Peter O’Brien & the original Fair Lady

OR: Just you wait ‘enry ‘iggins, Just you wait.

Hey All!

Long time. So let’s get to it. There’s a few posters around town for the latest production on at the Abbey Theatre, George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion. Apparently being show at the Abbey for the first time in its history, which is hard to believe.

As a lover of a good rags-to-riches story and the fact that My Fair Lady (the musical based on Pygmalion) is one of my all time faves, I was already pretty keen on seeing the original play.

Then I heard that Peter O’Brien is the costume designer; talk about a perfect collaboration. Peter O’Brien’s collections are quintessentially classically feminine; the fabrics and cuts he uses illustrate his ability to understand and enhance the female body to it’s most elegant. Skills I can only presume he learnt / honed when working at design houses like Givenchy and Dior in the early 80′s.

I am yet to see either the production (it opened tonight) or the costumes and I can only presume both are stunning.

Here is a couple of promo shoots from the Abbey Theatre‘s production:

Charlie Murphy in the Abbey Theatre production of Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw.  Directed by Annabelle Comyn. Pic. Ros Kavanagh

Charlie Murphy and Fiona Bell in Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw.  Directed by Annabelle Comyn. Pic. Ros Kavanagh

Seeing as it’s Audrey Hepburn’s Birthday today, it would be rude not to post a couple of costume photos from the 1964 film right?

Promo Shot

Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle on-set

Rex Harrison as Prof. Henry Higgins & Hepburn as Eliza

The famous black &  White At the Races dress

Eliza with Jeremey Brett as the lovesick Freddy Enysford-HillImage via the Alt Film Guide

In the Study

The Embassy Ball Gown, (The dress that I actually prefer to the iconic Races dress)

The Embassy Ball gown in detail

Rex Harrison & Audrey Hepburn on set in their Ball finery

After the Ball

I’m really intrigued to see how Peter O’Brien interprets these outfits. All Suffragettes and diamonds I hope.

In case you’re in any doubt as to the magnificence of My Fair Lady:

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Peter O’Brien for AWear, AW09 will be His Last.

Or, cakes, walks and window shopping…

After getting a thorough soaking yesterday afternoon, Aoife and I dashed into Queen of Tarts for a catch-up and a slice of cake. Aoife is one of those friends who I always find I have so much in common with and is such good fun to sit down and gossip with. Inevitably our quick afternoon coffee and catch-up, turned into an evening, turned into a night. When the rain had finally stopped we went for a walk; having devoured some seriously bold desserts we really thought we ought to! We went along Dame Street, through the grounds at Trinity, up Kildare Street and ended up at Grafton Street for a spot of window-shopping. I may sound a little whimsical here but Dublin is just such a fabulous city to be in when the rain stops. Everyone just seems so grateful and the atmosphere totally changes from grouchy pessimism to an, ‘Ah sure why not’ kind of attitude. Which goes some way to explain how Aoife and I stayed out quite as late as we did I suppose…

Anyway, we arrived at A|wear and both stopped to oooh and aaah at this Peter O’Brien coat. I was sorry to hear that the designer’s collaboration with A|wear would be ending with this final AW09 collection, but it seems he has finished on a high. I did a bit of research when I got home and the collection is very much a classic, grown-up, wardrobe but with a super-feminine edge. The jacket is a perfect example of this concept; clean, classic lines from the neck to the hip, almost like a gentleman’s frock-coat, then a burst of frills from the hip to the hem making it anything but masculine.

There are 22 pieces in the collection, which has a trademark palette of duck egg blue, navy blue, mink, grey and black. There are also the staple pieces that you would expect from a Peter O’Brien collaboration, the prim but sheer blouses and beautifully tailored dresses, but a chunky-knit long line cardigan and taffeta skirts have been added to enhance the collection. Prices range from €60 – €200 ( for the coat) and will be online and in-store from Wednesday, October 14th.