Charles James | c. 1954
I am obsessed with this color right now. This could grace any red carpet today and the wearer would still look contemporary and sleek. Charles James can (could?) do no wrong. He transcends time.
Imagine this with a huge gold necklace or canary diamonds? Ugh…dead.
(this is a re-post…shhhh)
Charles James | c. 1955
The inspiration for this elegant evening dress probably came from cuirasse bodices and bustle skirts of the 1870s. James was fascinated by the cut of historical dress and explored innovative new forms of garment construction, such as spiral draping. His forte included the creation of luxurious, full-skirted evening gowns. He looked on dresses as works of art, as did his customers.
Charles James | Wedding Dress | c. 1934
Miss Baba Beaton wore this dress when she married Mr Alec Hambro on 6 November 1934. It is an early example of the work of the designer Charles James. It anticipates later developments in his style, particularly his approach to complex cut. The beauty of the design lies in its deceptive simplicity and the designer’s complete understanding of the potential of the fabric. Darts and seams shape the smooth ivory satin, which clings and drapes around the body in order to enhance the graceful figure. James said, ‘all my seams have meaning - they emphasize something about the body’.
