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Rate the Dress: Jeanne Samary by Bastien-Lepage

Published by The Dreamstress

Last week Norma Shearer as Juliet fared no better than most of our other glamorous actresses who wore historical interpretations.  She was dubbed “mutton dressed up as sparkly lamb” and rated only a 3.2 out of 10.  Ouch!

I haven’t told you this yet, but this week is going to be all about Jeanne Samary, so our Rate the Dress is her portrait by Jules Bastien-Lepage, probably painted in 1879

Jeanne Samary (Girl with a Parasol), Jules Bastien-Lepage, 1879

The 21 year old Jeanne is shown relaxing on a cane chair, her brown heel clad feet sticking out from under her blue-grey skirt which contrasts with her dark blue jacket with white cuffs, the parasol of the paintings title resting jauntily over one shoulder.  Here is the exciting thing: we also have a photograph of Jeanne in this outfit, so we can compare how Bastien-Lepage interpreted it:

Sorry that it has the watermark 🙁

And a close up of her face:

Look at that smile!

What do you think.  Is Jeanne the picture of youthful relaxation and comfort, or has she been depicted as the typical actress:  too casual, too tousled, and too approachable?  In other words, not a nice girl.  And how does the interpretation compare to the original outfit?

Rate the Dress on a scale of 1 to 10

Elizabeth Taylor Paper Dolls

Published by The Dreamstress

The bulk of this post was actually written a few weeks ago, but I kept pushing it back to accommodate other posts.  Now, suddenly, it’s very topical, so enjoy with a bit of mixed emotions.

A few weeks ago I wrote about Ayyam-i-ha.  One of the things I didn’t mention is that Ayyam-i-ha often includes the giving of gifts.  My Mum sent a package with the loveliest presents: a cloisonne thimble, and these Elisabeth Taylor paper dolls:

The front cover. I wish she had smiled more

The book was published in 1957, and includes two dolls, one on the front cover and one on the back, and seven pages of ensembles.

And it is in pristine, uncut condition.  Go Mom!

Back cover. Isn’t that swimsuit fabulous?

The present isn’t as random as it sounds.  I’ve collected paper dolls since I was a little girl, mostly modern ones by Tom Tierney, but vintage ones too when I can get my hands on them.

The pages of ensembles in the book are just fabulous, even if I really doubt they have any relationship to what Taylor actually wore in real life!

First, you have dresses “For the Gala Opening”, complete with little fur wraps

Va va VOOM!

And a photo of Elizabeth Taylor:

Awwwww (also, needs to smile more)

Then you have suits and jackets for “On the Avenue”

Love the completely random colours. So late 50s!

Followed by “Cruise Clothes”.

That sailor dress just makes me melt

I wonder if Taylor ever went on a cruise?  If she did, do you suppose she wore anything like this?

Tee hee. What do you do in this outfit anyway? Is it a swimsuit?

Returning home, Taylor got to have ‘Lazy Days’

This page is my favourite

I want this dress:

Could I get away with it? Or would people ask “why the backwards apron?”

It wasn’t all play though, because she also has a page of ‘Big Town Togs’, each with their own hat.

Look at the buttons on that blue number! Talk about bling!

My favourite (of course) is the pink one (though the green outfit is tres cute!):

Mostly I just like that the hat makes me giggle. It’s like a levitating fringe!

Finally, fulfilling both men’s fantasies at once, Taylor has a page for ‘Sleepy Time’ (yeah, really practical for sleeping in) and ‘Busy Time’.

Those frilly nighties don’t look like they are meant for sleeping in!

As for ‘Busy Time’.  Well, it’s a well known fact in Hollywood circles that Elizabeth is particularly remembered for her excellent roast turkey:

Turkey or no, that little black dress is darling!

And the retired shopkeepers well recall the oft-seen sight of her perusing their vegetable bins, laden basket in hand.

What every Hollywood housewife wore for their vegetable run

Poor Liz, her life was never as simple and happy as the paper dolls tried to portray.  I just hope that she got to smile a lot more than they show her too!