Vivienne Westwood Launches Royal Ascot 2011 With Captivating New Image
To mark the launch of the most prestigious event in the British social calendar, Britain’s queen of fashion, Vivienne Westwood, has teamed up with millinery master, Stephen Jones, and photo-illustrative photographer, Simon Procter, to create a single image for Royal Ascot 2011 that encompasses 300 years of racing and fashion.
The striking image is composed of a racing scene overlaid with fashion photography which takes inspiration from frocks and hats from across the centuries.
The picture features two bespoke couture pieces and one demi-couture piece from Westwood’s Gold Label collection, posed beautifully against a background of Ascot, dating back to 1818.
Best known for her fearless non conformity, Westwood has a profound respect for the past, looking to it for inspiration, and each dress featured in the 2011 image reflects this.
Created in homage to Cecil Beaton, the black and white dress displayed on the left takes inspiration from the legendary dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the famous racing scene in the film, My Fair Lady. The iconic scene, inspired by the ‘Black Ascot’ meeting in 1910, saw attendees wearing large, black picture hats in mourning of King Edward VII’s death.
Drawing deeper from British history, the ombre silk dress situated in the centre depicts fashions from the early Victorian era.
Remaining true to production formats in the late 1800’s, the bespoke couture has been specially constructed from a select taffeta, named Quality Viola, using 300 different colours, with each and every thread individually colour dyed.
Vivienne Westwood comments on her involvement: "Royal Ascot is a British institution for showing off clothes and I like to take advantage of any opportunity to do that."
Legendary milliner, Stephen Jones, also brings his creative contribution to the image with three exclusively designed, stunning hats.
Considered one of the world's most radical and important milliners of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Jones is also one of the most prolific, having created hats for the catwalk shows of many leading couturiers and fashion designers.
In designs that range from refined to whimsical, his exquisitely crafted hats always encapsulate the fashion mood of the moment.
Fashioned from ombre silk to match Westwood’s creation, the hat featured in the centre of the picture evokes a period bonnet from the first century of Ascot, whilst the Edwardian fascinator on the left is reminiscent of Cecil Beaton’s designs for My Fair Lady. On the right, a signature top hat - featuring a contrasting explosion of hi-tech lacquered straw - alluringly complements Westwood’s curvy suit in lipstick red.
Stephen Jones comments: "It’s a pleasure to collaborate with Vivienne Westwood again - this time to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Royal Ascot.
"With an occasion as momentous as a tercentenary, I wanted to create three hats that really captured the charm and history, as well as the chic and excitement of modern Royal Ascot."
Completing the meeting of fashion industry thoroughbreds, contemporary UK photographer, Simon Procter, designed and shot this striking image.
Containing a distinctive blend of classical painting and fashion photography, the 2011 launch image shows off Simon’s background in fine art and is a perfect example of his infamous painters’ aesthetic style.
Building on the connection between high fashion and the royal meeting, the daily fashion show is now a customary highlight and will take place in the striking surroundings of the Bessborough Restaurant this year.
Featuring a roll call of the British fashion pack - Vivienne Westwood, Stephen Jones, Amanda Wakeley and House of Hardy Amies - each will showcase their latest designs in an extravaganza that celebrates the finest UK fashion designers.
Royal Ascot will take place Tuesday 14th to Saturday 18th June 2011, and has been Britain's most historic race meeting for almost 300 years, with attendances of almost 300,000 people annually. Tickets and fine dining packages for Royal Ascot 2011 are now on sale.
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