Sunny Summer Sunday

Today the weather was so beautiful! I had the day all to myself so I took my bike, some sweet snacks, a book of Scandinavian fairytales and found myself a sanctuary by the sea....













..and when I got home I hung this little lady up on my wall...

Mexican...

The sun is out and so are my toes... It's finally warm enough for me to wear my Mexican tooled wedges!


I bought them half a year ago here (via Ebay) and they've been sitting in the closet impatienctly waiting...


They are very light and comfortable and I hope they are enduring too I'm pretty sure I'll have a hard time convincing my feet to wear anything else this summer. Only problem now is that I need a pair in every color...


I hope I'll find some next time I'm in California (hopefully this Fall), does anyone know where I can buy these "over there"?

Any wishes?

Is there anything you, my dear readers and followers, would like to see on this blog? Anything you want me to show or feature? Your wish is my command....

Chapeaux

I'm really enjoying these paintings by Jean Gabriel Domergue, especially the ones with the pretty hats...

Mouches

The most common meaning of the French word "mouche" is fly but it also refers to the artificial beauty marks that embellished the faces of stylish French women of the 17th and 18th century.
The beauty mark served to accentuate the pale powdered complexions that were the vogue of the era and hide smallpox scars and other blemishes often caused by the use of mercury or lead based powder. These tiny mouches were crafted from silk, chiffon, taffeta or velvet and the position of the mark on the face held a particular significance. Providing a subtle hint to the mood and personality of the woman...



Mischievous….. on the lip
Flirtatious…….. near the lips
Discreet……….. on the lower lip
Provocative…… by the eyes
Dignified……… on the forehead
Amorous………. on the cheek
Playful…………. in the smile line
Kisser………….. at the corner of mouth
Impudent……… on the nose
Passionate……. on the eyelid
Generous……… above the breast

More than three was considered bad taste and were mostly used by the concubines and courtesans...


The use of rouge, became a class indicator as well. Good girls didn't, bad girls did. Prostitutes placed rouge on their lips and cheeks to mimic the effects of sexual arousal. (It is well known that the body undergoes a natural flush during arousal—the skin glows, the lips engorge with blood. Red lipstick and pink face powder imitated these natural effects.)














The well accessorized 18th century femmes would have a bôite á mouches in which to keep their beauty marks.
These two exsamples are divine!








I am naturally "generous" and "amorous";)

Ma Vie en Rose

Been a while since I did a pink post. I do need some pink to brighten these rainy "Summer" days... This time it's all pink items found in my own home...

My beautiful geisha scarf..


My self made powderpuff pin corsage.. and lambswool cardigan...


The genius Pretty Things by Liz Goldwyn -I'll never get tired of looking at these costumes..


Off course I have some feathers on my dressing table...


Another favorite... The history of lingerie...


One of my Vargas gatefolds.. From 1942 (I cleaned it up a bit in photoshop..)


Pink satin shoes...


Pink bow and cheeks on baby planter without plants...


A few of my many pink nightgowns, bedjackets, peignoirs and lingerie..


Cute half hat with flowers and netting...


A flower for my hair..


Some of my earrings...


Pink fabrics from my larger than life to-do pile...

I have plenty of pink to fill more posts later on but now I better dig into the to-do pile...

Swinging...

I've always loved this painting...


"The Swing" from 1766 by Jean-Honoré Fragonard.

This picture became an immediate success in it's time, not merely for its technical excellence, but for the scandal behind it. The young nobleman is not only getting an interesting view up the lady's skirt, but she is being pushed into this position by her priest-lover, shown in the back. Saucy!

I've never seen it in real life (I hope I will someday though, isn't it in London?) so I don't know which version is more acurate.




I like the flamboyant, opulent and refined aesthetic style of the 18th century...

The frilly layers of her pink dress, the white stockings, the flowers, her hat... and the way she kicks of her pretty little shoe!


Another painting by Fragonard that I love is this one:


The Love Letter 1769-1770 (I need a hat like that) She look so coquette!

I'm putting a new pink post together so stay tuned...

New cardi...

My mothers friend made this knitted cardigan for me for my birthday last month... I love it! It's my favorite color!
I wish I could knit something like this, alas I'm too impatient... -sewing is more my thing...