Royal Ascot 2013

I have always have a thing for hats, caps, headpieces or whatever you can put on your head. I remember that when I started studying Fashion Design my goal was to be a Millinery Designer like Philip Treacy or Stephen Jones but at some point reality hit me and I realize that to be a hat maker I will have to live in England and made just a few amazingly absurd hats per year... Not profitable.

But anyways, whener I made a collection or a design or even a sketch there's always a Millinery element in it. And maybe that's my muse and number one love is always and forever Isabella Blow. 

Royal Ascot is a famous English racecourse related to the British Royal Family, which on Ladies' Day is the perfect excuse to find a good hat and dress up. Here are some photos from the event chosen by me for many reason (fashion, style, awkwardness, etc).

I guess that British do it better!

 Angela Lin - Gucci top and trousers, hat by John Lewis.

Karen Carwin - Hat Locke and Co., Maison Rabih Kayrouz dress, Valentino shoes and Michael Kors clutch.

Larisa Katz - Own design.

Louis Lynn (left) - Martha Lynn hat, Boss dress, Costume National cluth and Stella McCartney shoes.
Martha Lynn (right) - Own design hat, Paula Ka cape, Irish Design Centre dress, H&M clutch and Michael Kors shoes.

 Mimi Theobald - Own design hat, recycled vintage dress, Debenhams clutch and Kurt Geiger shoes.

 

Virginia Bates - Stephen Jones hat, vintage dress, Gucci shoes and Susannah Hunter clutch.

 Florence Calridge.

Mrs. John Quinn.

Random racegoers.

Isabell Kristensen.

Lady Helen - Barbara Casasola outfit.

Ghesquière's.

Nicolas Ghesquière was born in 1971 in Comines. His dad owned a golf course and his mom was a fashion lover... 

In his resumé, Agnès B (aged 15), then Jean-Paul Gaultier where he made an internship with the designer. In 1995, he got hired as a licensed product designer for Balenciaga, making an  approach to the brand. "It's OK. I will go and I will see what the potential is and see what is going on. So it was not the most glamorous way to approach the brand. But it was interesting to work on this license and to see what was left from Balenciaga." Two years after this, he got named as Balenciaga's new creative director.

After this happened, back in 1997, all of his collections started to succeed, giving more reputation to the house and to himself.

"We've developed the brand," he told Interview magazine in January 2010. "I probably feel more solid because the brand is solid and I feel stronger than my years. But I put so much pressure on myself, which makes me very insecure. With my designs and my ideas, I want to please myself first. I'm always very stressed about making a new proposition every season. But in a way, it's a kind of addiction. In another way, it's a crazy pressure. I try to stay quiet about the whole situation, because fashion itself can be crazy, and everyone wants a part of you."

After more than 10 years working for the famous fashion house, he gained everyone's respect and admiration. Every season me, and many more, waited for each Paris Fashion Week to see what Ghesquière's proposal for the season was. And it was always mind blowing. Unique silhouettes, weird/new materials, volume, show... The whole package to make of his show one of a kind.

After all this success, after dressing Nicole Kidman for her wedding, working with Charlotte Gainsburg, getting Twilight's hated Kirsten Stewart as spokeswoman and image for the brand... Ghesquière decides to leave Balenciaga behind.

"With an incomparable creative talent, Nicolas has brought to Balenciaga an artistic contribution essential to the unique influence of the house", said François-Henri Pinault, chairman and CEO of PPR.

Is not confirmed what Ghesquière's future will be. If he would launch his own brand or start with another house... By the moment I will make a little homage to one of the designer's I admire the most. Here's a selection of my favorite designs.

 ♥