Every once in a while Seraphic Secret come across a Hollywood photo that isn’t a burnished glamour shot but a portrait of the star caught in a more casual, more intimate moment. Quite often, the resulting look transcends both time and place in terms of fashion and style.
Above, in the early 1950′s, is—who else?—Brigitte Bardot when she was just 15 years-old, modeling for a Paris fashion magazine. Bardot was not yet BB, a world-wide sensation, but a confused adolescent. Her pose is demure yet awkward. She looks baffled. As for her red dress: The silhouette is classic with a surprisingly oversized collar that imparts a real sense of fun. I confess: I miss the days when no well-dressed woman appeared in public without gloves.
Below the fold, Seraphic Secret’s picks for Hollywood fashions that are timeless and elegant.
Marlene Dietrich knew how to match a classic feminine look with carefully tailored menswear. This is a rare 1930's photo of Dietrich with husband Rudy Sieber and their daughter Maria Riva. Maria wrote a somewhat scathing book about mommy Marlene.
Looking casual yet elegant, Jimmy Stewart sports jacket and tie but mixes it up with rolled cuffs and scuffed white bucks, 1930's.
Usually, Jean Harlow was photographed in silk and fur, but she preferred casual clothes in her private life. This awning striped dress combines serious comfort and casual glamour.
Edith Falk was a Sennett bathing beauty whose Hollywood career never took off. This 1921 photo is from the John Kobal Collection. The late Hollywood historian astutely compared Falk's look to Annie Hall, a knock-out ensemble that could float down today's runway and receive a standing ovation.
Karen and I wish all our friends and relatives a lovely and fashionable Shabbat.
Ariel Chaim Avrech, ZT'L, May His Righteous Memory be a Blessing.
13 Comments
Unlike today’s stars, you won’t find a tattoo in any of those photos.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
Johnny:
When I was a kid it was common knowledge that the only people sufficiently deranged to get a tattoo was a drunken sailor. Now, this primitive pagan ritual is considered, ahem, artistic/hip.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
BTW young Bridgett looks stunning – proving one doesn’t have to have the most elegant attire to look….stunning.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Bill:
Roger Vadim also thought she looked stunning. He met and pursued her after he saw this and a few other pics of BB in the fashion magazine.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Robert,
Even if I couldn’t read a single word of English, I’d still visit your blog regularly for its aesthetic beauty. I’d love to be able to pick up your blog and put it on our coffee table. It’s just beautiful!
Lucky for me, I can read English … and love to read your wonderful insights. Great combo for a great blog!
Also, I know you’re busy with scripts, but have you ever considered writing an occasional biography?
Thomas Priebe
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
Thomas:
Thanks so much for the generous compliments.
I have written one novel, which I think you would enjoy. Here’s the link:
http://www.amazon.com/Hebrew-Kid-Apache-Maiden/dp/0975438220/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1313181796&sr=1-1
As for bio, there are several obscure Hollywood stars who I’d like to write about. Maybe not full length books, but substantial profiles.
Like or Dislike:
3 
0
Robert – don’t know if you read Patty Hearst’s book Murder at San Simeon - I believe the Peter Bogdanovich movie The Cat’s Meow was based on it – about the death of 1920s director Thomas Ince – certainly under mysterious circumstances – just wondering – since we are mixing books and movies – if you had read/seen it.
Can’t ask you your opinion of the veracity as all the principals are long gone ;-0
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
Bill:
I’ve seen the movie. Not read the book. There was nothing mysterious about Ince’s death. Those were the days before antibiotics and many people died from ailments that we can cure today with little fuss. The notion that Hearst murdered Ince is just plain goofy. Same with Thelma Todd’s so-called mysterious death. She was dead drunk, fell asleep in her car in her garage and died from fumes. She was not murdered by gangsters or an ex-lover.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
I’ll definitely order your book. Hope one day you can autograph it for me.
How about combining a few “substantial profiles” into one book?
We were taking care of our friends’ cats here in Santa Monica while they were on vacation a few weeks ago and I was looking through their library. Found a wonderful illustrated history of Santa Monica. It contained a short blurb about an actress (I can’t remember her name … I don’t think I’d ever heard of her before, but then I’m not really a film buff) who owned a restaurant near Santa Monica Canyon, who was found dead in her car one day. A few other details were provided … it made me think of you and your blog. It seemed like it might make a fascinating script or biography.
Even though I’m not much of a film buff, I find that sort of thing fascinating. I would love to read a compilation of such mini-biographies about characters in old Hollywood.
My mom used to urge me to sit with my uncle and write a book using his many stories about the wild-west days of rock ‘n roll. My maternal grandfather owned a chain of nightclubs in Phoenix, the largest, which could hold 3,000 people, “JD’s,” had Waylon Jennings as the house band on the main floor. My uncle managed JD’s and was always visiting us out here in L.A. as he would cruise Sunset looking for bands to sign for the clubs. He started producing records, too, producing Waylon’s first solo album.
He has some amazing stories about famous acts he signed in those days. He lives like Howard Hughs now … almost never leaves his bedroom. My mom was taking care of him until she passed.
My mom had asked me to travel with him as he, my grandfather, and “JD’s” were inducted into the Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame. He was to give a speech and he was petrified at the thought. In March when I called him up to check up on him, I remembered about it and asked when we were going (I was looking forward to the party at Alice Cooper’s mansion after the ceremony–my uncle knows him well and signed him as an act many times). I was disappointed when he said it had taken place the previous month.
Here’s AMEHOF’s two-minute video of JD’s showing my uncle and grandfather:
http://www.azmusichalloffame.org/pages/bio_JDs.html
Thomas Priebe
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Whoa … you posted just two minutes before my post … yes, Thelma Todd, I believe that was her name.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Thomas:
That’s Thelma Todd your’re referring to. And as I wrote in a comment above to Bill, she was not murdered. All sorts of rumors have swirled around her death and all are false. I’m pretty sure the rumors can be traced back to Kenneth Anger’s infamous “Hollywood Babylon,” a book that has more lies and half-truths about Hollywood than any on record.
If you want me to autograph your book please let me know and I’ll send you an inscription that you can paste inside the book.
Thanks so much for the neat link.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Jean Harlow’s dress could be worn today. Marlene Dietrich’s ensemble is pure “Diane Keaton” (who often sports kid gloves).
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Franny:
Harlow’s dress is so simple and elegant. I want Karen to go out right now and get one.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0