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1920s
Anita Berber – Priestess of Depravity
“Her face was a somber and vicious mask. It seemed obvious that the strongly curved mouth was not her own but was a bloodred concoction out of a little pot of rouge. The chalky cheeks had a violet shimmer. The eyes required at least an hour of work every day—she talked incessantly and lied terribly.” [...]
Brigitte Helm
Our first inspirational post about Weimar Berlin, which is the next Vintage Vivant, on January 29th. Brigitte Helm was a German actress, and perhaps best known as the Maschinenmensch (machine-human) from Fritz Lang’s Metropolis (1927). At first, I wanted to concentrate on images of Helm just from the film, but I found so many incredible [...]
Ukulele mania!
Ukulele Lady, 1925 ukulele sweeties in 1926! Buster Keaton with uke & wooden statue The Boswell Sisters Johnny Marvin sings “Crazy Words, Crazy Tunes,” a song about how he hates his neighbor’s ukulele playing. This is one of my most favorite songs, and favorite performances ever! Watch for the musical saw! Shirley Temple and ukulele [...]
Forbidden Vices: Reefer Madness!
Have you ever met that funny reefer man? As we all know, in the old days, marijuana only affected one sector of the population favorably: Hot Jazz Musicians. They wrote love songs to it while swaddled in its smokey embrace. Those vipers! Let’s listen: Cab Calloway – Reefer Man Fats Waller – Viper’s Drag Harlem [...]
Tallulah Bankhead
To kick off our inspirational posts for the next Vintage Vivant theme, “Forbidden Vices” we feature Tallulah Bankhead, silent film star, romancer of both men and women, and remembered today for her outspoken personality. “Say anything about me, darling, as long as it isn’t boring.” “My father warned me about men and booze, but he [...]
Sexy Witches
Sexy Witch costumes with tons of Halloween costume inspiration for the next Vintage Vivant!
At Night at the Circus Photobooth
A Night at the Circus – hands down, most fun Vintage Vivant to date! We had popcorn popping, cotton candy swirling, live freakshow performances, bearded ladies, contortionists, acrobats, and TONS of amazing costumes. Feast your eyes on part 1 of 2 installments, photos by Fun Loving Photos. Natalie from Agent Ribbons and Amelia! Siamese dancer [...]
Sideshow & Curiosities
Freaks from 1932, a preCode classic directed by Tod Browning. Fan-made movie trailer for the film. The limbless Prince Randian (aka “The Human Worm”) lights a cigarette. This clip stars conjoined twins, Daisy and Violet Hilton
A Night at the Circus: The Clowns!
This post contains hilarious images of clowns & harlequin folk. Please don’t click if you’re coulrophobic.
Carnival & Circus: The Beauties
Knife juggler Snake Charmer: Ladies of the Serpent Cutie with a clown head Luna Moth Girl with parasol Baby Tiger wrangler Tattooed Lady with Zebra The woman on the flying trapeze Snake Charmer – by FW Glasier Photogaph by Frederick W. Glasier Ruffle sleeves & leotards Contortionist playing a baby grand Tattooed lady in maribou
Tramps: The Photobooth
The radiant Devaki – the mastermind behind the photobooth & Fun Loving Photos! Donna made her own puppy that Clara Bow carried in “It” (1927). Drew as The Tramp – lookin’ a little sideways Adriene & Sonnet Seaside beauties! Jeremiah & crew Too many Charlies! DJ Shorty Stump & Jackie of Fun Loving Photos up [...]
Vamps: The Photobooth
The biggest reason to come to Vintage Vivant? The ladies vamped it up with faux fur, sequins & pouty absinthe stained lips. With dramatic lace veils & long tassles… Abernathy McQueen, our resident makeup-artist, wears one of our favorite looks for hot summer nights: layers of lingerie. Be sure and check out her makeup & [...]
Silent Beauty Insipration
Adrian of Shallotlilly will be on site at the next Vintage Vivant with her sparkly jewelry – bring your gold coins so that you can buy some on site! Just a taste of her wares: To fully encompass the beauty of the Silent Film stars would take years (and probably a doctoral dissertation) of compliation, [...]
Femme Fatal: The Vamp
Kiss of the Vamp One of the first fashion communities that I joined in my early Livejournal days in 2001 was a community called “Gothic 1920s.” It hadn’t occurred to me that the aesthetics of gothic fashion was something that had been brewing in early cinema! As I combed through the posts of Pola Negri [...]
Charlie Chaplin Inspiration
To play the Tramp, you need baggy pants, a tight coat, a derby hat, a large pair of shoes, a cane and a moustache. Remember that the awkward fit of the garments should add to the exaggerated walk, and be sure to use the cane in as many creative ways as possible – from picking [...]
Vamps & Tramps: A Black and White Ball
On Sunday, August 28th, join us for a very special evening, as Vintage Vivant teams up with the Alamo Ritz theatre for dinner, a silent movie and dancing. It’s a perfect night for a date! Reese Gray, Stride pianist At 7pm, the Alamo Ritz in downtown Austin will play the silent screen classic, “It,” starring Clara Bow, and [...]
Clara Bow
“’It’ is that quality possessed by some which draws all others with its magnetic force. With ‘It’ you win all men if you are a woman – and all women if you are a man.” - Elinor Glyn This month, Vintage Vivant is so excited to announce that we are teaming up with the Alamo Ritz [...]
Le Photobooth Bohemienne!
La Belle Oren Drew proving that mimes are not in fact, loathesome – they are adorable! Amelia as Josephine Baker! N’est-elle pas adorable? Alex shakin’ a tail feather… Elle a son oeil sur vous! Brandon – The BAR BAT! His photos from the evening are coming soon! Miss Jen Delk looking fabulous, as always! Allyson [...]
Alice Prin – NSFW
Alice Prin. You know her, yes? Ernest Hemingway once described her as “a woman who was never a lady at any time.” Like many of the Parisian belle fleurs of this era, she was born into miserable poverty and was raised in the streets. Alice began posing nude for a sculptor at the age of 14. [...]
Feedsack Frocks
Ladies showing off their feedsack frocks. Liza Ferneyhough’s (aka. Stellarbaby) wonderful illustration and post about feed sack dresses “the great depression is so visually interesting. feed sack dresses! flour sack undies! cardboard insulation! flattened tin can roofs! dugouts! canned veg! people were so resourceful.” I get so obsessed with the inventive and colorful prints from [...]
Storyville Bordello Photobooth
Storyville Bordello – what a grand evening! Reputations were tarnished, hot jazz piano was played, Jolie Goodnight lit up the stage, and we all sang along as Rebecca Havemeyer serenaded us with “Shave ‘em Dry.” The lovely Mizarre did something very naughty with an oyster on stage… The lovely folks at Kuhmillion tempted attendees with a [...]
Stockings & Garters
If you’re too timid to flaunt a lacy step-in, or modest about your dress, vintage styled stockings and garters are a perfect way to pepper up the sex appeal of your outfit! See how the simple addition of patterned stockings can really punch up the look of an outfit: Clara Bow in ornate flowered garters: [...]
Lingerie Inspiration
Vintage lingerie makes us swoon in delight! It’s no wonder there is so much of it around nearly 100 years later: beautifully crafted, it’s delicate but strong, and it makes the wearer feel extra naughty knowing she has these secrets hiding beneath her smart dresses! There are so many different types of underthings to consider, [...]
