Until the Sphinx Winks

by angeliska on August 10, 2009


I attended another 1929 party recently, and got dolled up accordingly-
in a vampy-boudoir doll ensemble à la Theda Bara or Pola Negri.
If there is any era I feel a total resonance with, it’s absolutely the late teens and 20’s.
Oh for a time machine! I imagine it all the time. An ideal period for art, fashion, music
and culture in general- yet with most of the modern conveniences! Perfect.
I’ve always resonated with the deco aesthetic, and think I would fit in just fine
if I could indeed travel back and appear out of thin air (preferably at a wild party,
with lots of champagne!) I could swoon just thinking about it.
How about you? I love to ask this question- it’s always so fascinating
to learn what time period one would revisit, and why!


I found this foto decadent, but I can’t recall anymore than that just now-
pretty fabulous though, no? I need that dress, right now.

After Galliano’s Ukranian Brides show, his Boudoir Doll show may take the cake as my all-time favorite.

(via Queen Gilda)
I love love love the maquillage! Broken dollfaces! Sybaritic sirens! I faint, and devour.

(Miss T. Verhext at the Edwardian Ball)

Miss Gala Darling did an interview recently with Dawn of Boudoir Queen– go take a look!

I met Dawn at Uncommon Objects– it’s always fun to see what treasures she will find there
and incorporate into her designs. Lots of metallic lace, tattered satin bed jackets and velvet roses!

This amazing puppet was hand-carved and operated by Heather Jarry,
and voiced by Luna Tart– one of the many
delightful performances we saw that night.
She sang “I love Paris” and danced salaciously, as did we.

Franziska and Amelia gallivanting outside the Carousel Lounge-
they both have the perfect faces for capturing the jazz-baby essence.
I’ll definitely taking these girls in the time machine with me!

Oh yes, and the smoldering Ekaterina! Cha-cha-cha!
I’ve also been inspired to read more about the
beautiful and damned Zelda Fitzgerald
lately, and discovered these gems:
When Harper & Brothers asked Zelda to contribute to
“Favorite Recipes of Famous Women” she wrote:
“See if there is any bacon, and if there is ask the cook which pan to fry it in.
Then ask if there are any eggs, and if so try and persuade the cook to poach two of them.
It is better not to attempt toast, as it burns very easily. Also, in the case of bacon do not turn
the fire too high, or you will have to get out of the house for a week.
Serve preferably on china plates, though gold or wood will do if handy”.

The piece led to Zelda receiving offers from other magazines.
In June, a piece by Zelda Fitzgerald, “Eulogy on the Flapper”,
was published in Metropolitan Magazine. Though ostensibly
a piece about the decline of the Flapper lifestyle,
Zelda’s biographer Nancy Milford wrote that the essay was
“a defense of her own code of existence”.
Zelda described the Flapper:
“The Flapper awoke from her lethargy of sub-deb-ism,
bobbed her hair, put on her choicest pair of earrings and
a great deal of audacity and rouge and went into the battle.
She flirted because it was fun to flirt and wore a one-piece
bathing suit because she had a good figure …
She was conscious that the things she did
were the things she had always wanted to do.
Mothers disapproved of their sons taking the Flapper
to dances, to teas, to swim and most of all to heart.”

Also, I am eagerly anticipating Zelda Magazine,
which will be published biannually and will launch in Fall 2009.
“Zelda is a new publication for aficionados of early 20th century culture!
Photography, fashion, arts, illustration, music, cocktails,
social events, and special features : Zelda includes pieces
on both vintage subjects as well as contemporary culture in the style of vintage.”
Sounds like the bee’s knees, eh?

10 comments

ummm, I’d be joining you on the trip too!
Also, I’ll take the yellowy cream coat and blue stockings outfit and Mr.Galliano’s personal get-up with the striped satin knickers. yay! when are we leaving?

by Whiskey Deer Wolf on August 10, 2009 at 11:54 pm. Reply #

I am on a Chaplin kick right now, so catching a time machine ride to the late teens / early twenties sounds lovely, especially if I could drink champagne with the Little Tramp! Sighs!
As is always the case, your entry was a wonderful thing to peruse … beautiful images and delightful musings!

by Susanne Lynette on August 11, 2009 at 12:05 am. Reply #

I was hanging out with the enchanting and fellow Montanan expatriate Stephaña and we spoke of your coinkydinkular powers and marvelous style.
If I could hop the machine, I would want to experience New York in the mid-to-late 70s and hang out with all my favorite artists, musicians and writers getting wacked out on goofballs, jammin to Studio 54 and CBGB’s, being photographed by Nan Goldin, seeing Television live and casting a potent lovespell on young Tom Spanbauer.

by Scott Revo on August 11, 2009 at 7:12 am. Reply #

Yay!

by Datri Bean on August 11, 2009 at 10:00 am. Reply #

I LOVE the 1920’s. I also love the 1960’s – but much prefer the British/European version of 60’s, not the American hippy version.
The foto fabulous pics are to die for. I adore that look. My hair almost lools like that now, except it is a dark chocolate instead of black and no bangs. If only I could pull off bangs…ah well!
As always, Galliano makes my heart melt and senses soar with his designs!

by Elizabeth M on August 11, 2009 at 1:23 pm. Reply #

i love zelda’s paintings, and her too-late attempt to become a ballerina. mercy! because of her, i think in my early twenties i was worried i’d end up full of regret and dying in a fire in some mental hospital.
have you looked at ‘the romantic egoists’? indeed!
xx

by c h a r i t y on August 11, 2009 at 10:50 pm. Reply #

Awww, those models in the first photo: I can give them tacos?
You guys sure do look purty, though!
xoxo!

by Nicole Labry on August 13, 2009 at 10:10 pm. Reply #

What do you do for music at these parties?
I assumed a steampunk DJ persona a couple of years ago at the EFF party, not sure if you were there- I did dubbed out Edison cylinders, imagining that I was the Jamaican in flight DJ on a Zeppelin in a slightly different universe.

by Dr Strangevibe on August 14, 2009 at 10:16 am. Reply #

I love the 20’s flapper look- especially when it leans toward the gothic- plum lips, dark hair and black dress is such a stunning combo.
I love your blog and you have GPS.
x

by Ava-May Hemme on August 16, 2009 at 10:09 am. Reply #

I love the so many past eras from the 1920s and earlier.
Thanks for the link to Zelda Magazine, you always know about so many interesting things. That’s why I love reading your posts.

by Sue on August 24, 2009 at 8:20 pm. Reply #

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