Tag Archives: design

Artists, Designers, Fashion Flashback, Music, Style File

An Ode to Lady Gaga’s Living Dress

Lady Gaga‘s Monster Ball graced Planet Earth from 2009 through 2011. The worldwide tour truly was a monster, with 8 legs, 201 shows in total (every single one sold out) and it even spawned it’s own HBO DVD release - Lady Gaga Presents The Monster Ball Live from Madison Square Gardens.

Diva-centric and flamboyant Miss Gaga had all eyes on her during the planning of the tour, and expectations were high for her to present a glamorous spectacle of a show and boy, did she exceed the expectations. The tour was revamped when it arrived in the UK, changing the complete synopsis of the show and virtually bankrupting Gaga but the tour went from strength to strength and had continued success around the globe. It followed a jovial Gaga as she made her way through the 4 segments of the show: City, Subway, Forest, Monster Ball. Each segment had a variant atmosphere and contained songs which corresponded with the theme (e.g. Glitter and Grease during City, Teeth during Forest etc).

While I could write all day about the tour (which sadly I didn’t attend personally), this post is solely about one landmark fashion piece featured during The Monster Ball. The Living Dress was worn by Gaga while performing “So Happy I Could Die“, in which she was raised up above the crowd on a scissor lift. The name of the dress corresponds with it’s characteristics - the dress is free to move of its own accord.

Here, Lady Gaga wears the Living Dress while performing So Happy I Could Die.

Here, Lady Gaga wears the Living Dress while performing So Happy I Could Die.

The dress was six weeks in the making and is made from stainless steel, various forms of nylon fabrics, sheet and rods, different weights of plastic sheeting and coutil for the corset. As is evident, the dress is very heavy but the weight is distributed making it wearable. It was created by designer Vinilla Burnham and made at Elstree Studios, the same place in which the giant angler fish (the Fame Monster) which Gaga fights during “Paparazzi” was constructed. The dress was completed 2 hours before it’s debut on stage.

At the beginning of the performance, two pieces from the breast of the dress cover Gaga’s face. They then close and retract themselves while the headdress begins to fan out along with the skirt of the dress opening and closing to reveal her legs and the trail lifting up and down, quoted ”just like a dragonfly coming out of its shell.” The headdress, dress movements and face fans are all connected to motors and remote-controlled from offstage and an elaborate system of motors and pulleys was used to pull the skirts up and back, and to enable the wings to spring up from behind Gaga’s back. The dress was worn only for the tour but was used on The Jonathan Ross Show during a performance of “Brown Eyes” in which you can see all the dresses functions clearly.

Also, you can see the wing release during “So Happy I Could Die” here.

 

Personally, I think this dress is a landmark piece of fashion and a spectacle within itself. Not only can it move of it’s own accord, the fabric and general design of the dress is just stunning. As far as tour costumes go, it’s right up there with one of the best and exemplifies dexterous craftsmanship and imagination.  I was very sad to see The Living Dress go, I hope Gaga will use it during a performance in the future!

 

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Fashion Item of the Day

Fashion pick of the day: April 5th – Giuseppe Zanotti “Wild Africa” Wedges

This is a high fashion pick, something I don’t usually go for but I saw these and DIED. These Guiseppe Zanotti wedges are amazing! I first heard of Guiseppe Zanotti when I was in Dubai and I had a look in their store and it’s been a fashion love affair ever since! They’re African themed with the gold shards around the ankle strap and they’re heelless (evidently). They don’t come cheap, selling for a hefty $1,425! - http://www.giuseppezanottidesign.com/us/women/wedge_cod44501885tt.html

Sorry, I just had to share and I hope you love them just as much as I do!

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Uncategorized

David Beckham Reveals His Newly-Tattooed Torso in China

Photo by Rex Features.

Photo by Rex Features.

BEIJING, CHINA — Footballer and model David Beckham showed off his toned torso while speaking to a group of students at Peking University in China. The husband to fashion queen VB has been in the country for the past week promoting youth football in his new role as China’s football ambassador.

His new ink reads: “Life and death are determined by fate, rank and riches decreed by heaven.”

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Fashion Item of the Day

HAD TO FEATURE: Awesome Kitten Leggings from Abandon Ship Apparel!

kittens-leggings

 

How AMAZING are these leggings?! I felt I had to share this somewhat hipster find with you guys as they just blew me away! Satanic yet  satirical, just what fashion seems to be turning into nowadays! I’m not a massive fan of this hipster scene taking over the blogosphere and social platforms but these were wow enough to win a space on my blog! Available at Abandon Ship Apparel for £20! - http://store.abandonshipapparel.com/product/kitten-leggings/

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Dior, John Galliano, Oscar de la Renta, Oscar de la Renta

John Galliano’s Court Hearing Date Set for October 24

Credit/Source: PA Photos/Vogue

Credit/Source: PA Photos/Vogue

Shamed designer John Galliano‘s court hearing date against former employers Christian Dior has been set for the 24th October at the Court of Appeals in Paris. Galliano’s lawyer, Chantal Giraud-van Gaver of Coblence & Associés, is seeking damages said to be in the range of €6 million (£5.2 million), relating to Galliano’s much-publicised dismissal in March 2011 reports Vogue.

Last month, Dior challenged a decision made by the Conseil de prud’hommes (the Labour Relations Court), which said that it was qualified to hear Galliano’s claims. The fashion house said that the case should be instead heard in a commercial court, because the complicated nature of his contracts with the British designer’s own label and Dior meant that he should be viewed as an independent contractor of the company, rather than an employee. Galliano’s lawyer said that he should be treated as a salaried member of staff, WWD reports.

Galliano spent a temporary residence at Oscar de la Renta working and creating with the 80-year-old designer.

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Uncategorized

A Blog Expanded: Welcome the incorporation of music and art coverage into Globe Fashion

Since fashion month is over and I’m struggling to find things to regularly update my blog about such as new collections and styles, I’ve decided to introduce new content to my blog to fill it up a bit more, vary what I write and also attract a wider audience.

I’m going to start writing about music, artistic musicians in particular, as fashion and music are more closely related now than they ever have been with artists turning to fashion to express themselves, not only through their music.

I hope this change won’t drastically affect people’s following of my blog, and I hope you enjoy the new content I’ll be bringing to your computer screens.

Greg. x

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Givenchy, Riccardo Tisco, Rihanna

Rihanna’s world tour outfits designed by Riccardo Tisci

Credit: Riccardo Tisci/Vogue
Credit: Riccardo Tisci/Vogue

Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci has created bespoke pieces for artist Rihanna to wear on her Diamonds World Tour. The outfits are worn in the first act of the show, which is separated into three different acts.

The costumes harbour the style the singer goes for, street yet sexual which the designer called her “obsession”. The first show of the tour was in Buffalo but the second show in Boston had to be postponed as the singer was reportedly suffering from laryngitis. ”I enjoyed making these looks,” said Tisci to Vogue. “Rihanna represents what young and amazing means today. She is punk and talented. She offers intelligence, energy and pure beauty.”

The opening outfit is a floor-length black ruffled silk cape and thigh-high boots, and other pieces designer by Tisci are a white leather bra and satin mini shorts. Tisci added: “”Rihanna has what every girl inspires to have. She is the face of her generation.”

 

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Cara Delevingne sports a Cécile "Bad Ass Paris" t-shirt during PFW.
Cécile

Take a look at the new Cécile range

Cara Delevingne sports a Cécile "Bad Ass Paris" t-shirt during PFW.

Cara Delevingne sports a Cécile “Bad Ass Paris” t-shirt during PFW. Source: Vogue

Cara Delevingne is paving the way for new British label Cécile to expand it’s horizon after boosting their image by wearing one of their t-shirts while out and about at Paris Fashion Week. Cécile was launched for spring/summer 2013 by a group of anonymous industry experts who decided to remain without identity so attention will be focused on the label rather than the designers who create the clothes.

The brand was launched to fill the gap in the market for a brand which created clothes which could be worn with a range of other wardrobe pieces, saying: “We felt that there was a need for the perfect T-shirt to wear under a Celine jacket or the statement sweatshirt with your favourite jeans,” one of the founders said. “We wanted to focus on our very European aesthetic, but keep it super affordable and great quality. Cécile is all about high impact T-shirts that enhance your best basics, high-end or high-street.”

They admitted to Vogue that this lucky endorsement by fashion’s “it-girl” couldn’t have come at a better time: “She’s amazing and we are thrilled that she is a fan of the brand. She was someone who was in our minds throughout designing the last collection, so her wearing Cécile is the perfect fit.”

Take a look at Cécile’s A/W 13-14 pieces in the gallery below, and the brand’s clothes are available to buy on Liberty: http://www.liberty.co.uk/search?productsPerPage=60&keywords=cecile&x=0&y=0

 

Source: Cécile
Source: Cécile
Source: Cécile
Source: Cécile
Source: Cécile
Source: Cécile
Source: Cécile
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Vivienne Westwood

Vivienne Westwood Slates Michelle Obama’s Dress Sense, Dubbing It “Dreadful”

Michelle Obama in a number of looks.

Michelle Obama in a number of looks.

British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood has called the First Lady of the United States’ dress sense “dreadful” while discussing her upcoming exhibition called Punk: Chaos to Couture at the New York Met Museum. Westwood is renowned for her outspoken attitude and often contrary opinions compared to the general consensus.

“Don’t talk about her, it’s dreadful what she wears. I don’t want to talk about it, really, She’s a very nice looking lady but it’s a nonstarter regarding clothes that suit her,” she said about Michelle Obama. She also made clear her negative opinion on the American media and the museum itself to the New York Times, after it refused to present her 2004 exhibition held in London.

“”I think it’s ridiculous. I’m also rather bored with American journalists. Every time punk comes up, they think of me as a kind of trophy, and then you hear nothing from them in between. You know, America is an isolated territory, with all those editors who think they are so powerful. Mostly, I think they are rubbish.”

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Alexander McQueen, Paris Fashion Week, Sarah Burton

#PFW: Alexander McQueen A/W13-14 Collection Review + Photos

The ever-theatrical brand Alexander McQueen presented a truly extravagant masterpiece for their autumn/winter 2013 collection. Creative director Sarah Burton has helmed the brand since 2011 when the brand’s main mind and founder Lee Alexander McQueen committed suicide. Burton has done well on keeping up the brand’s style of big, bold and absolutely insane in some cases.

Burton presented us with an Elizabethan creation intertwined with churchy historical feel. It was a beautiful collection, everything encrusted in pearls and models wearing tall collars of frill and properness. Fantasy, history and fashion went hand-in-hand with divine creations looking like something straight from a 17th century royal’s wardrobe. Of course, with every Alexander McQueen piece, the craftsmanship was unbelievable – everything perfectly precise and in place where it should be. Burton took attendees to another world with this collection.

Take a look at the breathtaking collection below (CLICK for larger preview + slideshow).

Credit: GoRunway
Credit: GoRunway
Credit: GoRunway
Credit: GoRunway
Credit: GoRunway
Credit: GoRunway
Credit: GoRunway
Credit: GoRunway
Credit: GoRunway
Credit: GoRunway
Credit: GoRunway
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