Necklaces for the Crawley Women

Watching Downton Abbey last night made me think about the accessories on the show. They are starting to change now, with more sautoirs and fewer choker-length, Edwardian necklaces as they approach the 1920s. Can you imagine how marvelous the jewelry box for the show must be? I'd like to go pawing through that, oh yes. 

I've had several necklaces in the shop over the last couple years (yes, it is almost my 2-year shop-versary!) that are Downton Abbey-worthy and I had fun paring them up with the Crawley ladies today. Not to match their dresses in these photos of course, but just to go with the lady and the era. In general, I think I've enjoyed Edith's accessories on the show the most (she almost always has a fantastic hair ornament!) with Her Ladyship coming in a close second. 

Note: All of these necklaces have found new homes except Lady Mary's, which is in the shop now.

Images courtesy of ITV

Splash!

When I was little, my family went to the swimming pool almost every day in the summer. One of my favorite ways to entertain myself was to play the Mermaid game. This basically involved trying to swim with my arms at my sides and my legs together, looking beautiful and graceful like a mermaid. Actually, I probably looking like I was having a seizure. It is really hard to try to swim like that, have you tried?

My mermaid antics were inspired by the movie Splash, which is burned into my brain. I absolutely loved it. Was anyone else entranced by this movie in the 80s?

Also, have you seen the video for U2's Electrical Storm? Um, it's pretty hot. Samantha Morton plays a mermaid.

I blame Downton Abbey

I've got early 20th century jewelry on my mind lately, thanks to Downton Abbey. But not even Lady Mary had this necklace in her jewelry box! It looks like a bit of lace suspended on a chain, doesn't it? That is the beauty of very, very fine filigree - in this case, platinum set with diamonds and sapphires. It is a perfect example of Edwardian jewelry, which was light, feminine and romantic - a big departure from the styles of the Late Victorian era (think Cousin Violet).

You can see more great examples of Edwardian jewelry here. Prepare to be stunned.

Photos courtesy of Lang Antiques

Oh Faye

I re-watched Bonnie and Clyde the other night and was absolutely transfixed by Faye Dunaway. And by this I mean, truly, I almost cut my own hair at midnight to look like Bonnie Parker. The movie (1967) follows the Barrow Gang through several states and dozens of crimes to the much publicized shoot out and death of the country's favorite public enemy couple in 1934. Ms. Dunaway's clothes in the movie are simple and stylish and she has this bewitching sun-kissed look through the whole film. The little curl she has on the side of her head in the first scenes just kills me.

Images courtesy of availableimages.com

Lift not the painted veil . . .

One of my favorite period movies is The Painted Veil. It is based off the book by the same title, which was published between 1924 and 1925. l love everything about it - the message of the story, the costumes, the actors (ohhh Edward Norton) and the musical score.

The best part is near the end, when they play the most beautiful version of A La Claire Fontaine. This song is cruelly left out of an otherwise outstanding soundtrack. When I saw the movie in the theater and that song started playing, I absolutely lost it. I've never cried so hard at a movie, before or since.

Photo credits: Glen Wilson/Warner Independent Pictures © 2006 via allmoviephoto.com

May cause shortness of breath

I watched Gosford Park the other night for the first time. The 1930s costumes caused me severe shortness of breath for the duration of the film, with all the silky, pooling fabrics of the ladies' evening gowns, the plunging backs of the dresses, and the waved hair. And during the scene where Maggie Smith's character is ceremoniously putting on her jewelry before going down to dinner the first night, I made so much noise that Mr. Jean Jean had to ask me to keep it down.