Beauty
Hatched, Matched, Dispatched – and Patched! One of Three Exhibits to See at the American Museum
Mourning garments, heavily beaded with jet, contrast with delicate bridal gowns originating from the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as christening robes crafted from cascades of handmade broderie anglaise lace. A tablecloth embroidered with the names of colleagues and friends of an American soldier who took part in the D-Day landings is incomplete. His British fiancée stopped embroidering the cloth when she heard he had been killed in action. The stitched decoration remains unfinished, the needle still in the cloth. more »
Flaming June: A Woman As Hard to Look Away From As Is Her Creator's London House
Frederic Leighton conveys the weight of Flaming June's body and suggests the pulse of living flesh beneath gauzy veils of fabric. The vibrant colors of gown, scarves, and hair blaze against cool white stone, and the reflection of the bright midday sun on the shimmering sea in the background evokes a sultry atmosphere brimming with sensuality. more »
Clothes Encounters: Where were the modest plaid skirts, bow-tied blouses, and shiny loafers my girl friends and I wore to high school?
Rose Madeline Mula writes: Something was definitely wrong with this picture. Earrings, nose rings, eyebrow rings, bizarre hair-dos, purple nail polish ... on the boys. Even weirder, one of them was actually wearing a bathrobe and slippers. I swear. The others sported second-skin-tight bicycle shorts or kaleidoscopic, ridiculously baggy pants obviously stolen from Barnum & Bailey. more »
Lady in Red: Perhaps Adjust Your Wardrobe and Alert Chris de Burgh To Re-release His Song
"Recent research suggests that red is an aphrodisiac for men viewing women. Men viewing women on a red background or in red clothing find them more attractive and sexually desirable, intend to spend more money on them, and choose to sit closer to them." One experiment situation: "Imagine that you (are interested in casual sex with a guy. You) decide to join a dating website because you have heard that it is a good way to find a guy (for this type of relationship). The website allows you to post one picture, and you decide to take a picture of yourself using your cell phone." more »