technicolor dream coat

All through high school, I had this long red-orange wool coat from the 1960's or 70's. I got it from the antiques show at the south street seaport for around 50 bucks. I wore it until the lining was absolutely destroyed, then fixed the lining with ZZ (who owned the clothing alterations store where I used to work) and wore it some more. It was hooded, with a belt, and pockets (plus a vertical right breast pocket). The hem had enough flare so that when I'd kneel down it would spread out behind me as if eight little hummingbirds were delicately draping the fabric and placing it properly on the ground. The sleeves were also slightly flared with a belt around the mouth of the sleeve. It was single breasted with big plastic buttons. It is how I came to know my favorite color.

My coat with hat and gloves...














I watched it again on youtube (yessir, youtube.com) among other Audrey Hepburn movies, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Funny Face, Sabrina (all on youtube....com). This has now become my favorite, Charade. Her character has such a resilient personality, and she is so elegant, funny, romantic, innocent and unsuspecting. She must be around 32 or 33 years old in this movie, a dynamite age for all women, and another reason why I like it more than Sabrina or Funny Face. I used to love Breakfast at Tiffany's, I've been watching it since before I had that coat, and I could quote most of the movie, but I watched it again and realized I have picked the wrong Audrey Hepburn character as my heroine! Small town girl, Lulu May, goes to NYC, changes her name, loses her accent, drinks and partys with rats and super rats, no money, no direction, not even a cat with a name. sigh. Moving on to murder and deceit. She found that wealthy man, knew nothing about him except that he was rich, married him, and now a widow, is being chased after by six men (all but one being super rats) on account of the money he stole when he was fighting in the war! Great movie, I'm totally hooked. Resplendent in Hubert de Givenchy, and paired with Cary Grant, you cannot go amiss.

Flip through A Magazine curated by Riccardo Tisci (designer for Givenchy) if you get a chance, it's more like a coffee table book anyway. Really like his vision of the woman he designs for. Feminine and moody would describe it simply, however, the attention to line, detail, and craftsmanship is (reference so you can understand how I feel) like Tiffany's.


Mariacarla Boscono, Riccardo Tisci



Spring 2007 Givenchy haute couture collection


Givenchy haute couture from NYTimes.com


Another source of inspiration and guidance, with as much impact on me as movies, magazines, and models...Rodarte's fall 2009 show

ANSWER THE QUESTION.
IS SHE OR ISN'T SHE?

WHAT?

A PHONY.

I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T THINK SO.

YOU DON'T, HUH?
WELL, YOU'RE WRONG.

SHE IS.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND,
YOU'RE RIGHT,

BECAUSE SHE'S
A REAL PHONY.

SHE HONESTLY BELIEVES
ALL THIS PHONY JUNK.

xx