Showing posts with label Yves Saint Laurent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yves Saint Laurent. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Mid Week Rummage: YSL Pantsuit for the City

I found an old issue of Life magazine with Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward on the cover (Life, October 18, 1968). Unfortunately, some lovely young person wrote over most of the magazine...like on the cool ads. Beware when the kids are quiet....Anyway, I started looking through the mag anyway and came upon this:

"the chiffon see-through with the ostrich fluff around the hips (left) is St.Laurent's and the pants variation is by Galitzine. New York stores selling copies of the St. Laurent report that most buyers also choose the optional underpinnings. Galitzine usually sells hers with a bra to private customer."
Yves Saint Laurent showed his fall line and part of it was see through. I remember seeing something about it in the paper,  a see-through blouse, and didn't even want to approach my mom about that one. The heading was "See Through Break Through" and told about the launch of the transparent shirt and the topless bathing suit by Galitzine in 1964. While both had a lot of attention, nobody really bought into it, at least not in the US. In '68, YSL decided to try again. I still don't think it worked.....however, he did bring pantsuits to the city. 




Top photo: "Betty Saint (left) from his Paris salon, wears his wide-legged outfit and Faye Dunaway his jacketed black wool. Faye also bought a see-through dress---without the underpinnings.......Some restaurants are still in a quandary about whether or not to permit pants, but Miss Stutz for one says, 'I would rather change restaurants than change my clothes."

This was big.....real big. Before that it just wasn't acceptable to wear anything but a dress or skirt in the office or at school. It's hard to imagine when women in pants was not accepted. 



"At an unusual appearance at a New York fashion show, St.Laurent happily receives the applause of models who are all wearing his pantsuits.".....none in see-throughs...

Post by Eileen Patterson....who is GoofingOff




Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Cocktails, Anyone? Cocktail Dress Patterns at GoofingOff Sewing

What is it about a  cocktail dress that makes a woman feel sexy? Is it the silky fabric that clings in the right places....that turns a walk into an event to observe...the little extra wriggle in the walk?  That's the go to dress for date night or a friend's wedding. From the LBD to the Lady in Red they add something special to the night...

Here's a few dress patterns to make that special cocktail dress.

Vogue 1895 by Designers Tom and Linda Platt. Note the sweetheart neckline. 

Simplicity 8841 with fitted bodice and spaghetti straps from Jessica McClintock

Vogue 8149 Strapless with fitted bodice....

Butterick 5541 Draped dress with a sleek, sexy silhouette.


Butterick 3514 Sleek silhouette with a slit to show "just a little bit." 

McCall's 5770 from the early 1960's with fitted bodice and flared skirt. 

Advance 8728 from the 1950's. The trapeze dress, first designed by Yves  St. Laurent (who else?). Fitted at the shoulders, widening at the hips. Proper cocktail length somewhere around the knees.

Do I have one in my closet? Really? At least one, in black, close fitting to wear on special occasions....of course.

Post by Eileen Patterson....who is GoofingOff.
Use the coupon code BLOGGIN to get a 15% discount from the GoofingOff Sewing shop...exclusive to blog readers.