My Rose "Monique" for the Master milliner Anya Caliendo for The "Manolo" Hat, Created For 2015 Couture Council Of FIT Artistry Of Fashion Award Presented to Manolo Blahnik.
Yesterday, on the very first day of New York Fashion Week, FIT Couture Council held a Luncheon in honor of Manolo Blahnik. Mr. Blahnik was selected to receive the 2015 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion as a result of his longstanding dedication to superior craftsmanship and innovative design. An art form he dedicated more than 40 years of his life. Amazing, well deserved achievement. I don't know a single girl, including myself, who doesn't dream about getting a pair of perfect Manolos :-) And so when the phone rang in late June with a very special order for the Luncheon, I was thrilled to be able to attempt to express my own admiration for the beloved shoe Master. The lady who ordered the "Manolo" hat is one of my long time amazing clients and a member of the board of FIT Couture Council - Rosemary Ponzo. It is always a tremendous pleasure to design one of a kind pieces, but even more so when you are completely trusted with the design and given freedom to create the hat without any restrictions.
The "Manolo" hat became a project of love. The word "enjoy" doesn't really cover or describe the way I felt while in production. When creating any hat in my Atelier I always follow the belief that Fashion must never be literal. The idea of getting a ready made Manolo shoe and simply placing it on the hat was never considered - from the very first sketch it was never an option for me. Instead I chose to draw my inspiration not only from Manolo shoes but rather from the colorful drawings of the shoes created by Mr. Blahnik. The construction of the shoe was a bit of a challenge, considering the fact that it was nearly impossible to get a block for the heel of the shoe in trademark Manolo shape. The most beautiful fabrics were sourced out for this very special hat starting from very rare silk velvet in red, rare vintage German glass beads for embroidery, dying extraordinary feathers in just the right shade of scarlet and silk rose petals for the top of the heel. On the images you see the shoe in production. It was extremely important to me for the shoe to be anatomically correct while remaining a fantasy.
Sometime in the beginning of June I received a beautiful gift from Switzerland sent to me by the Master flower artist - Elena Bain: a rose of superb quality and beauty. I remember the moment I opened the package...Sometimes magic comes in small packages and I knew there and than that this rose will grace a very special hat. I did not know which one at the time, but once the work on "Manolo" hat began there was never a question where to place the rose. A perfect size - not to hide the shape of the heel and make sure that the hat is photographed beautifully from every angle. And so, I was told, Manolo Blahnik noticed it. I am waiting to receive a very special photograph of Rosemary wearing the "Manolo" hat next to Mr.Blahnik himself. Moreover, Rosemary was approached by the press team for Manolo Blahnik with a very special invitation to be photographed in "Manolo" hat in Saks Fifth Avenue. I will make sure to post images as soon as I have them available.
I breath and live hats. I love every hat I touch but there are some hats, like "Manolo" hat, that make you feel that this is exactly the reason why you chose to do what you do. I am, undeniably, the luckiest girl on Earth! :-) "
September 10, 2015
Anya Caliendo.
The "Manolo" hat became a project of love. The word "enjoy" doesn't really cover or describe the way I felt while in production. When creating any hat in my Atelier I always follow the belief that Fashion must never be literal. The idea of getting a ready made Manolo shoe and simply placing it on the hat was never considered - from the very first sketch it was never an option for me. Instead I chose to draw my inspiration not only from Manolo shoes but rather from the colorful drawings of the shoes created by Mr. Blahnik. The construction of the shoe was a bit of a challenge, considering the fact that it was nearly impossible to get a block for the heel of the shoe in trademark Manolo shape. The most beautiful fabrics were sourced out for this very special hat starting from very rare silk velvet in red, rare vintage German glass beads for embroidery, dying extraordinary feathers in just the right shade of scarlet and silk rose petals for the top of the heel. On the images you see the shoe in production. It was extremely important to me for the shoe to be anatomically correct while remaining a fantasy.
Sometime in the beginning of June I received a beautiful gift from Switzerland sent to me by the Master flower artist - Elena Bain: a rose of superb quality and beauty. I remember the moment I opened the package...Sometimes magic comes in small packages and I knew there and than that this rose will grace a very special hat. I did not know which one at the time, but once the work on "Manolo" hat began there was never a question where to place the rose. A perfect size - not to hide the shape of the heel and make sure that the hat is photographed beautifully from every angle. And so, I was told, Manolo Blahnik noticed it. I am waiting to receive a very special photograph of Rosemary wearing the "Manolo" hat next to Mr.Blahnik himself. Moreover, Rosemary was approached by the press team for Manolo Blahnik with a very special invitation to be photographed in "Manolo" hat in Saks Fifth Avenue. I will make sure to post images as soon as I have them available.
I breath and live hats. I love every hat I touch but there are some hats, like "Manolo" hat, that make you feel that this is exactly the reason why you chose to do what you do. I am, undeniably, the luckiest girl on Earth! :-) "
September 10, 2015
Anya Caliendo.
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