Friday, January 21, 2011

Steichen for Spring: the Colenimo SS 2011 Collection

Last year, I did a little post about a Ruby Keeler-inspired collection by London design house, Colenimo.  When I heard Colenimo's Spring/Summer 2011 collection was again inspired by vintage style (in this case, one of my favourite Edward Steichen photographs ever--from 1928 see below), I immediately rushed to their site to pore over their style book.  In the end, some of the clothes are cuuuute, but I like the actual vintage fashions worn by the women in the photos better.  Really, the only re-occuring connections I could make between the Steichen image and the collection were a hat worn by the model and the use of linen.  I noticed some 30s-dustbowl esque flutter sleeved gingham and floral dresses that were really darling, but farmer's daughters walking barefoot in the country grass represent a whole other homespun aesthetic that has little to do with the breezy aristocratic resort style shown by the ladies on the yacht, so the Steichen influence is a rather removed one in my humble opinion.  Anywhooo, what do you think?













11 comments:

Carys said...

I can see some influence on a purely aesthetic level (like the hats and vintage look), but I totally agree that the influence is lost in some respects by the setting and styling of photographs, etc. Basically, I'm not explaining what I mean too well, but I agree with you. They are lovely clothes though, regardless.
From Carys of La Ville Inconnue

Kate said...

It looks like a nice collection. But I agree with you, the actual vintage fashion in the photos is better.

superheidi said...

Nope no connection. All the chique esprit is gone. "breezy aristocratic" is a good description for Steichen's photograph.

Besides that, I'm not sure what I'm looking at, it all looks very incoherent.
The grasspics are too unclear to see anything, the first pics looks very1970s to me. The jacket reminds me of a 1960s boxy shaped Jackie O. one? The most confusing piece is this odd tied sporty back.
Actually, I haven't got a clue what this collection represents.

garofit said...

Yes, to me to the collection looks at times more 60's than anything else.

Casey Maura said...

It's a cute collection, but it doesn't seem to pull a ton of inspiration from the original image (which I adore too!). To me the collection would have been more directly inspired by long silhouettes in breezy fabrics and traditional-inspired clothes.

♥ Casey | blog

Penny Dreadful Vintage said...

Well, I can certainly see the connection with the linen suiting. I really like the white suit and stiped blazer, and I can see how it could be inspired by the woman on the right of the photo. They have the same kind of rumpled elegance. But no, the dresses and JERSEY tee don't seem to have any correlation at all.

Jen O said...

in my book boxy jacket + culottes = 60's.
would have loved to see a 30's bias cut skirt someplace in that group, but alas...

Desiree said...

Lovely, but 30s isn't the first thing that comes to my mind either. The Peter Pan collar feels very 60s to me. Either way, I've been meaning to ask you, who's the woman in the tie in your header? I lovelovelove this look.

-Desiree, Pop-o-matic Deluxe!

BaronessVonVintage said...

thanks for your thoughts, gals! Definitely agree about the 60s vibe in the jacket!

Desiree: that lovely gal is from a 1930s knitting pattern book I own. Not sure who she is, but I too LOVE her whole outfit!!

LandGirl1980 said...

I do so love those hats - I wonder what their hat hair looked like?

Also - I have just nomintated you for an award. Accept or decline, depending on your stand on these sorts of things...

http://landgirl1980.blogspot.com/2011/01/award-chance-to-snoop.html

Sarsaparilla said...

Love the Steichen photograph. All of his work is so beautiful.

I took a peek at the Colenimo Look Book...there definitely is a 20's feel, without copying the styles in the photograph exactly. (I really like the Oxford Leaf Dress.)

Saying that the Steichen photo was the inspiration was a good marketing strategy, I think. I mean, who doesn't love Edward Steichen...