This black embroidered trouser suit subverts the male formalwear tradition of the Morning Suit with the elaborate female Victorian tradition of Mourning Dress. Lee Alexander McQueen shook the fashion world — twice — with the dark theme and unforgettable atmosphere of his seventh collection, Dante, for Autumn/Winter 1996. It was first shown by candlelight […]

  This cream, corseted flower print silk taffeta Ophelia Dress began with Sarah Burton’s initial sketch of a corseted bodice, elbow-length poet sleeves, portrait neckline and a full, ballerina-length skirt with pleated volume at the hip.   One of the beginnings of the Ophelia dress was sparked by a rare Victorian silk wedding dress passed […]

     

Inspiration… Victoriana. Mary Anning and a conchologist’s cabinet of curiosities. Pearls, coral, seashells and jewels found scattered across the wild English shoreline and recorded in exquisite detail. Forgotten treasures: a trousseau of delicate découpage dresses featuring white ribbon work, mother-of pearl sequins, precious silver jacquard silks, scalloped broderie anglaise, and trailing wildflowers and ferns. A […]