Rococo and Lolita Fashion

   

     The Rococo style originated in France in the early 18th century. It is characterized by playfulness, grace and lightness in contrast to the heavier themes and darker colors of the earlier Baroque period. The word Rococo was formed from the French word rocaille meaning shell and from the Italian barocco meaning Baroque style. There has been debate whether Rococo is a significant point in European art or not. Since the mid 19th century the style has been accepted by art  historians and is recognized as a major developmental point.


The fabrics were lightweight silks and satin. The colors were light pastel colors. Large floral motifs were favored at started of the style. It then changed to smaller flowers and finally stripes sparkled with sprigs. Solid colors were also popular in times.

     Costumes from the Rococo period along with Victorian clothing have influenced the Lolita fashion movement. It is a fashion subculture originating in Japan. The look consists primarily of knee length dresses or skirts, headdresses, blouse, petticoat, knee high socks or stockings, and either horse or high heel platform shoes. The exact origin of the style is uncertain but it is assumed that it may have started in the late 1970's when labels such as Pink House and Milk began selling clothes in the manner of today's Lolita style.

     The style was popularized through the rise of bands, such as Malice Mizer, who wore intricate costumes. Fans began adopting the appearance and made it their every day look. The style started spreading from the Kansai region to Tokyo, where Japanese youth popularized it even more. The look has grown so much that it is now sold in department stores in Japan.


http://fashiontruhistory.blogspot.com/2006/04/rococo-fashion-era.html

Charles Rennie Mackintosh



Charles Rennie Mackintosh

     Charles Rennie Mackintosh was an architect and designer of the Art Nouveau in Scotland. Mackintosh was born in Glasgow in 1868 where he was apprenticed to an architect and attended evening art classes. At this time he met Margaret MacDonald, Frances MacDonald, and Herbert McNair. This group became known as "The Four". They exhibited in Glasgow, London, and Vienna; these exhibitions being the ones which earned Mackintosh his reputation.

     Mackintosh formed a firm of architects in 1889. Here he developed his own style of design. His style consisted of a contrast between strong right angles and floral-inspired decorative motifs with subtle curves.

Glasgow School of Art (1897-1909)

     Charles Rennie Mackintosh's Glasgow School of Art is what earned his international reputation. Other works of Macintosh include:

North elevation of GSA's Mackintosh buildingHill House, Helensburgh (National Trust for Scotland)
House for an Art Lover, Glasgow
The Mackintosh House (Hunterian Art Gallery, Glasgow)
Queen's Cross church, Glasgow
Ruchill Church Hall, Glasgow
Holy Trinity Church, Bridge of Allan, Stirling
Scotland Street School, Glasgow
The Willow Rooms, also known as Miss Cranston's Tea Rooms
Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow
Craigie Hall, Glasgow
Martyrs' Public School
The Royal Highland Fusiliers Museum, Glasgow
Former Daily Record offices, Glasgow
Former The Herald offices in Mitchell Street
78 Derngate, Northampton (for Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke)
5 The Drive, Northampton (for Basset-Lowke's brother-in-law)

     Mackintosh also worked with metalwork, interior design, furniture and textiles. His work was not very successful outside of the UK and many of his ambitious designs were never built, so he later focused his work on watercolours. Mackintosh painted several landscapes and flower studies. His designs gained more popularity years after his death and his School of Art is regularly recognized by critics as one of the finest buildings in the UK.

http://www.biographybase.com/biography/Mackintosh_Charles_Rennie.html