Fashionable Flashback : Royal Ascot and Almost-Audrey

Fashionable Flashback : Royal Ascot and Almost-Audrey

19.5.15

{Fashion illustration : Royal Ascot and Almost-Audrey © Shell-Sherree}

When this Audrey Hepburn inspiration leapt out at me, I illustrated first and asked questions later. 

This felt like My Fair Lady ~ but didn't seem right.  I turned to my Golden Age of Hollywood 'go to' person and she came up with the answer, as I knew she would.  She's modest, so I'll leave her to put up her hand if she wishes ~ meanwhile, "Thank you again, my sweet !"

Turns out Audrey is modelling a costume from the Royal Ascot scene ~ but it wasn't one of her costumes in the movie.  Cecil Beaton {designer, photographer, illlustrator and generally artistic bod} asked her to model his other creations, to the chagrin of director George Cukor or so the story goes.  Mr Beaton's designs are exquisite and even more so on Audrey, so it's easy to forgive his mildly eccentric request. 

One of these days, I will illustrate Audrey in 'the real costume' from that scene, in all its iconic magnificence.  Meanwhile, let us move our bloomin' proverbials onto a spot of tea and cucumber sandwiches.  And on that note ...

Happy Fashionable Flashback to you !

GEE-UP TO MY PETITE BOUTIQUE HERE

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Fashionable Feline Friday : Of Aqua and the Orient

Fashionable Feline Friday : Of Aqua and the Orient

15.5.15

{Fashion and fluffballs illustration : Aqua and the Orient © Shell-Sherree}

A beautiful globe.  This will be my geographical saviour.  I know my strengths and to date, geography has not been one of them.  {History was scratched long, long ago for refusing to even get into the starting gates.}  But I have visions of a glorious globe in cream and gold, with lots of aqua and pink ~ and should I find this inanimate creature of loveliness and bring it home, I'm sure a whole new world will be awakened.  Unless it's a vintage globe, in which case an old new world will be awakened.  Be ready for anything.

Anyhoo, that was a long way of saying today's illustration has an oriental flavour, but I'm using the term loosely.  I don't yet have The Globe.  Inspired by this gorgeous creation in orange, I leave that colour to my vibrant mum who wears it spectacularly ~ it never wears her ! ~ and I shall opt for one of my signature shades for this weekend's adventures.  But there's a rack of these in every colour you fancy, so the choice is yours.  And on that note ...

Happy Fashionable Feline Friday to you !

RIDE A MAGIC CARPET TO MY PETITE BOUTIQUE HERE 

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Fashionable Paris Daydreams : Going with the Flow

Fashionable Paris Daydreams : Going with the Flow

10.5.15

{Paris fashion and fluffballs illustration : Flowery Flow in Paris © Shell-Sherree}

A late dinner in Paris ?  Sounds perfectly lovely !  We have plenty of time for a pre-dinner stroll and what luck ~ this soft, quilted evening bag is just ample enough to double as a doggie bag. 

Today's Paris fashion illustration is inspired by this image of Chiara Ferragni in a gown by Patricia Bonaldi.  The dress is all but backless, so feel free to BYO faux fur cape if you're prone to chills. On the other hand, some chivalrous man might offer to drape his dinner jacket around our goosebumped shoulders ~ so those capes are better left at home !  And on that note ...

Happy Fashionable Paris Daydreams to you ! 

STROLL TO MY PETITE BOUTIQUE 

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Fashionably Fluffy : Golden Girl from the Golden Age

Fashionably Fluffy : Golden Girl from the Golden Age

6.5.15

{Fashion illustration : Mitzi Ruffled in Pink, Ivory and Blue © Shell-Sherree}

While we're thinking 'costumes' in light of yesterday's annual Met Ball fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York city ~ {and some designers ran out of fabric, it seems} ~ today's costume illustration is closer to home for me. 

Costumes from the Golden Age of Hollywood is currently on display at the Museum of Brisbane {closes 24th May 2015}.  My mum, sister, niece and I went along for a very lovely 'girly' morning out.  This gorgeous curation came from the private collection of Brisbane lawyer Nicholas Inglis.  {You can watch him talking about it here.}  A theatre and film buff, he has been amassing gems over the past 20 years like the one I've illustrated today, worn by Mitzi Gaynor in Golden Girl {1951}.  It's my personal favourite, though many were only a swoon behind.  When the pressure was on, the ruffles had it ! 

This fluffy confection is a work of art within the underskirt that only revealed itself when Mitzi Gaynor twirled enough to reveal glimpses of fuchsia, white and cobalt.  The actual costume is more ivory than white, so I gather the costume colour was adjusted as they often did.  I love it even more because the ruffles are a surprise.  Flirtatious.  A playful wink rather than putting all the goods on display.  Much more enticing.  And on that note ...

Happy Fashionable Fluffiness to you !

TWIRL OVER TO MY PETITE BOUTIQUE

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Fashionable Friday: Lilac, Ladurée and Fluffballs

Fashionable Friday: Lilac, Ladurée and Fluffballs

2.5.15

{Fashion illustration : Lilac, Ladurée and Fluffballs © Shell-Sherree}

Trans-seasonal dressing is a blessing for those of us who like to sit on the fence.  I confess, I'm can be a fence sitter.  It's not that I don't have strong opinions ~ it's just that they can change with the weather.  And I can see so many different points of view.  Both a blessing and a curse ~ or is it just that I'm unable to decide?

Anyhoo, in honour of both 'hemis' of the sphere moving between summer and winter, let's team a lovely, soft, cashmere cardigan with a skirt that flows around us on a gossamer fairy cloud, in a suitably nebulous shade of lilac ~ or is it lilacish grey ~ or perhaps dusty aubergine ?  {You can imagine the hell I go through choosing a wall colour.}  Our kitty and Frenchie have no such concerns.  They are merely willing us to stop fluffing around and open that hat box-sized serving of Ladurée macarons.  In keeping with the vague nature of today's illustration and post, it has every flavour you can imagine.  Hours of indecision await.  And on that note ...

Happy Fashionable Friday Fluffiness to you !

FLUFF ON OVER TO MY PETITE BOUTIQUE OF PRINTS

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Fluffy and Furry Saviours : On Sweet Wings and a Prayer

Fluffy and Furry Saviours : On Sweet Wings and a Prayer

25.4.15

{Feathered friend illustration : On Sweet Wings and a Prayer © Shell-Sherree}

Today is Anzac Day ~ and this year we commemorate 100 years since the first landings at Gallipoli.

It's a time of respect and remembrance for all those who have given their lives for their country and those who continue to put themselves on the line today.  Hundreds of thousands of animals have served and protected, too.  From dogs to donkeys, camels to horses ~ and cats {mostly on ships, but yes, they served!} ~ there are countless tales to be told.

And valiant little carrier pigeons gave far more than their weight in hearts of gold, both close to home and abroad. You can read the touching story here of how carrier pigeons helped our troops fighting in Papua New Guinea in WWII.  I'm reminded of this quote from A Midsummer Night's Dream, "Though she be but little, she is fierce!"

In the here and now, animals help soldiers with wounded souls to heal, thanks to organisations such as The Dog Squad which unites rescue dogs with veterans suffering from PTSD.  I spend much of Anzac Day sniffling back tears but some, like these, are happy ones. 

Wishing you a peaceful and loving day.  Lest we forget.

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