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A bit more Windy Lindy

Published by The Dreamstress

There have been more lovely images of Madame Ornata and I coming in from various sources, so I’m going to indulge myself and give you one last deluge of photos.

The first three are by a professional photographer who was at the dance.  HannieSunshine does amazing, beautiful work, and I’m so excited by the gorgeous photos she got of Madame Ornata and I.  It was a very difficult venue to get good photographs in, and she got some impressive stuff.  I can definitely recommend her.

Entering the ballroom, swathed in Nana's vintage stole

Words cannot describe how much I love this photo. The only thing wrong with it is that it doesn't include me!

Hannie’s last photo has a story.  It is a tradition in Swing circles that when someone has a birthday they get their own personal swing steal set.  All the dancers form a circle and the birthday boy (or girl) gets danced with by as many ladies (or men, respectively) as can pop in and steal him away from his previous partner.

A special birthday happened the night of Windy Lindy – one of our dancers turned 75, so all of the ladies vied for a chance to get lucky enough to dance with him during his birthday set.

Waiting for a chance to steal the birthday boy

The other photos of the night were taken by various guests and ball organisers.

Madame O and I in vintage furs and wraps

Dancing (that is what one should do at a ball after all!).

My turn to dance with the birthday boy

Yeah, I really, really need a chaise. And a living room big enough to have a chaise in!

The whole red and green effect is a little too Christmas-y in this image. And I look like a deformed mermaid. But otherwise, y'know, lovely shot!

I love the 50s fashions! I wish I had the figure to pull them off!

Rate the Dress: Agnolo Brozini’s Lady in Green

Published by The Dreamstress

For a while I thought that the 1885 reception dress from last week might become the second Rate the Dress ever to score a perfect 10, but alas, while most of you adored the mix of saucy and prim, not all of you adored the mix of brocade, satin and fur, so the dress scored an excellent, but not perfect, 9.3 out of 10.

I’ve realised that I have neglected the early Renaissance in these Rate the Dresses, so this week is partly to rectify that.  An early Rate the Dress featuring a Renaissance lady (also in green) by Titian rated well.  How will you feel about Brozini’s Lady in Green?

Agnolo Bronzino's Portrait of a Lady in a Green Dress, c1528-32, Royal Collection, Windsor

Agnolo Bronzino's Portrait of a Lady in a Green Dress, c1528-32, Royal Collection, Windsor

Early reproductions of the painting show the unknown Lady in Green against a muted red brown background with a dull green dress, but recent conservation has revealed the vivid green dress, the rich red background, and the palest gold of the slashed sleeves and ribbon trim.  Under the dress the lady wears a chemise decorated with delicate blackwork, and her red hair is complemented by an elaborately embellished gold and green coif.  She also has lace trim on her sleeves, a ring on her pointer finger, and a bit of gauzy fabric in her hands (or perhaps she holds gloves, and time has rendered the leather translucent).

What do you think?  Is the green too much?  Are the sleeves too much?  Or is the balance of smooth and textured, simple and elaborate the perfect mix?

Rate the dress on a scale of 1 to 10.