There are fashion designers who dabble in cinema and theater costuming; and there are costumers who, after years of working for the camera and stage, opt to become fashion designers. It worked superbly for Gilbert Adrian (MGM’s ADRIAN). Similarly, it seems to be working out quite well for Barbara Tfank [RUNWAY FASHION VIDEO HERE!].

The skills that costumers acquire over the years don’t get lost on their designs. Tailoring, the importance of silhouette, the visual and textural richness of details and embellishments all come into play. They know how to make a woman (or man) stand out.  With each collection, Tfank fine-tunes her viewpoint and expands on her patrician vocabulary. Her aesthetic is classic and moneyed; her silhouettes kept simple to better showcase the luxurious textiles she favors.

Direct Link: http://youtu.be/d6JsgMh4Bdc

Barbara Tfank began with extravagant vintage brocades, finding rare bolts of such fabrics in and around Los Angeles. Today, she goes where Haute couture goes. Her collection is fast becoming a capsule couture redux line, one beloved for its good cuts, fits and beautiful finish.

With couture and luxe come the fur touches. This season she favored little boleros and shrugs, even a few cowl scarves. The inspiration was Elizabeth Taylor in the 1960s. Taylor knew a thing or two about looking beautiful and rich. For Mad Men fans out-there, this collection will knock your socks off.