Curiouser & Curiouser

~Happy New Year~

2014-01-02T08:07:00.004-08:00

Happy New Year,

lots of love,

The Curiouser And Curiouser Blog

xxx

Burlesque Beauties of the 1890's

2012-03-14T07:39:00.000-07:00

More pictures after the break....

By modern standards, the burlesque dancers of the 1890s are barely deserve notice for their attire - tights covering their legs from foot to waist, many wore long sleeves to cover their arms and nary a spot of cleavage to be found.

But in their time, these women were positively scandalous. Their form-fitting clothes showed off the shapes of their legs and thighs. Their corsets accentuated their bosoms. And everywhere they performed men threw themselves into frenzies of erotic desire.

Vintage photos collected by Charles H. McCaghy, a professor emeritus at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, reveal just how different beauty was 120 years ago than it is today.

Burlesque began in the United States when Lydia Thompson brought her troupe, the British Blondes, to New York City stages in 1868.

They were independent, confident women who performed on stage and defied most of the social and cultural mores of women of the day. And they were as wildly popular as they were reviled.

Most people in 'proper' society viewed these ladies as being in the same category as common street prostitutes -- selling their bodies for sex.

But men adored them. Their acts were considered 'low brow,' but that simply made them more approachable for the common man.

It was said some men were willing to kill themselves in fits of lustful passion after seeing Ms Thompson's shows. The veracity of these stories, however, was somewhat dubious.

The secret of burlesque dancers' sexual appeal was not that they revealed skin and sensitive body parts -- like modern-day strippers. Burlesque was so scandalous because women showed off their feminine shapes.

Where most women wore layers of skirts and petticoats, concealing their legs and thighs, burlesque dancers wore tights.

This led to the frenzy of 'loose women in tights,' which might seem ironic to modern sensibilities.

Women of the Victorian era were expected to be modest, conservative and concerned about domestic affairs of the home.

Burlesque performers were anything but this. Some posters of the day even depicted tall, burly, Amazonian women who emanated a sense of danger.

In their own way, burlesque dancers -- while being the object of sexual desire for men -- worked to improve the standing of women in American society.

They presented the image of a woman who willfully defied the place society had dictated. Through exaggerated humor, performers addressed political issues of the day and spoke freely and challenged the men in their audience.

By the 1920s, however, burlesque declined with the advent of motion pictures, vaudevillian theater and Broadway revues.

Vintage Colonial Steamer Trunk

2012-03-06T12:15:00.002-08:00

I recently sold this on eBay...it was sad to see it go, but I'm sure it went to a loving home. Perhaps they shall use it for their next trip on the Orient Express or for sailing up the Nile? Ah! Now where did I put my Agatha Christie book....

more pictures of the trunk after the jump...

Liefdestaal

2012-03-06T12:02:00.000-08:00

"Keep Young And Beautiful"

2011-08-20T14:04:00.000-07:00

I've always loved Annie Lennox - did you know her song "Keep Young And Beautiful" is a remake of an old Eddie Cantor song from a 1930's Busby Berkely film?

It's a bit racist, to be honest! See the Annie Lennox version after the jump!....

Art Nouveau Dressing Table

2011-08-20T13:49:00.000-07:00

Further to my last post, I've since bought another piece of furniture! I bought this Edwardian art nouveau dressing table from eBay for £50 - I think it's an absolute bargain as you can't buy new flat-pack MDF bedside drawers for under £75....I love it and can't wait to show you all the pictures when it is installed into my bigger house! xxx

"Stand By Me"

2011-08-20T13:41:00.000-07:00

I'm in the process of moving to a larger house and felt I needed a few bits of furniture to fill the space! So, I bought this Victorian wash stand off eBay for £50. I'm in love with it and can't wait to put it in my new house. I love the little mirror on the top - it's so unusual and very shabby chic!

"It's Only A Paper Moon"

2011-08-20T13:32:00.000-07:00

I really love 'paper moon' postcards and images. I recently saw these old German postcards for sale on eBay and had to have them! I love the colors that have been painted over the image, they are super sweet and would look great in a 'shabby chic' vintage French style room. These can easily be picked up at charity shops, antique markets and online for small amounts of money. More pictures after the jump.......

this post has been featured on "Pink Saturday" at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/pink-saturday/
and The Tablescaper at http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/

The White Rabbit

2011-04-11T06:19:00.000-07:00

My new favourite find - in time for Easter! All dressed for Spring this vintage inspired rabbit is ready to hop into my house this Spring! Made of reproduction vintage paper and decoupaged on a custom cut board in the same silhouette. With a beautiful yellow bow - I will put more pictures up when he is settled into his new house! :) What do you think I should call him? Leave a suggestion for me!

Happy Easter

2011-04-10T01:46:00.000-07:00

In celebration of Easter, here are some vintage Easter cards for you to enjoy!........loads of pics after the jump!

Liquorice Allsorts

2011-04-05T05:18:00.000-07:00

It was Mother's Day on Sunday and I gave my Mum a bangle and earrings - in the form of her favourite sweets - Liquorice Allsorts - they are so lifelike and realistic I was tempted to put them in my mouth to check they really were actually handmade using a special art clay. Yum!

If I Only Had A Heart

2011-04-05T05:15:00.000-07:00

I recently bought this pin for my Mum who retired (early) - I think it is adorable - she already owns several pieces of jewellery with a Wizard Of Oz theme that I have given her! I'm jealous I can't wear it myself!

"True Blue . . . baby, I love you..."

2011-04-05T05:08:00.000-07:00

I am in love with this furniture that was recently listed on Ebay. Sadly, I didn't win the auction, but have decided to transform some old furniture and imitate the finish used on these chest of drawers. You can pick up any old 'brown' type furniture cheaply and transform it using no more than a paintbrush, some paint and a few new knobs! More information on transforming furniture can be found on the blog 'My Romantic Home'; http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2007/08/painting-furniture-step-by-step.html

seen at the 'Charm of Home' blog 's 'Home Sweet Home #9 linkparty' here; http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/2011/04/home-sweet-home-9.html and also seen at The House In The Roses Show Off Your Cottage Monday http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/2011/04/show-off-your-cottage-monday.html

"I'm late! I'm late! For a very important date!"...

2011-04-05T04:26:00.001-07:00

The Madhatter's Tea Party?

2011-03-29T14:08:00.000-07:00

I bought this teapot in a RSPCA charity shop a few years ago...perhaps it once belonged to a certain Madhatter? It also reminds me of designs by Cath Kidston! Anyone want to come to my tea party?

"I'm late, I'm late for a very important date!"

This post has been listed at a link party at How Sweet The Sound; http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/ and The Tablescaper's "Seasonal Sunday" link party at http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/2011/04/easter-booksseasonal-sundays-44.html also seen at The House In The Roses Show Off Your Cottage Monday http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/2011/04/show-off-your-cottage-monday.html also seen at A Holiday Have link party at http://www.aholidayhaven.com/ also seen at Pink Saturday at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/pink-saturday/

"Curiouser and curiouser!"

2011-03-29T13:57:00.000-07:00

I am in L-O-V-E with these Pierrot / Harlequin clown dummy boards I bought. They remind me of the old 'Alice In Wonderland' drawings by John Tenniel.

"Curiouser and curiouser!"

Mon premier poste

2011-03-29T09:59:00.000-07:00

I'm Struan, 27 from Dundee and love anything that is old, unusual, and unique. I want to share pictures with you of things I have made, things I have bought and things I find interesting. I hope you enjoy my site, xxx