Summer Wardrobe Inspiration from 1946

I don't know about you, but I'm definitely ready for the summer. Yes, I know it's July. But around here it's about 15 degrees. Which means that all I can do is fantasize about the perfect summer wardrobe, while wrapping myself up in three layers of wool. Fortunately, here is Alexis Smith, star of Gentleman Jim (1942) and Here Comes the Groom (1951), to give us her fashion advice. The photos and descriptions are from Screenland magazine from July 1946.

Clothes for fun in the sun should be gay, says Alexis. She lives up to her convictions in this off-white print frock with bands of brilliant red edging the front closing and skirt, which is slashed at either side.   

Black and white stripes make a gay summer frock, topped with huge cartwheel accessories with dotted veiling. From Saks Beverly Hills. 

 Star of Warners' "One More Tomorrow" selects her favorite play suit to model for us. The long-sleeved blouse of aquamarine and white striped rayon may be combined with a white shark-skin shorts or the nicely cut skirt.  

Brown and white print, styled with an unusual flange drape, fashions this becoming tow-piece dress which Alexis enhances with a long brown jersey gloves and saucy burnt-straw sailor.   

Black and white for the beach is always dramatic and daring and especially smart with white pique edging as carried out in this suit from Catalina. The shorts have an apron front and back. 

Lounge pajamas of black jersey trousers have a have a deep U-necked bare midriff top, which is reversible, showing white and black stripes on one side, and green and white on reverse.     

I love all the outfits, but the my personal favorites are the black and white stripe dress - check out the buttons on that one; the play suit with the white and aquamarine striped blouse - that would look so pretty on the beach; and the lounge pajamas - I really love the reversible top, you get two tops in one.

 Which is your favorite?     

Dolce & Gabbana for Vogue Germany - Wilting Flowers

Spring is in the air. All the sunshine and patches of green grass have clearly gone to my head since as soon as I see a new photo spread with a flower theme, I feel compelled to blog it.   

These beautiful images created by photographers Daniele and Luigi + Iango make me think of the doomed queen Marie Antoinette. The gowns and hair are very à la pre-Revolutionary France. 

Publication: Vogue Germany April 2014

Models: Meghan Collison, Sophie Touchet, Steffi Soede, Xiao Wen, Holly Rose Emery & Codie Young 

Photographer: Daniele and Luigi + Iango

Styled: Patti Wilson

Hair: Luigi Murenu

Make-up: Virginia Young

Bit of Jane Austen in your Mailbox

I must have been extra nice this year because Santa will be sending me a very special present: the Jane Austen’s Regency World Magazine, No. 61

The January/February issue (No. 61) of Jane Austen’s Regency World magazine is in the mail and I can look forward to getting it very soon. And it will be a very special issue, too, marking the bicentenary of Pride & Prejudice.

The highlights will include:

 *A history of Jane Austen’s “darling child”: the background to Jane’s best-known book

 *Firth and foremost: Colin Firth’s love-hate relationship with Mr Darcy

 *Choose your Darcy: some of the actors who have played Jane’s hero

 *North to Pemberley: Elizabeth Bennet's journey with the Gardiners 

*Selling Pride & Prejudice: the spin-offs and the merchandising

 *Plus News, Letters, Book Reviews and information from Jane Austen Societies in the US, UK, and Australia

I am giddy with excitement! 

Reading Jane Austen's Regency World Magazine

Every two months I get a small rectangular package in the mail. This is always a cause for rejoicing as I know that the package contains Jane Austen's  Regency World Magazine, published by that Mecca of all things Austen, the Jane Austen Center in Bath.

My November/December issue had arrived and I was not disappointed. Here are a few highlights:

Some great Christmas gift ideas for the Jane Austen fan in your life
I am very susceptible to gift lists and this Austen memorabilia is a delight. I keep leaving the magazine around the house in hopes that my flatmate will stumble upon it and get me one of these gifts for Christmas.  

You shall go to the dance – public and private balls in Jane Austen’s time
A great article about dancing in Regency England with plenty of references to dances in Austen's novels.

How keeping a bawdyhouse could be a tough business 
Really fascinating stuff. I'm definitively going to check out Emily Brand's book The Georgian Bawdyhouse.  

Baiting, coursing and fishing: blood sports were big business in the Georgian era
Hunting and fishing is not something I'm particular interested in, yet this article sheds some light on the occupations of Regency men. If you're curios to find out which sports were genteel and which were not, this is full of useful information.

Looking at Jane’s use of fashion accessories in Emma
Really fun article about clothing and its meaning in Emma. Did you know that an umbrella signifies a good solid man eligible for marriage, while a purple and gold riticule at a strawberry picking party shows that you are very vulgar? Now you do.

If you love Austen or know someone who dose, the Regency Magazine subscription is really a great Christmas present for them.