Ballets Russes Costumes

[balletnut]

It's easy to see how and why Baksts colours affected fashions, decor etc. This was absolutely outstanding and I'll watch it over and over again.

Thanks so much for giving us such a pleasurable time by posting this.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi balletnut - yep, bakst was so adventurous with colours and shapes - and shapes on shapes that didn't seem to work but did ... that it's not surprising he made such an inpact - throw in an element of the exotic - a winning combination, i look at it over and over too! i saw the 'dieu bleu' headgear as a kid at covent garden - curiously diaphanous - weihed i guess only a few grams!

[CJONESY2288]

This is beyond beautiful....it takes us back to a special time .......when Ballet and costume design was modern ,bold .....& Fabulous!.......the detail,colors and design give us a tiny window to peek through into another time WOW........merci!

[nickwallacesmith]

hi CJONESY2288 - yes they are amazing - and still amazing today - the first one i ever saw was as a kid at covent garden - it was Nijinsky's headdress of 'le dieu bleu' - in a case in the foyer of the balcony - so diaphanous and delicate - not hard to wear, as some of the costumes were

[nickwallacesmith]

hi CJONESY2288 - yes, i keep coming back to my own upload to look at them again - there was an exhibition in canberra from which the little video is made - a friend is about to lend me the catalogue - another post here!

[CJONESY2288]

This is beyond beautiful....it takes us back to a special time .......when the Ballet and costume design was modern ,bold .....& Fabulous!.......the detail,colours and design give us a tiny window to peek through into another time WOW........merci!

[ecartsonis]

Absolutely beautiful! Thanks so much for taking the time to do this!

[nickwallacesmith]

hi ecartsonis - very glad you liked it - maybe as much as i enjoyed putting it together! the grand eunuch's costume is my favourite!

[ecartsonis]

@nickwallacesmith I love that one, but the Sacre du Printemps costume astonished me. I love the color and the patterns, but they feel so incredibly modern!!

[nickwallacesmith]

hi ecartsonis - actually it's hard to pick out a favourite - so many are so bold and great new designs - the patterning on some is amazing - someone commented that all sorts of different patterns and fabrics are often used on one costume - but all this disparate variety works!

[nickwallacesmith]

hi trillby1 - i must say i didn't expect to be so bowled over by the brilliancy of the colour and the bold innovation of the designs - glad you loved them too!

[mokoshperun]

Incredible! Truly inspiring. :)

[nickwallacesmith]

hi mokoshperun - aren't they - almost works of art in their own right!

[mokoshperun]

@nickwallacesmith Indeed, without question. I do a lot of applique in my own work and so I realize the degree of skill and labor involved. This sort of artistry is rarely employed in fashion nowadays, let alone in costume! Wonderful to see.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi mokoshperun - ok, so you must more appreciate the technical achievement of these costumes more than i can - and yes i can believe that it is a dying art, very sadly. even in the theatre, i'm told that instead of sewing a lot of decoration is painted on :< the 'dieu bleu' costumes is my favourite - what is yours?

[mokoshperun]

@nickwallacesmith I love that one as well. The Sea Princess and the Blue Bird are close behind. :)

[nickwallacesmith]

hi mokoshperun - yes, they are so wonderfully opulant. and for a sheer riot of colour the chief eunuch's costume from 'Scheherazade' is hard to beat

[Ravenclawed]

You can see these costumes for real at the National Art Gallery in Australia. The costume for `Le Dieu Bleu' is still stained with Nijinsky's blue body paint. It's amazing.

[nickwallacesmith]

hey Ravenclawed

must go down to canberra and see the costume again

they used to have another of the dieu bleu costumes worn by nijinsky in one of the foyer at covent garden - it was quite diaphanous

[nickwallacesmith]

hey whitelotus213

it's from Rimsky-Korsakov's 'Scheherazade' - and seemed to well reflect the oriental exoticism of the early ballets russes

cya, nick

[nickwallacesmith]

hey whitelotus213

it's from Rimsky-Korsakov's 'Scheherazade' - and seemed to well reflect the oriental exoticism of the early ballets russes

cya, nick

[whitelotus213]

what is the name of the music score used here?

[nickwallacesmith]

hey cavalonja

yes, the colour is so vibrant the costumes seem to jump right out at you

glad you like the posts!

best, nick

[cavalonja]

I love your video posts! These costumes are beautiful and it's a real treat to see the vivid colors.

Thanks for taking the time to research and make and post these videos!

[nickwallacesmith]

hi galya51

yes, whoever has photographed the costumes has understood the need for their vividness to be brought out!

best, nick

[nickwallacesmith]

hey katerina

i agree totally - you could get drunk just looking!

best, nick

[katerinavander]

Beautiful, inspiring and haunting - a real drink for the eyes!

[BernardProfitendieu]

Bakst was a master of color!

(btw, you mean C20, not C19)

[nickwallacesmith]

hi BernardProfitendieu

absolutely and it's why the little video shines!

best, nick

[marioegorga]

Diaghilev was a true genius..

[nickwallacesmith]

hi marioegorga

he was indeed and brought out the genius in others too!

best nick

[galya51]

To see these costumes in vivid color as oppossed to b/w photos is just mesmerizing! No wonder Diaghilev was always short on funds.Thank you for this.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi PIPZZZ02

i look so often at these images in books i have it seemed logical to turn them into a post

glad you liked it!

best, nick

[PIPZZZ02]

Fascinating - terrific !

I vote for more please. Thanks Nick.