I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox
and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast
Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold
- William Carlos Williams
I've always loved this poem and I thought it would be a nice way to close out National Poetry Month.
Geishas I think, are among the most beautiful sight to see. I am beyond awestruck by their traditional dress, makeup, hair - the whole thing really. The colors, textures, and layering of prints (that I would never think go together but do brilliantly), are enough to make my head dizzy with fascination. A few years back, I attended a performance of the Geisha's traditional Sakura-Oban in Kyoto in celebration of April's cherry blossom season. Watching it felt like you were stepping back in time - completely mesmorizing. To me, the curves and intricate details of these hairstyles remind me of delicate pastry and I'm constantly inspired just looking at pictures. I love that many of the hairstyles are symbolic to the seasons, gorgeous fruit, youth and radiace, and social status within the culture. The traditional hair ornaments, Kanzashi, translate to pulled sugar celluloid and blown isomalt flower petals for me. You can read more about these hairstyles here.
Theda Bara, 1917
I've been thinking a lot about Eqyptian Revival style lately. I'm especially taken with the 1920's interpretation of Egypt in the everyday (see Palmolive ad) that happened after the 1922 discovery of
King Tutankhamun's tomb. While excavators ransacked the pyramids to bring home mummies for their parlors, the world was in awe of all things Egypt. As you can see, King Tut inspired everything from movies, and fashion, to architecture and interiors. The high society Bohemia of the day excitedly took up Egyptian mysticism, astrology, and the occult. Natacha Rambova, dancer. legendary costume designer, muse, and wife of Mr. Rudolf Valentino, was able to add respected Egyptologist to her vast list of accomplishments. I am quite sure Ms. Rambova had a lot to do with the influence of Egyptian overtones in the fashion of the teens and 20’s.
Natacha Rambova
I found more images I've saved of vintage powder tins and boxes and I have to share. This is such a great batch, I just couldn't leave them out. Enjoy!
What is it about Christian Louboutin's red soled flights of fancy that has all of us girls head over heels (had to) for a pair, or seven? Louboutin heels are the ultimate glamour girl treat aren't they? Did you know that Monsieur Louboutin's killer signature red soles were the result of a last minute slap dash coating of red nail lacquer on the bottom of a pair of heels that he thought needed one final extra touch. The result has us all eternally nuts and longing for his gorgeous designs.
My wedding Louboutin's photo by Heidi Yount.
I so love vintage powder tins and boxes. How could you not adore these vibrant early 20th century illustrations? Even when I was a little girl visiting the local Thrifty Drugstore, I would always be so drawn to that round cardboard Coty marigold powder box with the little deco puff drawings on it (whose design has been the same since it's inception in the 1920's. Figures I'd love it.) There is a vintage store that I recently discovered in Pomona CA that seems to specialize in antique vanity items. I could've stayed in there for hours looking at all the beautiful powder tins, puffs, little perfumes, and assorted flapper era trinkets. Looking at these really makes you think "they don't make them like they used to!" I daydream about a gorgeous vanity table with all kinds of these powder tins displayed. These tins are so inspiring, I hope you enjoy this selection that I've found.
The last letter written by Marie Antoinette on October 16, 1793 to her sister, Elisabeth, hours before being led to the guillotine. She had written many invisible secret letters in lemon juice to her friends and family while prisoner at the Tuileries.
This final letter never reached her sister, and instead was kept by Robespierre. I found this letter while doing a web search on pictures and stories of Antoinette's personal items. Just looking at this letter is quite breathtaking.
16th October, 4.30 A.M.
It is to you, my sister, that I write for the last time. I have just been condemned, not to a shameful death, for such is only for criminals, but to go and rejoin your brother. Innocent like him, I hope to show the same firmness in my last moments. I am calm, as one is when one's conscience reproaches one with nothing. I feel profound sorrow in leaving my poor children: you know that I only lived for them and for you, my good and tender sister. You who out of love have sacrificed everything to be with us, in what a position do I leave you! I have learned from the proceedings at my trial that my daughter was separated from you. Alas! poor child; I do not venture to write to her; she would not receive my letter. I do not even know whether this will reach you. Do you receive my blessing for both of them. I hope that one day when they are older they may be able to rejoin you, and to enjoy to the full your tender care. Let them both think of the lesson which I have never ceased to impress upon them, that the principles and the exact performance of their duties are the chief foundation of life; and then mutual affection and confidence in one another will constitute its happiness. Let my daughter feel that at her age she ought always to aid her brother by the advice which her greater
experience and her affection may inspire her to give him. And let my son in his turn render to his sister all the care and all the services which affection can inspire. Let them, in short, both feel that, in whatever positions they may be placed, they will never be truly happy but through their union. Let them follow our example. In our own misfortunes how much comfort has our affection for one another afforded us! And, in times of happiness, we have enjoyed that doubly from being able to share it with a friend; and where can one find friends more tender and more united than in one's own family? Let my son never forget the last words of his father, which I repeat emphatically; let him never seek to avenge our deaths.
I have to speak to you of one thing which is very painful to my heart, I know how much pain the child must have caused you. Forgive him, my dear sister; think of his age, and how easy it is to make a child say whatever one wishes, especially when he does not understand it. It will come to pass one day, I hope, that he will better feel the value of your kindness and of your tender affection for both of them. It remains to confide to you my last thoughts. I should have wished to write them at the beginning of my trial; but, besides that they did not leave me any means of writing, events have passed so rapidly that I really have not had time.
I die in the Catholic Apostolic and Roman religion, that of my fathers, that in which I was brought up, and which I have always professed. Having no spiritual consolation to look for, not even knowing whether there are still in this place any priests of that religion (and indeed the place where I am would expose them to too much danger if they were to enter it but once), I sincerely implore pardon of God for all the faults which I may have committed during my life. I trust that, in His goodness, He will mercifully accept my last prayers, as well as those which I have for a long time addressed to Him, to receive my soul into His mercy. I beg pardon of all whom I know, and especially of you, my sister, for all the vexations which, without intending it, I may have caused you. I pardon all my enemies the evils that they have done me. I bid farewell to my aunts and to all my brothers and sisters. I had friends. The idea of being forever separated from them and from all their troubles is one of the greatest sorrows that I suffer in dying. Let them at least know that to my latest moment I thought of them.
Farewell, my good and tender sister. May this letter reach you. Think always of me; I embrace you with all my heart, as I do my poor dear children. My God, how heart-rending it is to leave them forever! Farewell! farewell! I must now occupy myself with my spiritual duties, as I am not free in my actions. Perhaps they will bring me a priest; but I here protest that I will not say a word to him, but that I will treat him as a total stranger. (Translation by Charles Duke Yonge)