Beaux Art Style Antique Jewelry

Recently I acquired the locket above. It fascinates me...the snakes and mythical looking creatures on it...So I began my research on mythical creatures. Using keywords like snakes, dragons, beast, sea serpents and wolfdragons....I came across an amazing site! The site features jewelry made by George Nathaniel Steere...and his company GNS CO. Gorgeous antique jewelry!!!! It has so much information...and I learned something new...so I was very excited!

What I was most excited to learn (besides what a genius Mr. Steere was)...was a new term that had eluded me all of these years! Beaux Art Style. I have a house full of reference books on every era of jewelry...and am constantly doing research...yet somehow had never heard this term used. I always put these items...with mythical creatures and beast...in the Art Nouveau and Victorian periods. While the locket above has "some" elements that can be attributed to the Beaux Art style...such as the snakes and lions?...bears?..dogs?...the actual locket itself looks very Victorian.

Originating in Paris, the Beaux Art style was a major influence on American architecture from the 1880s through the 1920s...and was totally embraced by the nouveau riche industrialist here in America. Featuring neoclassical designs that were very ornate...It found it's way into the mainstream of art, architecture...and yes jewelry!

Below are some pieces that I own or have owned...that I thought I would share with you. Enjoy!

This is a close up of one of the cuff links below. Notice the details of the mythical sea serpent. I have also heard this design referred to as a dolphin.

These are absolutely gorgeous...and luckily...I have not parted with them!

They date to the 1880s. I acquired these beauties from a seller in the UK a few years ago.

This is a locket that I previously owned...featuring a winged dragon holding a shield in his mouth.

This is a man's watch fob...large faux amethyst with a snake. Heavy gold gilt.

This is just one of the strangest creatures that I have seen on a locket! A winged sea creature with a scorpion like tail. How would you like to meet up with this guy while boating!!!!!!!

Another gorgeous example of Beaux Art style...mermaids...or mermen. They look like an architectural detail that you would see on a turn of the century mansion. Or possibly figureheads on an old galleon.

And this fabulous locket...boohoo...boohoo...I am so sad that I parted with this piece! It was one of the most amazing lockets that I have ever owned! After reading the article on George N. Steere...I can almost...without a doubt...contribute this piece to his work! Note the green eye!

A side view of the locket. Look how detailed!

And Finally...this tiny clip. Sometimes this beast is referred to as a wolfdog. He looks fierce!!!!

I do hope that you will go to the site that I recommended. I also wanted to thank them for a great article that I truly enjoyed! You will love it, too! Maybe it will even spark a new interest for you. Recently I have seen a few pieces listed on the internet as "Beaux Art style"...So keep your eyes open...you may just find a treasure!

Winter Plaid Inspiration from Elizabeth Toll's Elegant Photography

My husband has a saying "What's not to love?". I'm feeling that now. What's not to love about these colors, plaid patterns, hats, leather gloves and the classic red lips? And, her gorgeous creamy white face.

Oh... a nice way to start the day with photography by Elizabeth Toll.

What makes you say, "What's not to love" here?

xo,

Christina

Moonstruck at the Opera by the Talented Photographer Bersa and the Question of the Power of an Outfit

I lucked upon a rerun of the movie "Moonstuck" (1987) last night on TV. It is a romantic comedy with Cher, Nicolas Cage and Vincent Gardenia. If you have seen the movie, you remember the scene where Ronny (Nicolas Cage) invites his brother's fiance, Loretta (Cher) to the Opera after they had slept with each other the night before. It was a wild and crazy night that was not in her plans. So, Cher's character goes to the Opera as a final farewell to Johnny, supposedly begrudgingly while still professing to want to marry Johnny's brother Cosmo. But then, Cher shows up looking like the ravishing black haired beauty that she is in real life, dressed to the nines and the affair continues that evening... and her decision changes and her path changes in life. It is a great movie and a classic.

Do you think her updated makeover made her more confident to follow her heart and leap with abandon into passionate love with Johnny? It is interesting to ponder about the actual power of the perfect red lipstick, hair, accessories or outfit. Is it all like armour that gets us ready for battle to take on the world?

If dressing properly creates a shield and armor of power, then these pictures are proof of being ready for battle in the most feminine war in the world... The battle to capture love.

(My fav of the day)

Which outfit would you like to wear

if you had a date with destiny

at the Opera this evening?

~~

I would wear the long gold sequined skirt with the huge pink satin bow and the matching black button up shirt with gold sequined cap sleeves. Simply divine, fitting for the season and any battle for love. I would surely have the inner strength and confidence to capture my man's heart (again) in that ensemble.

xo,

Christina

"Teal, and Turquoise, and Gold-Oh, My . . ."

Greetings all,

Inspiration can come from almost anywhere. And rarely comes when one demands that it appear. It's best to just keep one's eyes open. Just after the beginning of the year, I had the overwhelming urge to move into a new place. It was almost overwhelming. The need for a new challenge. A new space to create.

But then, I had an even better idea - because I love my little flat out by the beach. So instead of packing and moving across the city - I want to take the next few months and re-create my existing space that I already love so much.

But first, on a tangentially related topic . . . Isaac Mizrahi for Fall 2010. This week was the Fall 2010 Fashion Week in New York - with each of the major designers presenting their personal vision for the coming season - yes, I know it's February and the 'coming season' is next fall - but, it's the fashion industry. They need some lead-time. lol.

Isaac Mizrahi. Fall 2010.

(Click here to see the entire show)

Breathtaking. The evening wear portion of the show actually took place in an on-stage snowfall. Beautiful metallics, lush cashmeres, and wonderful hand-beading. It was magical.

And I love this specific image. The cool, reserved blue lighting. The great contrast of textures.

Glamorous. Theatrical. Luxurious.

(all words I really love.)

This gown actually closed the show. I love the architecture of the bodice, and that enormous frothy skirt . . . the unabashed romance of the dress just appeals to me.

And the burnished gold against the blue is marvelous.

There's been a great deal of 'chatter' about the great coming of 'turquoise' for 2010.

And I'm thinking I might end up being a part of it.

That being said, I've never been a huge fan of following specific design trends. I put more faith in my own internal compass. And the investments we make in our homes so often outlive the time frame of any trend- But, with the same reasoning that I wouldn't slavishly follow a trend, I'm also not going to ignore something that truly appeals to me - just because it's the new 'hot' colour.

And because I found this - Tea Party from Jim Thompson.

And I'm totally in love. 100% linen. I was a little concerned about the 'hand' of the fabric - but, I tossed the memo-sample in with my wash the other day - and it popped out of the dryer feeling amazing. So I'm going to pre-wash all the yardage before sending it to my workroom.

" Yay! "

(not my chair.

and not really my style.

but, damn, I'm really loving this fabric!)

And a little more colour inspiration.

A new set of antique plates that I bought last weekend here in San Francisco.

I'm beginning to play with ideas.

And I think I might be onto something.

I'll keep you informed of the progress.

Coco Before Chanel

On Halloween TD and I avoided the madness of the Village Halloween Parade and slipped into the Chelsea Cinema on West 23rd Street to see "Coco Before Chanel," the movie about the young Chanel. In French with English subtitles, it tells the story of how the girl who lived in a French orphanage grew to become the most influential fashion designer of the twentieth century. I've written here about Chanel before (in fact that post is the one most visited by readers) so I was looking forward to this film. I loved watching it and being in that wonderfully romantic era of the Belle Epoque before World War 1. The movie is quiet and elegant in an "unHollywood" way.

Chanel was born in 1883, so when she was coming of age, fashion looked like this:

Tight corsets, long trains and highly structured clothes impaired movement and freedom. Feathers, lace and dripping jewelry were added on to the heaviness like icing on a cake. From an early age, Chanel, in the movie played by Audrey Tatou, notices clothing and simplifies fashion. From the nuns in the orphanage she borrows the idea of austere black clothes edged with white collars and cuffs, which become a Chanel signature. For instance, for a masquerade party, she dresses like a hobo (above) in a black suit with a white collar band shirt and vest, while the other ladies are cinched in and puffed up in their finery.

Chanel falls in love with Arthur "Boy" Capel, played by Alessandro Nivola, who takes her to the seaside resort of Deauville.


There she notices the sailors' striped shirts and adopts them as her own.

I had two shirts like this in college. One, white with blue stripes, came from L.L.Bean. The other, blue with green stripes, came from an army and navy story on Nantucket. I've been looking to replace them ever since.

"Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance," Chanel said later in her life. She reflected the modern age that was dawning and revolutionized clothes so that they followed the line of the body thus allowing the wearer freedom and comfort. In this scene, her sleek, sequined shift contrasts dramatically with the other confections in the room.


Sadly, Boy Capel died in a car crash, and Chanel never married. She had many lovers including the Duke of Westminster in England, from whom she borrowed tweed hunting jackets and Shetland sweaters. I thought that would have been neat to see in this movie, but this story did not go that far. Instead we see Chanel married to her work, creating the clothes, including the Chanel suit, that defined a century. We end with her in a blue sweater and white skirt and pearls – the epitome of timeless, modern chic.

Now that's what I call a Halloween treat!

Angels in America

(click on photos to enlarge)
Last night I passed by Bergdorf Goodman on Fifth Avenue and looked at the windows. They always do a great job, and these were quite spectacular.

An elegiac winged angel floated in one window, a tribute to the great Alexander McQueen who died on February 11th.
His white dress from his spring collection is trimmed with white feathers – he was a truly original talent.


On 58th Street, crazy hats set the scene for Oscar de la Renta's gold ensemble.

Very "madcap!"

On to the main event – the big windows along Fifth Avenue.
Black and white dresses are presented in a window decorated with red and white raffia. It's an inexpensive material but it's cleverly used to create a striking effect. The linear nature of the raffia contrasts with the sculptural shapes of the dresses. Pretty great.

Brightly hued dresses are set into a window with a collage-like background and happy colored lights that reminded me of Christmas.


The big window at the corner of 58th and Fifth feature clothes by Vera Wang, Rodarte and Balenciaga. The plump, ruby-colored plumes in the back wave gently in a breeze.

These clothes are strong, sexy, sharp, almost savage. Nothing dainty about them.

The windows offer a good direction for spring: color instead of neutrals, pattern, texture, structured shapes, decoration instead of minimalism, dresses instead of separates.
It's springtime at Bergdorf Goodman, and I'm all for it.