"This is the violet hour, the hour of hush and wonder, when the affectations glow and valor is reborn, when the shadows deepen along the edge of the forest and we believe that, if we watch carefully, at any moment we may see the unicorn."


Saturday, April 9, 2011

Pulp Fashion...and....a Bridge for Suki

I saw the most amazing exhibit at the Legion of Honour (the de Young's sister museum) today.  It is titled "Pulp Fashion" and is filled with lifesized clothing from various periods in history - made ENTIRELY out of paper!  Mais Oui! The Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave is a painter by training, but textile and costume are her muses. Working in collaboration with leading costume historians and young fashion designers, de Borchgrave crafts a world of splendor from the simplest rag paper. Even her "lace" are cut in the most delicate manner...and sparkling "jewels and embellishments" are painted on to the paper.  Mon Dieu!

Pictured above are some of the ladies of the de Medici Court.

White Dresses....from a variety of eras... the one in the back on the right is a copy of one of Coco Chanel's earliest dresses.

Pulp Fashion draws on several themes and presents quintessential examples in the history of costume—from Renaissance finery of the Medici family and gowns worn by Elizabeth I and Marie-Antoinette to the creations of the grand couturiers Frederick Worth, Paul Poiret, Christian Dior, and Coco Chanel. Special attention is given to the creations and studio of Mariano Fortuny, the eccentric early-20th-century artist who is both a major source of inspiration to de Borchgrave and a kindred spirit.



The magical Fortuny Tent....the clothes, the actual tent, the bedspread - all made of paper!

The "Gentlemen" are also represented here....  charming clothes for a Marquis...or a Count.

A Neopolitian woman (with Rooster) - modeled after the 1635 painting by Stanzione.

Isabelle's sketch of a 1545 painting of Eleanor of Toledo. (That's Spain ....not Ohio!)


Isabelle and her Assistants painting all of the inticate details of the dress onto.....paper.

The finished dress!


More painted creations!

And... for those of you who prefer something a bit more "modern"..19th Century Dresses and hats!
The Legion of Honour sits atop a hill overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge...one of the loveliest vistas in the world.  Suki just did a post on "Bridges" - so I had to take a few photos for her today - in remembrance of
her life in San Francisco.  These are for you Suki!




I hope you all enjoyed your visit to the Legion and to San Francisco!
Love,
♥ Robin ♥

Posted by Robin at 5:37 PM
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17 comments:

  1. Teri and her Stylish Adventure Cats April 9, 2011 at 6:43 PM

    Amazing! Thanks for taking us with you! One of my nieces was in a fashion show of fashions made from magazines, but this is so 'rich' and sumptuous. Lovely bridge photos!

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  2. Trixie and Dustin of TheTeaDrinker.comApril 10, 2011 at 11:29 PM

    Oh goody, thank you for sharing so many fine pix of the exhibition; I really really really want to visit this one. So glad you went! xo

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  3. studio loloApril 11, 2011 at 5:20 AM

    O-M-G!!!!! I can't get over the crafts(woman)ship that went into this show!! paper, really?? More than amazing. Wow!

    Wonderful shots of SF for Suki. I love the faded bridge between the trees.

    I was going to call you last night during the sox and the slimeballs :)
    I'm fighting a cold or something and just felt wrung out. Today is a better day!

    Talk soo...

    xo
    Lo♥

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  4. sukipoetApril 11, 2011 at 12:20 PM

    Unbelievably beautiful are these paper costumes. amazing. inventive. unusual.

    thanks for taking us there with you.

    and a special thanks for the bridge views. love them. at last we have a couple of warmish days and it feels like spring again.

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  5. MimApril 11, 2011 at 4:29 PM

    this is truly amazing - the costumes made out of cloth would be amazing enough but this - woohoo! the work! the talent!
    and of course, lovely photos of GGB

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  6. kjApril 11, 2011 at 5:17 PM

    hahaha! all i can think of is what happens when the lights go out or it rains midday? i love and admire the artistry, but i have to admit if feels abit indulgent: why not create masterful functional clothing for real people? (sorry, i'm in a state of waste not want not) :)

    nice to see bridges for suki, robin.

    ♥
    kj

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  7. marianneApril 12, 2011 at 1:04 AM

    AMAZING!!!!!!
    Wish I could see this with my own eyes.......
    And that last picture of the bridge between those trees did you took that ?! It is fabulous!!!!!!
    Sun is shining here.....Hope for you as well today!
    ♥♥♥>M<

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  8. RobinApril 12, 2011 at 6:44 AM

    Teri (and Furballs) - always nice to see you visiting here! I am happy you enjoyed this post.. I imagine your Niece had fun wearing those "Pulp Fashions" - and it had to bring a lot of smiles to the audience!

    Hugs to you and the "Gang",

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  9. RobinApril 12, 2011 at 6:46 AM

    Dear T et D,
    I hope you can make it down to see this....the work is so accurate - even looking closely at the "material" - it looks like real fabric!

    See you soon!

    Love,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  10. RobinApril 12, 2011 at 6:48 AM

    Lolololo.... I am happy you enjoyed this....
    I know it is not for everyone... but I found it truly wonderful! (As do many people - this exhibit is hugely popular!)

    Sorry about the Sox last night.....

    Love,

    ♥ LS ♥

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  11. RobinApril 12, 2011 at 6:50 AM

    Suki, you have been on my mind a lot... when I was at the Legion, I HAD to walk over to the cliff's end and shoot those photos for you. I was hoping you would like the inventiveness and talent of this exhibit.... there's a wonderful dress (that I didn't show) ...but I am sending you a photo of it! The perfect gown for YOU for this year's Willow Ball!

    Love,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  12. RobinApril 12, 2011 at 6:53 AM

    KJ, yes, if one was to wear these creations, rain would present a problem! Ha-ha! As for this being an "indulgent" exhibit.... well, would anyone want to see today's midfrift-baring, miniskirted styles re-created? Today's "fashion" is pretty boring.... but, that's just my opinion...

    Love,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  13. RobinApril 12, 2011 at 6:55 AM

    Mim, I thought you as an artist in many mediums would enjoy this... so much thought, so many hours of "nimble fingers" cutting, painting...it really was extraordinary to see.

    Hope your cold is GONE!

    Love,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  14. RobinApril 12, 2011 at 7:00 AM

    Marianne! Zuster! Du bist zuruck! Ich habe Du vermisst! Aber, Ich habe Dein Photoalbum gesehen - und......wow! Ein andere Welt - unglaublich! Dein "Crew" sieht alles nett und freundlich an! I love the cooking class photos!!!!

    Yes, I took the GG Bridge photos...next to the museum, there's a small path that lets you wander out to the cliff's edge - and voila - there's the Bridge! I was happy to be there on a sunny day....in the fog, you can't see anything!

    Wilkommen Zuruck!

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  15. Tess KincaidApril 17, 2011 at 7:59 PM

    It's hard to believe these are all made of paper. Fabulous!!

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  16. Amanda SummerApril 18, 2011 at 2:49 PM

    what artistry - and so clever! i love the close up of the detail work on the paper -- very cool exhibit!!

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  17. Surinder SinghAugust 24, 2013 at 4:05 AM

    Superb! hand crafted collection ...

    Fashion Photographer

    ReplyDelete

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