, cat playing the guitar
July 27, 2010, 07:01
Filed under: costumes, Kittehs

Siri Tollerod by Miles Aldridge via fgr.



I want a Samantha Pleet Doll.
June 25, 2010, 08:18
Filed under: costumes, féminin

this video was filmed at Samantha’s Granny’s house in Philly.  She said her Granny’s house is unreal…and honestly after watching the video….just how unreal is  really apparent.

Happy last day of the generally agreed upon work week!



a week of wonders | treasure chest full of influence
June 24, 2010, 08:43
Filed under: CINEMA, costumes

After I recovered from chatting and meeting one of my girl crushes, Samantha Pleet, I bumped up the priority of Valerie a týden divů on my netflix list and finally watched it.  This  film popped up onto my radar a little while ago and then sadly ended up at the end of my queue….fitting how it’s resurfaced.

I met  Samantha when she joined other designers for a discussion at school [ CCA+D] on green design.  Miss Pleet mentioned Valerie and the influence it has had on her work.

I highly recommend the flick if you like dark beautiful creepy lace-y rolled into one.

BTW, SP is super cute and sweet and I am happy to report I picked up a black silk romper that might have ended up on Victoria Legrand…as Samantha is getting Victoria pretty for tour.

Watching the flick has me torn, will my new apt will be painted all stark white with antique splash…or robin’s egg blue.

Both colors will go with a vintage iron bed, vintage screen and lace curtains, so at least it will all come together.

and now that I know there’s a book and it’s availabe in the US…I must have…….





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