Saturday, February 26, 2011

saturday style icon(s): ziegfeld follies

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From 1907-1931, Florenz Ziegfeld's Follies reigned supreme on the Broadway stage, and his chorus girls were notoriously eligible and adored young bachelorettes. Inspired by the Parisien Folies Bergère, the Ziegfeld Follies was a theatrical revue that combined vaudeville and what we consider musical theatre on Broadway today. Not only were these women known for their beauty, but they were decked in elaborate costumes designed by the great sartorial minds of the early twentieth century. These were the original showgirls, and the sense of fun and excitement in their merry lives is something that I don't think will ever be recaptured in contemporary entertainment. Sure, their sex appeal was exploited (most of the photos I found of these girls were [tasteful] full nudes), but there was an energy and vivacity in their eyes that I find enormously inspiring. And the fashion?? Fantastic.

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(most images found here)

4 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing this, I'd never heard of them. Love the one which looks like she's wearing fringed shorts and braces, and the one with the huge rectangular skirt. The third from the end in the black tutu looks like a pic of sarah sophie flicker I've seen in Lula.

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  2. I LOVE that you featured the Ziegfield Follies. 1920s style was the best!

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  3. beautiful!

    2 new posts
    http://pinklemonincrystal.blogspot.com

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  4. Amazing photos, I love that era! :))

    http://stripesandscarlets.blogspot.com/

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