Tatyana Boutique Double Breasted Sheath (similar here) Vintage Sheer Silk Scarf, Doris Alexander (similar here) Rose Rhinestone Brooch (similar here) Glass Paved Gold-Tone Earrings J.Colleen (similar here) Antique Co Vintage Ivory Button Gloves Vintage Leather Clutch, Doris Gibson (similar here) Ivanka Trump Suede Pumps
I’ve always had such an eager attraction with the historic implementation which surrounds the dated architecture of a bygone era. The greater San Francisco bay area in my opinion has swiftly provided an epitome of historic abundance to those that live within its perimeters, particularly the Lake Merritt district. These historic landmarks in many ways bring a feeling of home, each structure presents such an eternal treasure with its attention to detail bestowing a novel of love. In 1927 an art deco inspired six-story Mediterranean “apartment-style hotel” had taken residency lakeside at Madison. The Lake Merritt Hotel & Restaurant designed by prolific Architect William Weeks provides both guests and residence a sense of this prominence. A landmark best described as a hidden gem which continues its success with the luxurious addition of The Terrace Room Restaurant, known as the Cascade Terrace in 1934.
Originally the exterior design housed an elaborate dinning and entertainment patio for the days “well to be” clientele, orchestra’s and entertainers highlighted the evening with talent equaling the days distinctive postmodern twenty foot floor-to-ceiling windows enhancing the panoramic views for members and guest’s. With an aplomb interior mural which graciously depicts the Gold Coast by acclaimed painter, Andre Boratko of a scene of Lake Merritt in the year 1956, setting the focal point of the south wall still present today.
Standing at a distance from such history marking the corner of Lakeside Drive and Madison Street, I can’t help but glance out to the distance to its namesake’s tidal lagoon which centrally sits within the heart of Oakland. Having ventured through a number of downtown landmarks east of The Lake Merritt Hotel, it’s historical significance holds such refuge. Within the lakes grassy shoreline perimeter, artificial bucolic islands which house a number of bird refuges and a boating center which arms the San Francisco Bay. With the closing of each week I find myself gaining the chance to explore yet another building of a past era, intimately. Becoming fascinated with each glance into history I find each touch of my bare fingertips to bring a nostalgic remembrance coinciding with today’s modern developments.
Vintage Tweed Skirt (similar here & here) Ann Taylor Everyday Turtleneck MIU MIU Rhinestone Cat-Eye Sunglasses Vintage Topaz Brooch Set (similar here) Express Skinny Patent Belt (similar here) Kate Spade Patent ‘Licorice‘ Pumps
Tweed itself has remained as a mainstay garment affixed of a tailored perspective; arriving as a fabric among royalty and aristocrats. Many, if not all, will see a garment for its outer persona not for its predictable or complex history implication which might be interwoven with its evolution. What I have found throughout my fashion studies was the interlocked conjunction that each garment stands as a pillar of stature from a moment in time or place. You see, garments and their designers have a particularly solid linear which consists of a vision.
A fabric which carries an enriched history is by far, tweed. From its emergence as a textile of choice which dates back to the 1820s and 1830s, credited to the celebrity of Scotsmen Sir Walter Scott and Lord Brougham which both favored bold tweed trousers. Much like the mid-Victorian period, tweed had been made popular by countries of sportswear due to its warmth, breathability ad cultural currency, creating a world of benefits.
Refashioned at the turn of the 19th century, tweed adopted its masculine style to an elite of sartorial and socio-political coding with a new wave of women garnishing oneself in a conservative characteristic also known as haute couture. In 1924, French fashion design and style icon Coco Chanel redesigned such a fabric commissioning her fine collection of tweed dresses, jackets and skirts presenting the Chanel ‘Look’. In plotting how to ensemble such an attire one should be styled informally with a classic black turtleneck made from a cotton based material nothing ribbed or embossed, for a more mild approach a silk loose fitting blouse which flows over the midsection is subtle yet elegant. Overall, I find stylizing tweed evokes its enriched history with a geminate of its once traditional yet high couture style.
Banana Republic Double-Breasted Trench Station-to-Station Dress c/o Bitter Root Vintage Bespoke Millinery Design by ElizaBeth Rohloff Emerald Rhinestone Earrings (similar here) Vintage Leather Gloves (similar here) Umbrella (similar here) Corso Como Black Patent Pumps MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick
In 1980, Elizabeth Rohloff set forth with the Portland Civic Theater Costume shop while she attended her last year of formal University education. What seemed to convey as a fluke while part-time employment was in need, in retrospect transformed into what Rohloff states had prepared her for a freelancing career. “I had worked together with a team to construct garments for all sizes in addition to learning about historical garments, which all perfected my skill-set.” Through a duration of five years as a lead costumer to the in-house designer, including an array of guest designer’s preparing for a number of onstage musicals being produced.
Over the last nine years as the title “Educator” became affixed to “Milliner” which professionally became a focal point to Rohloff’s design efforts. While a celepe to a solid career which making use of an array of new profound techniques interlocked with an enriched history of garment making since her start. “Musical theatre is based in history and hats held prominence in the past. One of the men in the shop had the opportunity to create these hats. He and I became fast friends; I watched him work and learned about buckram and sizing techniques. Then, many years later I started to play with fabric shaping from flat to 3-D,” reminisces Rohloff, from her influential connection to the art of millinery.
Yet the design process in Rohloff’s words is “a curious thing” as it strikes from out of the blue at any moment. “Many times I’ve had a vivid, colorful dream’s with characters fully dressed. This seems to happen most when I have been in a social setting with large groups of people or immersed in watching a historical movie series,” she explains. While images from fashion spreads are typically used as a fodder to the design process, Rohloff has built a collection from knowing her fabrics. From draping techniques to a love for natural fabrics and texture, these key elements play a role in creating a millinery design.
Approximately five years ago, bubbling out of the Project Runway theme which seemed to be ramparting throughout Portland, a Fashion design Camp had been created for those who adore the fashion scene. Being hired on to assist, Rohloff had discovered a middling organization with youthful children literally running with scissors. With this single experience, it was brought upon herself to create her initial Fashion Design Camp. With a natural progression for the art of millinery and wearable designs it has today provided returning students an understanding to the fundamentals of design basics.
Through the evolution of Rohloff’s career one thing has been revealed as she states, “The process of becoming an artist has been an inside job; recognizing one’s talent, acquiring the skills, being confident and open enough to put it out to the world and finally combining all in a fertile environment with enough time and money to gift an investment in the next generation.”
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