The Taylor Summer |Collection

The Taylor Summer Collection

Part 1


I am currently studying millinery at Leeds College of Art. Our new brief is to design a small collection of summer hats and headpieces. Our first job was to select a muse. This will be the starting point for all our ideas and designs.

Initially I had considered some of the gorgeous silent/20s movies stars. Dietrich, Garbo, Louise Brooks. After initial research I felt that they didn't quite fit into my idea of 'summery'. They struck me as more frosty and cold. With their mysterious allure and sultry looks they seemed to me to perfect for inspiration for an autumn/winter collection. Maybe I will re-visit this research for that very reason!
I had visions of them lurking in the shadows, slowly smoking, dressed as spies. Or perhaps swathed in a full length fur coat, like some 'mata hari' type character. Probably wearing little else but multiple strings of pearls and a wry smile!

So just who is 'summery' was my next question. I considered Doris Day, naturally, Debbie Reynolds too sweet. Judy Garland, love her, but not this time.  I finally settled on the divine Dame Elizabeth Taylor. Who else. I have to admit she was my first choice, but i thought I should explore a few other ladies.
The next thing I did was to mind map some of the ideas and perceptions I have of Elizabeth Taylor. One large piece of paper, a sharpie and a willing hubby to shout out his ideas and this is what we came up with

When I think of Liz I think of sunflower yellow, pale violet,azure blue, gold , white all shown off against a beautiful suntan. A suntan caught on one of her many honeymoons, perhaps. Honeymoons taken on luxury yachts and deserted exotic beaches.

I think of diamonds, lots and lots of diamonds. I love the of stories of Liz swimming and lounging around the pool in diamond necklaces and tiaras. Just because she felt like it. What a gal!!

Muse -Elizabeth Taylor
 b. 27 Feb 1932(London) moved to California in 1939 just before the start of war
Began her career as child actor in 1940s
Schooled on the studio lot, as many child actors of the time were. She had a very controlled and restricted childhood. Every decision is made by her pushy mother and studio bosses.
Under contract to MGM studios for most of the forties
Rarely credited in her earliest films, she makes her breakthrough in 1944 in 'National Velvet'. She becomes a star.
Frees herself from MGMs grip in the fifties when her contract finallyends
She passes through puberty and blossoms into a sex symbol at a very early age
Makes many of her most successful films in the late fifties and early sixties
Wins her first of three academy awards for her role as a prostitute in Butterfield8
In 1961 she begins work on Cleopatra, one of her most famous roles
Equally famous is her love life, she meets one of her many husbands on the set of Cleopatra. Richard Burton.

The 1950s Contextual Studies

As part of this brief we also have to show a detailed analysis of changes in design. Our studies should reflect and illustrate the changes within that era, socially, in fashion, home life, design etc.
I have chosen the 1950s as this was the one of the strongest periods in Elizabeth Taylors career.

Society 1950s
News and Events

1950s
The rock and roll era begins. Performers like Elvis Presley change the face of popular music. He creates a scandal and helps create the image of the rebellious teenager

The teenager is created. The young start to show an avid interest in clothes and self image. They have disposable income and want to look as different to their parents as possible.

Teddy boys are sighted in London's east end. They are regarded by many as dangerously anti-social, especially in the conformist climate of mid 50s Britain.

1951
After years of austerity during WWII, the Festival of Britain opens in the summer of 1951. it is organised by the government to promote a feeling of Britains recovery now the war is over. It is used to promote the British contribution to science, technology, industrial design, architecture and the arts.

The festivals showpiece is at the London Southbank. Other celebrations take place in other parts of London and up and down the country.

1953
Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

The start of the McCarthy senate hearings in the USA. Fears that communists were infiltrating the USA and 'attempting to undermine the American way of life'*A smear campaign is started is started by Joseph McCarthy and a witch hunt begins Many peoples lives will be ruined by the televised hearings.

Mount Everest is scaled for the first time

1954
TV starts to become very popular in the UK. One in every 24 people in the UK have a TV set. American TV shows start to be shown on British television. Bringing with them even more cultural influences from over the pond

1955
James Dean dies in a road accident

Civil rights movement begins in the USA

1956
Suez Canal Crisis

Elvis has an international hit with 'Heartbreak Hotel'

1957
Demonstrations in Little Rock, Arkansas US. The civil guard are used to help black students enter an illegally segregated school in the south of America.

Many major scientific breakthroughs and discoveries are made in the fifties. There is the notion that science can control nature, especially after the major discovery of DNA.
The first satellite is sent into space, starting the space race between the Soviets and the US.
Computers are mass produced for the first time

1958
Marilyn Monroe marries playwright Arthur Miller
Elvis is drafted into the army.