Gypsy Rose Lee. Tempest Storm. Lily St. Cyr. If there’s one word associated with these famous women, it’s “burlesque.”
In the modern sense of the word, burlesque was a popular form of theatrical variety show featuring risqué comedy, parody, and pastiche. When it was exported from Victorian England to the United States in the 1840s, American elements were added: minstrel show performances, stage magic, contemporary athletics, and, most importantly, exotic dancing.
One hundred years later, all pretenses to high-brow art had been gradually abandoned. Striptease was now the main attraction at burlesque shows. Vaudeville-style comedians, preceding and introducing each performer, were the only elements left from the original form. The performances of the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, — what’s remembered fondly as the heyday of American burlesque — were actually the nadir of the original art.
September 1st, 2011
The Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington is nearing the end of a temporary exhibit called “Style in the Aisle: Flight Attendant Fashion.” The exhibit first began in 2008 and has become so popular that the museum has added new uniforms to the exhibit. Travel Channel has a great photo compilation of “Style in the Aisle” with captions describing each of the photos. The exhibit shows fashions from the mid-1930′s to today’s current fashions and will end May 30, 2011. Some larger photos can be seen at Amusing Planet. There are only a couple weeks left before it’s too late!
By Steven Padal
May 17th, 2011
Ultra Swank – Your one stop blog for retro living, style and design
Ultra Swank takes you back in time into the kitsch, chic and swank living of the 50s, 60s and the 70s. We mainly focus on the design, architecture and the lifestyle of the happy-go-lucky and space-age-living mentality of that era – but also on the music and movies that takes you back to happier times. Ultra Swank is run by Chris, a Swede born in the wrong decade that currently resides in Barcelona. Read more
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Film is escapism. Anyone who has seen “The Thomas Crowne Affair,” or a classic James Bond film knows that part of film fantasy is an exotic environment and all it contains. While that environment is not always true, in escapism people tend to look up at glamour rather than down at the real world.
In film, fantastic environments are created by sets. Ironically, though, the most important sets aren’t sets at all but rather costumes. Costumes are seen in far shots, in close-up, and are sometimes seen in great detail. And they get as much screen time, and change locations, as do the actors wearing them.
Those who have ever come out of a movie theater wishing they could bring the fantasy with them should focus, at least a little bit, on fashion. When you can’t live in “Breakfast At Tiffany’s,” or Don Draper’s New York, clothes inspired by such films are the only things of the movie world that you can take with you.
December 23rd, 2010
I love seeing modern music videos that carry a retro twist. The artists always seem to have so much fun and introducing new audiences to retro fashion and culture is never a bad thing.Those of us interested in dressing up in retro fashions might find it too expensive or too difficult to locate the items to do so, but we can always live vicariously through the magic of the music video.
My first entry is thanks to UK girl group The Saturdays. These lovely ladies covered Depeche Mode’s 80′s hit “Just Can’t Get Enough” making this a Retro-Retro tribute video. Watch the girls prance around in pinup-style clothing as the infectious song plays in the background–it’s sure to become your earworm for the day.
All of the great pinup styles are represented in this video; from the boudoir babe to the armed forces cutie, making sure the male readers of Ultra Swank will enjoy the fashion post as much as the female readers will…but for different reasons of course. One thing though; as an 80′s baby should I be concerned the 80′s are now considered retro as well? Hmm. Enjoy the video, Ultra Swank readers! If you want more of The Saturdays, here they are covering the 60′s hit “Please Mr. Postman.”
By Guest
July 28th, 2010
Twiggy, born Lesley Hornby, is without a doubt one of the biggest fashion icons to emerge from the 1960′s. Her thin frame and big blue eyes became the envy of fashionistas everywhere. The look of drawn on lashes (anything to make the eyes look bigger) and pale lips became a Twiggy staple as girls copied her look to fit in with Swinging London and everything Mod. The geometric patterns and straight cuts of fabric in 60′s fashion fit the Twiggy’s frame as clothes did in the sketches fashion designers put down on paper–making her the perfect model. In a way, Twiggy and her “twig-like legs” (as you’ll see in the video above) brought designs to life in a way other models hadn’t done before.
Twiggy took her style around the world, landing numerous jobs in Europe, the US and Asia. Her success also came with numerous awards including being named “The Face of 1966,” “Woman of the Year,” and a variety of Vogue covers. While the 90′s ushered in the era of the supermodel, including fellow Brit Kate Moss, I think it’s safe to say Twiggy revolutionized the British modeling and fashion scene and inspired girls across the globe to cut their hair short and challenge their own sense of style.
By Guest
June 7th, 2010
Remember when flying was fun? Living in the post-September 11th world not everyone does. Security measures have changed the way we fly. With tedious carry-on and travel restrictions as well as economic hardship, airlines have cut travel benefits like in-flight meals and free baggage check-in. But at the height of the aviation world, flying was a special occasion that called for you to dress to impress. Full meals were served with real silverware in coach and the flight attendants were expected to fulfill certain physical (read: beauty) requirements.
If you worked with Braniff airlines as a flight attendant, you would be wearing uniforms designed by Emilio Pucci. The Italian designer, known for his colorful prints, made everything from convertible dresses to bubble-like helmets to protect flight attendant’s impeccable hairdos from rain on the tarmac. The airline’s tagline was “The End of the Plain Plane” and that philosophy trickled down from it’s engineering right to the crew. Braniff Airlines featured bright yellow airplanes and commercials with plenty of star power. Even artist Andy Warhol promoted the hip airline company that was all about taking air travel to the next level.
By Guest
May 24th, 2010
London, England late 1960s. The height of the flower-power-free-love-lifestyle. Groovy colors, fashion, cars and women. For those of us who were born a few decades too early or anyone who wants to take a stroll down memory lane here’s a sample of very neat color photographs of Swinging London from that period. Depicted are among others Oxford Street, Piccadilly Circus, Carnaby Street, Paddington Street, various cars and Routemaster Buses. Photos found on the lovely Sixties London photogroup on Flickr.
By Chris
March 16th, 2010
