Red Valentino's Renaissance

Art, architecture, fashion, politics, philosophy...everything changed during the Renaissance. It was a time of transition that spanned across centuries and borders, bringing Europe into a modern era as it left the Gothic and Medieval behind.

Portrait of Maria de' Medici by Bronzino 1550s

With Florentine families like the Medici family leading the charge in politics, business and the arts, the Renaissance flourished. Hundreds of years later, their legacy remains for many things, including acting as patrons for great artists like Botticelli and Bronzino. Revolutionary changes were made during the Renaissance, so its influence is bound to show up as it did in the Red Valentino Fall 2017 collection. 

Fashion meets Art: Pae White

The space between...the space between here and there. It is often forgotten in our efforts to get to the next destination. Or in the case of physical space, it fades into nothingness as our eyes move from focal point to focal point.

 

Dressed for Fall

The season of crisp leaves, cool breezes and pumpkin spice brings with it classic tweeds, warm knits and a rich color palette. Fall is one of my favorite times of year as it ushers in a season of change and the promise of the upcoming holidays.

Thoroughly Modern Milkmaid

Though modern in its designs, the Pre-Fall 2017 collection from Temperley London brings to mind historic imagery from The Netherlands. The combination of colors, embroidery, shapes and lines have a nostalgic spirit of old world milkmaids, walks across the windmill dotted landscape and exploring cobbled streets and pathways.

Fashion meets Art: Anne Ten Donkelaar

A single flower bloom can hold so much meaning. Love, loss, friendship...there is a language of flowers that has the power to extend beyond mere words. Each petal comes together with color, shape and scent to form a thing of beauty and meaning. A blossom can become so much more when paired with other flowers, foliage and found objects. Artist Anne Ten Donkelaar brings together these items to create landscapes, tell stories and inspire curiosity.

Flower Construction #86 (above) and Detail (below)

Byzantine Beauties

Sisterly love is a bond that cannot break as it is born of blood and legacy. In the case of Zoe and Theodora though, it is a bond they attempted to sever through intrigue, lies and strategic alliances. 

Empress Irene in Basilica di Sofia

 Living on the public stage of politics thousands of years ago in the Byzantine era, the story of these sisters played out like a modern-day soap opera set in the Byzantine empire around 1000AD. Their lives began as any royal's would, living in the palace as heirs to titles and fortune. But all this would change when a power hungry uncle sent the girls to live hidden in a monastery so he could keep the throne for himself. 

In the Poppy Field

Buried in the earth for as many as 80 years, the little poppy seed can begin to grow with the touch of sunshine. What was once dormant is suddenly brought to life as the soil gets disturbed and the sun is given access to the seeds.

"Wild Poppies Near Argenteuil" by Claude Monet, 1875 

Walk in the Park

What better way to spend a sunny summer afternoon than in the park? The Victorian aristocrats certainly agreed with the notion, treating the park as the perfect leisure destination.

 "Flowers and Butterflies"

Still dressed in proper attire, families would descend upon the park’s open green spaces for quality time, and of course, to see and be seen.

Father of Couture

"Empress Eugenie" by Franz Xavier Winterhalter, 1854

On Father’s Day images of hardware and tool boxes abound as gift ideas for dads. But for the Father of Couture, you would have needed to think twice about the traditional presents since his tool box more likely included a needle and thread instead of a hammer and nail.

Charles Frederick Worth is known as the first couturier not only because of his lavish one-of-a-kind creations, but also because of his ability to self promote the House of Worth. 

"Empress Elisabeth of Austria" by Franz Xavier Winterhalter, 1864

Before the age of the internet and social media, Worth was able to reach ladies far and wide. Instead of a post on Instagram or a starlet wearing his gown on the red carpet, Worth became famous through royal portraits of the lovely ladies he dressed.

Material Girl

Big hair, leggings, sky high shoulder pads…it was the decade of decadence. Wall Street was flying high and so was everyone’s taste for the good life. Consumer culture reached a peak to the tune of Madonna’s “Material Girl.”

Though over 20 years have passed since we said goodbye to the 80s, the style influences continue to infiltrate modern fashion. The spring runway, like that of Ronald van Der Kemp's couture collection, was full of padded shoulders reminiscent of Melanie Griffith in “Working Girl”…the only thing missing were her white sneakers.

Charming Charlie

From the streets of London to the royal palace, hers was the story of rags to riches.

"Nell Gwyn" by Peter Lely, 1675

Nell Gwyn started her career as an orange girl at London’s King’s Theater during the Restoration period of the mid to late 1600s. As she wound her way through the crowds and enticed audience members to indulge in a sweet orange, Nell learned to use her wit and charm to win over the theatre-goers. It wasn’t long before she found herself on the stage and was gaining fans as an actress. Soon to join her fan base was none other than the King of England.

The New Power Dressing

Though it may be cliché to say that a man in a uniform has a certain allure, it's often true that the combo has the ability to make a girl’s heart swoon. 

Perhaps this is why Josephine fell for Napoleon, who was making a name for himself in the French military in the early 19th century. Or more than his dashing good looks in the uniform, it may have been the power behind the uniform that caught the stylish Josephine’s eye. After spending time in prison during the Reign of Terror and seeing her first husband guillotined as a part of this period of the French Revolution, it was as if Napoleon swooped in from the battlefields to save her. 

Legend of Love

It’s the story of forbidden romance and the man who broke the rules in the name of true love. Legend has it that when Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage for soldiers in ancient Rome, Valentine ignored the risks and chose to marry young lovers in secret. Though he helped new marriages blossom, he paid the ultimate price and was put to death after he got caught. 

This may or may not have been the way Valentine’s Day truly started, but the fact remains that the holiday continues to inspire expressions of love and beauty.

"Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss" by Antonio Canova, 1757-1822

Love and romance have served as artistic inspiration for painters and sculptors for centuries, and as art inspires life, the romance often finds its way to the runways.

The Language of Flowers

Flowers of every shape and size bloom each spring, adding life to the dull landscape of winter. They add color and texture to the world around us and never cease to make their way into fashion and art.

Alexis Mabille Spring 2012 Couture

Every Valentine’s Day millions of flowers are given to sweethearts around the world. But with every bud and bloom, what message are we really sending? Just like there is a spoken language, body language and even love languages, there is a language of flowers. Entwined in their petals and colors, are secrets waiting to be told. 

On the Fringe

It sways, moving with the rhythm of every shimmy and shake. It covers while also playing peek-a-boo with the skin that lies beneath. This fixture of fashion is best known as fringe.

Fringe has made cameo appearances over the course of history, playing backup to other design elements like embroidery, rhinestones or tie dye. But it has also had its moments of playing a leading role, such as the case with the Fall 2016 collections.

With roots in the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia, fringe also has origins in Native American culture as means to repel rain water. This practical use was adopted by America’s cowboys as they faced the uncharted frontier. 

Queen of the Tower

She was the girl that caught the king’s eye. Beautiful, intriguing and witty, the young Anne Boleyn found herself the object of King Henry VIII’s desire. She is perhaps best known as the other Boleyn girl, the sister that turned down the role of king’s mistress and instead held out for the crown.

She rose from a lady in waiting to Queen of England. During her journey, she claimed power for her family, set fashion trends, pursued learning, helped usher in a historic break between the Church of England and Rome and gave birth to a future queen.