It's My Birthday

It's my birthday! I decided to post some of my favorite things because, Its My Birthday!

 What's not to like about these two?  Great hats Great attitude.

 What can I say? Some people defy the odds.

 Ewan McGregor...

 Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette, I love everything about it. The colors, fabrics, sets, music, it's all wonderful.

 This is such a great fashion poster and if you're part of the Cool Chicks Club... well you know who you are.

 Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day, a totally charming movie.

 Garbo Talks will show you what unconditional love looks like. Anne Bancroft is, as always, amazing.

 Chanel, #5, Warhol. Hard to beat that.

 A baby on a buffet.

 The movie Bell, Book and Candle. Witchcraft in New York in the 1950's and that dress is amazing.

 All you really need to know.

 Eloise and Betsy Johnson, a match made in pink heaven.

 Toile covered anything.

 The movie Indiscreet. Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman laughing, happy, beautiful.

 I love this photo of Colin Firth.

 I love this photo of Colin Firth.

 This is a seriously funny movie. And yes that is a photo of Colin Firth.

 I love New York.

 Water colors by Muriel Eulich, especially her women and pearls series.

 The movie Auntie Mame. The sets are incredible. They tell the story.

 Mad Men  Mad Men  Mad Men

 Flowers especially peonies.

 More flowers

 Anything designed by Tricia Guild

 This photo is so cool. When I look at it my imagination takes over.

My wonderful, beautiful, amazing family.
Happy Birthday to me.

The Paris Wife

I recently read the book The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. It is the story of the courtship and married life of Hadley Richardson and Ernest Hemingway. It is written as a novel. The characters and situations are real. To fill in the blanks the author used her imagination.

Hadley and Ernest

Hadley, Ernest and their son, Bumby.

The storyline and time frame is the same as Hemingway's memoir A Moveable Feast, Paris in the 1920's. A time when lives were filled with artists, writers, booze and a mixture of bohemians both wealthy and not.
It is interesting to read the story from Hadley's perspective. She was a strong and compelling woman. She was also content to stay in the background and let Ernest be the star. She claimed she didn't want to be a modern girl. She was comfortable being old fashioned. I think she felt safe there, being in the background and being old fashioned. It kept her out of the line of fire from whatever new scheme was brewing.
With his early writing success Ernest's ego began to explode. He had always been macho and at times a bully. Things progressed from there. He seemed to take it for granted that he could do whatever he wanted. If he thought it would make him a better writer it must be the right thing to do. Even old fashioned Hadley wouldn't put up with that forever.
I like Hadley. She stayed true to herself. She knew when it was over. It hurt but she got on with her life.

The story is fascinating because of where and when it is set. Paris in the 20's was a hot bed of creativity. The cast of characters included Gertrude Stein, Alice B Toklas, F Scott Fitzgerald and his Zelda. Quite a group.

Gertrude Stein and Alice B Toklas

Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald

Zelda, Scott and daughter Scottie

The Paris Wife, that alone conjures up all sorts of romantic notions. It would have been hard to resist that call to adventure.

Christian Be'rard

Christian Be'rard was born in Paris. His short exuberant life was from 1902-1949. He worked as an artist, set and costume designer, fashion and book illustrator and a portrait painter.  He was also witty, charming, kind and charismatic. He was sought after socially as well as creatively.

I first took notice of Christian because of his fluid, elegant architectural elements painted on walls.

His imaginative work brings a lively style to interiors.

Christian also worked in fashion. He illustrated for Vogue Magazine in the 1930's. He added his own layer of style to these creative works.

The fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli used his talents to illustrate her beach wear collection. Gorgeous drawings.

This is a silk scarf Be'rard designed. His talents go on and on.

This sketch was done as an illustration for Colette's story of Gigi. It is  absolutely charming and delightful.

This loose floral pattern was a carpet he designed in 1940. It would be perfect in current modern interiors.

This is a sketch done for a set design of a 1935 production of Margot.

Christian often worked with his friend and fellow creative Jean Cocteau.  These illustrations show set designs for Cocteau's screen version of La Belle et la Bete.  Dark, beautiful and imaginative.

Christian Be'rard at work creating.

His vice was his undoing. Christian's life was brought to an early end in part by his addiction to opium.

To me Christian Be'ard is a truly creative and talented artist. What I find fascinating is how he could work and create in so many areas.  A true Bohemian Creative.

You can read more about his work and life in the book

Christian Be'rard by Boris Kochno