Dear readers,
this time on Peacock and Pearls it's all about fashion, a topic that has unfortunately been somewhat neglected so far. I apologise, ladies and gentlemen, and vow to do better, because an era is ultimately shaped not only by literature, culture and certain events, but also by what was en vogue in the fashion sense. Especially in the 1920s, fashion was revolutionised in the truest sense of the word. Short dresses, short hair, dramatic make-up: Ladies in particular experienced unprecedented freedom in this period as far as their outward appearance was concerned. There was no shortage of variety either: whether coquettish flapper girl, sophisticated vamp, dazzling bird of paradise, everything was possible and so this decade became a particularly fertile breeding ground for the most diverse fashion varieties and forms of expression.
To celebrate this diversity, I would like to present ten particularly fascinating ladies who have gone down in fashion history forever with their unique style. I wish you much pleasure!
Josephine Baker - The glamourous
We start with the incomparable Josephine Baker. Who doesn't know her legendary banana skirt, with which she whipped the masses into a frenzy? Other stage costumes were no less spectacular. Adorned with ostrich feathers or butterfly wings, Josephine was always the epitome of glitz and glamour:
Josephine also loved it extravagant and elegant off stage:
Anita Berber - The Scandalous
If you read the last article on Peacock and Pearls, you already know about Anita Berber's wild (and unfortunately very short) life. Like Josephine Baker, Anita was a dancer and familiar with fancy costumes. But where Josephine went for glitter and pomp, Anita liked it more wicked and scandalous. Dressed in a man's dinner jacket or with a touch of nothing, she loved to shock Berlin's nightlife.
Louise Brooks – The Flappergirl
Hardly anyone else embodied the girl of the 20s - the flapper - better than Louise Brooks. Modern, young, with a cheeky short bob and a twinkle in her eye, the silent film star always knew how to enchant the audience. Her striking haircut in particular became a fashion statement in its own right and was copied by many admirers.
Clara Bow - The Sporty One
Actress Clara Bow could also be described as a "flapper girl", with a particular focus on the sporting aspect. From an early age, Clara competed with boys of her own age, was an ambitious runner and at times even planned a career as an athletics coach. This was also reflected in her later style of dress:
Greta Garbo - The Diva
Although the "Divine" (as she was also called) supposedly didn't care about fashion at all, the designers of her films were always inclined to further polish the mysterious and diva-like image of the actress. She was dressed in dazzling gowns, dressed in furs and richly adorned with jewellery. In private, she preferred to wear trousers and plain ensembles, but it was the glamorous style of her public life that has remained forever associated with Garbo.
Coco Chanel - The Stylish One
What can be said about the epitome of good style - Coco Chanel? That her collections were instrumental in creating the striking silhouette of the 1920s? That her casual elegance became the model for many fashion-conscious ladies of the time? That she still is, decades after her passing, and will probably remain so for a long time to come? You surely already knew all this, so we will limit ourselves to showing a few of her most beautiful looks here:
Nancy Cunard - The Eccentric
The heiress to the world-famous Cunard Line shipping company was known for her eccentric style. She had a particular penchant for bangles (the more and the bigger the better) and fancy headdresses. Society photographer Cecil Beaton was one of Nancy's friends, so it will come as no surprise that he photographed her in extravagant poses on several occasions.
Nancy Beaton - The Fairy
The second Nancy in this series was, as the surname suggests, the sister of Cecil Beaton. Both belonged to an illustrious circle called "The Bright Young Things" or "The Bright Young People", along with other young English aristocrats, artists and bohemians of the time. Nancy was often photographed by her brother, usually in fanciful gowns, which suited her soft, girlish features very well.
Annemarie Schwarzenbach - The Androgynous One
While women's fashion in the 1910s still consisted mainly of tight, long dresses, blouses with lace collars and voluminous updos, only a decade later women were able to live out their androgynous side for the first time. The Swiss writer, photographer and journalist Annemarie Schwarzenbach particularly appreciated this. Like her close friend Erika Mann (daughter of the famous Thomas Mann), she loved to wear trousers or suits together with short hair, which was certainly practical for her love of travel and adventure.
Asta Nielsen - The Morbid One
When you think of silent films, the first thing that comes to mind is Asta Nielsen. You could say she embodies the archetype of the silent film star (if there is such a thing). Still strongly influenced by the theatre, both facial expressions and masks of the actors were often overemphasised in the films of the early 20s. Asta's trademark black eyes and eyebrows contrasted with her fair skin, along with dark wild hair and an intense gaze that added drama to her appearance. Her wardrobe matched: Long, elegant dresses, along with eye-catching hair bands, hats or fur stoles.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I hope you enjoyed this little fashion show. Please come again soon, I would be delighted!
Yours sincerely
Marleen Tigersee
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