Marilee also did the beautiful makeup and hair, which works well with the fashion aesthetic even though we intended it to be fantasy. The dress is by Kay Gnagey of Originals by Kay and is based on an original ensemble in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s fashion collection. The Chantilly lace shawl is an antique, and the fan is from Amazon with a vintage silk ribbon from Etsy.
Catherine Morland photographed by Marilee Caruso for Retro Lovely’s Victoriana special edition.Catherine Morland photographed by Marilee Caruso for Retro Lovely’s Victoriana special edition.Catherine Morland photographed by Marilee Caruso for Retro Lovely’s Victoriana special edition.Catherine Morland photographed by Marilee Caruso for Retro Lovely’s Victoriana special edition.
Our version of the October, 1962 Playboy cover.October, 1962 Playboy cover, featuring that month’s centerfold (aka “playmate”), Laura Young.
Marilee did the fabulous early 1960s makeup and hair (and lent me those awesome vintage earrings!), and I supplied my own clothes and vintage copy of the magazine. The playmate necklace (crystal pave bunny head) is a cheapie I got years ago on Ebay, the velvet dress is the olive green velvet Starlet Wiggle from the Vixen line by Micheline Pitt, and the shoes are my old reliable Christian Louboutin Piou-Piou patent stiletto pumps.
Catherine Morland posing with the magazine that inspired the shoot. That centerfold is apparently VERY spicy.I love the simple set Marilee created for the shoot. It mimics the original while also adding texture.
I was basically channeling one of my old Vampire: the Masquerade LARP characters, a dancer from Clan Toreador whom I named Lily after Lily Bart in Edith Wharton’s House of Mirth. Marilee did some very romantic Rachael-from-Blade-Runner-ish hair and makeup, and I wore one of my “Elisabeth” dressing gowns from Catherine D’Lish, a black lace bodysuit from Torrid, garter belt and stockings by What Katie Did, and a pair of signed Manolo Blahnik Campari pumps I got third-hand for like $35. Oh, and the fangs are one of two great custom pairs I got from Kaos Kustom Fangs.
So apparently, Anne Sharp’s presentation copy of Emma recently re-sold for a record-setting £375,000. It’s now the “most expensive” Jane Austen work to date. The new owner is from the U.S., but has decided to loan it indefinitely for display at Chawton House (Jane Austen’s brother Edward’s home in Hampshire, which is now a center dedicated to research on women writers). Jane Austen’s most famous home, Chawton Cottage, is located on the estate and serves as a museum dedicated to the author’s life and works.
More on this sale, Jane Austen’s Emma, and early editions of and reactions to the work:
Some of you may remember my 2014 “Rio” shoot from 2014 with Miss Missy Photography. I was super-happy with the pictures (I love Duran Duran and Patrick Nagel), but never expected them to ever be published as they were such a weird combination of 1980s and midcentury pinup aesthetics.
Well, fast-forward to 2022 and Retro Lovely’s 20th Century Retrospective series, and I realized that my Rio pics finally had a chance – the 1980s special edition! And indeed, four of the images from the shoot have been included in Volume 2 of this years ’80s retrospective.
My Patrick Nagel “Rio” pinup pics are in Retro Lovely’s 80s Vol 2 this year.
Thanks to Missy for doing such a great job, and for helping me submit the photos this year.
To grab copies of my most recent pinup, keep an eye on my Linktree. 🙂
So my friend Elizabeth and I recently attended a Persuasion-themed Jane Austen picnic sponsored by The Greater Bay Area Costumers’ Guild. It was an excuse to wear Regency, and in particular to acquire a copy of the beautiful gold Regency gown in the Kyoto Costume Institute collection.
Gold silk 1805-ish Regency gown with beret and red silk spencer. I love my pineapple reticule!
