Happy birthday Richard Avedon!

Richard Avedon (May 15, 1923 – October 1, 2004) was an American fashion and portrait photographer whose photos helped define the image of America throughout the latter part of the 20th century. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 1989, along with many other recognitions throughout his career.

Cardboard ballgown, via Strode College
I don't know if you'll ever be in the mood for such intense DIY, but let's take a moment to recognize those who go above and beyond in recycling. The innovative dresses you'll see below are made from unlikely materials, including balloons, soda cans, and newspapers, to name a few. If traditional recycling just isn't exciting enough for you, these examples might inspire some interesting designs of your own

Oleg Cassini Loiewski (April 11, 1913-March 17, 2006) was a French-born American fashion designer. He was hugely influential in the fashion world, designing such ubiquitous styles as the A-line, the Sheath dress, and the Empire Strapless dress. His most notable moment was his stint as Jacqueline Kennedy's "Secretary of Style," though he contributed heavily to costume design on Broadway, television, and film.

Andrew Myers might be the most patient person on the planet. The dedicated artist drilled 6,500 scews into a panel to bring forth this button-down shirt, drilling to different depths by instinct, to create the 3D effect. You may have seen Andrew's work before, in an incredible series of portraits composed of screws. Myers is also an accomplished sculptor and painter, because of course he is.
Using pop art illustrations from design team Craig & Karl, a photoshoot for Vogue Nippon (that's Japan) got artfully animated in a way that reminds us that fashion can be fun, even if haute couture isn't really your thing. Lacey and Andrew Gallimore dreamed up the series, which reminds me – I wonder if the model below is sleeping.

Adrian Adolph Greenberg (March 3, 1903 — September 13, 1959), known as Adrian, was an American costume designer whose costumes were featured in The Wizard of Oz, for which he custom-designed Dorothy's ruby slippers, and other MGM productions. Adrian only designed for women, and his assistants created costumes for male actors. Adrian often worked in period films, and his clothing appears in Marie Antoinette (1938), Anna Karenina (1935), Romeo and Juliet (1936) and Pride and Prejudice (1940). He was credited in films as "Gowns by Adrian".

Whilst living in London, French designer Gaspard Tiné-Berès (naturally) felt cold. Instead of paying outrageous heating costs, he decided to create some locally sourced and easy to make slippers. The result was the Lasso. Lasso slippers are crafted from felt and come flat-packed. They're easy to assemble so that the whole family can mold their own. The lace even comes available in several color choices. Gaspard and his creative partner Ruben Valensi are trying to make their dream come true by raising money on Kickstarter. So help them!

Most future-minded people imagine the next thousand years to bring us high speed rail systems, transport tubes, jet-packs and commercial rocket ships. Creative label Hanemaai see the travels of the future turning walks around the neighborhood with see-through boxes on our backs. They've designed the "my infinite home tool," a suitcase that lets you proudly display your five main belongings wherever you go. Useable as both bag and backpack, the suitcase will allow you to wait for the moment a cute boy sees the LP you've chosen to carry and say "Hey, I like The Smiths too." Happy travels.

Is it a frog? Is it my mother? No, it's not even a Rorschach test, it's the work of textile connoisseur Seetal Solanki. Her work features mesmerizing patterns that would fit in comfortably on the set of Nicholas Roeg's Performance or simply hang on the most fashionable tote bags in town. Solanki's textiles have been commissioned by brands such as TopShop, Zara and even Alexander McQueen.
I bet Xena, Warrior Princess never wasted her time with high heels because she didn't care about elongating her legs or looking great in a short dress (which they did), but if she did, they'd probably be something like these wooden wedges, inspired by the aboriginal Yanomani tribe of Brazil. The Yanomani paint their bodies in special ways for major rituals, like fighting, hunting, marriage, and death. Designer Breno Cintra drew inspiration from the tribe's cultural rituals which allow them to express the importance of rites of passage by painting their bodies. The shoes also reflect the structure of the Yanomani home, which is constructed with thatched palm leaves and wood.
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