Fashion Flashback: Virna Lisi
There aren’t really words to describe how fabulously glamorous and gorgeous Italian actress Virna Lisi was in 1960s and 70s. I love her platinum blonde hair and those cat eyes! My favorite picture in the gallery below is of Lisi riding in the back of a limousine in a bejeweled white turban. Continue reading for additional photos.
Cinema Style: The Swimming Pool
I am crazy about the movie The Swimming Pool starring Romy Schneider, Jane Birkin, and Alain Delon. (Casting doesn’t get much better than that combination in my book). Like many French movies that I love the plot isn’t necessarily the driving force of entertainment for me but rather the clothes and scenery. Such is the case in The Swimming Pool where the central action concerns love fustrations between houseguests in a gorgeous villa near Saint Tropez. Many scenes of dramatic eye contact, Alain Delon being moody, and long gazing views of Romy and Jane lounging around are all acted out in such fantastic 60s attire that if I am ever asked to write a style guide the book will include two lines. Rent The Swimming Pool. Fin.
Continue reading for photos & to watch movie.
On the Office Ipod: Dalida
Extremely popular during her lifetime, the Egyptian-Italian singer Dalida has gained further cult like status since her death in 1987. Renowned widely in France, where she lived most her life, Dalida has 55 golden records to her credit including the famous hit “Bambino”. Continue reading for more videos plus style file.
Astrud Gilberto
For all the time that I have enjoyed Brazilian singer Astrud Gilberto’s music it wasn’t until recently that I realized how beautiful and stylish she was as well. Continue reading for more photos and videos.
Françoise Dorléac
Françoise Dorléac was the older sister of French actress Catherine Deneuve. Also an actress, Françoise died in a car accident in 1967 when she was just 25 years old. Before her death she had starred in François Truffant’s La peau douce and Roman Polanski’s Cul-de-Sac and become a fashion icon. Continue reading for more photos.
Sandra Dee
The classic American movie star Sandra Dee is one of my favorite actresses, I love her look in both the films Gidget and Imitation of Life. Continue reading for more photos.
Maria Callas
Maria Callas was fabulously well dressed both on and off stage, and I don’t think anyone looks quite as good with cat eyes as she does! Even if you are not interested in opera I would recommend watching the 2002 Franco Zeffirelli bio-pic Callas Forever. The film depicts Callas towards the end of her life as she attempts to resurect her career, and all of the outfits for the film were provided by Chanel. Karl Lagerfeld also designed the costumes for the Carmen sequences. Continue reading for more photos and video clips.
France Gall
France Gall is one of my favorite 60s icons. She represented Luxembourg in the 1965 Eurovision contest, winning with the Serge Gainsbourg composed song “Poupée de cire, poupée de son”. She continued working and creating hits with Gainsbourg throughout the late 1960s and then in 1973 she met singer-songwriter Michel Berger. She began working with Berger and later married him. Gall officially retired in 2001 and is now a patron of Coeurs de Femmes, a charity that helps homeless woman in France. Below are some of my favorite songs and photos of her quintessential sixties style.
Lady Diana Cooper
Born Lady Diana Manners in 1892, Cooper was often said to be the most beautiful woman of her day. After working as a nurse in WWI she became a journalist and then an actress, starring in stage productions as well as a number of silent films.
