Guo Pei: Art of Couture - 18 NOV 2022

I visited the Bowers Museum (Santa Ana, CA) to see their special exhibit entitled: Guo Pei: Art of Couture (running Nov 12, 2022 to May 14, 2023).

I have no interest in fashion, so at first it felt like when I was a child and visited a ‘Freak Show’ at the state fair…but then I got into the beauty of the craft and the splendor of the outlandishness.

The exhibit was divided into four sections: Dreams, Devotion, Love and Faith with a seamless transition from one section to the next.

For me it was all fantasy.


Guo Pei is an internationally renowned designer who is Chinese and interweaves her childhood memories into her fantastical designs. 

She is the first born-and-raised Asian designer to be invited to become a guest member of the Chambre Synbdicale de la Haute Couture.

Many of them listed Swarovski crystals, rhinestones, sequins, this one and another also had metal accents.

Swarovski crystals have a higher refraction index as compared to real crystal and is more like a diamond.

I learned about the embroidery techniques that were used:




There were also lots of ostrich feathers...

Although I can remember wearing platform shoes in the 70’s, mine did not have a 3-4” arch on top of the 3-4” platform.



The accessories were as fantastical as the gowns, such as these rings:

There were several video presentations showing some of the gowns on the runway.

I thought it was interesting that this older model had two stunning escorts. Then I learned Carman Dell’Orefice (85 in this image) is the world’s oldest working supermodel.

And she did it wearing these:

D-Day Squadron Flyover - 25 May 2020

I learned a D-Day Squadron of historic aircraft would be participating in a 'SoCal Strong' Memorial Day Flyover to honor veterans and health care workers. The route would start with Loma Linda Medical Center at noon and ended a hour later at Chino Airport. They would covered 20 key spots including two national cemeteries, four airports, six hospitals, several beaches, the Queen Mary and San Pedro's own Battleship USS Iowa. I was planning on seeing it from Beacon Street where I first saw the USNS Mercy leaving port; but when I got there it seemed too far away, was congested with people, and had too many trees in the way. I went north of the Iowa, parking by the Fanfare Fountains (now under renovations) and walk south half way to the Iowa. When the first set of planes passed over, I realized there were too many trees in the way as they passed directly overhead, not over the Iowa. Adjusting my position, I was able to get a few shots of the next two batches of planes.
The Squadron contained the C-53 D-Day Doll of the Commemorative Air Force's Inland Empire Wing, leading C-47 Flabob Express, C-47 Betsy's Biscuit Bomber and C-53 Spirit of Benovia. There were other WWII-era aircraft including C-47 What's Up Doc from the Palm Springs Air Museum and Condor Squadron's T-6s.
As stated on their website (warbirdsnews.com): "Our mission flying WWII aircraft over parts of Southern California for Memorial Day is to salute our veterans who sacrificed so much for the freedoms that we enjoy today. In addition, we will acknowledge the many medical personnel, first responders, and citizens who have provided unwavering support in caring for the local populace during this pandemic."
Of course the news plane flying alongside, got the best shot.
 Thank you everyone, for your service!