07.10.2010- Stam-ina

Oh dear. Cold season is well and truly upon me. For the last few days I've had a cough, sore throat and now my nose has turned into a fountain. Brilliant. However, today I was determined not to let the germs get me down, so I went along to the Victoria and Albert Museum with my mum, to see the Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballet Russes exhibition. Sadly, no photography is permitted inside the exhibition itself, but it really is worth a visit if you get the chance; the extensive costumes, set designs, original sketches and musical scores as well as the multimedia features do a wonderful job in bringing the work of the Ballet Russes and legacy of Diaghilev to vivid life.

Just before I hit the hay (cold permitting!), I had to share these lovely images from the November edition of Vogue, featuring one of my favourite models Jessica Stam, shot by Lina Scheynius and styled by Bay Garnett:

There is such a beautifully relaxed quality to the whole editorial, which you can see at NOIR FACADE. And a cameo appearance by a moggy is never a bad thing in my opinion! What do you think?

(Image credit: NOIR FACADE.)

21.09.2010- Garden of Erdem

Erdem Moralioğlu, I love you. Yesterday in London town, the designer showed his gorgeous Spring/Summer 2011 collection, which translated the inspiration he had gathered over the summer as he was co-curating the V&A exhibition on the Ballet Russes to the runway:

I'm so much in love with everything it hurts. The dresses are so beautifully tailored to give an extremely feminine line and, as ever, the signature prints are vibrant and playful. Erdem's use of lace also adds another level of sensual elegance to the dresses, and the ballet influence shines through the entire aesthetic of the collection, from the ballerina plaits in the hair of the models, to the mid-calf ties on the shoes, created by Nicholas Kirkwood. It's extremely rare that I love every single piece from one show, but I could happily fill my wardrobe with everything from this collection. J'adore!

To view a video of the show (which took place outside!) visit vogue.com.

What did you think of Erdem's SS11 collection? Do you love it as much as I do?

(Image credit: style.com and vogue.co.uk.)

13.09.2010- Russian Dolls

The October issue of British Vogue celebrates the launch of the Victoria and Albert Museum's forthcoming exhibition on Diaghilev and the Ballet Russes with this sumptuous editorial featuring Karlie Kloss, styled by Kate Phelan and photographed by Tim Walker. Kloss models stunning couture pieces by, amongst others, Givenchy, Dior and Alexander McQueen as the revolutionary aesthetic of the Ballet Russes is recreated on camera:

I always love the drama and spectacle of the couture presentations, so to see such beautiful designs brought to life on the page like this in the context of a theatrical feature is really lovely. Today the V&A revealed that the centrepiece of the Diaghilev exhibition will be the biggest Picasso in the world which was designed as a backdrop for the Ballet Russes production of Le Train Bleu in 1924, and which stands at a mammoth 11.7 metres tall. Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballet Russes opens at the Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington on September 25th.

What do you think of the Vogue editorial? Has it inspired you to visit the exhibition?

(Image credit: NOIR FACADE.)

29.08.2010- Golden touch...

The Victoria and Albert Museum's major exhibition for the autumn, Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballet Russes, showcases the work and imagination of artistic director Serge Diaghilev and the genesis of the radical Ballet Russes. Diaghilev's work with the company transformed the face of early 20th century culture through collaboration with artists including Coco Chanel, Igor Stravinsky, Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, in the development of an aesthetic which married art, music and dance to create a spectacular brand of total theatre. Diaghilev's vision combined with Vaslav Nijinsky's bold choreography of an original ballet repertoire (including Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring) saw the Ballet Russes become one of the most influential theatre companies of the twentieth century, and their legacy still influences a panoply of contemporary culture. The exhibition, which opens at the V&A South Kensington on the 25th September and runs until the 9th January 2011, features over three hundred objects, including original costumes, set designs and props, all of which tell the story of a ballet company and visionary who together transformed the face of modern dance, fashion and art.

In celebration of the launch of the exhibition, the V&A shop have also launched a special range of tie-in merchandise, including this gorgeous scarf designed by Erdem, featuring the original costume designs of Léon Bakst for the Ballet Russes:

At £185, it is rather pricey, but it is certainly a beautiful keepsake of the exhibition. On the other hand, these gorgeous prints are a bit more within my price range, and will look great in hanging up in my room. I can't wait to get down to the V&A when the exhibition opens, it looks as though it's going to be unmissable (and invaluable for my dissertation research!)

To find out more about the exhibition, visit www.vam.ac.uk.

What do you think? Will you be paying a visit? Or perhaps splashing out on the Erdem scarf?

(Image credit: V&A Theatre and Performance Collections and V&A Shop.)