Utterly Armless

Celebrating the Roaring Twenties in a Special Series

I think it was late last year that I visited a vintage fair in Melbourne with my friend Rapunzel. Most of the goods for sale were very expensive, and each of us limited ourselves to a pair of vintage 80s sunglasses costing about $35 each.

I had always wanted little round sunglasses. With grey frosted plastic frames and tortoiseshell arms, they were reminiscent of the 1920s and suited my new bob admirably. I wore them often, and they were often admired.

Until recently when I pulled them out of their green leather case … and I discovered an arm was missing. Not the screw, mind you – that was in the case – but the arm. Now whoever heard of losing a sunglasses arm and not the screw? Ridiculous. The missing arm was nowhere to be found, and I was quite cross. And in a case of friendly synchronicity, Rapunzel had already lost hers.

A couple of weeks later I visited my favourite designer sunglass discount shop and found a new pair of round sunglasses that were such clear plastic they look like glass, with reflective shades. They are by label Mink Pink and cost only $25. Win. One of the arms exhorts me to Be Brave & Free.

Free is better than lost for sure. 

In Grace

I’ve been interested lately in fashion editorials that are directly inspired by master artworks. I have collected a few over the years, shoots inspired by Ingres, Bonnard, Gauguin and Tamara de Lempicka. From French Vogue (possibly a 90s or early Noughties issue) and photographed by Michael Thompson, here is a photoshoot styled in the manner of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres.

Sublimely beautiful in its simplicity, the image above is directly influenced by Ingres’ painting Half Figure of a Bather, (below) although my preference is for the second, The Bather of Valpincon (1808). There is a wonderful flavour of aristocratic indolence with the towels wrapping the hair as in a Turkish hammam. (Where else can one be literally waited on hand and foot these days?)

Half Figure of a Bather, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, 1807The Bather of Valpincon, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, 1808

I actually do not like these clothes much at all: they are far too fussy for me, even if I had occasion to don them. The hairstyling, and headdresses are great though – so evocative of historical paintings. The little black tiara in the third image is actually a nineteenth century comb (or a copy of one) – a wonderful gothic take on a traditional tiara. What an enviably beautiful glow these models possess too. I love the minimal, natural makeup; the heavy-lidded eyes – it’s quite startling to see naked eyelashes.

The photographs are beautiful works of art in their own right: here is the whole shoot below.

Click on images for larger versions. 

Cobbler Clobber

A little while ago I told you about a pair of Finsk dove grey wedges with a gladiatorial spirit about them. Here is their sister pair, all soft beige leather and wooden heels. I love the sharp angles at the back of the heel. They are surprisingly comfy (once I wrestle furiously with the stud buttonholes to fasten them) but those wooden wedges sure do heft some serious weight. I reckon I could clobber someone with them – if I could raise my leg high enough to deliver an axe kick with that weight at the end of it. Visit Finsk for your own clobber. 

What I Actually Wore #0079

Serial #: 0079
Date: 02/08/2012
Weather: 15°C for C-c-c-cold!
Time Allowed: 12 minutes

It’s a very chilly day in the depths of winter, but with the sudden influx of packages from overseas I am spoilt for choice. I go for bright blocks of colour, starting with my new red skirt by Anthropologie that I bought from an eBay store. I choose accessories that are a complete contrast – both in colour and texture: a white rabbit fur pompom scarf, wool beret and suede boots. It’s a cosy look in unconscious response to the white sky outside.

I don’t think this outfit immediately recalls any particular past era – I certainly wasn’t trying to evoke one, and not a single one of the items is vintage, unless the classic beret which I’ve owned for the better part of two decades classifies as vintage. However, a work colleague admires my retro style and suggests it’s sort of 1950s, sort of après ski, and working really well for me. I’m happy to go along with that!

Items:

Top: Maxstudio
Skirt: Girls from Savoy for Anthropologie
Hat: Melbourne boutique
Scarf: souvenir
Stockings: Columbine
Necklace: pendant from Portobello Lane (the Melbourne boutiques have long-since closed down – this France-based online boutique may or may not be allied)
Ring: Etsy
Watch: Kenneth Cole
Boots: Robert Robert

Drumroll Please …

Ta-daaaa! Here they are, pom-poms upon pom-poms upon yet more pom-poms. Round, fluffy, tactile – they are so adorable. Why on earth stop at one? I certainly haven’t here.

I am wearing a vintage 1950s bandeau made with a black satin ribbon and mink pom-poms (vintage is the only way I buy fur) that I purchased on Etsy. My wool felt earrings are a souvenir from Barcelona, and the knit top is by Sonia Rykiel. Pom-tiddly-pom!