Opera, here we went

Oh the Opera.
an art form synonymous with pompous aristocrats... but at least they're wearing pretty clothes!

Our class (awhile ago but still) partook in this long time honored tradition and attended a performance of Carmen at the San Francisco Opera house. And my were we looking fabulous.

As for the spinning flowy dress (actually it's a skirt, "the girl" is pretty short...), talk about a spinning hipster hippie. 

And yes, the last three pictures of the same pair of shoes was very necessary for those shoes are so motherfreaking gorgeous, especially in person.

And beyond how good we were looking, there were some pretty feisty outfits from other people. Actually, this performance of Carmen was mainly for high school students, to get us to begin to appreciate opera. Among favorite looks that I saw were a rainbow cloak (yes, a cloak), fur coats, and completely extravagant evening dresses. There was also many, many a cape.

The actual opera performance of Carmen was pretty good. Sure it was in French, but there were supertitles. Different from subtitles. Google it. There's a difference.

Believe me.

Pulp fashion

Believe me, I'm not an expert on this exhibit, just one of the many who are wishfully wishing they could go to San Francisco to view it.

Pulp Fashion's website gives you so much more information than I could ever give, seeing as I haven't actually attended. The basic idea of the exhibit is that "Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave is a painter by training, but textile and costume are her muses. Working in collaboration with leading costume historians and young fashion designers, de Borchgrave crafts a world of splendor from the simplest rag paper. Painting and manipulating the paper, she forms trompe l’oeil masterpieces of elaborate dresses inspired by rich depictions in early European painting or by iconic costumes in museum collections around the world." (From the website)

Children's costumes in the Medici gallery

Gown inspired by a ca. 1945 portrait of Eleanor and her son Giovanni de' Medici by Agnolo Bronzino

Marie Claire de Croy and Child, after the painting Van Dyck

The Medici

These masterpieces... out of paper? You'd be better believe it.

Aren't convinced to get off your "bottom" and head out to San Francisco? Read these quotes from ppl who have actually experienced this. 

"i enjoyed seeing how one woman was able to create such magnificent dresses out of everyday materials. it was breathtaking, and i hope to go again."

"i loved it so much. balenciaga… omgosh. it was so good."

"it was amazing. when i secretly touched an exhibit, it was so soft..."

{caption information found on the exhibit website}