Mark Shaw Extraordinary Photographer of Fashion and Celebrities

Jackie Kennedy by Mark Shaw c:1961 The name Mark Shaw may not be familiar to you, but I'm sure his work is, especially the famous photograph above. Mr. Shaw was one of the most amazing photographers ever. I discovered him about 10 years ago while researching Vanity Fair and immediately became an avid collector of his advertising for their line, which ran for 10 years begining in the 1950s. His work decorates my office walls and brings peace and beauty to where I work. He portrayed lingerie as elegant and beautiful, rarely showing the model's face, focusing instead on the glamorous lingerie and adding to the mystic of it. Vanity Fair Ad Designers adored Mark Shaw, and he was in high demand from them as he could portray their fashions like no other. He was one of the rare photographers allowed back stage before run way shows. Givency c:1955 Celebrities trusted him. He photographed many Hollywood stars like Elizabeth Taylor, Brigitte Bardot, Princess Grace Kelly, and became the photographer for Audrey Hepburn on the set of the movie Sabrina. He brought out the beauty in all of his subjects, be it a fabulous couture gown, Audrey sitting on a sofa or Bridgitte sitting on stone stairs: Bridgitte Bardot c:1958 Please click
Mark Shaw blog by VintagePretties here to read the entire blog and see more of Mr.Shaw's amazing work. There are also several books published as well by the family of Mark Shaw for you to enjoy. Resources: my personal collection of prints, ads and books wiki http://www.markshawphoto.com/

V & A LONDON Fashion Frocks

...Fab Frocks

from the V & A costume rooms...

(click to enlarge )

bodice detail from a Celia Birtwell designed fabric & dress late 1960's

1920's beaded column gown, Jean Patou

Zandra Rhodes early 1970's

A classic Chanel three piece worn by Gabrielle herself

Catherine Walker dress & jacket designed for Diana, HRH Princess of Wales

for the Royal Tour, Hong Kong

looks like something Morticia would wear!

fabulous glass beaded back detail

floral Dior dress garnished with beads

and a jewel in the crown

a Vivienne Westwood gown I would love to own!

... and here is a soupcon of fashions of the future

new designs from young designers, students of fashion

Coco Chanel Bio on Lifetime....

Coco Chanel will be the subject of a 3 part mini series to air on the Lifetime channel in Fall of 2008. Set to play the young Coco is actress BARABARA BULOVA ("In Love and War") and Coco in later years will be played by SHIRLEY MACLAINE, seen here...

Coco in the "flesh"....

More images HERE. Check the LIFETIME CHANNEL for updates on scheduling and DON'T miss this!!!

Amelie = Chanel

Tautou will channel Coco Chanel
Fontaine will helm the yet to be titled pic
By ALISON JAMES
Audrey Tautou will star as Coco Chanel in a $15 million biopic about the legendary French fashion designer.

Anne Fontaine will helm the yet to be titled pic, with French shingles Haut et Court and Cine @ producing. Films Distribution is handling international sales.

The film, which will focus on Chanel's childhood and early womanhood, was specially conceived with Tautou in mind, said Haut et Court's Caroline Benjo.

"Anne said she would only make a film about Chanel if Audrey was in the lead. They met and both liked the idea."

Script, penned by Fontaine and Christopher Hampton, who is also creative consultant, was freely adapted from the Chanel biography "L'Irreguliere" by Edmonde Charles-Roux.

Pic is slated to shoot early in 2008.

A French thesp will play Etienne Balsan and an A-list Brit actor is being sought to play Englishman Arthur "Boy" Capel, two men in Chanel's life when she was still a young unknown.

Said Benjo: "It isn't really a biopic because it is about Chanel before she became famous, it is about the events and people that shaped her."

The woman who invented French chic was born into poverty as Gabrielle Chanel, the illegitimate daughter of a traveling salesman, in 1883. After the death of her mother and abandonment by her father she spent seven years in a Catholic orphanage, where she learned to sew. But fashion wasn't her first career choice. As a young woman, Chanel had ambitions to be a singer and it was while warbling "Who's Seen Coco in the Trocadero" in a cabaret that she acquired the nickname Coco.

While working as a cabaret singer, she also took to sewing the stage clothes for the likes of French cabaret star Mistinguette before being taken under the wing wealthy Balsan. His chateau became Chanel's home and her gateway to a new life.

Balsan introduced her to Capel, who played a crucial role in Chanel's rise to fashion fame and fortune.

There are two other French Chanel project the works.

William Friedkin will helm one focused on the fashion diva's relationship with Stravinsky, with "Lady Chatterley" thesp Marina Hands playing Chanel. Daniele Thompson is also writing a Chanel project.

Doyle Auction Highlights

EARLY CHANEL EVENING DRESS SELLS FOR $42,000 AT DOYLE NEW YORK ON APRIL 11, 2006 Auction Showcased a Century of Important Vintage Couture by the World's Great Designers Also Featured Were Luxurious Accessories, Costume Jewelry and Textiles On Tuesday, April 11, 2006, Doyle New York held an auction of Couture, Textiles and Accessories representing the vitality of international historical fashion spanning two centuries. Offering an extensive selection of dresses, suits and ensembles, the sale also included important costume jewelry, handbags and accessories, as well as American, European and Asian textiles. Highlighting the sale was a blue silk 1926 ombre fringe dress from Chanel that soared past its pre-sale estimate of $5,000-7,000 to reach $42,000. The dress was similar to an example in the Costume Institute’s tautly edited ‘Chanel’ (p.187). Also inspiring competitive bidding was a 1993 Lacroix Carnivale inspired two-piece gown that sold for $10,800, against a pre-sale estimate of $4,000-6,000. Another noteworthy offering was an elegant Fortuny cinnamon silk Delphos tea gown that sold for $7,800. Of more recent vintage were a 1968 Ossie Clark python coat that sold for $3,600 and a 1992 Chanel Couture olive changeante silk dress that sold for $3,600. Property being offered to benefit the Grenville Baker’s Boys and Girls Club included a Mainbocher shredded point d’esprit cocktail dress that sold for $3,300. Fine accessories included a selection of handbags by Hermes, including a blue roi crocodile Kelly bag that sold for $19,200; a cyclamen ostrich Birkin bag that sold for $16,800; and a tan togo leather Birkin bag that sold also 16,800. Costume jewelry was highlighted by a futuristic 1960s Coppola e Toppo faux rhinestone spray suite comprising a collar and two bracelets that fetched $11,400. Also notable was a 1950s Chanel gilt-metal filigree clasp belt formerly in the collection of Diana Vreeland that achieved $3,600. Textiles included an extravagantly embroidered Chinese altar cloth that sold for $6,000. Among the selection of Louis Vuitton trunks were two handsome wardrobe trunks that sold for $3,900 each. NEXT AUCTION Fall 2006 LOCATION Doyle New York, 175 East 87th Street, New York, NY 10128 CONSIGNMENTS ARE CURRENTLY BEING ACCEPTED To have your couture, costume jewelry, textiles and accessories evaluated for possible consignment in the Couture, Textiles and Accessories auction, please contact: Clair Watson Director, Couture Department Tel: 212-427-4141, ext. 603 Email: couture@DoyleNewYork.com CATALOGUE Printed Catalogue: Subscriptions Department, 212-427-4141, ext. 257, subscriptions@DoyleNewYork.com View the online catalogue