discarded to divine 2013...

another year has come and gone...and it is time for discarded to divine 2013...i am bummed as this will be the first year that i will be missing the event...but...i wanted to do a post on it...because it is a great cause...and perhaps some of you might want to attend...

discarded to divine...reclaimed fashion...reclaimed lives...how did this magnificent event come about to be?  here is "the story" taken from the website:

It began in 2005, when St. Vincent de Paul Society Help Desk Director Sally Rosen found herself facing a pile of unusable donated clothing, torn and stained. Sally thought, "While working at the Help Desk, I realized our discards were waiting to be transformed into divine creations." She began to think of recycling, imagining how these discarded garments could be remade into something new and useful. She decided to invite designers to take the discarded clothing and create wearable works of art and exquisite home décor, thus Discarded to Divine was created.

Discarded to Divine is a charitable event showcasing the talents of professional and aspiring designers who transform discarded, donated clothing into one-of-a-kind couture creations and exquisite home décor which are auctioned to benefit those overcoming poverty, homelessness and domestic violence.

pretty amazing that a pile of unused clothing...would inspire one woman to take that...and make this incredible fashion event...and fundraiser...for st. vincent de paul...

the actual event is always fun with silent auction and all...but there is also a preview of the garments...shown one nite at the de young museum...click on the website link above to get all the info! 

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discarded to divine 2012...

i have always loved the concept behind "discarded to divine"...which was started by st vincent de paul society...with a simple goal..."recycled fashions...renewed lives..."

the story behind "discarded to divine"

It began in 2005, when St. Vincent de Paul Society Help Desk Director Sally Rosen found herself facing a pile of unusable donated clothing, torn and stained. Sally thought, "While working at the Help Desk, I realized our discards were waiting to be transformed into divine creations." She began to think of recycling, imagining how these discarded garments could be remade into something new and useful. She decided to invite designers to take the discarded clothing and create wearable works of art and exquisite home décor, thus Discarded to Divine was created.

Discarded to Divine is a charitable event showcasing the talents of professional and aspiring designers who transform discarded, donated clothing into one-of-a-kind couture creations and exquisite home décor which are auctioned to benefit those overcoming poverty, homelessness and domestic violence.
(taken from website)

this years gala event will be held thursday, april 26...at the san francisco design center galleria...tickets can be purchased here...plus a preview nite will be held at the de young museum friday, april 13...

photo credit: gabriel harber

gaultier & decades...

back in january i posted about the upcoming exhibition at the de young museum in san francisco..."the fashion world of jean paul gaultier"...and as the opening day is quickly approaching...another surprise announcement came in my sunday paper pink section...

for those who are looking for something to wear to the opening-nite party...(that would not be me...not because i already have something to wear...but because i will not be attending...) however if you are... =) read on...

cameron silver and christos garkinos...the owners of decades vintage and modern designer consignment boutique will be hosting a trunk show of gaultier clothing...here in san francisco...it will be open to the public...on march 16th...at the mark hopkins hotel on nob hill...10am to 9pm...

what will they be bringing? "a variety of gaultier apparel, from one-of-a-kind vintage couture gowns to spring dresses, coats and handbags..."

les sigh...maybe i'll just go look and dream...

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the fashion world of jean paul gaultier...

here is something to look forward to..."the fashion world of jean paul gaultier: from the sidewalk to the catwalk" will be shown at the san francisco de young museum...starting march 24th through august 19, 2012...this will be a must see for me...

the de young museum website describes the exhibit as such...

"Dubbed fashion’s enfant terrible, Jean Paul Gaultier launched his first prêt-à-porter collection in 1976 and founded his own couture house in 1997. Emerging as a designer in the 1980s, he developed his own dress codes that reflected the changing world around him. The openly gay Gaultier uses his designs to tackle gender and transgender issues through androgynous, gender-bending styles, meanwhile delving even further into some of the darker areas of the sexual revolution. Always provocative, he addresses issues of multiculturalism by bringing ethnic diversity to the Paris runway. Despite the gritty and sometimes controversial context of his collections, the clothes remain beautiful, superbly crafted with the finest dressmaking and detailing skills.

This dynamic, multimedia exhibition will include 120 haute couture and prêt-à-porter designs created between the early 1970s and 2010, along with numerous sketches, archival documents, fashion photographs, and video clips that spotlight Gaultier’s collaborations with filmmakers, choreographers, and musicians, most notably Madonna. For this presentation, Gaultier partnered with the Montreal-based theater company Ubu Compagnie de Création in the design of 30 animated mannequins who talk and sing in playful and poetic vignettes."

will you be planning to see this exhibit?

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discarded to divine...

it always amazes me when designers come up with an amazing new collection...but even moreso...when a designer can take a piece of discarded clothing...and make something beautiful out of it...and that is what "discarded to divine" is all about...

Discarded to Divine features a collection of one-of-a-kind fashion creations and exquisite home décor created from discarded clothing and materials, benefitting the St. Vincent de Paul Society's services to people battling poverty, homelessness and domestic violence.

if you would like to read more about the start of this charitable event...click here to read the story...

this friday april 15th - there is a free preview of the collection at the de young museum starting at 6pm...i truly wish i wasn't out of town...cause i would definately be there...if you have the chance...i highly recommend checking it out...

and the main event is scheduled for thursday april 28th from 6 - 10pm at the hall at st. mary's cathedral...with a live auction...

not only is this a very green event...but it is also for a great cause...

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balenciaga and spain...

yesterday i had the opportunity to view the absolutely fabulous exhibit of balenciaga and spain at the de young museum in san francisco...absolutely breath-taking...if you have a chance to see it...i highly recommend it...showing until july 4th...

the dapper cristobal balenciaga

here are some of my favorites...(please excuse the "flash"...a photographer i am not...obvi)

evening ensemble of black silk organza and white cotton pique, summer 1951


dorian leigh wearing evening dress of black wool jersey, brown tulle and ivory silk flower, winter 1952


sue murray wearing evening dress of black silk crepe with "chou" wrap of black silk gazar, winter 1967


lisa fonssagrives wearing coat of fawn wool duvetyn, winter 1950
loved every coat there...this was my fave, though...


evening dress of black velvet with thinestone and bead embroidery, winter 1967


evening bolero jacket of blood-red velvet with jet and passementarie embroidery, winter 1946


cocktail dress of fuchsia silk shantung and black lace with black silk satin ribbons, summer 1966


evening dress of black silk crepe, winter 1967


new addition to my collection of coffee table books

pulp fashion: the art of isabelle de borchgrave...

as if i wasn't already SO excited about the exhibit coming to the de young museum in march "balenciaga and spain"...today i heard of another exhibit...this one will be at the legion of honor..."pulp fashion: the art of isabelle de borchgrave" (february 5th thru june 5th) needless to say...i cannot wait...

here is a little snippet...doesn't it sound interesting?

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. Painting and manipulating the paper, she forms trompe l’oeil masterpieces of elaborate dresses inspired by rich depictions in early European painting or by iconic costumes in museum collections around the world. The Legion of Honor is the first American museum to dedicate an entire exhibition to the work of Isabelle de Borchgrave, although her creations have been widely displayed in Europe.

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.

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balenciaga and spain...

be still my beating heart...look what is coming to san francisco...at the de young museum...to be exact...starting march 26 thru july 4...you can bet i will be viewing this spectacular exhibit...and most likely...more than one time...

here is a snippet of the description:

Balenciaga and Spain examines the profound and enduring influence of Spain on the work of haute couture master Cristóbal Balenciaga. The impact of Spanish culture, history, and traditions is explored through the recurring themes in Balenciaga’s oeuvre and organized in the exhibition in six sections: Spanish Art, Regional Dress, The Spanish Court, Religious Life and Ceremony, the Bullfight, and Dance. Hamish Bowles, the European editor at large for Vogue will serve as guest curator. Objects are drawn from museum and private collections in France, Spain and the United States, including the FAMSF collection

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what is haute couture?

earlier this year...i got a chance to see the yves st laurent exhibit at the de young museum in san francisco...actually i went three times...yes...it was THAT spectacular...

the de young museum was fortunate to have the only u.s. showing of the yves st laurent retrospective...the exhibition featured nearly 130 of the designer's works from 1962 to 2002...

can you imagine?? nearly 130 outfits (complete with stunning accessories and shoes) were featured, many of which were haute couture worn by well-known icons, such as nan kempner and catherine deneuve...

an explanation of haute couture was featured as part of the exhibit - i found it informative and thought you might also...

In France, the term haute couture is protected by law and is defined by the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Paris. Their rules state that only "those companies mentioned on the list drawn up each year by a commission domiciled at the Ministry for Industry are entitled to avail themselves" of the label haute couture. The criteria for haute couture were established in 1945 and updated in 1992.

To earn the right to call itself a couture house and to use the term haute couture in its advertising and any other way, members of the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Paris must follow these rules:

-Design made-to-order for private clients, with one or more fittings.
-Have a workshop (atelier) in Paris that employs at least fifteen people full-time.
-Each season (i.e., twice a year), present a collection to the Paris press, comprising at least thirty-five runs with outfits for both daytime wear and evening wear.

The term haute couture may have been misused by ready-to-wear brands since the late 1980s, so that its true meaning may have become blurred with that of prêt-à-porter (the French term for ready-to-wear fashion) in the public perception. Every haute couture house also markets prêt-à-porter collections, which typically deliver a higher return on investment than their custom clothing. In fact, much of the haute couture displayed at fashion shows today is rarely sold; it is created to enhance the prestige of the house. Falling revenues have forced a few couture houses to abandon their less profitable couture division and concentrate solely on the less prestigious prêt-à-porter.



Photo: Marina Schiano in Evening Gown. Fall-Winter 1970. © The Estate of Jeanloup Sieff