tao kurihara.

it's taken a while, but i've finally found the perfect designer to link to this project.
tao kurihara is a japanese fashion designer and her work is currently being exhibited at the barbican in london, as part of the 'Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion' showcase.

http://www.barbican.org.uk/artgallery/event-detail.asp?ID=10771

'an abundance of natural and beige woolen corsages.'

ivory wool and knit bodice with lacing and crochet corsage decoration. 

this collection called 'stoles and flowers' featured a plethora of tie dyed capes, wraps, loose trousers, dresses and of course, stoles, all trimmed with ruffles, lace or FLORAL CORSAGES.

after spending the last two days making corsages, i wanted to find a designer who uses them in a creative way in their work. and i've found the perfect lady :)

here are a few scans from the exhibition book, showing work from a variety of other japanese designers. i specifically looked for corsages and/or dress decorations;

rei kawakubo - mixed materials sleevless mini dress.

yohji yamamoto - while silk/wool satin dress with twisting decoration.

jun takahashi

jacket, sweater, skirt, scarf, belt, gloves, and stocking of various fabrics including wool, cottom, leather, and blended fabric. woven, embroidered and printed with polychrome floral pattern.

bruno fabbris photography; vaporescentes.

http://www.brunofabbris.com/portofolio/index.php

thuoght these photos were too beautiful not to share. i love everything about them.

smoke, haze, sheer, ruffles.

iris van herpen.

from dazed and confused magazine; Influenced by digital technology, Van Herpen let art, fashion and sculptural shapes blend into her Haute Couture collection.

 Iris Van Herpen S/S11 Haute Couture.

Older collections; very EXTREME corsage examples;

victorian inspired.

Young Woman With A Corsage, originally uploaded by Mirabilia.

i love the victorian era; it's so decorative and glamourous. i've used a lot of cameos and old victorian scrap book pictures in my sketchbook and have noticed that the ladies are wearing corsages or decorative corsages in their hair or around their necks. it's really strange going back through your sketchbook and find that you've had this inspiration all along. i did a general internet search to see what other inspiration i could find;

the other really exciting thing is i'm being given some old photographs dating back to the 1890's. i can't wait to see them but they're currently living in selsey.

http://www.fashion-era.com/the_victorian_era.htm

old vogue.

yayayyay.
i came across this website http://www.ciaovogue.com that posts scans of old vogue magazines. this is peeeerfect for finding images for my inspiration board :)

corsage and other detailing in fashion.

chanel;

karen millen;

these karen millen dresses are a safe example of how a corsage can be used in fashion. at the shoulder of a dress or duplicated and used as detail at the bottom or middle of dresses. when i create my final outcome i will think about the placement of the corsage and how i want it to look on a garment.

john galliano for christian dior;

Haute Couture Week: Christian Dior Spring 2011

'The designer John Galliano can always be relied upon to dream up some of the catwalk's biggest and most beautiful dresses. 

His latest collections for Dior, shown yesterday at the opening of Paris Haute Couture Week, were no exception.

Inspired by the fashion illustrator Rene Gruau, who was close to Dior, Galliano said he was interested in the artist's elegant brush stroke and sophisticated play between light and shade'

the stitched detailing in this gown is stunning.

a very exaggerated corsage on this dress. working it's way from the shoulder to the mid section and to the bottom.

big bow corsage.

decorative floral corsage detailing.

 John Galliano defined the 1990s fashion world and is known for his historical odes and interest in honoring the classical vintage looks. He was also interested in grand runway productions that require enormous sums of money to produce and always create a press sensation. Producing under his own label as well as for the house of Dior, Gallianos work is focused on highly glamorous, historically referenced, and exquisitely crafted gowns that have made him notorious in the world of contemporary fashion.

 http://www.johngalliano.com/

 

again, i like the striped ruffles on the side of this dress. the colours work really well and john galliano's fashion is constantly fun and refreshing.

 now i get the idea of making decorative head pieces. perhaps a corsage can be used as a hair decoration anyway..? 

more interesting head piece ideas; 

using wire to protrude things out...?

simple but mad.

i love how these dresses have a vintage appeal to them. the bouffant sleeves, and flat hats.