New Year....

                             As this year comes to a close I find my self wondering where the HELL it went in the first place!  Not that im complaining because quite frankly it wasnt the best and oddly enough I find more and more people that agree with me on that....so rather than make all those new years resolutions I know im not going to keep I have decided to change my life for myself by myself....after all no one will love you like yourself right lol?!  So heres to me and to anyone else reading this that has the brass you know whats like I do to make the world come to you....this is going be a good year because I said so dammit...CHEERS!

                                                        

I couldnt resist a few oldie but goodies starring my FAVORITE drink so I hope you enjoy....Have a happy New Year....   

Gibson Girls

                                                          The Gibson Girl was the personification of a feminine ideal as portrayed in the satirical pen and ink illustrated stories created by illustrator Charles Dana Gibson during a 20-year period spanning the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in the United States.
Some people argue that the "Gibson Girl" was the first national standard for feminine beauty. For the next two decades, Gibson's fictional images were extremely popular. There was merchandising of "saucers, ashtrays, tablecloths, pillow covers, chair covers, souvenir spoons, screens, fans, umbrella stands", all bearing her image. The artist saw his creation as representing "thousands of American girls".

           
                                                The previous paragraph was a little rundown from the mighty Wikipedia.  Gibson girls may have been mere illustrations at first but eventually real life muses surfaced as living embodiments of the previous turn of the centurys feminine ideal.  One of my very favorites is Camille Clifford.  I honestly dont believe her face is anything spectacular in fact shes a very simple type of pretty but whatever she may lack with regards to her face I feel she more than makes up for with her rockin corseted figure!  Talk about a body to die for.                               

 Love,
Athena

 

Billy DeVorss

                                                                      'Help Wanted!', 1943

William Albartus DeVorss, more commonly known as Billy DeVorss, was born in St. Joseph, Missouri in 1908. He graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1934 and soon after moved to New York to pursue his career in both pin-up art and advertising.
While his work does not have the almost photographic quality of Vargas, it is his use of colour that make Billy DeVorss's work stand out. He worked almost exclusively in pastels, due to both the speed at which he could work and the effect it produced.

That little bit being said he has always been one of my most favorite pin up artists mainly because the color in most of his art is so much bolder than you would think possible with mere pastels.  In fact the yellow background picture above titled "Help Wanted" from 1943 is one of my very favorite of all time with regards to pin ups.  That is if I had to attempt to pick in the first place since I love them all in my collection.  Its honestly like asking me to pick my favorite pair of shoes and thats impossible!  In fact even though I have about 100 or so pairs (I lost track a long time ago LOL) I feel there is always room for more shoes the same way there is always room for more pin ups.  Must be that whole primal gatherer thing us women are so famous for right?   Here are some more examples of his incredible work....

                                                                       Orchid Girl 1938    

                                                   
                                                                     'Untitled', 1938

                                                                                

Love,
Athena

Homage to a Cropped Leg Zebra Print Jumpsuit

Once again only my beautiful nanny could pull this look off!  If anyone had ever mentioned a cropped leg zebra print  jumpsuit as a potential fashion choice I would have asked at what asylum they planned on wearing it to exactly.  Then came this picture....even I must now admit I would have been wrong and I would like to think that doesnt happen very much.  They are many more layers to my spitfire German nanny than I had previously thought.  So heres to you nanny....for totally rocking that outfit!

Love,
Athena 

My Beautiful Nanny

My nanny is my grandmother and she is the most incredible woman in the world to me.  This summer while visiting I had the pleasure of starting to archive all the family photos with her. Honestly "start" doesnt even begin to describe what Pandoras box I have unleashed upon myself but I have always been a glutton for punishment.  All that aside I have found the most incredible photos and family stories in doing so and I wouldnt change anything ! These little pieces of moments in time recalled by my nanny herself are so important to have for future generations especially my daughters and their daughters and so on and so forth.  So heres to you Nanny my new fashion heroine;)....

Love,
Athena

Welcome

As I am sure you can already see I love beautiful classic things!  In doing so I also have a passion for fashion, food, and life in general on a sometimes grand scale.  I'm not sure what I will be posting on here and I am new to all this but bear with me and I promise to delight the senses of all those who enjoy the same....for those who are curious la Reine de la Maison translates roughly into the Queen of the House and that is very much me in every way;)....Welcome and enjoy!!

Love,
Athena 

"The older I grow, the less important the comma becomes. Let the reader catch his own breath"- Elizabeth Clarkson Zwart
You have all been warned LOL!!