Corrie Nielsen SS13 Collection - Florilegium

Titled ‘Florilegium’ and inspired by flora and fauna, Corrie Nielsen’s SS13 collection shows her designer talents are in full bloom and thriving.  

 

Although the literal meaning is ‘the gathering of flowers’ Florilegium refers to the medieval botanical books that recorded and accurately illustrated flowers.

Through her signature sculpted and elaborate tailoring, Nielsen recreates petals, sepals, stamens and anthers in the form of ruffles, peplums and large loose tie-necks.

Here, metallic silk is shaped around the entire body as a giant all-encompassing peony rose.

Sleeves varied from the wide bulbous to slit like pods keeping the arms held securely to the side.

The colour palette is delicate with light shades of vanilla, ivory and blush pinks.

Her main inspiration was that of Kew Gardens. Not just the plants but also the glass house architecture as she flips Kew’s Victorian Palm House inside out with folds of leaves wrapping around a transparent glass like bodice.

Nielsen was also inspired by computer graphics artist Makoto Mutayama’s botanical blueprints where he sketches the inner cavity of a flower and then creates in 3D digital.

Couture headwear continued the floral theme with milliner Emma Yeo showcasing her SS13 ‘Lucidus Lilum’ collection. Each headpiece was inspired by the petal of the Japanese Mountain Lily (Lilium Auratum) and was constructed to emulate the lucidity and purity of botanical linear illustrations.

Fabrics used are translucent frosted plastics (to illustrate shadows and highlights), taffeta and Yeo’s signature laser cut wood bonded with soft blush pink and dusty grey silks.

www.emmayeo.com

For the finale, Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution is played out in the avant-garde dip dye wedding dress. Large sculpted petals in a gradient of grey are rib boned at the waist and followed by a trailing swathe of finely layered ivory silk.

Emma Yeo’s headpiece is softened with large dip dyed grey taffeta petals embellished with a light scattering of Swarovski crystals mimicking dewdrops.

Most wearable pieces were:

 

The least wearable was the black book shaped dress but maybe it was just to represent the closing chapter of Nielsen’s floral story. 

For information on where to buy any of the collection pieces email info@corrienielsen.com

Photographs by Christopher Dadey

www.christopherdadey.com

 

Tracy Rose 'Hats Off' Exhibition

When Tracy Rose first wore her own hat design to Royal Ascot, the photographers couldn’t get enough snaps. Now 30 years on she is still creating quirky designs and the photographers are still snapping. To celebrate all these years in the millinery industry, Tracy decided to showcase a large selection of her original hats for 2 days so the public could get a closer look.

Tracy’s launch party for the ‘Hats Off’ exhibition was last night and here’s a few of her wonderful creations: 

2006 - Rose Cloud

White silk with blue & black chiffon roses.

2010 - England World Cup

White silk, red satin with Swarovski crystals. 

This hat represents the England flag waving in the breeze with goalposts at each end.

The black veil represents the goal net and on the net are 11 tiny footballs representing the 11 english players.

2001 Picasso hat

Turquoise chiffon, silk face with brown chiffon hair. 

Inspired by Picasso. 

The brown represents hair.

If the hat is turned upside down the crown becomes the neck with a bow.

2011 Windmill hat

Black, pink, yellow and white satin. 

It became known as the windmill hat only after a few people observed that it looked as thought it was moving.

2008 Zig Zag hat

Lilac, pink, orange and blue satin.

2004 Art Deco hat

Yellow and pink silk with beaded fringing. The skull cap has more fringing at the back.

2011 - Wimbledon hat

This is one of Tracy's latest and of course she wore it to Wimbledon. 

White satin, veiling and crystals.

It is to celebrate Lavazza being the official coffee at Wimbledon. 

The crown represents a coffee cup,

the brim a tennis racquet,

the veiling the tennis strings 

and brown Swarovski crystals are scattered around like coffee beans.

The petals at the front are satin replicas of Lavazza coffee capsules and in the centre is a velvet tennis ball.

1996 Heart hat

Black chiffon with white pearls

1987 Zip hat

Bronze lame and zips

1982 - Gold Ra Ra hat

This was the first hat Tracy wore at Royal Ascot. 

Gold lame.

It may have caused a stir in its day, but now it looks a bit tame compared to her latest creations.

1998 - Tiger hat

There's nothing tame about this Tiger hat.

Tiger print chiffon with gold thread. 

Gold lame and black fringing.

1995 Butterfly hat

Pink satin crown with dark pink chiffon and crystals. 

Tracy explains that the split brim (just to the right) is one of her signature designs.

Other signature designs are swirls and waves.

2003 Candy Delight

Pink and yellow Marabou feathers with black lace up. Behind is the Leaf hat.

2011 Staircase hat

Pink silk, gold lame and blue velvet. 

There is a door with 300 on it at the top of the crown (not shown)  in celebration of Royal Ascot 300 year old birthday this year. 

2010 Chocolate Box hat

Definitely one of my favourites! Purple satin, lilac chiffon and brown silk chocolates- yummeeee!

2003 Oriental Lily

Pink crystals, organza silk lily, silver lame swirls and silver chains. 

Tracy created this in tribute to her grandmother Lily, who had just passed away. 

Lily was also a milliner and Tracy still uses her wooden block from 1923.

2006 Spanish hat

Black lace, black and white crepe, pink and red satin.

2002 Fan hat

Lilac lace, pink and lila Marabou feathers. Dyed silk glove with acrylic nails.

On a close up you can see the acrylic nails clearly with their nail polish. 

Tracy's nails are the same length and on the day she painted them in the same colour and design.

So that's a few but still more to see at the exhibition. It is at the Gallery Different, 14 Percy Street, London W1 and there is still one more day of viewing.  From 1000am - 6pm on  Sat 29th Oct. Entry is free. 

Tracy Rose

 My favourite has to be the Chocolate Box hat - which is your favourite? Please let us know in the comment box.

For more details on Tracy's hats see her website:  www.tracyrosehats.co.uk

Hats Off to Tracy Rose's 30 year retrospective Hat exhibition

Tracy Rose is renowned for her love of hats and her quirky designs - all of which have meanings and incorporate sculptural art in the designs. I'm loving the England hat with its goal netting and tiny swarovsk footballs (the 2nd image down on the poster).
Tracy started wearing her own designs to Royal Ascot 30 years ago , and now has decided to hold a free 2 day exhibition for the public to view all these wonderful creations.
The exhibition is called 'Hats Off' and is to be held at the Gallery Different, 14 Percy Street, London W1. from 1000am - 6pm on Fri 28th Oct and Sat 29th Oct. Entry is free.
Tracy will most certainly be wearing one of her creations - but will it be a new design especially made for the exhibition or will she wear one of her past favourites?  

The event will also coincide with the launch of Tracy and her husband Russell's 2012 edition of 'Fashion Fabulous London' - an essential annual guide to the best fashion outlets in London, giving reviews on the top  200 places to buy fashion in London and 132 restaurants, bars, cafes and hotels where fashionable people go plus the 62 'must visit' fashion stores.