LADY ANNE, aka “Lady Rene Anne” modelled by Holly – House Of Heart.
Lady Anne was created for a lover, a musician & composer. He gave me his old leather coat & studded pants. I added Chantilly lace.
Below: I did a fantasy gown for “Gasperilla Pirate Festival”
Held almost every year since 1904 in Tampa, Florida, my creation (on paper only) is nostalgic of the festival’s Early days.
I adore this poem, which is definitely an Art Gowns poem.
remembering
the way your gown fell
to the floor
as you almost shyly
stepped away
leaving it forlornly
abandoned
like my heart
this night
⭐️Big Thank You to Leonard for letting me use his poem!⭐️
Thank you to editor Louise White! She did an article in Asset Intelligence Newspaper on me & Athena ⭐️Graffiti Goddess ⭐️, which was a tandem project with Aquileana of La Audacia de Aquiles. She also gets a credit in the article.

🦄 Big hugs & thank you’s are on their way to Aquileana in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
She has inspired me greatly with her posts on Mythology, Tarot and more. 🦄
I’ve sketched her in 2 of the goddesses we did together, Artemis & Mnemosyne, and am excited to sketch her in Athena in the near future.
Click on the sketch to the left to visit the post.
All Sketches & Art Gowns © Resa McConaghy
Visit any Art Gown by clicking on her pic on the side bar!
Just so stylish!
Thank you, Alex! Lots of fun, too!
Super girls
Like Superman or Superwoman… Supergirls! Or maybe Supergowns!
Absolutely gorgeous.
Thank you, Lonely Author!
Congratulations on the article. It’s well derserved.
Thank you Timothy! It’s kind of neat that this article happened! 😀 😀
Such gowns from some heightened dimension
leaving all and sundry
suspended in anticipation
This is a very lovely comment! Thank you, very much! 😀 😀
Such a beautiful series of gowns, I’m so delighted to be included Resa. It’s just fills my heart (and cleavage) with joy! Sending tons of love and appreciation, you are such a gifted artist and designer. I adore this!
Thank you, dear Holly! You look simply marvellous in Lady Anne. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gbDgptNlvA AND I had a lot of enjoyment drawing it! Hope you like it as much as Boogapony! Although, I can’t see you driving the bus in this Art Gown. 😀 xoxo
No complaints here, who would not look amazing in the creation. No bus, but I do recognize my chaps somewhere among the chantilly lace ❤ xx
Okay, the Boogapony outfit with chaps. Sounds like we’re on the road. xx♥︎
Get your motor running! xx ❤
🎵We’ll head out to the alley 🎵 xx ❤
Looking for adventure… and I know we will find it! 🎵 xx I wanted to say how much i lovabsolutely adore the back of this gown, the strap and hook, the studs, wow, this is a leather and lace fanstacy, I liken it and you to the Royal Star! ❤
Thereupon we will all sit. The Royal Star is ours to recline atop. I love the back of this gown… a lot. The bursting into the tail is new ground, for any gown. The next Art Gown is all set up and waiting for my eye to get better. i’m chomping at the bit! xoxo
Girl, you have more energy in your little finger than I have in my entire body…rock on! You’re amazing! xoxo
Reblogged this on House of Heart and commented:
I’m delighted and so privileged to be among Resa’s series of gowns. You are such a gifted artist and designer, thank you from my heart dear Resa.
You are welcome from my heart, Holly! ❤️TY for the reblog, it means a lot. xo
xo ❤
How fabulous, you and Holly. The gown is perfect for her and I know she is thrilled by this honor. What a wonderful way to celebrate friendship, beauty and art. Resa, you are amazing and well loved by all. ❤
TY, GiGi! It’s a lot of fun sharing and celebrating. You are very kind with your comment. I’ll write you more later, as I’m only good for 15 mins. at a time at the computer. Stupid eye! ❤️
A stunning image of you, Resa, highlighted upon a well written and deserved article by Louise White. She really captured YOU..!
As for Lady Anne; your fantasy gown, Athena, Leonard’s poem; Aquileana and Holly – so many pops of cream upon a beautifully woven cake… or should I say – Gown… ❤
xoxoxo
Ahh, pops of cream, I like that! I suppose the Art Gowns are pretty good at being woven cakes.
What a lovely, lovely comment! Hmm, perhaps I’ll knit some dinner tonight. LOL! Thank you, dear Carolyn! xoxoxo 🔆❤️
Resa, I continued clicking to the article within the actual magazine. And what a fabulously prestigious looking mag – very, very swish indeed… 🙂
I agree! I’m swish humbled. 😀
Lady Anne is stunning…. so wearable! 😍 I love it ((( wondering when did you create this one, BTW)) … The sketch featuring Holly is awesome, too…. and so is Leonard’s poem.
Congrats on the magazine feature, once again, my friend… and thank you very very very much for including me here. 🦄💕 many hugs, and love across the miles 😘
What a great comment! I saw your comment last night. I’ve been chuckling about how “wearable” Lady Anne is. You know, Aq, actually, with enough double sided tape (about 100 – 1″ strips) the bodice is completely stable. Just don’t move around much!
🦄🦄Love it when you’re around! 🦄🦄 TY for your kind words, and I’m sending love down the continents! ❤️😘🌹
OH! I made Lady Anne late fall 2013! 😀
These are all just beautiful! 💖
Thank you, very much!
Thanks for including my poem with such lovely gowns.
😀 Thank you for all the wonderful poetry you post! I especially enjoy your original works, this one being my fave from my Art Gowns perspective! 😀
Thanks. I appreciate those kind words.
Leonard’s poem is perfect for your post. And I love the leather and lace art gown. This is a favourite poem of mine by Robert Herrick:
Upon Julia’s Clothes
Whenas in silks my Julia goes,
Then, then (methinks) how sweetly flows
That liquefaction of her clothes.
Next, when I cast mine eyes, and see
That brave vibration each way free,
O how that glittering taketh me!
I think it could apply to any of your art gowns, too. 🙂
I agree! That poem is an Art Gowns beauty. I believe I don’t know his poetry. Thank you so much for this, Gallivanta!
Yes, Leonard’s work is special, and I was greatly moved when Iread this poem. Thank you, dear friend! xo
Love that pic of you doing the skewed leg – very classy! I might start doing that. Perhaps not as fetching with a 6ft bald bloke, but I’m willing to take my chances. You’ve got great dress sense, madam! And always welcome to see Holly lurking around these pages. I know she’ll read this at some point.
Maybe you could do a gown with a poem along the side? That’d look brilliant.
All your suggestions are brilliant. Of course, we here at Art Gowns demand that Mr. Wapojif recite an original poem while wearing any of Resa’s 20 Art Gowns. Skewed… what… talk later…. skater.
$50 and I’ll do all that.
Big congrats to you all 🙂 I love the punky/New Romantic/Rock N Roll mood of the Lady Anne design, love the fantasy gown sketch, the poem, and the article is well deserved for both you and Aquileana. X
Big hugs & TY’s to you, TVTA! Luv your work, too! X
What a fantastic dress!
Thank you! Lady Anne is a beauty, for sure!
More gorgeousness, Resa. Beautiful gown. 🙂
Thank you, it is an interesting piece. 😀 I never know what will come out when I start one! Each Art Gown is an adventure! 😀
They’re amazing. You are a wonder.
Only a creative soul like yours is able to transform an outfit into a visual poetic symphony, that will caress the skin of the singer to the compass of its hypnotic melody.
Be happy!
😀 A very lovely comment dear Marcelo, thank you! I think I’m getting happier, as I get older. Just the fact that I get to make my Art Gowns is a reason to be the happiest ever.
“The art of glamorous fantasy”. Perfect title for your gowns. It is a pleasure to look at them.
Thank you, it’s a pleasure to make them! It’s also a pleasure to read your poems!
Resa, I love love love your Lady Anne dress.. Oh how I wish it could come to life and not just adored as a museum classic.. Well done!
Thank you so very much!
Funny you say that… in my fantasy … Art Gowns – The Art of Glamorous Fantasy – the Art Gowns are real. They all have names, they each have a personality, and they are all of different opinions, as seen in “Art Gowns Art Cards”. They love to bicker amongst themselves and of course all disputes are forgiven or forgotten at dinner parties. 😀
I love it. I would very much like to be apart of that fantasy. It sounds elegant and royal. Is Art Gowns Art Cards part of your website? And which gown sits at the head of the table? 🙂 Thanks Ms Resa. Have a wonderful week..
Art Gowns Art Cards is a gift to the Art Gowns. I’m honoured to include them in a special post.
The dinner table is round, therefore there is no head. All Art Gowns are equal, albeit opinionated.
Of course, you are right, it is an elegant place to be. 😀
You have a wonderful week ahead!
I have never thought a gown can look like this! Well done!
It’s an an Art Gown. We imagine and create outside of the box pleats. 😀 Thank you so very much.
Loving the leather and lace together, was it difficult to sew those materials together? It would look marvellous on a gothic brides wedding day. Also loving your inspiration for these pieces Resa. Steam Punk is big in the theatre world so it would work there too. So imaginative xxxx 💕
It is a nasty joke sewing leather and lace together! You are more knowledgable than most.
In this case, the underskirt and tail are one piece. The leather part is like a pinafore overlay.
As time has gone by, I have been making detachable tails. My overly elaborate tails are impossible to walk around in. However, limited movement is easy for the experienced gown wearer.
So with with variable components, skirt, bodice, underlay, tunics and tails it is easy for the performer to get dressed and onto the stage. If need be, for reasons of press or party, tails can be detached and often used as boas or wraps.
I find your comment very inspiring!
One day will be ours, dear Charlotte! XXX 💜💜
Past mistakes trying to sew difficult materials together in my textile design course at College, I chose to sew cotton onto a silk like polyester material – nightmare, I then sewed in leather triangles and used silver thread to sew leaves on to the garment and fused fabrics using butterflies as overall inspiration. I like how you overcame it. You’re inspiring me too, I was packing up my student flat and thought some clothes were looking tired and I wondered if I should remodel some of them.
I always thought a top with detachable short skirt for day concerts and long skirt for evening concerts would be a good idea but I don’t like to show my midrift especially when singing so it would have to look sealed together.
Viviene Westwood has been designing for Joyce DiDonato some very out there dresses, her war and peace dress was magnificent. I always notice when singers take costume risks because the industry overall can be quite traditional for concerts and recitals more than stage work.
There’s a lot to think about when designing for performances. I’ve always wondered how singers manage to breathe, especially opera singers, when they are wearing a corset.
Of course, not all costumes require a corset, but it’s difficult to get away from the look when doing period costumes. So, it is just the look, and therefore why not make use of a modern heavy duty stretch fabric … say as side inserts. Anyway, it doesn’t have to be a real corset, just look like one. Anyone with your figure would be fine.
Designers for operas might already be doing this.
Your textile project sounds crazy, yet wonderful at the same time. Did it turn out well after all your difficulties?
Love your idea about being able to change skirts for afternoon and evening performaces. I already see a shorter exciting tail (detachable) to go with the shorther skirt.
A top, corset style or other style, just needs to be designed to end at the high hip… or even lower hip. A waistline can be defined in several ways. There’s no need for a crop that shows the midriff.
I’d love to design some out-of-the box-traditional dress for an opera. Viviene Westwood is so lucky! So is Joyce DiDonato! I wonder if I can find that dress on-line. I’m going to look after I post this commet.
So, moving out of your student flat sounds like you’re on your way. The world is now your stage. I’m so excited for you!
My next Art Gowns sketch will feature my niece in Flora Blanca, which I designed for her several years ago.
It would be fun to sketch you in an Art Gown, meant for opera. If you send me a wish list of say 3 operas & the character you would play, I’ll do up a non traditional idea. If you’d like.
There’s lots of pics of you on your blog, I’d use one of those. It wouldn’t be right away, but as passion dictates.
The textile project got me full marks and after spending night after night embroidering and stitching beads on it too I was really pleased, I’ll have to dig out a photo and send it to you, of course it’s not anywhere near professional 😊.
Three opera roles that spring to mind are Zerbinetta , Oscar , Blondchen .
I thought about an Alice in Wonderland dress after she falls down the rabbit hole, she shrinks after drinking from a bottle marked DRINK ME so the dress would have to have a big skirt to attach to look too big, she eats a cake saying EAT ME and grows nine feet tall, so I don’t know how that could be represented, she fans herself to normal size and has to swim in her own 😭 tears. Then she meets animals and enters a caucus race. I need to set this story to classical music and song. So it would be interesting to see sketch costume ideas.
Lots of crazy ideas there Resa if any catch your imagination at some point in the future 💕.
Alice! Who says the costume isn’t affected by the change, or that there isn’t radical (and very gorgeous)departure from traditional thought? It’s wonderland … I see 3 costumes in 1. I’ll work on it!
Lady Anne is my kind of gown! I also enjoyed reading the article about you and your work. I’ve got to say, that photo of you is one of my favorites. I’m a huge fan of colorful tights, which you perfectly paired with that jacket… and your pose, so sassy! I love it. xoxoxo
I can totally see that Lady Anne is your kind of Art Gown! It’s crazy, but I look better in photos than real life. I think it’s because I’ve worked in the industry so long that I know where to stand in the light, flattering angles and poses. Hope you’re having fun, wherever you are! xoxoxo
Love the leather, lace and studs combination! You have such a wonderful way of combining disparate fabrics and textures…
Thank you, Karen! Every Art Gown is a challenge and an adventure! I’m also enjoying drawing more. 😀
This gown is sooooo gorgeous!
Thank you, Claire! I’m quite fond of her!
Thanks for this update!
You are so welcome! I love that you drop by. Best to you, Maria!
What a magnificent gown and incredible article. Congrats!
TY, Susan! I’m happy to see you!
Leather and lace! Absolutely stunning!
I know hey! It’s hard to go wrong with the leather and lace combo! Sending hugs!
Hugs right back at ya! xx
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