Nine More Sleeps

And its my wedding day! I promise that in a couple more weeks I'll no longer have weddings on the brain. But in the meantime here are a few inspiring images and a trip down memory lane.

Jean Seberg; Joanna Woodward & Paul Newman; Elizabeth Taylor and Spencer Tracy in Father of the Bride; Ava Gardner & Frank Sinatra; Audrey Hepburn & Mel Ferrer; and Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart.

Pretty Pictures, Fabulous Fashion

Dotti over at Dotti's Dots recently posted a selection of photographs from American fashion photographer John Rawlings, thereby introducing me to the worthy body of work from this amazing artist. Rawlings was a Conde Nast photographer from the 1930's through to the 1960's. He shot over 200 Vogue and Glamour covers during his career and is credited as one of a handful of photographers to have elevated fashion photography to an art form. Apparently he was known for his use of light and crisp clean lines along with his ability to photograph the clothes, while also telling a story.

I love fashion images from the 30's through to the 60's because you can actually see the clothes and the models - even if some of them were very young - exude a womanly sophistication, which is rarely seen in magazines these days.

Rawlings also photographed a number of famous actresses. I particularly love these images of Lauren Bacall and Gene Tierney, which look so beautifully modern. I love Lauren's midriff baring suit, and her shoes wouldn't look out of place walking along the beachfront today.

You can see a whole heap more of his images here.

American Fashion in the 60's

A fascinating post on Jezebel today http://jezebel.com/5210768/second-life-new-yorks-garment-district-60s-style inspired by the discovery of an old Life magazine article from the 60's about New York's garment district, which was then the heart and soul of American clothes manufacturing and fashion and now forty years later is just a shell of its former self.

Everything is manufactured in China now.

Some nice comments on modelling as a profession in the 60's too, which is so completely altered now. I know in Britain modelling was something middle class and upper class girls could do for pocket money (it didn't pay much then) until they got hitched and I imagine it may have been similar in the States. One reader mentioned the film Funny Face and I thought of How to Marry a Millionaire, a wonderfully enjoyable film starring the very sexy and droll Lauren Bacall, super cute Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe in all her comedic glory. The three play poor models desperately trying to hook a rich man.

The clothes are great and it is funny too. Worth a look if you've never seen it.