Jazz Age Lawn Party Style 2018

It's the Bees Knees baby! I danced the day away at the Jazz Age Lawn Party this weekend at Governor's Island. It was a celebration of all things of the 1920s in the spirit of a Great Gatsby party, flapper style, and jazz. I love that New York comes out in full for an event like this. The full lawn was covered in elaborate picnic set-ups of fans fully dressed for the period. I love that I saw lots of children to lots of seniors from every ethnic group embracing the music and culture of this era. 

There were lots of beautiful beaded and fringe flapper dresses as you would expect. Due to the warm weather, vintage 1920s style swimwear was a big hit for both men and women as well. I saw more gender fluidity where there were women who embraced the male collegiate looks with other men or more casual suspenders and men's tailoring for a dapper look. Daywear fashion and nautical looks also made the cut.

Charleston lessons were taught at the beginning, leading to a Charleston competition later in the day. Vintage cars were on display as well as vintage fashion vendors. There was a booth from the Penumbra foundation, making old-style tintype portraits using original techniques involving varnish, silver and bunsen burners.
Music was the driving force behind the event produced by Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra. The awesome vocals of Queen Esther kept everyone dancing. I really love that there was a Gramophone DJ spinning on original machines in between live music.
How lovely is spending a summer day on an island dressed up in some glamor? The bright sun brought out lots of handheld fans and beautifully crocheted parasols, pagoda umbrellas and paper parasols as well.
I missed the Coney Island Mermaid Parade also happening on the same day. My subway car was full of fish people and flappers! How amazing is New York City that there are enough fans of both eclectic events to populate them with crowds on the same day? How great is it that I actually have to choose which one to go to?
I call this a summer crowd-sourced vintage show. You can indulge in retro-themed cocktails while you dance the day away. They do this again in August! Come and show me your best moves at the next Jazz Age Lawn Party baby!

Photos by Mariana Leung

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Jazz Age Street Style

It's the bees knees! Vintage style was in full force for the Jazz Age Lawn Party the past weekend.  Governor's Island was overrun with gorgeous groups of people in 1920s inspired looks picnic or dance to the Michael Arenella Dreamland Orchestra.

The bright sun made parasols a hot accessory.  I saw a few antique lace umbrellas, some painted Chinese paper parasols and a few pagoda umbrellas like my own (that's me in the bottom left corner).   The other must-have embellishments included a flapper headband and long beads or pearls.

The clothing varied a bit.  There was a mix of beaded dresses.  Some were truly vintage, while some only vaguely resembled the era, but projected the brassiness.  Ladies adorned themselves in silky boudoir looks from the era with a Louise Brooks flair or daytime looks with draped sleeves and tea length dresses.

Of course there were a few of the exact same cheap fringed frocks that the drugstore bags as "flapper girl" costume.  I can only imagine how sweaty those poly costumes must have been.  They get points for effort.

I love to see the guys involved in dressing up.  Most went the "Newsies" route, with bow tie, suspenders and newsboy hat.  Some dressed in 20's summer attire of light suit and straw hat. Entire families dressed up to picnic and dance.

If you needed to augment your look, there were plenty of vintage fashion purveyors.  Everyone from Screaming Mimi's to the talented milliner Gretchen Fenston displayed goods with a 1920's attitude.

There is a second lawn party in August.  If you are ready to get dressed and do the Charleston, you can buy your tickets for the Jazz Age Lawn Party here.
Photos by Mariana Leung

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Fortuny y Madrazo Exhibit

Mariano Fortuny came from a prominent artistic family in Spain.  His most famous contributions to fashion history were his revolutionary pleated fabrics and Delphos dresses.  He also brought in the exotic references from Asia, Africa and multi-cultural muses of his travels into luxury dressing.

A new exhibit at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute examines Fortuny's work and inspiration.  Curated by Oscar de la Renta, the show shows a large range of his fashion designs, but also his paintings, photography and etchings.  There are photographs that Fortuny took in Greece and Morocco, as well as self portraits and one of his studio.  He was also ahead of his time in photographing his clothing designs on models from many different angles, so viewers could have a virtual 360 degree view like a modern lookbook.

He pioneered the hand pleating technique of his signature fabric (that no one has yet to replicate).  The light, airy Delphos dress was a rebel against the corseted silhouettes of recent past, and he weighted the dress down to hold its shape with glass beads.  He had a partner in his wife Henrietta, who was also an accomplished dressmaker and artist on his beautiful textile designs.  He created his own dyes and pigments for his artwork, some of which were marketed with his name.

I am floored (and envious) of Mariano Fortuny's rich life of such artistic creativity.  Besides painting, photography, textile and fashion design, he also was a theater and lighting designer... His family legacy had generations of artistic accomplishment that led to him, his family peers were the greatest artists of the century.  Being able to work with his wife, living in a gorgeous palazzo in Venice...Sounds heavenly doesn't it?   You must check out this exhibit!

Fortuny y Madrazo: An Artistic Legacy

Queen Sofia Spanish Institute

684 Park Avenue, New York NY 10065

November 30, 2012 - March 30, 2012

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TORONTO FASHION WEEK: Korhani Home Spring 2013

photos by Hing Ching Leung

The most dramatic fashion show at World MasterCard Fashion Week in Toronto has got to be Korhani Home.  Ironic as it is a carpet and home decor company and not one whose business is clothing.

They had the most buzzed about show last season in Toronto Fashion Week for their mix of piglets and punks on the runway, Venetian carnivale and Japanese elegance.  This year, they did not disappoint, with 1920's flappers, island Goddesses and 1980's bombshells.  Parrots replaced the teacup pigs as the animal fashion accessory of choice this season.

It is a unique way to showcase the graphic, trendy patterns of a rug company.  Designer Kirsten Korhani was inspired by the eras and home accessories produced by her firm.  The press generated by putting her home collection on the runway is a brilliant publicity move where few competitors could hope to achieve.  

For the guests, it was an entertaining show that inspired many to "cut a rug" and party

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BHLDN Holiday Sparkle

Is your Boardwalk Empire a source of fashion inspiration?  Naughty flapper chic more your style? BHLDN is Anthropologie's bridal component, offering a gorgeous range of vintage inspired accessories, clothes and decor for the offbeat bride.  They held a holiday preview at speakeasy-styled Hotel Delmano in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Beautiful jeweled hairbands, chandelier earrings, pearl necklaces were perfect for holiday soirees.  Glittering party shoes mixed with bow tie wine-stoppers, pocket watches, felt hats and French netting hair pieces.  This collection was not aimed at brides, but for any discerning lady of style who wanted some old school glamour.

Clothing included lace and crochet trimmed dresses with vintage prints.  Beaded frocks, fur trimmed gloves and boleros made you wonder why anyone would want to wear jeans on an every day basis.  Patterned paper decorations and cocktail recipe books gave you all the tools you needed for an event worthy of the roaring 20's.

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