an idyllic summer

I was recently searching the Google-hosted Life photo archive (which I have to admit I find very confusing to use) for images about summer and came across this collection of beautiful and evocative photos.  I say "collection," but on the site, these are actually called "related images," and since no information about any of them is given whatsoever, I don't actually know that they are all part of the same collection, although some of the same people appear multiple times in the photos.

My guess is that these are from the 1930s, and taken in Europe.  The settings are mostly a seaside beach (beaches?), with some taken in other pastoral locations.  What they all have in common is a feeling of summer joie de vivre, from calisthenics on the beach, to midday naps in the sun, to moments of quiet peace and contemplation.  

Enjoy the photos--there are lots of them--and I hope you're also enjoying your summer.

autumn fashion in Vienna, 1935: beautiful, but . . .

Since we are on the cusp of autumn in the northern hemisphere, I thought I'd share with you a little fashion inspiration from 1935, specifically the September 1935 issue of the Vienna-based fashion magazine, Die Moderne Welt.  1930s Vienna was a very dark to place to be if you were a Jew.  Hitler's Anschluss of Austria would not occur until 1938, but by 1935, antisemitic attacks on Jews were on the rise in Vienna.  I love Vienna and I love 1930s fashion, but it's hard not to look at these pretty images through a glass darkened by the suffering of so many.  I find it difficult to enjoy looking at fashion magazines today for some of the same reasons.

And yet. . . fashion can be so beautiful.  And I do love it.  So let's try to forget all the bad stuff for a minute and look at some pretty pictures!

Fall hats.  I particularly like the two in the center.

Shopping outfits!  My favorite here is the plaid suit on the bottom.  The maker is not stated, but the outfit with the cape is by Piguet.  The "stone green" (Steingrünes) suit with cherries on it is by Nina Ricci.  (Just a side note: sometimes the German words for colors in these old fashion magazines are evocative and beautiful, a la Steingrünes.  At other times, they are straight up racist.)

Walking costumes.  I think these all are very smart, and particularly like the decorative buttons and collar on the top suit.  However, each is made with a different animal pelt, from seal to "broadtail" (fetal lamb) to nutria (cute giant rats, rather like capybara).

Let's get out of disturbing fur territory and into--morning outfits!  These are all so great, but I particularly like the top two with the geometric pockets.  They look so modern.

  

Afternoon dresses.  My god, aren't these dreamy?  It's hard to pick a favorite, but mine is probably the one on the bottom right with the scalloping and sleeve details.  It's made of dark blue wool georgette with white and red silk insets and is by Hubert.  The top dresses are an iridescent silk dress with soutache trim by Bernard, and a blue low-neck dress with brown satin trim by Piguet.  On the bottom left is a dark brown Marocain (crepe) tea dress with pink satin waistcoat by Bernard.

Gowns for the theater.  The purple dress on the left is by Piguet.  Interesting, romantic Renaissance-style bodice on the top right dress, and I like the slightly bohemian feel of the center dress, which is made of black velvet trimmed in satin; it is by Helene Hubert.

Dresses for dancing.  The far left gown and black gown trimmed in purple are both by Piguet.  I am curious why Piguet is so heavily represented here, and not other more famous designers of the day.

Fashions for girls.  I can't help it; I love the dress on the far left and would love to wear the adult version.  With the leather bag, which you know is beautiful.  (Why did kids get the best bags?)

And a page of that ultimate fashion accessory, the adorable puppy or kitten.

xo

K

Weihnachten / Christmas 1936

Christmas is almost here!  So it's the perfect time to travel through time and space to 1930s Vienna and Berlin via the December 1936 issue of Die Moderne Welt magazine.  I'm sharing some of the highlights from the issue here, but you can view the whole thing and other issues online at the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek.  (And apologies in advance for my amateur German translations.)

The lovely mosaic-style cover art (which looks very modern and current to me, for some reason), and a charming Christmas themed illustration inside.

New hairstyles for long hair, featuring Ginger Rogers!  And an ad for cigarettes and cigars made in Austria.  Great stocking stuffers?

The ski school begins, what do we bring?  I'd say we bring everything here, because it is all amazing.  I especially love that olive blouse and skirt on the left, and the brown coat with rounded collar.  The herringbone and striped skating outfits on the right are totally fun, and how great is the tweedy-plaid skating outfit on the right?  I love the culottes (Hosenrock in German or "pants skirt")!  I know I would have been wearing those Hosenröcke everywhere, not just to ice skate.  Actually, probably not at all to ice skate.  I do like to cross country ski though, and would totally wear that skiing outfit on the left, with its plaid scarf, gloves and socks.  

More outfits for winter sports, and some for elegant afternoons.  (I need to have more elegant afternoons.)

Evening dresses, blouses, and all kinds of little things.  I really love that outfit on the right:  the brown skirt with the terracotta side-tie vest.  And please send me all of the gloves, thank you.

Wool--the big fashion.  These sweaters--the top two especially--are amazing.  Can you see the crazy collar on the top one?

Christmas gift ideas--"Every year again--and always something new"--for her, him, and the kids.  My eyes were immediately drawn to the men's side, and those checked slippers with their Scottie dog case.  And that incredible travel bag at the top!  But then I took a closer look at the women's gifts.  #2 shows a coral bracelet (nice enough) and a flat clock in colored glass with leather tab that you can button into a buttonhole (nifty!).  #4 is a mirror with a set of lips inlaid to help you get the contours of your lipstick correct (weird, but fascinating).  And I think #5 is the best.  It shows a lighter that also a clock, and a leather belt decorated with a map print, and with a big leather buckle.  I would love to have that belt!  

xo

K

gold diggers of 1933

I have to thank my Tumblr friend and fellow Christoph Waltz enthusiast, Amelia, for sparking me to finally rent and see the amazing pre-Code musical Gold Diggers of 1933.  She did this by writing about it and its follow-up, Gold Diggers of 1937, on her fantastic film blog, More Stars Than in the Heavens.  If you like movies--especially classic films--I strongly recommend following Amelia's blog.  She is an excellent writer, and has, in a very short period of time, made my Must See Films list ridiculously long.  

I won't go into great detail about the film's plot.  Basically, it's about a group of four showgirls during the Depression.  The Busby Berkeley musical numbers are beautiful, bizarre, magical, and extremely moving, by turns.  Just go rent the movie and see it. 

My post here is going to be frivolously full of pictures of pretty costumes.

My favorite gal in the film was Aline MacMahon's Trixie.  She plays the Funny One, and maybe it's just because she's the only one with eyebrows, I thought she was the loveliest.  (I never quite understood that 1930s no eyebrows look.)  Trixie also wears the best clothes.

...Like this amazing macro herringbone print dress.  I've been a little obsessed with the Wiener Werkstätte movement lately, and this print reminds me of some of the textiles made by those artisans.

Ruby Keeler tap dancing in a great little plaid-accented outfit.  Love how the scarf pulls through her lapels.

Here's Aline MacMahon in another great print, this time an op art-y shadow plaid.

Ginger Rogers (who is more than a little freaky in the film's opening musical number--watch it and tell me what you think!) in diagonal stripes and cute little jacket.

Um, this bar?  Send it to my house.  Also love Joan Blondell's black gown, which is accented with a sparkly sequinned plaid.

I should probably mention that the costumes are by famed Australian-born costume designer Orry-Kelly.  He moved to Hollywood in 1932, so Gold Diggers was one of his earlier gigs.

THIS IS A JUMPSUIT.  Yes, I had to put that in all caps.  How cute is it?  And just look at Aline's face.  Is she not lovely?

Here's Guy Kibbee in another of my favorite costumes--a very Wiener Werkstätte-ish dressing gown.

I had to include some shots of the musical numbers.  This being a pre-Code film, those gals behind the screen get even more obviously naked than you see here.

In this number, the ladies are "playing" violins edged in neon.  When the lights come one, you can see the electrical cords.  Apparently, the performers would occasionally get shocked.  Hey, it's what you do for Art.

xo

K