~The Paris Flapper ~

Those intriguing ladies of the 20's....

 French actress Stacia Napierkowska

Outfitted in that oh so popular garçonne' look...

 Paris

With bobbed hair and cloche...

 Coco Chanel 

Lavin, Patou, Chanel, and Perugia...

Josephine Baker ~ Photo by Murray Korman

Oh, to be a Flapper in Paris!

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! 

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.

Lanvin...Another Favorite

"In Florence, Jeanne Lanvin gazed, transfixed, upon a Fra Angelico fresco. Its remarkably intense quattrocento Blue was to become her pet shade" ~Lanvin

 ~Lanvin 2011~

Jeanne Lanvin set up a Milliners boutique on the corner of rue Boissy D'Anglas and rue Du Faubourg St Honoré. She later opened her own House at the same location.

She began by making beautiful little fashions for her young daughter and muse, Marguerite Marie Blanche. These creations became so popular among the parents of her daughters friends, Jeanne created a Childrens department in 1908 and a year later became a full fledged fashion house.

~Lanvin Pearl and Grosgrain Necklace Via Harvey Nichols~

In 1911 Lanvin began creating wedding gowns and in 1926 she created Lanvin Fourrure and Lanvin Lingerie. The same year she was also named Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur.

In 1946 Jeanne Lanvin passed away after starting the perfume and Lanvin Decoration departments with great success (Santa left me a little vintage Lanvin present under the tree this year ~sigh~)

Today, Alber Elbaz is the art director for the House of Lanvin and he is pure genius! I look forward to every feminine collection and the details are always exquisite.



A bit of vintage Lanvin for you~ A Gold embroidered Lanvin-Castillo dress modeled in the Theatre of Louis the XV in Versailles.

Best Wishes to you all for a happy, joyful, and successful New Year~ Cheers!

Another Time...

BaroqueAndRoll on Etsy

I've been loving the series Boardwalk Empire on HBO. It makes me dream of another time and world. Here are some Etsy finds inspired by those fabulous roaring 20's!

LillyLange on Etsy

The series Boardwalk Empire was inspired by a book based on a true story. It is set in Atlantic city at the dawn of the prohibition.

Maclancy on Etsy

The sets are incredible and the fashions are amazing! It's hard to believe that this story is bases on true events. It's riveting.

Piperewan on Etsy

You can catch it on Sunday nights on HBO. Have a great weekend mes amis!

Spooktacular!

Wishing you a happy weekend and a spooktacular Halloween!

Tim Walker photo

Dior Haute Couture’s handpainted and embroidered silk taffeta dress. John Rocha socks, Louis Vuitton shoes with Mokuba ribbons.

Exquisite Finery

Blue Silk Ballgown and Red SIlk womens stockings, with Gold thread embroidery

Bonjour Mes Amis! Recently I wrote a post (here) about visiting the new Resnick Pavilion in Los Angeles for the opening weekend. I was in awe of all of the beauty and history surrounding me. It was a spectacular experience and I am so excited to share these pics with you. 

Edwardian Lace dress and kidskin gloves/A stunning uncut pattern on Silk

The first of the three exhibits that we visited was this amazing journey through time, "Fashioning Fashion" European dress through the ages. I cannot tell you just how incredible these items were in person.  

L. Blue Mademoiselles Giroux Dress c. 1880 made in LImoges France  made in the Princess Line, named after Princess Alexandria of Whales.

This stunning display exhibits European Dress from 1700~1915. All of the very most romantic eras are represented here and one could get lost in the glamour and the romance of it all.

I apologize for the hefty amout of photos in this post, I had a really hard time editing some out. I have loads more but decided to spare you! My best friend had my camera so I took these with my phone but you just can't hide the fact that the fashion was divine!

Fashion from some of the most famous and luxurious fashion houses and designers in history are on display: The House of Rouff, Émile Pingat, Giroux, and so many more. The above Pink gown is from the 1830's and is decorated with a sea of faux pearls that  would weigh down the sheer overlay and make a delightful clinking noise when the lucky wearer would move. The faux pearls are glass filled with a mixture of fish scales and glue. The story behind this is remarkable, I could do an entire post over the discovery of this process by a French rosary maker.

I wish I could write about each of these pieces, however, I think I would both bore you and take hours to write. Each piece has a truly remarkable history and the process of creating these works of art are incredible.

The contents of these Silk~Velvet lined boxes are amazing! The larger box contains jeweled buttons for a mens suit from the 1700's, the missing ones are on display on the suit next to this box. The smaller boxes contain jeweled shoe buckles! If I could only just hold one for a moment! Too beautiful!!!

I have been holding back writing that "this photo is my favorite"because it feels like they all are but I really do think this one is my favorite. Those bustles are fantastic and the colors! Oh my!

18th century Robe à la Française. Cream Silk with Handpainted details. The colorful florals are woven in to the fabric but the Green/Yellow leaves and bows are handpainted. Just amazing!

The thing that struck me most about everysingle piece I saw was the detail, the hadmade aspect of everything, the fact that every pleat, bead, ruffle, and delicious piece of golden passementerie, has been perfectly placed is mind blowing. Seeing gowns and suits worn at the most luxurious courts in Europe was a special and treasured treat. The true luxury of the textiles, lush trimmings, and artistry of each piece is intoxicating.

All of these pieces and so much more (a vest from the Revolution in France, children's clothing, capes lined in ostrich feathers, etc) are currently on display at LACMA in Los Angeles until March.

All Photos ~ Paris Atelier

My, Oh My!

Photo~SwankUnderpinnings on Etsy

Bonjour! Sending out wonderful wishes for a beautiful weekend to YOU all!

Image via Bubble Wrap My Heart

I plan on stealing away a moment to read a good book...

Image Via Tumblr

and kick off my shoes! Happy weekend!!!!

I have two exciting posts in the wings! Stay tuned!!!

Art, Fashion, and The Resnick

"As our lives become even more virtual and fleeting, it's imperative that we have art as an anchor, and after the daily electronic recounting of the real-time horrors of people doing terrible things to one another, we can renew our faith in mankind while viewing man's highest achievements on display at a museum like LACMA." ~Lynda Resnick

Image via Sarahreports.com

The much anticipated and much talked about Lynda and Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion opens to the public on Oct. 2. It is the second gallery building on the LACMA campus and designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano, one of the world's most sought-after museum architects. Funded by billionaire philanthropists Lynda and Stewart  Resnick (they own POM juice drink and Fiji Water), this $54 million exhibiion hall will serve as a stunning place to showcase rotating and traveling art exhibits.

Image from the NY Times

The grand opening will feature three exhibits: Olmec: Colossal Masterworks of Ancient Mexico, Eye for the Sensual: Selections from the Resnick Collection, and Fashioning Fashion: European Dress in Detail, 1700-1915.

I am, of course, most excited to see Eye for the Sensual which includes eighty-five European paintings and sculptures from the personal collection of Stewart and Lynda Resnick (I could dedicate an entire post to this amazing woman, she is fabulous and so remarkable). I am so anxious to see its important eighteenth-century French paintings—including works by François Boucher, Élisabeth-Louise Vigée-Lebrun (she has the portrait of Marie~Antoinette with the Rose, Versailles houses a later version of this portrait), Jean-Honoré Fragonard (my fave), Nicolas Lancret, and Hubert Robert. I am also looking forward to seeing the fashion exhibit.

"The exhibition will tell the story of fashion's aesthetic and technical development from the Age of Enlightenment to World War I. It will examine the sweeping changes that occurred in fashionable dress spanning a period of over two hundred years, with a fascinating look at the details of luxurious textiles, exacting tailoring techniques, and lush trimmings. Highlights will include an eighteenth-century man's vest intricately embroidered with powerful symbolic messages relevant to the French Revolution; an evening mantle with silk embroidery, glass beads, and ostrich feathers designed by French couturier Émile Pingat (active 1860-96); and spectacular three-piece suits and gowns worn at the royal courts of Europe." LACMA

I feel so honored and lucky to have aquired tickets to the opening weekend andI am so looking forward to going and being part of a historic moment for art in Los Angeles. My husband and I are taking the little Prince and the countdown begins!

If you are interested in going LACMA is hosting community days where you can get free tickets online.



Beautiful Kodak 1922 Kodachrome Film Test

This Film Test is so neat! I just love the rich, beautiful colors and the fashion! I am loving that fabulous hat with the hanging accents. Enjoy!

To Walk A Mile In These Shoes...

The Eila ~ Manolo's ~ Sigh

Bonjour My Friends,  I have been reading so many amazing posts by all of you who are either in Paris or just home from a visit there. I have to say that the photos, the stories, and the images of the food and people have me longing to go back more than ever! Oh how I wish I was in Paris!

Jimmy Choo ~ Super sparkly, super delicious 

So, thinking of Paris made me think up a faux itinerary in my head. Where would we (my bestie and I) eat, where would we shop, how many days would we spend in the country, how many in Versailles, how many gorgeous French men would we have to turn down for dinner dates.

~Donna Karan~

And of course...how many pairs of shoes would I need to pack!?! I know, I know, these are hardly practical to go meandering around the cobblestone streets with and hardly as chic as the Converse that everybody is wearing around town right now, but they are gorgeous.

Valentino~ Need I say more?

After all a girl needs to have tea at the Ritz and visit the ballet. Besides, doesn't a macaron taste even more delicious in a pair of Louboutins? 

Obsessing Over...

I'm loving Douglas Friedman right now! I've always been a fan but lately have a renewed interest in his work.

He is a genius! I am always so in awe of such incredible talent. The images, the whimsical and lavish subjects, they all make my heart skip a beat.

Could you just imagine waking up to this!?! Hmmm....decisions, decisions!

His portraits never disappoint.

and the celebrity homes he photographs are incredible!

He has done a lot of shots for In Style magazine, including the Christina Aguilera and Fergie shoots that had everybody buzzing. A girl could get lost in his imaginative and vivid world!

"Eye" Love You!

Photo from the V&A ~Notice the diamnd teardrop~

I've fallen hard for these incredible pieces of jewelry. I love the intrigue and meaning behind them as well as thier beauty. Here's some backstory about these gorgeous Lover's eye miniatures.

Photo ~The Philadelphia Museum of Art~

In the late 1700s, while his father George III was losing the Revolutionary War in America, George IV of England was losing his heart to a young girl, who happened to be a commoner. The young prince's lover gave him a locket with a miniature painting of her eye; her anonymity was preserved while eye contact was maintained. The idea caught on and, for about 30 years, these Georgian miniatures became fiercely popular among the upper classes throughout Europe and have become a very rare and sought out genre of antique jewelry today.

Photo ~The Philadelphia Museum of Art~

Painted by miniaturists, portrait painters who specialized in small, detailed images. They focused on only the eye, often represented with eyebrow and lashes. Sometimes showcasing a wisp of hair or the suggestion of a sideburn or the bridge of a nose would hint at the owner's identity but never reveal it, how romantic! Adding to the mystery of it all the miniaturist often added a delicate border of clouds around the eye.
These amazing little love tokens appeared between the 1790s and 1820s in the courts and upper crust households of England, Russia, France.

Photo ~The Philadelphia Museum of Art~

 

Eventually, the idea caught on for use as mourning jewelry. Mourning pieces contained the eye of a departed loved one, sometimes set in a frame of pearls which symbolized tears.

Photo ~The Philadelphia Museum of Art~

Most eyes are unidentifiable, however, there is one diamond-studded example marked with an Imperial Crown and initials "J.B." This piece can be traced back to Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon's ne'er-do-well brother who was once the Emperor of Spain! So incredible!!

Photo~Te Lenore Dailey Collection~

“When full dressed she wore around her neck the barrenest of lockets, representing a fishy old eye, with no approach to speculation in it” – Charles Dickens, 1848
 

Photo ~Flickr~

 

Such gorgeous pieces! How I would love to add one to my collection of portrait jewelry, a girl can dream can't she!?!