Age Before Beauty



Dell'Orefice then and now
fashionist.ca

Isn't it amazing that model Carmen Dell'Orefice has turned 80 years of age!  She is still a working model who has become such an amazing example of longevity in a business where anything older than this morning's muffin is normally scoffed at and rejected.  Carmen started her modelling career with a bang with a cover on Vogue magazine 65 years ago.

art8amby.wordpress.com

At age 13, Dell'Orefice was approached by the wife of famous photographer Herman Landschoff.  At the time, the young girl was reunited with her mother and living a very poor life.  Even after her official signing with Vogue, she still lived an impoverished life for many years.

Although Carmen lost her life savings twice, the first time to the stock market and the second time to Madoff, she remained positive and continued modelling.

I love this story about a girl from a broken family, who still managed to become a fashion icon of the world.  We live in such a disposable time of so much waste and reverence for all things new, it's good to know that a beautiful woman like Dell'Orefice is still vibrant in what is considered an ageist profession.

I'm reminded of the 1995 movie "Clueless".  There were some really funny quotes:

"Old people can be so sweet"

"Isn't my house classic? The columns date all the way back to 1972"







CARMEN DELL'OREFICE

Retro Oleg Cassini Suit, Taupe with White Trim M483



Vintage 1950s Satin Bullet Bra Sz 36 LL1052



Retro Bubble Dress, Silver Metallic Taffeta S142



VOGUE, VOGUE, VOGUE...

I had a big party to celebrate my 17th birthday.  It was a fun night.  One of the gifts I'll always love and cherish is a hardcover coffee table book which was a compilation of Vogue covers from 1900-1940. 

It was such an inspiration to me in so many ways.  My artwork for school was strongly influenced as well as my own fashion sense and my appreciation of art history grew in part because of this book.   I can't say exactly what about this book was so intriguing and captivating for me.  As I look through the pages, I just love the painted images and I prefer them to the fashionista poses of today.  The artists really captured the essence of fashion but they also managed to  create moods and quiet moments frozen in paint.  I just loved all the beautiful colours and styles of dress.  The covers seemed very influenced by world events as well as events closer to home.  Have a look at some of the images from my book: 



************************************************************

VOGUE April 1926 Plank Cover Paris Fashions Issue VG+



Celebrate the 1920's at SLV!
Flapper Style Pink Crepe Chiffon Dress Sz 34 S129

 

This is my book!

THE ART OF VOGUE COVERS 1909-1940 - William Packer



My Vintage Vogue

The next best thing to looking at a fabulous vintage garment, is looking at stunning vintage photographs. My other love of beautiful photography and images has been captured over at http://www.myvintagevogue.com/. Jessica has been collecting images since a very young age, and what an eye she has. These images are stunning and conveniently categorized by decade. A beautiful section of movie star style and one devoted entirely to Audrey Hepburn. I suggest you hop on over there to have a look.

Here is a small sample to drool over!

"Stars with Style"

1950s

1940s

1930s

1920s