ପ Venus in Couture ଓ

Edgar Allen Poe once said, 'The death of a beautiful woman is, unquestionably, the most poetic topic in the world.' ... A rather odd thing to say, albeit a common feeling in the nineteenth century, and a fascination that has lived on; perhaps it isn't quite so romantic anymore. The romanticisation, or beautification, of death, has been immortalised in every form of art; painting, photography, fashion, literature, poetry, film, etc. In many cases, it is the beauty of a woman's death that is most sought after, most written about, and most portrayed in art. In this piece, with the focus on painting and photography, I will be exploring the representation of death in the works of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, and how a woman's suicide became a work of art. The magnum opus of paintings to emerge from the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was Ophelia by John Everett Millais, 1851-52. Even those unfamiliar with the small group of painters in Victorian London recognise this bea...

Any bag can be iconic, but not every bag has the It factor. An It bag is essentially an iconic designer bag however, there are only a handful of designer bags that fit the unofficial guidelines that make them iconic. From what I have noticed amongst the collection of bags I have picked are some common features that I think make these bags worthy of the title. Firstly, they must be made from strong, luxurious and durable materials; in most cases, leather. They must be a practical size and shape, potentially coming in multiple sizes. An essential element is a recognisable design, logo, decorative components or shape that ensure these bags are easily identifiable to anyone. And they must be owned and loved by the most iconic faces in fashion.   I couldn't possibly write about It bags without talking about the queen of all bags, the Hermes Birkin. The Birkin is more than just a bag, it's a luxury, exclusive piece of the most elite craftsmanship. The bag was designed for and named a...

Tartan, argyle, Mary Janes and dresses that look like underwear. Let's talk about Clueless. The 1995 chick flick, Austen adaptation 'Clueless' has been a huge part in the development of my personal fashion taste since my early teen days, as I'm sure it is for a lot of people. I distinctly remember the first time I watched Clueless, it was on tv, and the moment Cher rocked up in her Dolce and Gabbana yellow tartan suit I was completely and utterly obsessed! Since my first watch of Clueless I have returned, again and again, studying the clothing, the way the girls in the film style and accessorise their outfits, their hair, makeup, bedroom decor, everything. I knew from that moment exactly how I wanted to dress and that I needed a yellow tartan suit immediately. I think I was 16 or 17 when I finally got my yellow tartan suit and it is still a staple piece in my wardrobe. The costumes were designed by Mona May, who is known for her super feminine and bold choices. Taking i...