The cat on the eye

Recently I have just seen a photo of an eye make-up in social media. I found the cat "painting" or "make-up" over the eyes very interesting. However when I searched further, I came up with many other beautiful designs. I prefer the word "design" because I believe they look like works of art.

The artist is called Tal Peleg. She uses the eyelids as a canvas and creates many different designs getting inspired from the fables or the nature.

This time I don't want to use many words because the photos themselves are enough to tell the story. Just enjoy the photos (all are by Tal Peleg)...

Those shoes aren't to be sold

Shops or fashions shows aren’t the only places to see and learn about the new trends or about the changes in the fashion world. Sometimes museums give good opportunities to learn about the fashion and its history too.

 

Kobi Levi, Blow, 2010
foto Ilit Azoulay
© Kobi Levi Footwear Art

One of the recent interesting exhibitions take place in The Kunsthal Rotterdam in Netherlands. It is an exhibition that those who are interested in the shoes and their stories shouldn't miss.

René van den Berg en Karin Janssen,
Bits & Pieces, 2012
© A SHOE CAN BE

The museum reveals the astonishing story of women’s shoe design from 1900 to our time under the exhibition “S.H.O.E.S” (Sexy Heels Or Easy Sandals). 

 

Manolo Blahnik, 2008
© Collectie Modemuseum Hasselt

Vivienne Westwood, Court shoes
1993, Collectie Bata Shoe
Museum. beeld © 2013 Bata Shoe
Museum, Toronto, Canada

Around 500 shoes are included in the exhibition. 

Ellen Verbeek, 2008 © Ellen Verbeek

One can see the shoes of celebrated designers such as André Perugia and Salvatore Ferragamo or Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin, as well as contemporary and rising young talents according to the museum.

André Perugia, Escarpin 1937,
collectie PERUGIA,
beeld © Agnès Bastioni

Many pieces from celebrated collections will be on display in the  exhibition as well such as Perugia’s surrealist 1931 design “Homage to Braque” from the International Footwear Museum in Romans-sur-Isère, as well as the first platform-sole sandal that Ferragamo designed in 1938 for Judy Garland.

And there is also place for Roger Vivier who invented the stiletto in 1954. 

The exhibition can be visited till 11th May, 2014.

Work of art

Designs looking like a painting in t-shirts or dresses are one of the important fashion elements of new season. 

Many famous labels such as Prada and Chanel also preferred such patterns in their designs. For instance the painter Diego Rivera inspired the desginers of Prada.
 

by Prada

At the market there are many different versions of that trend. That thin pullover with sunflowers which I bought recently reminds me the sunflowers of Van Gogh. 

Or you can feel in a garden full of daisies in summer...

 ... surrounded by butterflies...

...and with other flowers.

‘Eco and fair’

We are going on our tour in Düsseldorf. Another designer whose collections I found interesting was Viola Ballinger. 

She runs her own business in Berlin since 2007. In the fashion trade show, she introduced the 2nd winter collection. She says she wants to show in her creations that “we are women.” 

 


















She wants the women who wear her designs look self-confident. In her collection there are many options from trousers to the dresses and coats.

However what is worth to be mentioned also is that all the products are manufactured ecologically and under fair trade conditions. In a world where many children, men and women are exploited under bad working conditions which are sometimes described as modern slavery, fair trade is a very important aspect.

What about German fashion? 

Ballinger thinks the German women prefer more classical outfits with traditional lines. 

Viola Ballinger

She says she would like to see more individuality in German fashion world.

She has more clients abroad. Her designs can be found in boutiques in Austria and Sweden too. 

But the main boutique is in Berlin in Fasanenstrasse 68.