Showing posts with label fashion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fashion. Show all posts

Saturday, November 4, 2023

What Notable Women Are Wearing, including Louise Brooks

I am always researching Louise Brooks, and just recently, I came across a newspaper series titled "What Notable Women Are Wearing." From what I could gleam, this nationally syndicated series was authored by Marie Munneux, who was described as an International Illustrated News Fashion Authority. (Her name was not on every piece.) Typically, individual pieces include a feature photo of a well known woman wearing fashionable clothes of the time. 

These notable women might include actresses - like Norma Shearer, Edna Purviance, Yola d'Avril, or Jeanne Eagels, or other famous or well known individuals like Lady Astor, Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, or Belle Bart, a noted astrologist. A paragraph or two of text might tell who the celebrity is, where the picture might have been taken, and describe the clothes they are wearing. 

I found two entries in the series which featured Louise Brooks. Below, I've included two pieces which, although they feature the same content, have a slightly different layout. 

For fun, here are a few of the other entries in the series which I came across, including Joan Crawford, Aileen Pringle, Gertrude Olmstead and the great Pearl White.

I sure wish these late 1920s newspaper fashion pictures reproduced better, but what can you do.... Still, they offer a snapshot into the Jazz Age. The second paragraph in the clipping that follows
pokes fun at the era's fashions, which some thought too revealing.

THE LEGAL STUFF: The Louise Brooks Society™ blog is authored by Thomas Gladysz, Director of the Louise Brooks Society  (www.pandorasbox.com). Original contents copyright © 2023. Further unauthorized use prohibited. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Louise Brooks in New Zealand #2

A follow-up to yesterday's post, about Louise Brooks related material found in vintage New Zealand newspapers. Here are a couple of nifty clippings which I am sure you will appreciate.







Thursday, October 1, 2015

Louise Brooks: Snake Jewelry Fad Abroad She Reports

This article, "Snake Jewelry Fad Abroad She Reports," ran in newspaper in the United States on October 1st, 1930.


Monday, August 3, 2015

Jean Paul Gaultier designed scarf said to depict Louise Brooks

A Jean Paul Gaultier designed scarf (dimensions 63 X 81 cm) for sale on eBay is said to depict Louise Brooks, but IMHO, it does not. Perhaps there is vague resemblance, but to me, that don't look like her. What do you think?


Thursday, February 12, 2015

The Louise Brooks Evening Gown


1926 Advertisement for the Louise Brooks Evening Gown, designed by Sally Milgrim,
"America's Foremost Fashion Creator," based in New York City and Chicago.
The photo of Louise Brooks is by M.I. Boris.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Hair and make-up suggestions with Louise Brooks

Looking for a Halloween look? Here are some hair and make-up suggestions inspired by Louise Brooks.



Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Cool pic of the day: Louise Brooks in a snappy outfit

Cool pic of the day: Louise Brooks in a snappy outfit....


Monday, July 28, 2014

Kylie Minogue as Louise Brooks

Found online: Singer Kylie Minogue as Louise Brooks as "The Canary" from The Canary Murder Case . . . . can anyone say when this portrait of Kylie was taken? I haven't been able to find much online.



And here is another image, Kylie Minogue adorned with feathers, continueing the Canary theme.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Jean Paul Gaultier coat features Louise Brooks

PerezHilton.com reported on November 1 that Rihanna has been modeling a coat by designer Jean Paul Gaultier which bears a likeness of Louise Brooks.


The website noted, "RiRi looks especially seksi in a Miu Miu dress with dotted ruffle hem and a scarf tied around her head, and channels a punk rocker in a slashed The Clash tee by Chapel NYC and zippered Acne jacket. She also pays homage to 1920s actress Louise Brooks with a Jean Paul Gaultier coat bearing her likeness. Kinda random, but whatevs!"

Follow this link to see Rihanna herself wearing the coat.

As readers of this blog know, this is not the first time Gaultier has tipped his hat to Brooks. The French haute couture fashion designer has long had a fascination with certain silent film stars, including Louise Brooks.  This embroidered coat, from the designer's Autumn/Winter 2013 Women's Collection, features roll-up sleeves with embroidered detailing, a peaked collar with elastic fastening, and a large embroidered Louise Brooks graphic on the back. It is described as appealing to the fashion conscious as well as those looking for a timeless classic.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Louise Brooks tops TCM list of movies that created style trends


As New York Fashion Week kicks off , Turner Classic Movies has released a list of the network's favorite fashion trendsetting films.

Pandora's Box
- starring the one and only Louise Brooks - has topped the list of 15 "Fashion Trendsetting Classic Films." According to the TCM website, "Film has provided fashion inspiration for audiences and fashion designers alike; costumes not only help create a character, but can spur real-life trends and runway looks. In honor of Fashion Week and the far-reaching influence that film has had on our closets, we present 15 of our favorite fashion trendsetting movies." Pandora's Box (1929) was the earliest film, as well as the only silent film, on the list.

Brooks' look has had a substantial influence on fashion. The actress took the number one slot, however, not for the clothes she wore (though both Travis Banton and Poiret both dressed her) back in the day), but for her much copied hairstyle.

The TCM website noted "Louise Brooks once said, 'A well dressed woman, even though her purse is painfully empty, can conquer the world.' That could have been the motto of Lulu, the role that made her a fashion icon for the ages. Brooks had been wearing her famous Buster Brown haircut and dressing in the height of flapper fashion for years, as had many other actresses, but her sleek hairdo and half-naked beaded gowns were such a perfect match for the amoral charmer in Pandora's Box they remain one of the screen's most enduring images. The look would prove just as lucky for Cyd Charisse and Melanie Griffith, who copied it for their star-making roles in Singin' in the Rain and Something Wild, respectively. And in many countries the severe black bob that led critic Kenneth Tynan to call Brooks 'The Girl in the Black Helmet' is still referred to as 'the Lulu'."

Be sure and check out the entire list of trendsetting films at www.tcm.com/dailies.jsp?cid=254416

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Lulu in Abu Dhabi

An article about fashion in today's The National, an English-language newspaper from Abu Dhabi, mentions Louise Brooks. Is there no limit to Brooks' reputation as an international icon?

Fur did indeed make an appearance on John Galliano’s catwalk for Dior, but it was just one part of a beautiful Far Eastern fantasy harking back to the 1920s, with exquisite hats by Stephen Jones, that mimicked Louise Brooks-style bobs, and lavish brocades, draping and beading. This was by far the most luxurious show of the week so far, with designers elsewhere concentrating on harsh power-dressing in black, black and more black. At Gareth Pugh and Anne Valérie Hash on Wednesday, Balmain, Nina Ricci and Balenciaga on Thursday and in Lanvin’s outstanding show on Friday, the palettes were almost entirely limited to charcoal, black, oyster, grey and stone, with the occasional blast of bright colour.
Heels soared, models stalked, shoulders were extended and waists cinched in a series of collections that drew on the 1940s and the 1980s for their silhouettes and their look-but-don’t-touch attitude.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

100 Most Influential People in Fashion

The editors of Zimbio.com have named the 100 people who they think have made the greatest impact on the way we dress - from Coco Chanel to Andre 3000. Louise Brooks comes in at #83, in between Gwen Stefani at 82 and David LaChappelle at 84. The complete list, for those curious to know who made the list (and who didn't), can be found here.

Our favorite silent film star also got her own facile Zimbio.com page outlining her career and contributions to 20th century fashion. (Hey - it's Kenneth Tynan, not "Kenneth Tyman.")

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Pittsburgh trunk shows to preview Bill Blass Lulu collection

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ran an article yesterday announcing a trunk show sale featuring designs inspired by Louise Brooks.

Fans of Bill Blass New York separates, knitwear and dresses can slip into the brand's latest fall and holiday designs -- about 300 pieces -- during upcoming trunk shows on the South Side and in Mt. Lebanon.

The late silent-movie actress Louise Brooks inspired the new Bill Blass New York holiday collection, dubbed "Lulu," with her "festive" and "seductive" image.

The autumn wear -- inspired by artists Anselm Kiefer and Zaha Hadid -- wraps women in colors such as "shadow" (grey brown), "coal" (deep black), "carmine" (terra cotta red), "regal" (rich purple) and "petrol" (charcoal/navy).

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Harem pants, the newest rage

According to an article in a newspaper based in India, Harem pants will be the newest rage. "Immortalised by Turkish belly dancers and brought into the realm of fashion by Hollywood icons like Louise Brooks, Harem pants are the rage now." 

So begins the article by Nithya Caleb in the Express from South India. What is interesting to me is the casual reference to a long-dead American silent film star, with any sort of contextualization - as if readers of this paper would know who she is. Is Louise Brooks that much of a trans-cultural icon ?

Monday, September 10, 2007

VIP hairstyles website features Louise Brooks

VIPhairstyles.com has an article on its website called "Hollywood's influence through the years," and Louise Brooks is featured prominently. Be sure and check it out.

Friday, August 31, 2007

A fashion plate

A bunch of images from the San Francisco Examiner photo archive have been put up for sale on eBay. One particular image ran alongside a fashion column by Babette, which was syndicated in Hearts' newspaper syndicate.

Friday, August 24, 2007

Fashion Decrees, from Mme Lisbeth

Here is a clipping I ran across while looking through old newspapers on microfilm. As can be seen, Louise Brooks is one of the models included in this syndicated fashion column.

Friday, February 23, 2007

Fashion decrees

Here is a clipping I ran across while looking through old newspapers on microfilm. As can be seen, Louise Brooks is one of the models included in this syndicated fashion column.

Friday, February 3, 2006

Who has influenced your style?

An article in today's Charlotte Observer about a clothes boutique in that North Carolina town contains an interview with the owner, Kim Terrell of Hysteric Glamour. The exchange reads in part.

Who has influenced your style? "Louise Brooks, Penelope Tree and Peggy Moffitt. Those women took no cues from anyone. They set a standard for themselves and for many women.... You have the bobbed hairdos because of Louise Brooks. You have the smoky eye pallid look because of Peggy Moffitt."

Is anyone familar with this store?
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