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1930s
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.” [...]
Artists of Weimar Berlin
Here is a sampling of three of our favorite artists who created groundbreaking artwork in the Weimar Berlin era (1918-1933). While we usually like to present you with actresses and other style icons to emulate at our parties, the art, cinema and music of this era demand their own spotlight! This slim decade was a [...]
Driskill Hotel Photoshoot
Photographer John Leach took our portrait for the front of The Chronicle this fall for the “Best Of Austin” edition. The out takes from the photoshoot at the historic Driskill Hotel downtown were just too good not to share! Here’s our cover, and our award, “Best Reason to Learn the Charleston” took us by surprise! [...]
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 [...]
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 & [...]
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. [...]
Brassai
To me photography must suggest, not insist or explain. – Brassai Brassai, born in 1899, was a Hungarian photographer who immortalized Parisian nightlife in the 1920s and 30s. He was a friend of Henry Miller and Jacques Prévert. Cafe nightlife: A prostitute waits on the corner: Now for the elaborate costumes!
Edith Piaf: le petit oiseau
I want to make people cry even when they don’t understand my words. – Edith Piaf The story of Edith Piaf is all at once unbelievable, inspiring, and beautifully tragic. Abandoned by her parents, she was raised by her grandmother who owned a brothel in Normandy. The prostitutes helped to raise little Edith, who was [...]
The Great Depression Photobooth
With temperatures not set to dip below 100F here in Austin (hello 104 & to our second cold shower!) for the next few weeks, The Great Depression theme couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time of the year. It’s hot, y’all… really hot. After taking a look at some of the tattered vintage pieces [...]
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 [...]
The Great Depression
Calling all Dustbowl Dames and Handsome Hobos! Put down your tattered Steinbeck novel, jump into your jalopy, and get ready for a shindig bound stir up some dustdevils and send all your cares and worries straight over the moon! Got spunk, moxie and true grit? Well, maybe (just maybe!) you can handle THE GREAT DEPRESSION! Featuring music + dances from: [...]
Great Depression Inspiration
Hard times, hard times, we sure got hard times now! Times is hard, y’all – and plenty of folks are feelin’ the pinch. Recession’s a word that thankfully, we’ve been mostly protected from – Austin has retained a blessed bubble of prosperity through a rough spell that has affected many nationwide, but given this scorcher [...]
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, [...]
Erotica Inspiration
Here’s a bit of NSFW eyecandy, featuring French postcards, photos of Ziegfield girls, and girls from naughty stories.
Easterbunny Hijinks
Well, kittens – the Bunnyhop Bash was a blast and a half! The Easterbunny himself was there! We all ate too much candy, guzzled giggle-water, and did the Bunnyhop with Fatbottom Cabaret! Best Easter Sunday ever? Yeah, we would say so! Check out the fabulousness and hilarity from the photobooth! Your loving hostesses in our [...]
