Henri Cartier-Bresson, Queen Charlotte's Ball, London 1959
It's the party season, time to get the little black dresses and the sparkly numbers out, however what about the beautiful evening gowns? I have a few but sadly they remain undisturbed in garment covers in the wardrobe, the poor things, they have not seen the light of day for years. High octane do's and balls seem to be the preserve of the jet set and the young, I remember the days in my late teens and early twenties when come the party season, out came the silk, taffeta and the slinky numbers, friends were gathered, tables organised and much mischief, dancing and merriment was had by all, there is nothing quite like misbehaving in a beautiful gown and we did lots of misbehaving, oh heady days!
Lillan Bassman
Lillian Bassman
Lillian Bassman
Lillian Bassman
Lillian Bassman
Lillian Bassman
Norman Parkinson
Annie Leibovitz
Annie Leibovitz
Tim Walker
Cecil Beaton
Man Ray
Heady days indeed!
ReplyDeleteI loved them!
I think we need a bit more glamor in the world today! Bring back those days!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! I've never been to a proper Ball or anything like that, but I've been to lots of ceilidhs and these frocks would be RUINED by one round of Strip The Willow.
ReplyDeleteStill, one can dream......
Ali x
Just gorgeous - someone please invite this cinderella to a ball! ... and get me one of those dresses!
ReplyDeleteFabulous pictures! I love dressing up. I don't believe in saving things for a special event. I'll happily wear an evening dress to stay in with friends or go to the local pub. Everyone's used to me now. I rarely dress down, although I was for once the day we met. I hope your Christmas plans are going well. You're well ahead of me. I'm just starting to feel it now as presents are arriving waiting to be wrapped. I shall have to go and choose my tree tomorrow, that should do it! xx
ReplyDeleteHI Dash, you have some of my all time favourite photos.. What a collection, what a post.. I will be earmarking it for future inspiration. Carla x
ReplyDeleteCasual is nice for everyday, but it's a real shame that we don't have at least one ball a year. It should be mandatory. I have dibs on the first Annie Leibovitz dress. Wow!
ReplyDeleteOh I want all of those dresses !
ReplyDeleteLovely post.. lovely dresses, I wish I had somewhere to wear one ! Right now, we are wearing the lightest coolest clothes we can find .. I think I want to one in the Norman Parkinson photo. I can see me, swishing around in that :)
I love the length of the Tim Walker...beautiful! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, Dash.
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely photos.
ReplyDeleteYes, enough with Mtv, it's time to bring back the elegance of formal balls and assemblies.
When I first moved to NYC as an assistant to Antonio Lopez, he let me sleep in the large closet of his studio. He had been willed a collection of Charles James gowns and I slept under them every night. They are now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art fashion collection.
ReplyDeleteI dreamed under every gown in that photo, used some as a pillow, I once let a friend wear one out for the evening. I am very bad.
X David