Art Inspiration: Peaceful Spring and Summer Days

On Pinterest I've found the sweetest paintings of Victorian and Edwardian girls in the countryside, which is living my dream to be honest. When I have my own house, I can just imagine myself swanning about the garden in Edwardian and Lolita dresses, drinking tea and reading books on my days off. I'd love to live in the French or English countryside of course! These scenes are like my dreams come true.

 Albert Lynch

 Edmund Blair Leighton

 Emile Vernon

 John White Alexander

 Richard S. Johnson

Spring, John Lavery - my favourite dress of all!

Which is your favourite painting?

Inspiration: Black Historical Gowns

On Pinterest I've seen a lot of black gowns recently, and with winter ahead of us I think these historical garments would look fabulous for the party season - especially those 1920s dresses!
Here are some examples that I found particularly beautiful.

Here are three examples of a 1920s robe de style, which someday I am hoping to make in black taffeta or silk.

Edwardian women in black.

1930s gown with an inset of cream lace.

I haven't seen a date for this dress, but I think it is from the 1950s? Isn't it gorgeous!

Another two Edwardian ladies wearing black, curvaceous gowns.

Princess Dagmar of Denmark in 1866. I love the sleeves and hair!

And finally, another example from the late Victorian and early Edwardian period. The stripes are divine, and that hat is drool-worthy; I think it has white bird or angel wings on it!

Inspiration: 1970s-80s Laura Ashley

Usually I'm not a big fan of 1980s fashion, until I saw these gorgeous, fairy-tale like scans on Pinterest. They remind me of the origins of Lolita fashion, such as Victorian and Edwardian styles, as well as Sybil Fawlty from Fawlty Towers for some reason (she's another frilly lady from the 70s and 80s).

If only Laura Ashely still did clothes like that... I think I'd buy the whole store! Still, they have lovely, Lolita-esque wallpapers and furniture. I've got a Rococo-themed mirror that I have on my vanity from there, and Georgian toile wallpaper.

Inspiration: Glamorous 1930s and the Tower of Terror

When we went to Disney in August, I went on the Tower of Terror for the first time since I was five, mainly because it terrified me so much. It was amazing! It's horrifying when you're actually on it, as what elevator breaking down and killing all its occupants isn't everybody's worst nightmare?
But the theme, music and interior decoration is fantastic! The music in the queues are from the 1930s and reek of glitz and glamour and Hollywood drama. They make me want to ballroom dance around the queues with an imaginary partner. ;) I've got the songs saved on Spotify.
Not only that, but the dilapidated ruins of a Hollywood hotel looks amazing inside, so much that I couldn't help but take some photos. It was rather dark though.

And here is another Hollywood image of a famous starlet, Jean Harlow. I haven't watched any films she's in, but I want to! From what I've heard on Pinterest about her refusing to wear underwear on set, she sounds like quite a diva!

How fabulous is her dress and makeup!

Inspiration: Edwardian Fashions

Through joining Pinterest recently, I've discovered the joys of Edwardian fashions. All the dresses and ensembles are just too splendid, and these images have made me aspire to make an Edwardian dress in the near future - though first I want to get through a couple of Georgian projects, such as some stays that the lovely Bianca has advised me on.

I've just joined college though and things are already awfully stifling, so we'll see how things pan out before I start preparing a project. Besides, I don't think I could stomach those Edwardian S-bend corsets after knowing what they did to women's health! 

Inspiration: Art Deco and the 1920s

I'm really feeling the love for the glitz and glamour of the 1920s at the moment! I never thought it would be a trend with me, being quite stark and modern, but with the mammoth amounts of great literature and filmography, I'm finding that the 1920s trends are just my cup of tea! 

Think programmes like Jeeves & Wooster, Agatha Christie murder-mysteries, stills from artistic movies, and even the interior decoration. The album "Ballroom Stories" by Waldeck contributes towards the sultry intrigue and mysterious tales we all expect to come from the upper classes of the 1920s in all good stories, whereas the "Art Deco Cafe" album from the London Salon Ensemble creates a relaxing, harmonic, yet jubilant, atmosphere that is completely different, but still incredibly thematic. Another insight from the time is the wacky and fun Vaughn de Leath - I especially love her songs "Blue Skies", "Lookin' at the world thru rose coloured glasses", and "Banana Oil"! 

Now for some inspirational pictures from across the net. It all makes me want to make a 1920s-esque dress! I'm hoping to do some Art Deco art soon. 

Artist Inspirations - Mitsukazu Mihara, MACOTO, Imai Kira and Yana Toboso