Gift of RA

Yesterday my friend Char and I went over to the Bellevue Art Museum to see a wonderful paper dresses.  It sounds a bit strange, but it was so amazing, I am in awe of the woman who did it.

This is a wonderful dress and jacket.  We were amazed at the lining in the jacket, it all looks as if it has been sewn.

This is a closeup of the dress and how it looks.  Even a belt to go with it.

This is absolutely amazing, Char thinks they used rice paper as the overdress because she couldn’t see any weave.  It is so transparent, almost gossamer.  There was a wonderful lavender one, a red one and a beautiful green.

When Mariano Fortuny was creating the clothes, he used very fine pleated fabric, silks and wonderful luxurious  fabrics for his  designs.  he had trouble finding a way to keep the pleats in, then he patented a machine that steamed the pleats in to make sure they stayed.  To store a dress, it was twisted and then coiled into a hat box – then shake it out when ready to wear.

This is an amazing dress with an interesting jacket.  The back of the jacket goes down to the bottom hem – with a wonderful belt to hold it together.

The lapels fold back showing a lining, then the belt holding it together.

I really liked this one, in person it is lighter in color and it made me think of sunny spring.

Most of the dresses had their hems positioned like this – gathered into the legs and then flaring out – though I doubt it can be worn like that.  Let’s face it, I would likely trip over the hem at some point.

What can I say?  It boggles my mind and I am lost in admiration not only for Isabelle de Borchgrave but the original designer Mariano Fortuny.