Style icons

Kristina of Dahling It’s Vintagy made a post about style icons. It was a fun and interesting post to read and it got me thinking of the things that have influenced me. Quite interesting, to me at least, is that how many of the things that inspire and interest me today are things that got cemented in my childhood; the aesthetics of the first half of the 20th century and the 18the century and my love for fashion history, history and literature. It also turned into a very long post, so instead of trying to cover everything, I will just give you a few important highlights. In case you want to see more, then you can check out the Icon’s board at Pinterest.

This picture of Rita Hayworth from Salome was part of my mother’s collection of “filmisar”, small cards with pictures of various movie stars. I don’t have the card anymore and I’m sorry that I have never found the colour version of it as that was the one I had. I had no idea who Rita Hayworth was, but I found her so incredibly beautiful and to this day she is one of my favourite actresses ever.



The adorable Carolyn Jones as Morticia Addams. My inner Goth was born when I was five years old and saw The Addams Family for the first time. To this day I’m inclined to like women who dye their hair black- silly but true.

Source: fanpop.com via Elisa on Pinterest

Marilyn Monroe as Lillian Russell. My parents had a book about her with lots of pictures and though I couldn’t read and hadn’t a clue of who she was, I spent a lot of time making up stories to go along the pictures. I remember being a bit concerned that she looked so sad on so many pictures. But the best picture to me was this one.

Source: unicofotografos.blogspot.com via Elisa on Pinterest

It was just a few years ago that I found that it was part of a set shot by Rickard Avedon in 1958 where Marilyn impersonates a number of other stars like Theda Bara, Jean Harlow, Clara Bow and Marlene Dietrich.

When I watched Singin’ in the Rain as an adult I got a big surprise, because in my memory it was an 18th century movie! Talk about the impact Jean Hagen and Gene Kelly made on me in their shiny white wigs. “Oh Pierre!”

Source: cineol.net via Elisa on Pinterest

I identified hugely with Jane Eyre in my early teens and she and Harriet Vane in Dorothy L Sayers’s crime novel are probably the two literary characters that have had a real impact on me. I read Jane Eyre regularly all through my teens- even, on a vacation, aloud for my whole family. The picture is from an excellent adaption from 1983- the best one!

Source: tvnovelas.ru via Elisa on Pinterest

Allo’ Allo’ is such a silly 80’s comedy, a parody on a far more serious WWII television series, but it cemented my love for the 40’s in my impressionable teens. And quite likely my love for stockings too. Helga did have nice underwear.

Source: cruise-international.com via Elisa on Pinterest

Dita von Teese. Perhaps that is a bit predictable and boring, but if I look around at my contemporaries, she has been an inspiration.

Source: vivalainspiracion.blogspot.com via Elisa on Pinterest

The movies of Tim Burton. I don’t always like his movies, but I always find them interesting, inspirational and I they spark my imagination. Sleepy Hollow being the big favourite. 18th century, you know.

Source: the-filmreel.com via Elisa on Pinterest

My grandmother Greta. Always. This blog wouldn’t be here if she hadn’t been an inspiration and imbued me with the notion that if you want to do something, then find out how and do it!

And that, I think, is enough for today. Hope you enjoyed the little peek inside me.