Summer On The Run

I can relate to the girl on the go in the amazing Elmer Batters photograph above. Over the last few months, I have been absolutely mad trying to prepare for a gallery exhibition while still venturing out on my almost daily hunts for all things beautiful and fabulous. I have been wearing many hats, both figuratively and literally.

My art making process and my vintage hunting and gathering process have many similarities. The art making process begins with a concept and then a pursuit resulting in an often frenetic gathering of images and materials. My eyes are trained like an aesthetic athlete to sort out the rubbish, to know when, where, what and why. When hunting for vintage pieces, I must be able to instantly size up whether I can see it being worn by a fantastically chic individual, and I must stress the word individual.

Below is a wonderful summer photo of Grace Kelly about to set sail, at least, in her imagination.

My art has taken me all over the world and given me a chance to peruse insane, labyrinthine flea markets where I have found countless treasures, some too genius to share, like in France, where I found my beloved original Paco Rabanne chain link bag, or in Holland, where I found a divine and perfectly cut leather jacket that I wore until the lining began to disintegrate into a long, black fringe that would trail behind me like a gothic pirate or an urchin in a Dickens novel. At my favorite flea market in Berlin, rusty dental tools share company with unbeatable Soviet movie posters and stacks of black and white photos of questionable characters in unsavory situations, often in uniform.

Below are a few gorgeous photos of the Austrian actress Romy Schneider.

I love this photo of Romy Schneider looking sexy and happy, caught in the paparazzi's flash.

I am the first to admit that I have never been the summery type. I am much more suited for drizzly days that cast silvery shadows on wet cobblestone streets, the type of weather that begs for velvet and greatcoats. Born in the wrong era, a constant refrain...

The summer does bring me a few sublime delights, such as the first bloom of my rare Oriental lilies. Their color, saturated and sublime, like fire roasted peaches in Champagne.

This summer, New York City is awash with superb art and fashion exhibitions. "Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a must-see for anyone interested in the history of fashion and the direct role art plays as an inspiration for a designer. My love of Elsa Schiaparelli's designs is well known, and this is a perfect and unprecedented opportunity to see into the grand dame of the surreal's wonderfully twisted mind. The exhibition runs through August 19th.

At the Whitney Museum, Yayoi Kusama wraps you in walls of "Infinity Nets" and dazzles with unbridled obsession, sometimes magical and sometimes frightening, but always genuine and inspiring. This exhibition runs through September 30th.

Below is a photo of a free spirited mother and child that reminds me of my earliest summer memories.

Summers in California were dry and smelled of wildflowers. Color abounded on the summer frocks girls would wear with wild hair and beachy tans and on children's faces with the designs of flowers and clowns painted on flushed cheeks by hippie chicks with braids and macrame bags.

I have an affinity for the psychedelic. I love bold patterns that have a hallucinatory kaleidoscopic effect. I am happy to see girls today embracing wild psychedelic maxi-dresses this summer. It looks so fresh and easy, but still dressed up. I love the pairing of wild patterns and ethnic jewelry topped off with the perfect floppy hat.

Summer in the city is all about garden parties held under lantern strung trees. These festive settings are the perfect occasion for dressing up. I prefer an exotic look, maybe wispy chiffon in the deepest emerald green paired with an armful of 1960s jeweled bangles, wild and gorgeous clamper bracelets with glittering, snarling animal faces, or Chinese silk pajamas worn with a coolie's hat and golden Moroccan slippers, what could be more chic?

Below is a beautiful 1920s photo of the Brooklyn born and bred vaudevillian actress Lilyan Tashman, fully embracing the Chinoiserie glamour I adore, perhaps she even graced a garden party right here in Brooklyn.

Keeping cool as temperatures rise is priority number one and everyone knows that the best way may just be a proper cocktail. This summer, we are spicing up the mix and then throwing it on ice in a concoction that we have created in honor of the best of summer fashion that we call "The Psychedelic Sizzler".

Cocktail Of The Week: "The Psychedelic Sizzler"

serves four

ingredients

4oz silver tequila

3oz pulpless orange juice

4tsp sugar

1c fresh raspberries, rinsed

1tsp sriracha

3oz chilled champagne

shaved ice

directions

in a blender, blend tequila, sugar and raspberries until smooth.

pour mixture through a fine sieve into a glass bowl

in a cocktail shaker, combine orange juice and sriracha, shake well

add champagne to orange juice and sriracha mixture

in four champagne flutes, divide champagne/orange/sriracha blend equally between glasses

to each flute, add shaved ice to about 3/4" below rim of glass

spoon raspberry tequila mixture over shaved ice equally between the glasses

Enjoy!

In closing, we have one of my favorite Japanese jazz bands - Soil & "Pimp" Sessions - with their classic song "Summer Goddess".

Sultry '61

This week, we at Pearl Modern have decided to focus on the year 1961, because it was an exceptional year and now, fifty years later, it is fascinating to see just how many classic films, performances, songs and fashions were produced in this one year alone. We unfortunately were not yet alive to partake of the cultural riches of this amazing year, but through digging, we have unearthed some timeless gems. 

Below is a photograph of Princess Grace of Monaco and President John F. Kennedy during a visit to the White House, May 24, 1961 taken by UPI staffer James Altherton.

This was the beginning of a new era. The inauguration of John Kennedy ushered in a new optimism and Jackie Kennedy brought a new kind of glamour to the American spotlight that was classically elegant, yet fresh and easygoing, even at times cutting edge, with the early designs of Oleg Cassini.

The excitement in the air was palpable. Abstract expressionism was moving into Pop Art, with Roy Lichtenstein making his first Pop paintings using cartoon imagery, laying the groundwork for a sea change in how we see the world.

Many influential books were published in 1961, including such classics as Joseph Heller's "Catch-22" and two personal favorites, J.D. Salinger's "Franny and Zooey" and Roald Dahl's "James and the Giant Peach". The members of the Beat Generation were producing some of their best works. William S. Burroughs, after shocking the world in 1959 with "Naked Lunch" went on to write "The Soft Machine" in 1961. 

Below is a photo of William S. Burroughs in Tangier, Morocco taken by Allen Ginsburg in 1961.

Some of the most memorable and stylish films were released in 1961. Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood starred in "Splendor in the Grass". Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren starred in "El Cid" and Natalie Wood starred in the timeless classic "West Side Story". 

The one film from this year that set the fashion world aflutter had to be Federico Fellini's "La Dolce Vita".

Marcello Mastroianni and Anita Ekberg were stunningly sexy in this film as seen below in stills from the movie.

Below is a great song from 1961 by Julie London entitled Evenin' played over a video from Federico Fellini's later film "8 1/2" from 1963.

Another great Italian film from 1961 with incredible cinematography and a phenomenal cast is Michelangelo Antonioni's "La Notte". Marcello Mastroianni is again the epitome of suave alongside the brilliant Jeanne Moreau and Monica Vitti. Below is the original trailer for the film.

Below is a wonderful video of the great Brazilian jazz Samba and Bossa Nova singer Sylvia Telles performing Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Demais" in 1961.

Audrey Hepburn was one of the reigning darlings of cinema in 1961. This is the year that "Breakfast at Tiffany's" was released. Below is a terrific photo from 1961 of her looking charming and chic in a straw hat.

Fashion was in love with glamour in '61. Women dressed for evening in glittering gowns, furs and elaborate jewelry. This was also the early beginnings of a more mod look and it is very exciting to see how a new creativity was being born. 

Below is an advertisement for Lindner Fur Salon of Switzerland, who specialized in designer furs from such couturiers as Christian Dior. This advertisement appeared in Du Kulturelle Monatsschrift, Winter, 1961.

Below is a photo from 1961 of a beautiful young woman in a fur coat standing in front of a sleek MG convertible. We are not sure whether she is a model or the lucky lady of the house. She looks very much like January Jones as Betty Draper on "Mad Men" or a young Martha Stewart during her modeling days.

Below are a few high fashion images from issues of Bazaar Magazine from 1961.

Below is a photograph of Margot McKendry and China Machado with members of the French press - dressed by Lanvin-Castillo and Heim, Paris 1961 taken by Richard Avedon.

1961 was a stellar year for French films. Jean-Luc Godard directed the classic Nouvelle Vague film "Une Femme Est Une Femme" or "A Woman Is A Woman", starring Jean-Claude Brialy, Jean-Paul Belmondo and the ravishing Anna Karina.

Below is an incredibly well-styled photo of the actress Anna Karina from 1961.

Below is another musical interlude from 1961, Françoise Hardy singing "Oh Oh Chéri".

In 1961, John Huston directed "The Misfits" starring Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift and Clark Gable. This would be Clark Gable's last film. Below is a photo of Clark Gable taken on the set.

Below is a photograph of Marilyn Monroe as a sultry cowgirl from "The Misfits".

 

In a highlight from another great film from '61, the great John Cassavetes directed musical superstar Bobby Darin and Stella Stevens in "Too Late Blues".

Next is a trailer for the film narrated by John Cassavetes.

Here we have a wonderful montage of stills from "Mad Men" with musical accompaniment by Gene Pitney, performing "A Town Without Pity" from 1961.

1961 marked the infamous comeback concert and recording of the legendary Judy Garland "Live at Carnegie Hall". In closing, we present you with a video montage and song selection by this queen of stage and screen.