Sunday, February 20, 2011

Weekend Reading 2: Harper's Bazaar 100 Years of the American Female

Today's weekend reading is Mademoiselle Chanel by Jean Cocteau from Harper's Bazaar 100 Years of the American Woman, 1967.  

In October 1963 Edith Piaf died and Cocteau, who was great friends with Piaf said, "the boat is going down".  Seven hours later Cocteau died.

Cocteau and Coco Chanel were friends and creative collaborators.  She supported "the secret splendor" of Cocteau (and others) and he drew illustrations of her fashion designs for magazines.  Here he writes about, "the head of a little black swan".

Weekend reading for you from RARE vintage.  Read on...

Harper Bazaar's 100 Years of the American Woman 1967

Harper Bazaar's 100 Years of the American Woman 1967.  Drawing by Cocteau.

Coco Chanel in the arms of Boy Capel.  The artist SEM portrayed Boy as a centaur.  Coco has one of her hat boxes swinging from her arm. 



Chanel and her friend, Vera Bate, in the Duke of Westminster's clothing.  Right down to his shoes.  Which he had his valet iron the shoelaces of.  I ask you, what else would one need a valet for but to iron one's shoelaces?  

The Countess Etienne de Beaumont, Chanel and Misia Sert on the Lido wearing her beach pajamas in 1923.  The women in shorts are Countess Moretti and Mme. Chiesa, the leading hostesses of Venice's beaux soirs. 



Chanel's "white lady" - a drawing of a white satin gown from Vogue in 1931.


A Jean Cocteau drawing of Chanel.  1932

Last images are from Chanel and Her World by Edmonde Charles-Roux

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