Barbara Hulanicki - Back to Brighton

Photograph Tessa Hallmann © Royal Pavilion & Museums

The Brighton Museum & Art Gallery are showcasing a major fashion exhibition that will look at the story of Barbara Hulanicki and Biba. The final part of the exhibition will look at Barbara Hulanicki's career from the late 1970s to the present day. The exhibition will be running from 22nd September 2012 to 14th April 2013.

There will be over 200 exhibits which were either loaned from major collectors or private individuals. The Biba story will unravel through film, illustration, fashion, photography and ephemera. 

Here are some of the items that will be on display....

Banana story-wallpaper and dress, c1968-2006

This design has been used a number of times over Barbara's career and in different ways. The print has been used for wallpaper since 1968. It decorated the interior of the Biba store in New York. It then made a come back in 2006 when Habitat commissioned Barbara to design wallpaper. She reinterpreted the banana print using different colour ways. 

Lace dress, c1969

This floor-length lace dress featured on the cover and inside pages of The Sunday Telegraph colour supplement. The high neck and 'handkerchief' sleeves were based on Edwardian and 1930-1935 styles. 

I feel very lucky that Brighton has been chosen to hold this exhibition. If you live locally please go and check it out. There is a small admission charge but if you take a document, proving you live in Brighton, you get a discount.

The lovely Jo-Ann Fortune (from Vintage Brighton) interviewed Barbara recently in this wonderful short documentary video. The video follows Barbara when she returns to Brighton, where she studied fashion illustration in the 1950s.

Biba models, c9173, photographed by Brian Duffy © Duffy Archives. 

Biba models, c9173, photographed by Brian Duffy © Duffy Archives.

How-to make your own photo props

The last couple of weeks have been very busy for me. I have been preparing for my leave at Choccywoccydoodah and making sure everything is ship shape before I pass the baton to Spex (who will take my place in the flower department). I am sad to say goodbye to everyone but also very excited about spending more time with Molly and working on Vintage Owl Boutique full time. 

It is an end of an era though and an era I don't want to forget too easily. So, I have decided for my leaving-do I would make some photo props, so I could get some good snaps of the gang together. These props have become all the rage at weddings and parties recently with photo booths popping up all over the country. You can buy photo props online at around £14.99 for 5. With me leaving a guaranteed wage I decided to make them for near to nothing. This is how I did it....

You will need:

Felt

Tacky Glue

Bamboo Skewers or Dowel (can easily get from Poundland)

Paper (to make your templates)

Scissors

Tailors Chalk or pen (to mark out your templates)

Cost to make - £0 

(These are all things I had already)

1. Make your templates on some paper. I found it easier to fold the paper in half and draw out half a moustache / lip or glasses to make sure your template symmetrical. Once your happy with what you have done, cut out with some scissors.

2.  Mark out your templates on the felt using tailors chalk or a pen. Cut out. I would cut out two of each shape. Felt can be a bit floppy and doubling it will definitely make your moustache or lips stronger. For the glasses I backed it with cardboard as they needed something a bit stronger because of the shape and size. 

3.  Once all your felt is cut out, it's time to apply your tacky glue. Apply a generous amount to the back of your felt. Place your bamboo skewer where you would like it and then put your other piece of felt on top. Press lightly until it feels secure. 

4. Once glue is dry you can trim round the edges if there are any overlapping edges. 

5. Grab friends and have lots of fun taking photos!

I hope this tutorial was helpful. Feel free to send me any questions you may have about this "How-to".

Enjoy and have fun!

Peek at Kiernan Shipka's wardrobe...

Kiernan Shipka, who you will know better as Sally Draper from Mad Men, has an amazing sense of style. Not only on the set but off set too. In this video Kiernan gives Laura Brown, from Hello Style, a glimpse at her wardrobe. For a 11 year old... this girl has amazing clothes and not only that she makes clothes as well!  

Really can't wait for Season 6 of Mad Men! This show is incredible and I am truly addicted!