Two Coats 37 Years Apart

 The moment I saw this.....

....it reminded me of this.  Do you see the similarity?  Or am I just crazy? 

First photo:  Coat by Gianfranco Ferre, 1987
Second photo:  Coat by Balenciaga, 1950

Weekend Eye Candy: Balenciaga, 1954

White lace over blue poof.  Balenciaga, 1954.

Balenciaga Evening Gown, 1965

It's 1965.  Balenciaga shows this deceptively simple evening gown in bold fuschia crepe.  But it's 1965!  You can't just have a simple pink column gown and expect to make an impression.  So, the designer adds a huge stole of matching pink coque feathers.  Now you're talking!

I said the gown was deceptively simple because look what happens in the back.  Volume is tucked into a knot at the waist.  And that feather stole?  It's really a large complete circle of feathers.

Weekend Eye Candy - Balenciaga, 1951

Yet another simply gorgeous gown for your holiday dreams.  This strapless black velvet gown has a mermaid hem filled with layers of white tulle.  I've always had a soft spot for this style of dress because I had the Solo in the Spotlight dress for my first Barbie.

Friday Fur - Balenciaga, 1954

Balenciaga designed this blouson shaped jacket in 1954.  The fur is civet which has an interesting pattern of black and white.  There are dozens of different civet species, some of which are now on the endangered species list.

Weekend Eye Candy - Balenciaga, 1948

For Fall 1948, Balenciaga designed this incredible coat in black silk faille covered in elaborate embroidery.  Genius!

Weekend Eye Candy - Balenciaga, 1950

 Have you started to think about a coat for winter yet?  Balenciaga designed this coat in 1950.  He called this the "melon" sleeve.  That thick gray wool is gathered about as tightly as it can be into the sleeve cuff.

Here it is in closer detail.  Do you love?

Party Clothes - 1958

I always enjoy looking a pictures of vintage party clothes.  I know it's still summer, but the holiday party season will be here before we know it.  Have you started to think about what you'll wear this year?  These designer garments are all from Fall/Winter 1958.  The photos are by Richard Avedon.

Mainbocher white satin dinner dress with cut-away armholes.  To wear with it, a pink floral silk ottoman coat lined in quilted white satin.

Deep yellow satin dress with a huge bell shaped skirt by Balenciaga.

Also by Balenciaga, a fuchsia satin ball gown with a lace bodice.  I'd love to see this gown full length to see the shape of the skirt, wouldn't you?

Pink silk moire fashions a strapless bubble dress by Givenchy.  Love the way the bodice is knotted!

Givenchy uses pink again, this time a deep magenta satin, for this dinner coat.  Note the stand-away collar which would become hugely popular in the early 60s.

I love all these garments, but I must confess that the dark stockings with light shoes looks a bit jarring.  It wouldn't be my choice!

Weekend Eye Candy - Balenciaga 1960

From 1960, the back of a pink shot silk "Amphora" evening gown by Balenciaga. Photo by David Seidner.

The same gown from the front, this time in black from the collection at the V&A museum. Interesting how different it looks from photo to photo, no?

Weekend Eye Candy - Balenciaga 1950

Embroidered black tulle over a nude lining embellished with a huge red taffeta bow. Balenciaga, May 1950. Click the photo to see a larger view.

Weekend Eye Candy - 1967 Balenciaga Evening Cape

1967 - Balenciaga's black silk gazar "cabbage" evening cape. Photo by Irving Penn.

Weekend Eye Candy - 1950 Balenciaga Jacket

Photographed by Irving Penn for American Vogue from Balenciaga's Winter 1950 collection. A paletot and scarf in putty-coloured broadcloth. Paletot: A loose outer jacket, cloak, coat

Weekend Eye Candy - Balenciaga

I am in love.

Grey wool jersey dress by Balenciaga from Spring 1950.