Couture fashion designer Zandra Rhodes personal style still reflects her having come of age in London in the ’60s. She likes stopping traffic, and ensures that it will happen with her magenta coiffure.
Lacking eyebrows, she paints them in. Her dresses are born of the prints she designs for her fabrics. When making a print, Rhodes does not restrict herself to working in a rectangular, pattern-repeating format; rather, her fabrics are freewheeling and spirited – with no beginning, no end, and no straight edges. Her fabric designs, often printed onto floating silk chiffon, inspire the shape of the dress.
Much thought goes into each process, and each print and dress grows out to the next, making the whole of her work much like the output of a painter, with its recurrent themes, favorite subject matter, and characteristic of light and color.
Zandra shared her new couture collection at the Bellevue Neiman Marcus last Friday. She wears her fantasy clothing well. Rhodes has also dressed Jackie Onassis, Princess Diana and Princess Anne, and Freddie Mercury of Queen.
Despite her personal outrageousness, the Rhodes aesthetic is gently flattering, flamboyantly feminine, and never harsh. With this all said, her costumes for the Seattle Opera’s upcoming production of The Magic Flute promises to be as inspiring, with fairy-tale renditions.
The Mozart masterpiece celebrates the power of music, as a prince, a princess, and a bird-catcher try to find their own way in a world torn apart by the feud between a manipulative queen and a powerful priest. The Magic Flute will run with nine performances: May 7, 8 (matinee), 11, 13, 14, 15 (matinee), 18, 20, and 21, 2011 at McCaw Hall in Seattle. Single tickets start at $25. www.seattleopera.org.
Last Saturday I was introduced to ART with Heart at Cole Gallery in downtown Edmonds. This nonprofit organization creates and distributes therapeutic books and offers supportive trainings and workshops that help high-risk children and youth heal from trauma through creative expression, fostering self-confidence, and supporting their emotional and social growth, and paving the way for success in school and life.
Steffanie Lorig, Executive Director shared that “their mission is to heal kids through creativity”. One in 10 children struggles with mental illness, severe enough to impair their ability to function day-to-day. The delay between the onset of mental illness to treatment (an average of 8-10 years) means the loss of childhood and critical development years.
Artist Patty Forte´ Linna, known for being a story teller with her work, partnered with ART with Heart and created 24 beautiful impressionistic paintings for the gallery. Her muse’ for this art exhibit include clients of Seattle’s leading couture fashion designer Luly Yang, along with models wearing couture gowns from Luly’s Ocean Collection that debuted in October at the Seattle Aquarium.
Between now and May 18 gallery attendees can view Patty’s artwork, purchase a ticket for $10 and vie for the chance of winning a Patty Forte´ Linna original painting. All proceeds from the drawing will go to ART with Heart. www.artwithheart.org; www.ColeGallery.net; www.pattyfortelinna.com; www.lulyyang.com.
Miki House, a fashionable new Japanese clothier for children, located on at 1032 106th Ave. N.E., Suite 123 in downtown Bellevue, is having a photo contest for their young customers who love to wear Miki House clothing. Set from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 23 and 25, children will be photographed by a professional photographer wearing their favorite Miki ensemble. The young contestant winners will be announced on the USA Miki House Facebook page. www.miki-house-usa.com.
While dining at ViaVita Café and Wine Bar in downtown Bellevue (on Northeast 10th Street and 106th Avenue Northeast), the table next to me wanted to know if there were any menu items not on the menu. The waiter mentioned “yes, that Chef Collins had also prepared calf brains studded with black truffles, wrapped in calf fat, braised with demi glaze capers and lemon juice, served with Panisse Marseille (chick pea cake).”
Speaking later to restaurant owner, Jan Lawrence, I learned that they sold out of this menu item and this week they are creating a new menu item using Beef Cheeks, along with the brains, since it was such a hit with their restaurant connoisseurs.
