Seaside Dreamin'

Last Wednesday I had the pleasure of attending the lecture at Phoenix Art Museum presented by Caroline Milbank, author of the new book Resort Fashion: Style in Sun-DrenchedClimates.

The book is pretty self explanatory; it’s all about the emergence of resort fashion and the lifestyle that accompanies it. Divided up into categories like Breton stripes, “beach pajamas,” whites, and many more, Ms. Milbank explores the history of resort fashion beginning in the 19^th c. and its rise as its own runway season.

You can tribute your Breton stripes to Coco Chanel



The book is like a stay-cation for the eyes. Ms. Milbank says she wrote it for the recession. She thought a book all about vacation might make all of us tightening our wallets feel like we’re on vacation on a beautiful beach. Jokingly she stated the original working title was “everything I learned while writing about summer vacation.”

Two of the many bathing suits freatured in The Sea exhibition

Growing up in Arizona almost my entire wardrobe can be described as “resort wear” so I have a special appreciation for this book.

If you’re looking for an escape from the summertime blues, are curious about where your trendy midriff-dress came from or maybe you’re looking for a great gift for your stylish friend's coffee table, I highly recommend this book!

Deborah

Some fabulous "beach pajamas"

Italians Don't Wear Color

Sorry for my recent hiatus, I’ve been globe trotting but it is great to be home. I spent a few weeks traveling around Italy and I figured for my first post back I would say a few words on the fashion I encountered. My few word are: Italians don’t wear color.

Wearing black is the go to for the “most fashionable” people who want to look chic and sophisticated at the drop of a hat. For years I’ve heard people say that “red is the new black” or blue or pink or even brown (gross) but if you ask Italian women they’ll say “nero e il nuovo nero.”

Call me a philistine or a hippy-flower-child or just too American but I just can’t wear all black all the time. I crave color and light and vibrancy!

My summer wardrobe is packed with colored jeans, cobalt blue sandals, and shirts in nearly every shade of the rainbow; not to mention bright red hair and purple nail polish.

I may have stuck out like a sore thumb in Italy but I looked darn good doing it and I plan to keep it up for the rest of the summer.

I’ll be sure to post again soon about all fabulous designers I saw and fun Museum activities!

Deborah

Nouveau event at Madewell!

After tea at the Ritz (more about that here) I headed over to Scottsdale Fashion Square to attend the ACI Nouveau event at the new Madewell store.  So much fun!  Lots of fun people, yummy cupcakes, and fabulous summer fashion ideas and inspiration from Courtney McEntire of Madewell and Nouveau's own Casey Hagerty and Celine Hacche.  Seeing their fabulous picks almost makes me ready for summer!...Almost.  A special thanks to all those who came out for the event and to Courtney and the whole Madewell team for making us feel so welcome.

Here are some of the pictures I took at the event.  Enjoy!

xx
Andrea

Courtney gives us her pics and tips.

Then it's Celine's turn.

And finally Casey shares her favorites.

(For more pics by Casey, see her blog Avant Girl here.)

Out with a bang! ACI 2nd Wednesday Finale "Tea at the Ritz"

This year has been an amazing year for programming with the ACI and we've had some incredible speakers come to give lectures as part of the 2nd Wednesday series at the museum.  However, every year for the last 2nd Wednesday we like to shake things up and take the party offsite.  This year we descended on the Tea Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton in Phoenix.  Members and guests in their finest and smartest suits and dresses (and fabulous hats!) arrived for the Royal Tea service at the Ritz, presented by none other than the tea master himself, Jeffrey Hattrick.  Champagne and tea flowed freely as the ladies and gentlemen present sat back for more than two hours of chatting and watching a fabulous informal fashion show presented by Neiman Marcus.

The event was a fabulous, sold-out success and as one of the organizers and ACI Programming Co-Chair I would like to add a personal thank you to ACI President Natalie Kaan, ACI Programming Co-Chair Helen Bobince, Jeffrey Hattrick and the Ritz-Carlton, and Neiman Marcus and Lisa Pagel for their help and support in putting together this fabulous event.

For those who weren't able to attend, I hope you enjoy these pictures.

xx
Andrea

President Natalie Kaan welcoming the guests

Jeffrey Hattrick getting the tea service started.

The fashion show was fabulous and so much fun!

Loving the poppy print on this dress.

Does it get any better than scones with Devonshire cream?  I think not.

From mini fruit tarts to Scottish shortbread, the Ritz has it all!

I've always loved carousels, so I fell in LOVE with this Judith Leiber bag! 

Posing with the incoming 2012-2013 ACI President Gail Adams.

2011-2012 ACI Programming Co-Chairs. Helen Bobince (left) and I!  Job done, we were happy to sit back and enjoy the tea.

Not to sound like I'm imitating Rachel Zoe, but I die for this dress.  Seriously.

Lois Alberts thanks Natalie for all her hard work this year as President of ACI. Thanks Natalie!  From all of us.

Jeffrey concludes the event by honoring and delighting us all with a song.

ACI Annual General Meeting, April 11th, 2012

Hello all!  I hope you all are surviving the summer temperatures that have arrived.  With summer arriving that means that the regular season of the Arizona Costume Institute is coming to an end.  Last month on April 11th, we had our Annual General Meeting.  If you've never attended I would encourage you to mark your calendars for April 10th of 2013 when our next AGM will be held, as always, at the Phoenix Art Museum.  For those members who are new to the ACI or those who are considering, the AGM is a great way to get to know the ACI a little better and get to know the incoming executive board that is elected into office on that day.  This year we welcomed:

Gail Adams - 2012-2013 President
Jan Herwick - 2013-2014 President Elect
Andrea Severson - 2014-2015 President Elect
Karen LeDonne - Recording Secretary
Lois Alberts - Corresponding Secretary
Donita Young - Treasurer
Natalie Kaan - Past President/Nominating Chair
Ronna Beeson - Member at Large
Eileen Sullivan - Member at Large

We're all very excited to keep the momentum going that 2011-2012 President Natalie Kaan and her Board of Directors started and make the coming season as wonderful and exciting for our members as this past season has been.  If you're not yet a member of ACI or ACI Nouveau this is a perfect time to join and we always welcome seeing new faces at our events.

The other fun part about the AGM is that we also get to hear from our fabulous curator, Dennita Sewell, on all the incredible things the Fashion Department achieved throughout the year.  This year we recapped the two exhibitions, Giorgio di Sant' Angelo (Sept 17, 2011-Feb 12, 2012) and The Sea (on display until July 15th).  Dennita also shared some of the wonderful new pieces the department was able to acquire for the collection.  For those who weren't in attendance, here's some pictures to show you what you missed.

xx
Andrea

"Ready. Set. Summer."

Please join ACI Nouveau for a very special event at Scottsdale Fashion Square on May 9th at the Madewell store at 6:30pm for an evening of fashion and fun!

Starting in 1937 as a "workwear company" known for their denim, Madewell has branched out to include fabulous downtown-chic looks perfects for the modern fashionista.

Be sure to check back here and our Facebook page for more details.

Deborah



A-Listers Among Us

Saturday I had the very great pleasure of attending Southwest Shakespeare Company’s one night only presentation of An Evening with Kevin Kline. The event included Kevin Kline reading sonnets and excerpts from various Shakespeare plays all revolving around the subject of love with three of the Company’s actresses.

Justine Hartley looking stunning in velvet

The performance was stellar.

Mr. Kline graciously answered dozens of questions from the audience after the performance in addition to smiling and posing for every photo opt requested of him as he was bombarded by fans before and after the performance. Perhaps the most charismatic person I have ever encountered, it was an absolute pleasure to spend the evening watching Kevin Kline do what he does best.

A bit taller than I imagined, I was delighted to find out Mr. Kline’s over the top personality and signature mannerisms in his films are all part of the real man.

Not to be left out, Mariette Hartley, well known actress and mother of Justine Hartley, one of SSC’s own, was also in attendance posing for pictures and watching her daughter act alongside a Hollywood great.

Probably the biggest star to come to Mesa since…well…ever, I was not about to miss the opportunity to get all dolled up and tote out my camera for the A-Lister invasion.

My best attempt at a model pose

As I stated in my last post, I took inspiration for my outfit from Natalina Grybowski. I tried to reflect some of her bold prints and shapes with the tiers in the dress. When I requested one of her looks for my birthday my mother scoffed at me so I think this is as close as I’m going to get.

I felt obligated to apologize to the people sitting behind me for the high bun, I wasn’t thinking of them when I was putting the look together.

One of the two velvet capes that made it out for the night

One thing I noticed about the night was how many women were wearing velvet. I guess women seized what was probably the last opportunity to drag out the material for the season. I was honestly surprised  at the number of velvet looks that made it out for the night.

Another velvet look

And for some shameless self indulgence, some pictures of myself and friends with Kevin Kline.

Deborah

My mother with the Man

Some of SSC's amazing actors

I finally got my picture at the end of the night