In a Surreal State of Mind

Midnight Gamble Gene Marshall

Inspired by the delightful "Beignets and Coffee" ensemble from Sandra Stillwell's The Belle of New Orleans 2016 Event, Miss Gene Marshall asked her personal stylist to update her houndstooth top to reflect the whimsical surrealism of the original design. OOAK top, hat, and earrings are from The Couture Touch. Skirt is from Sandra Stillwell. Fur, belt, gloves, and feather-trimmed handbag are from Ashton Drake. Bracelet is from Facets by Marcia.

Beignets and Coffee

Inspired by this San nicholas design.
Photos courtesy Sandra Stillwell Presents.....

Blue Fox Gene Marshall

Unusual jewelry adds a playful touch to Miss Marshall's tailored suit ensemble. The restyled tweed jacket is from Robert Tonner's Brenda Starr Collection. OOAK hat, gloves, and jewelry are from The Couture Touch. Scarf and skirt are from Sandra Stillwell. Walking stick is from Ashton Drake.

Elsa Schiaparelli

The 20th Century avant-garde cultural movement known as Surrealism impacted art, literature, and even fashion. Designer Elsa Schiaparelli used whimsical, playful elements in her fashion and accessories. From jacket pockets that resemble bureau drawers complete with drawer pulls to hats in the shape of a shoe or lamb chop, she delighted in using everyday objects in unexpected ways. Even her jewelry designs often included a garden variety of forms that became the hallmark of a Schiaparelli creation.

Blue Belle Gene Marshall

Fanciful butterflies accent a luscious pink wool cocktail suit just in time for Spring. OOAK suit, wrap, reversible hat, gloves and jewelry are all from The Couture Touch.

Miss Gene Marshall

Credits:
Midnight Gamble, Blue Fox, and Blue Belle (enhanced with an Integrity articulated body) Gene Marshall are all from Ashton Drake.

Click HERE for availability and ordering information on Sandra Stillwell's fashions.

The News from Paris & Schiaparelli

The sharply angled silhouette....the spiral flounces wired to flare out....paired with the high severity of black silk jersey....as illustrated by Eric for Vogue, October 1, 1948.

Madra Lord embraces the softer side of the new silhouette by pairing a knit bodysuit from Robert Tonner's Urban Sport fashion set from the Tyler Wentworth Collection with the plaid ruffled skirt from Integrity's Willow Madra Lord. Easy elegance for an evening out or at-home entertaining.

Ashton Drake's Black Widow Madra Lord has been enhanced with an articulated body from Integrity.

Dinner Suits

Dinner suits made their appearance towards the end of the 1930's.  The early ones consisted of a short jacket often embroidered or beaded and a long, matching skirt.  Fabrics included crepe, wool, velvet and boucle.  The designer most associated with the dinner suit was Elsa Schiaparelli.

This fabulous jacket is from Schiaparelli's Modern Comedy Collection, Spring 1939.  It was originally worn over a slinky black evening dress. I would wear this today over a black skirt or pants or even jeans!  Black velvet patches embellish black wool with black buttons in the shape of harlequin masks add a touch of whimsy.  Image from "Shocking! The Art and Fashion of Elsa Schiaparelli", The Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The striking "Black Widow" Madra Lord strikes a pose in this marvelous dinner suit from "Jackpot".  It was from Ashton Drake's final Gene Marshall Collection.  Wine taffeta is accented with matching velvet bow and hemline flounce. Accessories included a hat (not shown), muff, gloves, and shoes.  The storycard indicates that it is circa 1947. However, I found an illustration of the suit in a 1941 issue of Vogue.

This is the illustration from a fashion spread promoting the American Haute Couture in the September 1941 issue of Vogue.  The dinner suit is black silk crepe and silk velvet accented with green muff, shoes and ostrich head-dress.  No particular designer was credited to it.  It was from the American Autumn Collection.  Salon Moderne, Saks-Fifth Avenue.