FUCK YEAH FANCY LADIES!

Fancy ladies, from actresses to Astors and back again.

[historical-nonfiction]

A Study, No. 1. Rudolph Eickemeyer (American photographer, 1862–1932), circa 1901

[digitalpubliclibraryofamerica]

We are celebrating National Bookmobile Day, part of this year’s National Library Week, with some really cool images of libraries on the road (and, in one case, the beach)! 

Source images (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) from the North Carolina Digital Heritage Center.

[coolchicksfromhistory]

National League of Women Voters group, 10/22/23.

[fuckyeahfancyladies]

Fancy ladies and lads in the US probably already know this (hopefully) but today's election day! Don't forget to go out and vote if you haven't already.

[ancientfaces]

Beautiful Antique Photo

This is such a beautiful photo of Zoe Winnifred Bell taken in the late 1800s. What a hat! [ Original: Zoe Winnifred Bell ] 

[coolchicksfromhistory]

Frida Kahlo standing next to an agave plant during a photo shoot for Vogue magazine, 1937.

[fuckyeahfancyladies]

I hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween last night! If you dressed up as a fancy lady, you should let me know! I dressed up as a suffragist. It was a really fun costume! What were you?

[greatgdean]

Haunted by MGstudio

[fuckyeahfancyladies]

Alright folks, that's it. Hope you had a wonderful, fancy Halloween!

[fuckyeahfancyladies]

"Portrait of an articulated skeleton on a bentwood chair," circa 1900. Image from the Powerhouse Museum via Flickr Commons.

[forgottenantiquities-blog]

[fuckyeahfancyladies]

Maude Adams in the title role in L’Aiglon, a play about Napoleon’s son Napoleon II. The play was originally written for Sarah Bernhardt. In October 1900, Maude Adams starred in the English translation, premiering at New York’s Knickerbocker Theater.

(via forgottenantiquities)

[fuckyeahfancyladies]

Theda Bara exploded out of Hollywood in 1915, one of the world’s first major sex symbols. According to the Hairpin:

As the star of A Fool There Was, she embodied the cinematic “vamp” — the evil, predatory woman who seduces men with her dark ways, sucks him dry, and leaves him for ruin. Her name was no longer Theodosia Goodman, but Theda Bara — an anagram, naturally, for “ARAB DEATH.” Her mother was a French actress, her father was an Italian sculptor, yet she had been born “in the shadow of the Sphinx.” She dabbled in the Occult; she communed with dark spirits. She had been reincarnated several times and lunched on lettuce and raw beef. Girl even became her own verb: to pull a “ThedaBara” was to “seduce and destroy.”

In reality, she was Theodosia Goodman, a Jewish actress from Cincinnati. But, truth be told, if we were from Cincinnati, we would probably put on a fake French accent and say we were born in the shadow of the Sphinx, too.

[citizennihilist-deactivated2018]

[fuckyeahfancyladies]

Many fancy ladies were interested in Spiritualism.

[fuckyeahfancyladies]

"Costume day at St. James' Presbyterian Church Sunday School, Bowen," circa 1912. Image from State Library of Queensland via Flickr Commons.

[fuckyeahfancyladies]

French writer Colette in a cat costume in 1912. She’s best known for her novel Gigi, which became a musical, discovering Audrey Hepburn, and her tumultuous love life. According to Josephine Baker's son Jean-Claude, the two women had a long-lasting affair.

[fuckyeahfancyladies]

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

"Three Skeletons at the Piano," 1893. Image from the National Archives UK via Flickr Commons

[fuckyeahfancyladies]

"Portrait of a young woman dressed as Boadecia or Mother England," circa 1900. Image from the Powerhouse Museum via Flickr Commons.

[fuckyeahfancyladies]

"Group portrait of women in costume," no date. Image from Miami University Libraries via Flickr Commons. All excellent costume ideas if you're still trying to throw something together.

[fuckyeahfancyladies]

"Woman in period costume," circa 1925. Image from Australian National Maritime Museum’s William Hall collection via Flickr Commons. It may be a publicity photo for the popular musical Madame Pompadour, or it may be a fancy dress costume (possibly inspired by the musical).