
Elena, Italian, Art historian. She/Her. Mainly a blog about art, ballet, fashion, books and period dramas.
26 posts
Elaine-of-shalott-blog - Elaine Of Shalott - Tumblr Blog













Victoria Beckham, Ready to Wear, Spring 2025
Details: Bags and purses





Victoria Beckham, Ready to Wear, Spring 2025
Mathieu Ganio's Last défilé
1 October 2024, Opéra de Paris








Mugler, Ready to Wear, Spring 2025.
Shoes' details


Monica Bellucci as Queen of the Night for Tim Burton's Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Vogue Italia.
Stylist: Colleen Atwood
Jewerly: Cartier
Make-up: Letizia Carnevale using Charlotte Tilbury




Alessandro Michele for Maison Valentino, Ready to Wear, Spring 2025

The banshee is rooted in the history of McQueen, but it’s also a story that I grew up with, so feels deeply personal to me — something I remember my mother talking about in Ireland, describing the cry of this solitary, foreboding figure. For me, she has come to represent something real and potent now. The idea of someone who is feeling and forthright; someone who can be seen as a guiding force.’
— Seán McGirr, Creative Director of Alexander McQueen













Georges Hobeika, Ready to Wear, Spring 2025
Destroy the myth that libraries are no longer relevant. If you use your library, please reblog.
A lovely tribute by Het National Ballet
It is with great sadness and dismay that we received the news that Michaela DePrince has passed away at the age of 29. To honour her memory, we will make it possible to donate to War Child, the organisation for which Michaela passionately worked as an ambassador.
Michaela grew up in war-ravaged Sierra Leone. At a young age, she lost both her parents and was admitted to an orphanage. Her skin condition vitiligo meant that people there treated her as inferior. Her nickname in the orphanage was devil’s child. A story she chronicled in her autobiography: Taking flight: From war orphan to star ballerina .
Michaela was adopted by the American DePrince family. Once in America, she followed her dream of becoming a ballet dancer, inspired by a photograph she once saw, still in Sierra Leone, of an American ballerina. This was not an easy path for Michaela; she was told several times that she did not have the right body type ánd skin colour to become a ballet dancer.
Determined, she persevered and in 2012 came to Europe at the invitation of the Hague dance company De Dutch Don't Dance Division, to dance in one of their productions. This also introduced her to the Dutch National Ballet, and in August 2013 she joined the first batch of the Junior Company. In 2014, she made the switch to the ‘main company’ of Dutch National Ballet, where she rose to the rank of soloist in the following years.
From a young age, her extraordinary life story combined with her dance career did not go unnoticed. Among other things, she featured in the film documentary First Position, danced in a video by Beyoncé and Madonna bought the film rights to her autobiography. She also starred in the film version of Coppelia, choreographed by Ted Brandsen.
Motivated to help children from war zones, Michaela became an ambassador for War Child in 2016 and committed to helping children in many ways.
In 2022, she left Amsterdam to continue her dance career with the US Boston Ballet.
Michaela is taken from us far too soon. Our thoughts are with her loved ones and family.
Link to donate: https://actie.voorwarchild.nl/teams/michaela?locale=en?utm_source=facebook-hnb&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2425-michaela%20deprince-donatie-236


BELLARA
Poisonous yet beautiful flower with a romantic, dark twist, like a black Chantilly lace midi dress adorned with wild forest embroidery and 3D bees and butterflies, adding a touch of ethereal mystery.


LILITH
An exquisite taffeta ball gown blending Renaissance elegance with a modern twist. Featuring a structured corset crafted from delicate crepon, adorned with Chantilly lace, and embellished with 3D iris flowers and butterflies, this gown evokes timeless beauty and graceful femininity.


SIERRA
An enchanting blend of nature and futurism, this hand-drawn butterfly dress dazzles in rich emerald green shades. The dress is crafted from hand-cut mirror sequins and beads, glisten like glass across the bust, evoking the delicate beauty of a butterfly. A daring high slit on the side adds an edge of bold sophistication to this breathtaking creation.




BLUEBELL


FAUNA


SELENE



SERAPHINA


CELESTE
Unveil the enigma of elegance with this deep sapphire masterpiece. Bold, irregular corsetry contrasts with voluminous taffeta sleeves, while a pleated puffy train adds a dramatic touch. The midi pencil skirt, crafted from delicate French Chantilly lace, is adorned with a cascade of handmade organza feathers, blending hues in a striking ombré effect. A bouquet of embroidered orchids and iris flowers blooms at the center, encircled by fluttering butterflies, bringing a whisper of nature's grace to this couture creation.
BOTANICAL ALCHEMY, Sara Mrad, Fall/Winter 2024-25 Haute Couture
In the shadows of a forgotten wilderness, where darkness once ruled, a new light emerges.
Our couture collection weaves a tale of nature's rebirth, where the wild and untamed transform into a vision of the future.

michaela mabinty deprince (1995-2024)
🩰˚✧₊⁎
today, september 13th, 2024, the ballet world lost an extraordinary dancer and woman.
michaela mabinty deprince was born on january 6th, 1995, as mabinty bangura, in sierra-leone. she was orphaned, her parents passing to due to both direct and indirect causes of the civil war in her home country. she was demonized by her caretakers for her vitiligo, being called a “devil’s child”, and suffering from other forms of neglect and abuse. in 1999, deprince was adopted by an american couple along with another girl, and they were taken to new jersey, united states of america.
her hopes of becoming a ballerina had been planted when she found a ballerina on a magazine cover in her home country. she didn’t know of ballet at the time, but treasured the picture and dreamed of dancing. this dream blossomed into truth when she moved to the states, being put into ballet lessons soon after her arrival. deprince was a four-time participant in youth america grand prix, one of the largest ballet competitions in the united states. she was awarded a scholarship to study at the jaqueline kennedy onassis school of ballet, the associate school of american ballet theatre.
despite facing racial discrimination and other hardships in and out of the industry, deprince persisted in her dream of becoming a professional ballet dancer. in 2012, at the age of 16, she became the youngest member of dance theatre of harlem, and the next year, she joined the junior company of the dutch national ballet. she soon rose through the ranks, joining the main company and attaining the rank of soloist. she was the first dancer of african origin to ever join the company, and a shining advocate and role model for black women in ballet.
her other accomplishments include being an ambassador for war child holland, a dutch organization working to improve the wellbeing and resilience of children directly affected by war. she visited uganda and lebanon through the organization. she also appeared in beyoncé’s 2016 music video for ‘freedom’.
she will dance among all the stars in the sky. rest in peace beautiful michaela mabinty, you are already so missed. ♡








Michaela DePrince, promotion for her memoir Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina, published October 14, 2014 (book) (video)




Didn't see it coming: Sarah Burton is the new creative director of Givenchy. I hope to see some Alexander McQueen's references.
From Alexander McQueen's Spring 1998 Haute Couture Collection "The Japanese Garden".

Ralph Lauren, Spring 2025, Ready to Wear Collection











Annie’s X Clio Peppiatt Second Collection
Annie’s idea of a mosaic collection for her second collaboration with Clio has been an idea of hers for the last few years and she’s so excited to finally share it with you! Annie wanted to incorporate a new technique of metalwork into Clio’s signature silhouettes. Incorporating intricate hand stitched metal work and playful colourful beadwork. Drawing inspiration from the enchanting world of mythical mermaids, captivating flora and fauna and Grecian motifs. The designs pay homage to the works of British illustrator Walter Crane, renowned for his exquisite depictions of nature and mythology. This collection is a seamless blend of Annie's and Clio's creative visions of mosaics, Greek mythology, and the hot Mediterranean summer, together they wanted to recreate this feeling throughout this collaboration.














Pablo Sebastian's new collection
A Lover's Kiss
2024-25 AUTUMN / WINTER COUTURE COLLECTION
“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; And therefore is wing’d Cupid painted blind.” — William Shakespeare
A Lover’s Kiss draws inspiration from the great love stories of old. The fearless passion of Romeo and Juliet; star-crossed lovers doomed to meet their fate. The divine worship of Dante and Beatrice; her infinite grace guiding him to ascension. The eternal devotion of Cupid and Psyche; relentless in their pursuit to reunite. With these tales and countless more we are reminded that whether through strength or sacrifice, romance or revelation, true love is a power unto itself.

From Roberto Bolle's Instragram.
Photo/video: @monsieur_11 (Juichi Kobayashi)



















The Oh Hellos, “Like the Dawn” / poem by @troy-woof / Nikita Gill, “A Lesson On Love”/ post by @thepoisonroom / by tumblr user @flintcoded (x) / Leah Horlick, “For Your Own Good” / post by @patch-and-stringer

So happy for Renata. I'm looking foward to this debut!