vintage and costume auction (part II)

Spiral designs and brocade featured heavily, I think that I particularly love the colours of these waistcoats and jackets!

All of the embellishments were amazing and very inspiring. Most of my drawings include spiral designs in some way or another, seeing all of these has definitely made me want to do some line drwings based on the patterns:- perhaps in future posts.

vintage and costume auction (part 1)

These are some of my favourite examples from a recent vintage and costume auction that I went to.

Unfortunately and slightly disappointingly the majority of the clothing was reproduction or as I mentioned costume etc. However the few gems that I had time to look at and photograph (alas badly!) are here for your perusal!

Note the bumble-bee head is a particular high-point!

beautiful1930's lace and organza dress

another lace dress interesting sleeves, off-stone coloured lace

Back view of the sixties turquoise blue and gold silk evening gown (pictured above)

the sleeve from an exquisite lace trimmed victorian style pale shell pink and cream dress

Tomorrow will be kinder

These two vintage lovelies are the amazing folk duo the Secret Sisters as featured on the newly released Hunger Games soundtrack.

The song Tomorrow will be kinder is hauntingly beautiful. I am trying to not succumb to the urge to go and watch it yet until I have finished reading the trilogy (Suzanne Collins) although there are some library stocking issues as it has been so popular, and I'm too tight to go and buy them! 

The story does however bear similarities to the wonderful Belgian writer Amelie Nothomb's short story Sulphuric acid where the basic story sets out a the concept of a reproduced concentration camp, albeit where the prisoners are also trapped within a horrific 'Big Brother'-esque Television programme that even the Polititians eventually become powerless to have any sway over.

It is a very interesting and powerful story that I'd recommend, in fact so-far I have enjoyed all of her novels and would definitely suggest looking her up!

Poisson D'Avril (day later)

Zdzislaw Beksinsk is an amazing painter whose work I have loved now for some while, I was first introduced to his paintings by my sixth form art teacher's friend, who lent me a book all about him.

I have been having nightmares for years and I love how the images and symbolism referenced within his paintings really speak to me at certain times.

Although the images are dark I think that the are peaceful and beautiful in a decaying, unusual way.

here are some of my favourites!