Strike Up the Band

Photo Via

The super creative and lovely ...Love Maegan  linked up to my Ziegfeld Follies post on her blog this morning. Thank you Maegan!

Photo Via

Her post is just beautiful. Here's a taste: It involves feathers and Louis Vuitton. Need I say more. Check out her gorgeous post about short film "Join the Fan Club" by Ruth Hogben. The film is a dream! 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Ziegfeld Follies

"Fred Astaire: Here's to the beautiful ladies, Here's to those wonderful girls, Adele's and Molly's, Lucille's and Polly's. You'll find them all at the Ziegfeld Follies."

 Cyd Charisse in the 1945 Hollywood musical ~ Ziegfeld Follies

Bonjour chéris! I just finished watching that amazing movie Ziegfeld Follies. I am still trying to catch my breath! The costumes, the dance routines, the stars...Oh my!

Dolores Costello ~ Ziegfeld Girl

 The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical productions, inspired by the Folies Bergéres of Paris, on Broadway in from 1907 through 1931.

Ziegfeld Girl

The Follies were extremely lavish revues that included many of the days most popular performers. The Follies may have been most known for the beautiful girls that graced the stage.

 Lilyan Tashman ~ Ziegfeld Girl

These girls were known for always being decked out in the most elaborate and beautiful costumes. The costumes were often made by designers such as Erté, Lady Duff Gordon, and Ben Ali Haggi. The next morning the talk of New York would always be the ensembles.

The glorious Louise Brooks ~ She was a featured dancer for the Follies in 1925

I love that the movie includes some actual numbers from the original Follies shows on Broadway and showcases so many of Hollywood's brightest stars of the time. It is such an over the top spectacle that it just makes you feel like dancing!

Stay tuned for an incredible giveaway in the next few weeks and a post about my first trip to an auction & the goodies I brought home. I can't wait!

                                    

Old Hollywood Glamour

Ditas collection of pointe shoes used in her performances

Bonjour! I had so much fun with the last post filled with corsets and feminine frills that I decided to post about the Queen of corsets and femininity...Dita Von Teese.

 An outfit used in her carousel horse act as displayed in her home

I thoroughly enjoyed the Dita feature in February's In Style showcasing her home. I love the way she lives and enjoys all of her vintage treasures daily. She really is a throwback to that glamorous age in Hollywood. She is rarely without her pinup Red lips and stockings.

The article was fascinating and the photos were glorious! If you have not seen it I highly encourage you to check out the pictures. They just ooze glamour, vintage swank, and retro beauty.

A small portion of Ditas vintage hat collection. She owns more than 300!

After that Jean Harlow~esque spread in In Style I searched for more photos of her "Old Hollywood" home. Unfortunately, these were all of the photos I could find.

Ditavonteesefan.net

I recently purchased her Burlesque book on Amazon and I have to tell you, it's gorgeous. The photos are over the top glamour and luxury. The content is well written and had me enthralled.

The Dressing Room

Alleycatscratch.com Publicity stills for the King Kong Movie

Hello Friends!

I've been catching up on all of your blog posts and I am overwhelmed with the creativity and beauty you bring into my life!

Joan Crawford preparing for a scene

I have been so inspired and I am now obsessing over glamorous dressing rooms and the fabulous backstage life in theatre, Opera, Ballet, and movies.

I stumbled upon a picture of Marilyn Monroe getting ready in her dressing room, and I fell into the rabbit hole searching for more backstage images. So here are some of my favorites to share with you...Enjoy!

Penelope Cruz in part of an incredible photo shoot by Annie Leibovitz. I will do a post on the entire Film Noir shoot tomorrow...stay tuned!

The beautiful Betty Grable and her famous legs Backstage in her dressing room photographed by LIFE magazine.

A ballerina in her dressing room by William K Daby. Just breath taking!

Artisticcostumes.com

Backstage at the Phantom

New Glamour! the dressing room of Kylie Minogue on her world tour. Fabulous!!!

TheWinger.com

A gorgeous ballerina backstage on the final night of the Nutcracker Ballet.

That's all for today! I want to set my powder room up to look like a glamorous Old Hollywood dressing room now! I can't wait for tomorrow's film Noir post. Have a fantastic day and a great week!!!

Let's Dance!

Bonjour My Friends! It's been a long fabulous day and I have been looking forward to sitting down to write a post all day. I have so many incredible blogs to post about and awards to acknowledge and pass along, as well as friends shops and fun new ideas to write about. I can't lie, I feel a little bit overwhelmed :) So, while I get my thoughts together and plan out some beautiful posts for you I will sit and reminisce about a favorite little shop in Paris.

~Repetto~

Most of you have probably heard of it and some have probably shopped there. Maybe you have been, like me, drooling in front of the vitrine, or maybe it is new to you. Either way, once you have experienced it, you will agree, there is nothing quite like it!

This gorgeous little gem is one of my favorite haunts in Paris. The windows are always glorious little pieces of heaven and the ballet flats are any chic girls' best fashion accessory. I've worn out plenty of pairs on the streets of Paris! :)

When I was younger I was a ballet dancer. Mostly, because my Mom really wanted me to be. I loved it but as I grew up, I stopped dancing altogether. Every time I visit Repetto, I think to myself how I would have loved to dance and always dreamed of dancing with Mikhail Baryshnikov (I had an insane crush on the man for years)!

Here is a little bit about the brand and the woman behind it.

Rose Repetto created her first ballet shoe in a tiny little workshop practically next door to the National Opera of Paris for her son Roland Petit in 1947. Nearly a decade later Brigitte Bardot requested a pair. Rose then created the "Cendrillon" ballerina and dedicated t to Brigitte.

Two years later Rose opens her first shop at 22 rue de la Paix. It didn't take long to become the ultimate destination for the famous ballerinas all over the world. Rose then established a factory in Saint Medard d'Excideuil in Dordogne. Where the "stitched and returned" method was perfected for the pointes and ballerinas and is still in use.

In 1999 Jean-Marc Gaucher takes over Repetto and strives to breath new life into it.

Since then, Repetto has partnered with many brands and in 2005 made their One Millionth pair of ballerinas.

In 2007 Repetto celebrated their 60th Anniversary with much fanfare and are known worldwide. They can still be found at the original address...

22 rue de la Paix.

The website is just gorgeous and showcases the beautiful items available for purchase. It also gives advice to dancers on how to sew their ribbons and so much more. The photos alone are worth the visit.

If you are ever in the vicinity of a Repetto shop I would take a peak at the incredible window displays. They are always breath taking and inspiring.

This photo is a close up of a tutu in the window. How dreamy and frothy!

I'm off to work on my Battement frappé, Chassé, and Glissade moves!

Have a fabulous weekend!

XOXO,

Judith~


~All Images Via Flickr~

A Little Bit of Pretty....

Image via Flickr ~ Juicy Couture chair

Bonjour! I have been a bit MIA lately, so sorry! I have been potty training my little Prince and it has been quite a chore. If you Moms and Dads out there have any advice, I would love to hear :)

Vogue ~ Romeo & Juliet spread

I just needed a little bit of pretty today, so I'm posting some pics I've saved just because they were pretty. Enjoy!

Image via Flickr

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this picture. It is perfect! I adore the colors.




Via Flickr


Backstage at the Dior fashion show

Flickr

This is the cutest cupcake I have ever seen! A Cancan dancer and a sweet treat! CUTE! ;)







The above pic is from a fabulous blog A Paris Dasant. Her photos are heavenly!

And, of course a dose of Laduree. I know I feel better now! :) A bit of Paris always has that effect on me! Have a lovely weekend my friends and I'll be back on Monday!

XOXO

Judith~

A Technicolor Dream World

The incredible Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe in Gentleman Prefer Blonds

I've been a little obsessed with these fabulous Technicolor wonders lately.

Hi Friends!!! I've been working on my surprise for you all and this post is a little clue! These movies and so many more, have always inspired me and they take me to a more glamorous and refined time. A time not so long ago, filled with glitz, glamour, and enough fashionable movie stars
to light up the nights sky!

Grace Kelly (who after all married a French Prince)

The colors and feeling invoke a sense of richness and luxury to me.

America's favorite mermaid Esther Williams

Why is it that my hair and make-up never look like this when I swim? Movie magic!

Doris Day

I love all of the Doris Day movies. Especially the Rock Hudson (va va voom) ones!
Her ensemble is another clue...

The beautiful Betty Grable

Betty Grable movies are always magical! If I catch one on TCM I'm hooked. So down to earth and the fashions are always mind blowing! Oh to be a fly in Edith Heads
office!

Diana Dors

How Amazing is this bed!?! If you love it...keep watching out for my surprise, you will not be disappointed! ;)

I LOVE Carmen Miranda! Her joy of life and her sunny personality always make me smile! What a woman!

The incredible and classic Audrey Hepburn. What more can I say that hasn't already been said so eloquently by so many. A true icon.

Ava Gardner and her turbulent life. Her work is wonderful and her beauty is timeless.

I love the hat!

Betty Grable in Moon over Miami. I LOVE this movie and again those costumes are to die for!!!! I know I'm crazy but I'm in love with the chair in the back ground :)

Because I have not done a true French post in a while. An American in Paris with Gene and Leslie! I'm a sucker for this movie. Look at those flowers (another clue).

This is a rare 1930's movie and for the life of me I can't remember the name of it right now. I'll update the post when it pops into my head in the middle of the night! I just love the bathing suits.

Esther Williams again proving going to the pool can be as glamorous as going to a ball. Look at that beautiful monogrammed cover up. What a wonderful idea and the colors!

Marilyn and the diamonds! I have always loved the quote from Gentlemen Prefer Blonds where she exclaims that she loves finding new places to wear diamonds! Anytime my husband has ever given me jewelry I just want to blurt it out! I know I'm a little nuts.

I just love this image of Carmen Miranda via Worth 1000.com. It gives me ideas for a Halloween costume! :) Those nails!

Another image of Betty Grable. Makes me want to dance my worries away.

One of my all time favorite movies is Singing in the Rain. This scene is fabulous!

Another short post for you today, but don't worry, I'll be back in full force in the coming weeks!

Have a fantastic Thursday!

xoxo

~Judith~