Europe's Grand Finale for Spring 2020
Spring 2020. A new decade. What will 2020s bring in fashion? The first season of this new beginning is off to a challenging start. The European Fashion Weeks in London, Milan and Paris staged scores and scores of runway shows.
New trends? Nothing that hasn’t been seen before, many times over, but given a different twist, a fresh spin, the fashion version of today’s “fake news”syndrome. Same old, same old blue jeans are presented as if they are news. Pantsuits also are hardly new but they are everywhere, as are trenchcoats, destined for another season of success. But beware, they are not your mother’s trenchcoat.
Looking for newness? Start with the search for overriding silhouette declarations. There is occasional innovation, exaggeration and experimentation. Sleeves are often noticeably enlarged, as are full skirts. Shorts, sometimes almost miniscule, do not even raise an eyebrow these days. Textiles are core concepts, ranging from reworked leopard spots to yawn-inducing blue denim. Sheer see-through delicacies include tulle and lovely lace, sometimes with decorative stitchery added. Metallic surfaces add jazzy razzle dazzle. Exciting, creative prints are pushing the limits of multi-colorful artistry. The coming decade may be new but the color stories are solidly safe. Black-and-white in high contrast duet or even stronger, when solo. Natural neutrals continue to gain followers while shades of blue garner stellar attention. A rare dash of orange looks refreshing and welcome.
"Fake News" from European runways for spring 2020: left-to-right…Saint Laurent, Celine and Balenciaga.
Pantsuits, hardly new, but everywhere: left-to-right…Alexander McQueen, Gucci and Dolce &Gabanna.
Miniscule shorts do not raise an eyebrow these days: left-to-right…Saint Laurent, Valentino and Christian Dior.
Same old, same old blue jeans: left-to-right…Chanel, Celine and Stella McCartney.
Not
your mother’s classic trenchcoat: left-to-right… Junya Watanabe, Bottega Veneta
and Valentino.
Classic trenchcoats reconfigured into cutting edge: left-to-right…Burberry, Junya Watanabe and Junya Watanabe.
Noticeably enlarged sleeves from bygone times: left-to-right…Alexander McQueen, Louis Vuitton and Stella McCartney.
Full skirts for the ultimate feminine fashion statement: left-to-right…Christian Dior, Chanel and Valentino.
Sheer featherweight fabrics dare to make a sexy statements: left-to-right…Gucci, Valentino and Christian Dior.
All sorts of stripes are simple variations on classic graphic lines: left-to-right…Alexander McQueen, Christian Dior and Chanel.
Lovely lace sets a romantic mood: left-to-right… Alexander McQueen, Burberry and Dolce & Gabbana.
New recreated antique expressions turn back time: left-to-right…Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana and Christian Dior.
Metallic special effects give ‘em that ol’ razzle dazzle: left-to-right…Bottega Veneta, Prada and Chanel.
Prints push the limits of colorful artistry: left-to-right…Balenciaga, Valentino and Marni.
Unique prints worthy of art gallery wall-space: Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel and Louis Vuitton.
Black-and-white in sharp contrasting harmony: left-to-right…Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel and Maison Margiela.
White stands alone, the absence of all color, nevertheless a powerful presence: left-to-right…Prada, Alexander McQueen and Valentino.
Black goes solo, the presence of all colors, the ever-popular favorite: left-to-right…Saint Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana and Maison Margiela.
Natural neutrals are calm and cool, quiet and collected: left-to-right…Dolce & Gabbana, Prada and Junya Watanabe.
Shades of blue ring true, with a special emphasis on sky blue: left-to-right…Marni, The Row and Christian Dior.
A dash of orange adds some welcome sizzle to the spring 2020 season: left-to-right… Bottega Veneta, Marni and Prada.
Spring 2020. A new decade. What will 2020s bring in fashion? The first season of this new beginning is off to a challenging start. The European Fashion Weeks in London, Milan and Paris staged scores and scores of runway shows.
New trends? Nothing that hasn’t been seen before, many times over, but given a different twist, a fresh spin, the fashion version of today’s “fake news”syndrome. Same old, same old blue jeans are presented as if they are news. Pantsuits also are hardly new but they are everywhere, as are trenchcoats, destined for another season of success. But beware, they are not your mother’s trenchcoat.
Looking for newness? Start with the search for overriding silhouette declarations. There is occasional innovation, exaggeration and experimentation. Sleeves are often noticeably enlarged, as are full skirts. Shorts, sometimes almost miniscule, do not even raise an eyebrow these days. Textiles are core concepts, ranging from reworked leopard spots to yawn-inducing blue denim. Sheer see-through delicacies include tulle and lovely lace, sometimes with decorative stitchery added. Metallic surfaces add jazzy razzle dazzle. Exciting, creative prints are pushing the limits of multi-colorful artistry. The coming decade may be new but the color stories are solidly safe. Black-and-white in high contrast duet or even stronger, when solo. Natural neutrals continue to gain followers while shades of blue garner stellar attention. A rare dash of orange looks refreshing and welcome.
 |
| "Fake News" from European runways for spring 2020: left-to-right…Saint Laurent, Celine and Balenciaga. |
 |
| Pantsuits, hardly new, but everywhere: left-to-right…Alexander McQueen, Gucci and Dolce &Gabanna. |
 |
| Miniscule shorts do not raise an eyebrow these days: left-to-right…Saint Laurent, Valentino and Christian Dior. |
 |
| Same old, same old blue jeans: left-to-right…Chanel, Celine and Stella McCartney. |
 |
| Not
your mother’s classic trenchcoat: left-to-right… Junya Watanabe, Bottega Veneta
and Valentino. |
 |
| Classic trenchcoats reconfigured into cutting edge: left-to-right…Burberry, Junya Watanabe and Junya Watanabe. |
 |
| Noticeably enlarged sleeves from bygone times: left-to-right…Alexander McQueen, Louis Vuitton and Stella McCartney. |
 |
| Full skirts for the ultimate feminine fashion statement: left-to-right…Christian Dior, Chanel and Valentino. |
 |
| Sheer featherweight fabrics dare to make a sexy statements: left-to-right…Gucci, Valentino and Christian Dior. |
 |
| All sorts of stripes are simple variations on classic graphic lines: left-to-right…Alexander McQueen, Christian Dior and Chanel. |
 |
| Lovely lace sets a romantic mood: left-to-right… Alexander McQueen, Burberry and Dolce & Gabbana. |
 |
| New recreated antique expressions turn back time: left-to-right…Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana and Christian Dior. |
 |
| Metallic special effects give ‘em that ol’ razzle dazzle: left-to-right…Bottega Veneta, Prada and Chanel. |
 |
| Prints push the limits of colorful artistry: left-to-right…Balenciaga, Valentino and Marni. |
 |
| Unique prints worthy of art gallery wall-space: Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel and Louis Vuitton. |
 |
| Black-and-white in sharp contrasting harmony: left-to-right…Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel and Maison Margiela. |
 |
| White stands alone, the absence of all color, nevertheless a powerful presence: left-to-right…Prada, Alexander McQueen and Valentino. |
 |
| Black goes solo, the presence of all colors, the ever-popular favorite: left-to-right…Saint Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana and Maison Margiela. |
 |
| Natural neutrals are calm and cool, quiet and collected: left-to-right…Dolce & Gabbana, Prada and Junya Watanabe. |
 |
| Shades of blue ring true, with a special emphasis on sky blue: left-to-right…Marni, The Row and Christian Dior. |
 |
| A dash of orange adds some welcome sizzle to the spring 2020 season: left-to-right… Bottega Veneta, Marni and Prada. |
A Paper Doll Book That Didn't Happen
Sometimes things just don’t happen the way I wish they would. A few years ago, I had a brainstorm while thinking about future paper doll projects. How about Louisa May Alcott’s classic Little Women? The great Tom Tierney published a definitive book many years ago. I thought it was time for a fresh new version. Jenny Taliadoros, the power house exec behind Paper Studio Press agreed to publish it and I was off and running. As part of my researching I watched the several movie versions that have been made over the years. The best, most charming version in my opinion was the MGM 1949 classic. What a cast! June Allyson, Margaret O’Brien, Janet Leigh and Elizabeth Taylor (in a wig of blonde ringlets!) I immediately started drawing and painting facial studies, getting comfortable with the likenesses, over and over again. The four stars had very distinctive faces and I soon captured to my satisfaction the images of the MGM stars as tomboyish Jo, ladylike Meg, vain beauty Amy and gentle Beth. (The studio saw fit to trade ages of Amy and Beth to make the characters suit the popular young stars.)
I envisioned the cover as a painting of the sentimental group portrait of the little women gathered around Marmee reading a letter from Father, a Chaplin in the Civil War army. I was happy as could be with my project, but not for long. Jenny was concerned about the rights to represent MGM's depiction of the story. She suggested I create generic dolls, but I was not interested in the project minus the star-studded cast. So the project was shelved, to my chagrin.
I did succeed in creating a personal “Little Women” Christmas Card one year (2014), however! The years passed and I put away my aborted attempt. Of course, I continued meantime to create dozens of paper dolls, movie dolls and fashions galore.
Just recently I was delighted to see a new version of Little Women paper dolls by one of my favorite fellow artists, Eileen Rudisill Miller (a.k.a. Rudy). Her interpretation is as fresh as a daisy, a charming retelling that brings new life to a beloved classic. Rudy’s Little Women, published by Dover, is available from paperdollreview.com.
Unpublished cover artwork of Marmee and the four girls: Janet Leigh as Meg, June Allyson as Jo, Elizabeth Taylor as Amy, Margaret O’Brien as Beth, Mary Astor as Marmee.
Page 1, David’s personal Christmas Card, 2014
Page 2, David’s personal Christmas Card, 2014
Page 3, David’s personal Christmas Card, 2014
Little Women by Eileen Rudisill Miller, Dover, 2019
DRESSING ROYAL PRINCESSES
“Royal Princesses of the 20th Century” is my current paper doll book, a work in progress. It will include five royal princesses, each considered a fashion trend-setter in her day. Princess Alexandra of Denmark married Queen Victoria’s son in 1863, becoming the Princess of Wales and later the Queen Consort and Empress. She was a stunning fairy tale beauty who dressed the role, dripping in jewels and pearls. Her fashion lifespan began with crinoline hoopskirts, then bustles and finally, hourglass curves. A later famous Princess was Margaret Rose, who wore Christian Dior’s post WWII “New Look” and made it her own signature look. Anne, The Princess Royal, is known as “the hardest working member of the Windsor family.” She seems to care more about horsemanship than fashion these days, although she was always a very smartly dressed young woman. Diana, Princess of Wales, the most photographed woman of the 20th century grew from slightly frumpy to become a super chic high fashion plate. Her tragic death was globally mourned in 1997. Movie star Grace Kelly became a Princess when she left Hollywood in 1956 to wed Prince Rainier of Monaco. Each of the five paper dolls will have several appropriately Royal outfits in this forthcoming regal book to be published by Paper Studio Press in 2020.
Extravagant Royal wedding dress worn by Alexandra of Denmark, making her the English Princess of Wales.
Sometimes things just don’t happen the way I wish they would. A few years ago, I had a brainstorm while thinking about future paper doll projects. How about Louisa May Alcott’s classic Little Women? The great Tom Tierney published a definitive book many years ago. I thought it was time for a fresh new version. Jenny Taliadoros, the power house exec behind Paper Studio Press agreed to publish it and I was off and running. As part of my researching I watched the several movie versions that have been made over the years. The best, most charming version in my opinion was the MGM 1949 classic. What a cast! June Allyson, Margaret O’Brien, Janet Leigh and Elizabeth Taylor (in a wig of blonde ringlets!) I immediately started drawing and painting facial studies, getting comfortable with the likenesses, over and over again. The four stars had very distinctive faces and I soon captured to my satisfaction the images of the MGM stars as tomboyish Jo, ladylike Meg, vain beauty Amy and gentle Beth. (The studio saw fit to trade ages of Amy and Beth to make the characters suit the popular young stars.)
I envisioned the cover as a painting of the sentimental group portrait of the little women gathered around Marmee reading a letter from Father, a Chaplin in the Civil War army. I was happy as could be with my project, but not for long. Jenny was concerned about the rights to represent MGM's depiction of the story. She suggested I create generic dolls, but I was not interested in the project minus the star-studded cast. So the project was shelved, to my chagrin.
I did succeed in creating a personal “Little Women” Christmas Card one year (2014), however! The years passed and I put away my aborted attempt. Of course, I continued meantime to create dozens of paper dolls, movie dolls and fashions galore.
Just recently I was delighted to see a new version of Little Women paper dolls by one of my favorite fellow artists, Eileen Rudisill Miller (a.k.a. Rudy). Her interpretation is as fresh as a daisy, a charming retelling that brings new life to a beloved classic. Rudy’s Little Women, published by Dover, is available from paperdollreview.com.
 |
| Unpublished cover artwork of Marmee and the four girls: Janet Leigh as Meg, June Allyson as Jo, Elizabeth Taylor as Amy, Margaret O’Brien as Beth, Mary Astor as Marmee. |
 |
| Page 1, David’s personal Christmas Card, 2014 |
 |
| Page 2, David’s personal Christmas Card, 2014 |
 |
| Page 3, David’s personal Christmas Card, 2014 |
 |
| Little Women by Eileen Rudisill Miller, Dover, 2019 |
DRESSING ROYAL PRINCESSES
“Royal Princesses of the 20th Century” is my current paper doll book, a work in progress. It will include five royal princesses, each considered a fashion trend-setter in her day. Princess Alexandra of Denmark married Queen Victoria’s son in 1863, becoming the Princess of Wales and later the Queen Consort and Empress. She was a stunning fairy tale beauty who dressed the role, dripping in jewels and pearls. Her fashion lifespan began with crinoline hoopskirts, then bustles and finally, hourglass curves. A later famous Princess was Margaret Rose, who wore Christian Dior’s post WWII “New Look” and made it her own signature look. Anne, The Princess Royal, is known as “the hardest working member of the Windsor family.” She seems to care more about horsemanship than fashion these days, although she was always a very smartly dressed young woman. Diana, Princess of Wales, the most photographed woman of the 20th century grew from slightly frumpy to become a super chic high fashion plate. Her tragic death was globally mourned in 1997. Movie star Grace Kelly became a Princess when she left Hollywood in 1956 to wed Prince Rainier of Monaco. Each of the five paper dolls will have several appropriately Royal outfits in this forthcoming regal book to be published by Paper Studio Press in 2020.
 |
| Extravagant Royal wedding dress worn by Alexandra of Denmark, making her the English Princess of Wales. |
Christmas is Coming Very Soon!
My monthly coloring book exercise is a reminder that the Christmas holiday is coming soon. I completed my annual Christmas card early this year and it will be sent to you as a special email in December, ready for you to print yourself, as many copies as you want. Meanwhile, I got in the festive spirit by coloring some pages from the wonderful Dover book honoring the vintage Christmas covers of The Saturday Evening Post. The first half of the book consists of vintage full-color prints of magazine covers by leading illustrators including Norman Rockwell and J.C. Leyendecker. The second section of the book repeats the covers as black-and-white line drawings, ready to color with pencils or crayons. Careful! The drawings are very intricate, difficult to color.
Paperdoll Review offers lots of holiday paper dolls including two books created by me in years past, but still available for purchase from paperdollreview.com. Merrie Christmas is my vision of an old-fashioned family celebration with costumes for ice skating, caroling, tree-trimming and a Christmas show. Merry Movie Christmas pays tribute to some of my favorite Holiday movies including “It’s A Wonderful Life,” “White Christmas,””Home Alone,” “Elf” and several more, each with a paper doll and a costume.
Christmas Treasury” Cover and children hanging stockings colored by David.
Two more pages from “Christmas Treasury” colored by David.
Merrie Christmas is an old-fashioned family paper doll book celebrating the Holiday.
Merry Movie Christmas is a paper doll book honoring favorite Holiday films.
My monthly coloring book exercise is a reminder that the Christmas holiday is coming soon. I completed my annual Christmas card early this year and it will be sent to you as a special email in December, ready for you to print yourself, as many copies as you want. Meanwhile, I got in the festive spirit by coloring some pages from the wonderful Dover book honoring the vintage Christmas covers of The Saturday Evening Post. The first half of the book consists of vintage full-color prints of magazine covers by leading illustrators including Norman Rockwell and J.C. Leyendecker. The second section of the book repeats the covers as black-and-white line drawings, ready to color with pencils or crayons. Careful! The drawings are very intricate, difficult to color.
Paperdoll Review offers lots of holiday paper dolls including two books created by me in years past, but still available for purchase from paperdollreview.com. Merrie Christmas is my vision of an old-fashioned family celebration with costumes for ice skating, caroling, tree-trimming and a Christmas show. Merry Movie Christmas pays tribute to some of my favorite Holiday movies including “It’s A Wonderful Life,” “White Christmas,””Home Alone,” “Elf” and several more, each with a paper doll and a costume.
 |
| Christmas Treasury” Cover and children hanging stockings colored by David. |
 |
| Two more pages from “Christmas Treasury” colored by David. |
 |
| Merrie Christmas is an old-fashioned family paper doll book celebrating the Holiday. |
 |
| Merry Movie Christmas is a paper doll book honoring favorite Holiday films. |
