Betty and Loulou
The Steve is away so I got to spend the evening with Yves instead, watching the Yves Saint Laurent documentaries 'His Life and Times' and '5 Avenue Marceau 75116 Paris' back to back and then re-reading The Beautiful Fall (tea stains a-plenty in this well thumbed book...). My favourite bits in the books are when the encounters with Yves' various muses are recalled, with Betty Catroux and Loulou de la Falaise and the descriptions of Loulou are particularly vivid which has propelled me into an afternoon of spending some time with Yves' muses...
I've never been one to channel other people's looks so it's more like playing around with the spirit and the two bi-polar styles that Betty and Loulou represented to Monsieur Saint Laurent and the different things they managed to coax out of him and inspire him to draw...
Betty Catroux: Androgynous, angula, skinny-hipped, invariably in black and liked her leather. She also sported the deviant schoolgirl look with high black socks, black mini and big belts slung on the hips. Her thin pencil stroke of a figure matched Yves' then-lithe slip of a figure and they feeded off each other's taste in the 'louche'.
(Alexander McQueen black satin cape, Lanvin tuxedo jacket, vintage black matt sequin skirt worn as top, Preen leather panelled troousers, Sam Edelman boots with plastic chains worn around the boots)
Loulou de la Falaise: Hippy-ish, electric and exhuberant in manner and in dress. She turned sarongs and saris into various outfits with the use of a safety pin, made cardboard and glitter star and moon accessories for her wedding outfit and took silver napkin holders to wear as bracelets. Yves relied on her gaiety enormously.
(Poltock & Walsh ruffled halterneck, Johnny Loves Rosie bow hat worn around the neck, tierred print dress from Hong Kong, fuschia pink tights, Pierre Hardy x Louise Goldin ankle boots)
God, you are such a genius at interpretation.
Posted by: belle | 05 July 2008 at 21:27
It's nice how you modernized Betty Catroux!
The same thing must never happen twice in order to make things more exciting and so rests the case in the realm of fashion.
Posted by: giancinephile | 05 July 2008 at 21:48
I hope you enjoyed those Saint Laurent documentaries too.
Posted by: giancinephile | 05 July 2008 at 21:49
oh my those shoes. i would die for.
Posted by: Ashleigh | 05 July 2008 at 22:12
Ah such fun! Tres jolie.
I've been abanoned too for an Iron Maiden concert and believe me my beau is not a fan just keeping a mate company and being adventurous.
I prefer your little Sat evening adventure.
Posted by: Make Do & Mend | 05 July 2008 at 22:17
Very nice recreation! Love the expressions. :)
Posted by: gloria | 05 July 2008 at 22:27
love your style!
Posted by: Lucy | 05 July 2008 at 23:07
It would be marvelous to hang out with such extremes...you look marvelous in both styles.
As for being recognized, I think a lot of it has to do with proximity--I don't really live in a town so not much of a chance for people to see me, plus my blog isn't so big...
Posted by: The Clothes Horse | 05 July 2008 at 23:19
I love your first look.
Posted by: ivoreece | 06 July 2008 at 00:16
just started reading your blog. i love your shoes!
Posted by: Gillie | 06 July 2008 at 00:40
I like this book very much too. I saw Loulou de la Falaise once at a vernissage. Despite her age, there was still something magnetic about her.
Posted by: Géraldine | 06 July 2008 at 00:43
Love Betty and Lou Lou! You wear both looks well, but I'm partial to the leather.
Posted by: Iheartfashion | 06 July 2008 at 01:29
Love that Betty Cat. look!
Posted by: enc | 06 July 2008 at 02:07
I love these interpretations. I know a lot more about Loulou and love how playful this take on her bohemian vibe is.
Posted by: ambika | 06 July 2008 at 03:00
I love the pants in ur first look! You mix and match very well!!
Posted by: shiamay | 06 July 2008 at 03:29
The first outfit left me speechless. I wish I could pull something like that as well as you!
Posted by: Stella | 06 July 2008 at 06:31
You look so cool all hard-core and leather clad.
Posted by: Lady Smaggle | 06 July 2008 at 08:34
Love the Betty Catroux look. I'd wear that outfit in a heartbeat!
x
www.flatbrokefabulous.blogspot.com
Posted by: Flatbrokefab Ashleigh | 06 July 2008 at 12:57
ooh and love those boots too!
x
www.flatbrokefabulous.blogspot.com
Posted by: Flatbrokefab Ashleigh | 06 July 2008 at 12:58
I love the black ensemble! (keeper!!!!!!!!!!!)
That jacket with the cape is awesome.
I am a huge fan of black.
Posted by: arline jernigana | 06 July 2008 at 14:07
love the floral dress with the corsage! like it like it like it!
Posted by: Vintage Clothes | 06 July 2008 at 17:12
I love your intrepretation of Loulou de la Falaise (possibly the best name ever?), so much pink!
Posted by: miss woo | 06 July 2008 at 17:14
I love that black outfit, the cape over the jacket is amazing!
Posted by: floraposte | 06 July 2008 at 20:17
Hi Susie, if you're reading this i was just wondering if you could check out my blog omgthatslike.wordpress.com see, I'm a young girl from the states and i've been reading your blog since they wrote about it in teen vouge see i wanted to start a blog where i could do what you do but no ones reading it, I thought maybe they would see it if it was on your blog
PS I love the outfits
Posted by: Marisa | 06 July 2008 at 20:29
your expressions are priceless! :)
Posted by: evie | 07 July 2008 at 07:52
This is too odd, I also dug the book out after the sad demise and a tuxedo tribute in the topshop photomachine, and was reading the loulou and thadee wedding chapter before getting ready to go out on friday night.
I don't channel either but couldn't help putting on costume jewelry and shabby electric blue and other bright coloured vintage after filling my head with the 'innately glamourous'!
Gorge outfits susie as per usual
xx
Posted by: | 07 July 2008 at 11:52
With my limited abilities, I tend to be really literal when I take inspiration from great style icons, so I'm doubly impressed with your interpretations, especially Betty Catroux.
Posted by: Cammila | 07 July 2008 at 16:47
#2 please! i tiers and ruffles... beauty
Posted by: lady coveted | 07 July 2008 at 19:29
you are gorgeous! so stylish and individual..
Posted by: Lolita | 07 July 2008 at 20:04