A sort of a Halloween post: Meet the Norma Desmonds

I wasn't planning a Halloween post, but given the subject I believe that the story of Sunset Blvd and her star Norma is creepy enough to be fitting!

A few weeks ago, I suddenly realized that Tecla (Daria in her James Bond incarnation) looks a LOT like a young Gloria Swanson

same (bitchy) blue eyes, pointy chin, the same "morsus inversus", and big teeth! LOL
Don't misunderstand me, I love Gloria Swanson, and the fact she became such a huge star and sex symbol in spite her being anything but perfect and barely 5 feet tall!!!
She had a magnetic presence on screen and she had a great sense of humor.
So, getting back to Lucrezia, I decided to dress her up as "the greatest of them all": Norma Desmond,
from Billy Wilder's maserpiece Sunset Blvd.

I tried to update a bit the outifit, as in the movie Norma wears in fact a day Pijama complete with a long Dressing Gown (by Edith Head), I made a shorter gown and added a pair of stretch pants. On ebay I found this leopard cotton fabric, which had these very small spots. Being cotton it wasn't easy to accomodate with the black jersey, but Disegual taught us that no fabric mixing is tecnically impossible, so here she is:

. You see, this is my life! It always will be! Nothing else! Just us, the cameras, and those wonderful people out there in the dark!... All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.

There once was a time in this business when I had the eyes of the whole world! But that wasn't good enough for them, oh no! They had to have the ears of the whole world too. So they opened their big mouths and out came talk. Talk! TALK!

I'll be up there again, so help me!

But of course, Norma cannot exist (in my mind) without Joe, so Enrico got a new outfit, and he really looks the part. He looks it perfecty, as my doll came with a head constantly turned upward so he seems to be avoiding Norma on purpose.

I did my best to recreate the atmosphere of the movie, well the director of photography was a genius called John Seitz (the guy who "invented" the noir cinematography) ..... but I really did my best to recreate the darknes and grain of the picture

Joe: You're Norma Desmond. You used to be in silent pictures. You used to be big.
Norma Desmond: I *am* big. It's the *pictures* that got small.

The stars are ageless, aren't they?

no male doll with the gorgeus Bill Holden's face?

Joe: There's nothing tragic about being fifty. Not unless you're trying to be twenty-five.

As you guessed Sunset Blvd is my all time favourite movie, and the Norma Desmonds are going to be a fixture around here, as soon as I have time to sew them some more appropriate fashions!

Kisses

Sunset Blvd: opening title sequence

Dressing up Agata....shopping in Paris

When Agata arrived home, some months ago, some of you made suggestions about her new wardrobe.
I thought many of them were just right for her, so I decided to do some redressing photosessions of her. And Paris is the only possible backdrop to start with!
Off she is for a shopping afternoon in "La Ville-Lumière". Agata is going to wear  a Chanel tailleur, as suggested by FDS. I did this some time ago for Egle, but wasn't really  satisfied. Then I learned to sew a decent hem with a sort of a flat stitch, and now it looks just right!
Of course this is a Lagerfeld design.

getting ready

I think I need  new bag.....

Done!

deserved rest

This is just a warm up for Agata, I've decided she's going to model all my future Lagerfeld replicas!

Bing Crosby: I love Paris

Vittorio: Mad About the Boy 4

Vittorio is an intellectual type, he's an history professor, but after his long journey to come home he needed some rest in a sunny place!
So here he is at the Palms Hotel in Palm Beach, Miami!

A few words about this doll.  I thought about buying it for a while, I wasn't impresed by the Silent Partner Romain pictures I saw around, then I decided when I found a nude doll (with extra hands). I have to say this doll is wonderful in person! The screening is perfect, he has a shadow under his eyes that gives him a very intense look.

And finally some sunbathing on this wonderful beach (I know I have to sew some beachwear for the guys)....Carla (outfit by Mattel) just happens to be here too....

Ok Vittorio, this was funny but I hope no police is around!

His new fashion is nearly ready so he'll be soon be able to go looking around Florida!

Frank Sinatra: I've got you under my skin

See you soon!

Billa

Little Black Dress 5: the 60's - The Golden Era - Dior

The 60's were the golden era of the LBD, I think mostly thanks to Breakfast at Tiffany's and the asounding collection Givenchy designed for Audrey. But the 60's were also the era of the empire waist, so I picked this wonderful dress by Dior.

I love it because is so incredible elegant, the quintessential LBD. And also I wanted something new for Berenice, as soon as I saw this dress I thought it was just the right thing for her to wear!
I used a gabardine fabric and some black ribbon. The shoes are by The Vogue HK (I've ordered some new accessories from them and can't wait to get them!).

I'm pretty proud with the result, I'm seldom truly satisfied but I absolutely adore Berenice in this dress!

As you can see, I couldn't stop photographing her! She's the perfect 60's model, classic but full of spirit!

I even found Poppy's body fun to pose (and at first I nearly hated it) who knows, maybe I should think about adding a new Poppy to my collection!

This issue soundtrack is one of my favourite songs from my all time favourite musical: My fair lady, again a hommage to Audrey and the 60's: "I've grown accostumed to her face" by the great Nat King Cole

Previous instalment:
On the next instalment: Contemporary LBD by Karl Lagerfeld

Dioramas

Almost all the pieces have arrived, so here are the four rooms so far:

the Traveller's library,

looks like Vittorio is putting up a front, I don't believe he's such an intellectual

 the Norma Desmond's Lounge

boys and girls throwing a party

the Sunny living room 

the guys are not happy with my choice of magazines......

the  Kitchen/dining

Odette and Carlo having a cozy breakfast

I still have to prepare the carpets for the last two rooms and maybe a couple of pillows for the Norma Desmond's Lounge, but I'm thrilled.....

Another Hairdo

The last two guys who got home are Enrico and Giacomo. I loved their screening, sculpt and hair colour but HATED their hairdos. In fact I decided to buy them only after I saw some pictures of them after restyling.

Take Giacomo, he has these gorgeous red hair and soft screening, but the original hairdo is....gastly.....

and how he is now, with a simple bob, he's soooo sweet!

Enrico had this awful oversized wave!!! Too ugly  to be looked at (IMHO)

now he looks just right, he has got something edwardian about him, right out of some Oscar Wilde play (I can picture him Bunburying in the country)

Well, my hairstyling is not perfect, but I'm really pleased!

PS. please IT, no more silly hairdos for guys.......

Well, maybe I did all this just to share this wonderful song by the Great Charlie Parker:

Another Hair Do - Charlie Parker