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And my awards for the best dressed ladies at last night's Academy Awards ceremony and the Vanity Fair after-party go to . . .
Dame Helen Mirren in classic Vivienne Westwood bombshell mode, and celebrated Texas socialite and style icon, Lynn Wyatt in a simple white bias-cut gown and amazing sculptural neckpiece featuring crystal fragments and silk ribbon (if anyone knows who designed her ensemb', please fill us in). C'est magnifique, babes!
I'm in the process of writing an epic fashion week post, so in the meantime, I give you this fab article found in one of my 1940s issues of the Saturday Evening Post, written by hat designer Sally Victor on the history of the turban (one of my all-time favorite accessories), and how to wear it (click images to view full-size).
For yet more chapeau inspiration, view this post from the Vintager archives, which should provide you with a major turban incentive for the coming season.
Kerry Taylor's celebrated Passion for Fashion auction will be held on the 17th of next month, and there are loads of dazzling items to choose from. I'm warming up my bidding paddle for the following yummy vintage finds . . .
Above: Schiaparelli Schiapsport waist pouch c.1949 once belonging to the Duchess of Windsor (low est. of £3,000), Christian Dior gold brocaded evening coat-dress with matching boots by The Chelsea Cobbler c.1970s from the estate of actress Sian Phillips (est. £400), Black tulle Thea Porter kaftan covered in sequin moons c.1970s once loaned to Princess Margaret (est. £600).
Above: Original costumes from Diaghilev's Ballets Russes (each piece est. £600-5,000), designed by Léon Bakst c.1920s, and first auctioned by Sotheby's in 1973, much to the delight of London's young bohemians (the stylish Ormsby-Gore sisters bought many Ballet Russes items from the historic Sotheby's auction, and wore the costumes mixed with new designer items, causing a sensation amongst the rock 'n roll set). Bakst designed costumes such as these were also the inspiration for Anna Sui's latest collection. I'd just love to have fairy-ballerina dress-up fantasy time with these whimsical frocks.
There are few things cruddier than being stuck in bed with the flu, but i'm thanking the stars above for instant watching on Netflix . . . distracting me from all the aches and pains with some of my favorite films. One of which is the John Cassavetes masterpiece of mayhem and true love, Minnie and Moskowitz, starring Seymour Cassel and the always radiant, Gena Rowlands.
It's a neurotic love story about the unlikely pairing of a hot-tempered parking lot attendant and an emotionally fragile museum curator, who go through loads of childish dramz in order to come to terms with their feelings for one another. It also features wonderful footage of long-gone Hollywood locations, as well as one of the funniest bad date scenes in cinema history.
Not to mention Minnie's perfect style, fabulous apartment, and signature giant sunnies (which are like another character in themselves). It's a passionate roller-coaster, only good for those who can stomach lots of yelling, but also shows beautifully what can happen when you let go of unrealistic expectations and surrender to your heart.
Above: Minnie's amazing Miracle Mile Apartment (accessorized with a killer old book collection, brass daybed, and Cocteau-esque eye mural) Below: Minnie and her antique needlepoint handbag at C.C. Brown's legendary ice cream parlour on Hollywood, Blvd. (which was a favorite date spot of Marilyn's). C.C.'s was tragically gutted in the '90s, much to my heartbreak, though it's lovely that it is preserved forever in a beautiful scene.
Hope everyone had a swoony Valentine's eve. As a romantic gift to you, I've created a soundtrack to love . . . for all those currently in the throws of it, and on hiatus from it (and regarding the latter state, make sure you're enjoying every moment and getting lots of projects done, since solo-time never lasts for long). Here's the playlist:
1. Seabird ~ Alessi Brothers
2. Sweetheart ~ Marianne Faithfull
3. Prisoner of Love ~ James Brown
4. Willow's Song ~ From The Wicker Man
5. I Found a Reason (Demo) ~ The Velvet Underground
6. I Don't Know Why (Alternate Take) ~ Nat King Cole Trio
7. Pardon my Heart ~ Neil Young & Crazy Horse
8. May This be Love ~ Jimi Hendrix
9. I Dig You ~ Cult Hero/The Cure
10. Le Petite Fille De La Mer ~ Vangelis
11. My Only Love ~ Bryan Ferry
12. Hypnotized ~ Fleetwood Mac
13. I'm Making Believe ~ Ella Fitzgerald & The Ink Spots
And speaking of love hiatuses, if you are now in-between relationships, and feeling blue about it, know that true love is just around the corner, and it does indeed arrive when you least expect it. My relationship is evidence of these cliches . . . as i'd been single for four years, and after a stream of ill-advised crushes, tearful Friday nights alone with Turner Classic Movies, and dozens of awkward blind-dates (I actually went on one with the creator of the show Blind Date. Meta enough for you?), I had totally given up. Then . . . on the very morning that I woke up feeling totally empowered and inspired, vowing that I was finally happy on my own, able to focus all my attention on the book I was writing, and that i'd be much more content as an un-married muse, a-la Stevie Nicks or Garbo, I walked into my publishers office for a meeting and POW . . . I met my forever dude.
See . . . it really happens. Especially when you stop watching Netflix movies, and actually leave the house once in a while (great advice which only took me four-years to actually put into action).
Wishing you love, love, love, and hoping you adore the tunes!
I can't think of a better Valentine's gift than a vintage red Olivetti Valentine typewriter (hint, hint, Mr. Taylor). Designed in 1969 by Ettore Sottsass and Perry King as an "anti-machine machine," for use "anyplace but an office." It came with a hard-case and a handle, which made it easily transportable, so if you wanted to write erotic poetry whilst laying on the beach in Mustique, you could (c'mon . . . this was an epic concept, pre-laptop).
Above: Three groovy promotional posters for the Valentine, designed by Egidio Bonfante, c.1970. Below: Milton Glaser, c.1969, and Ettore Sottsass, c.1969 (i'm currently on the hunt to find an original of this, preferably in orange). To view an archive of more fab promotional posters for the Valentine, go here.
Yet if the Olivetti proves too difficult to find . . . Zuni turquoise rings, Cecil Beaton's Art of the Scrapbook, or '20s kimonos from Illisa's vintage lingerie, would also be much adored ; )
Happy Valentine's Day!
On Wednesday eve, Mr. Taylor and I were invited to a reception at the Staley-Wise Gallery in Soho, to view an installation of photographs by legendary photographer, Bert Stern. Titled Jewels, Stern has selected several of his most famous portraits, including those of Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, and (of course) Marilyn, as well as '60s super-dollybirds Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton. But what makes this exhibit special, is that Stern has glittered each print with crystal appliques, along with its frame, giving these iconic images added sparkle, hence the title of the show.
One favorite image from the show was a black and white portrait of Marilyn holding a silk scarf over the lower half of her face, like Sheherazade, and he had lightly dusted the draping of the scarf with silver glitter, giving her a spookily sultry aura. Another piece we dug was a large uncut-sheet of day-glo serigraphs Stern did for Avant-Gard magazine in 1962, featuring Monroe.
Left: A 1970s needlepoint that we begged the boutique's owner to sell to us, but being that it recently helped her through a hard year, she's not ready to let it go (can you blame her)? It has to be the most magically good-vibed piece of art on Earth. Right: Another great '70s needlepoint, this one featuring a 3-dimensional spider plant, a tabby, and wicker peacock chair (about $65).
A lovely new boutique has opened not far from my home, and though it's sometimes hard to share good vintaging secrets (especially when they're local), I believe in shopping karma, so here's the low down . . . Poma Rosa is located in the quaint antiquing village of Cold Spring, New York, and it is stocked to the rafters with chic finds. Patricia, the sweet owner, has a fabulous eye for both mid-century decor and '70s attire, and i've never exited her boutique empty handed. On a recent visit I swooned over the array of Scandinavian teak furniture, kitschy 1950s landscape paintings, jazzy men's accessories, gold '80s earrings and '70s disco dresses. But the pièce de résistance, is her wall of vintage handbags, where I always score something special . . .
Above: 1950s paintings of nautical and rural country scenes, and loads of swank mens accoutrement (i'm thinking of going back for that plaid travel case, unless you beat me to it).
On recent visits we've purchased many cherished items . . . like the 1970s Italian green leather mini-doctor's bag ($65) seen below (as worn to a holiday party at Russel Wright's studio, hence the amazing birch-bark door), as well as Nic's beloved hand-knitted German wool cardigan ($85), and a tiny brass and bakelite souvenir jewelry tray from the New York World's Fair, c.1939 ($20).
Poma Rosa: 93 Main Street, Cold Spring, NY 10516
While vintaging in New Paltz, NY recently, I discovered several yards of B & F's coveted linen Ikat print, in an earthy palate of Native American shades, and will now forever be on the prowl for more of their deadstock yardage. I'm so in love with my chic new fabric in fact, that I'm currently having it custom-embroidered and sewn to house our design portfolio (photos of which will be posted soon!) But for now, fabric hunting I shall go . . .
Above, from top: Chevron silk slipper chair c.1985, Samarkand print linen c.1983, Berry glazed chintz c.1986, Tuscany woven sofa c.1989
Looks like the illuminated ones actually do depart in threes, as this week Heaven's Hollywood has two brand new stars . . . actress Maria Schneider, star of Bertolucci's intensely erotic 1972 film, Last Tango in Paris, and Gladys Horton, lead vocalist for '60s Doo-Wop girl group, The Marvelettes (who were an inspiration for the creation of The Supremes). Both women should be honored for participating in the creation of art that expanded people's hearts, in result, helping to pave a more liberated creative path. To begin the honoring, i'm off to spin my favorite Marvelettes 45, and will be moving Antonioni's 1975 film, The Passenger to the top of my Netflix Queue, so I can watch Maria in action opposite Jack Nicholson . . .
Photos (from top): Maria Schneider on the set of Last Tango in Paris, c.1973, and the elegant Marvelettes (Gladys Horton on right).
Please credit/link to J.B. Taylor when re-posting original artwork or written content from this site. Merci.
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