Showing posts with label gibson girl. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gibson girl. Show all posts

Friday, April 24, 2015

Gibson Girls and Instant collections




Maud Davis Baker was a pioneer in the world of photography. She was one of the rare American women who had her own photography studio in the 1890s in Helena Montana. At a time when women were not allowed much freedom, Mrs. Baker had a studio of her own and made a living from her art. Later in life, in the 1920's, she moved to Hollywood and was a member of the growing art crowd in LA, the Hollywood Art Association and the Hollywood Woman's Club with her daughter Viroque Baker.
I've just listed is this charming collection of portraits mounted on sepia paper and signed by Baker. It has 13 lovely women, likely high school or college graduates, most with the fad hairdo of the day, the Gibson Girl, invented by popular illustrator Charles Dana Gibson. About 1890 he wanted to draw a version of a young  American woman of the times, that wasn't a free-thinker or suffragette. The Gibson Girl is the opposite of the late 1800's "New Woman" who wanted liberty, freedom, a career, and the right to manage her own life as a human and not as a wife or second class citizen.  Gibson's girl, however, is smart, rich and enjoys her freedom. You can read more at wikipedia. 

Call it a gallery wall, or a collection, choosing to decorate your wall with a group of objects, some pictures, some frames, some paintings, and whatever strikes your fancy can really add that free-spirited bohemian aura. If the objects all share 1 or 2 similarities, it will come together as an artistic whole.




Perhaps the similarity is color or shape, maybe it is subject matter such as a grouping of  dog paintings and pictures, or maybe beach theme art and crafts. When choosing a collection to hang together add differences as well as sameness. Strive for different colors in the same family, and don't forget texture. If it is too bland, hang a few baskets, or rough weavings, or hang some antlers. Although hipsters have overdone it recently, it will come back to popularity because it is an element of casual decor that is always in style. It adds a cabin, cozy, arty look to almost any arrangement.

I've just listed an antique hand carved walnut frame. It combines patina, authenticity and gravitas to any grouping of objects. This one is at least 100 years old, and likely even older. It has no markings. It can hold a photo or painting that's 8" x 10", but I've always loved it alone, loving the grain, the patina and the texture.



Here's a few more rooms with great collections arranged with a bohemian artsy vibe in mind. These are on Pinterest, so if they are your pics, let me know and I'll give credit.




Tuesday, January 4, 2011

What's new pussycat...

Laura Ashley and early Ralph Lauren....2 romantic favorites.
The style is sweet, feminine and schoolmarm in a very fun way.

Puffed sleeves, square neckline and lots of gathers...these 2 styles are retro. Meaning a new design that recalls an original design of earlier times, these are based on turn of the century styles...The Last Century!
These are fresh additions in my etsy shop.. These are another 70s kind of style. We usually think of cheesy polyester, hippie or sleek disco styles, but there was another look....and it was nostalgic and happy.


With its puffy sleeves and fitted bodice, this black velvet dress is very Gibson Girl of the 1890s.

Drawn by Charles Dana Gibson, she was the IT girl of her time.
His drawings set the fashion standard of the day. Gibson Girl images were everywhere....in books,newspapers,magazines and also in wallpaper, china plates, matchboxes and umbrella stands. Those things are the antiques of today!






This is a modern pattern for a jacket that shows the Gibson elements
.....based on illustrations of the original time period....about 1880 to 1905.

the Laura Ashley label, Made in Great Britain.



How cute is Laura Ashley?
This cute is how cute!
from Nibs blog, is this sweet styling of a classic similar (tho printed) Laura Ashley dress.





Streamlining the puffy sleeve, this lacy blouse is late 70s/early 80s Ralph Lauren. Sweet and simple with dolman sleeves. Looking back to mid 1800's, Ralph does Western Cowgirl of the Prairies.

The 70s skirt is also a retro style, with it's fitted yoke and very full gathers, the American West with its romantic spunky gals......very Little House on the Prairie....





Ralph Lauren. American.

Taking our myths and giving them a practical twist.



Whoa! so Schoolmarm. me likey. I had bunches of this kind of blouse in the late 70s and into the mid 80s....of the 20th century.
Schoolmarm. yeah, perfect for being sent  to the principals office, and forced to spend 3 hours in the library.
Lots of eyelet lace, high collar and a cute tie, looking very Gibson Girl again!
Not a famous label, this blouse, it's of the style of the 1970s....by way of 1900.


because of the cold cold cold weather of late I moved my picture-taking into the house and played dress-up in the living room.