9.9.11

My favourite dress of all time was made by Mia Fonssagrives and Vicky Tiel in 1965 for Paula Prentiss to wear in Woody Allens 'What's New Pussycat' which I went to see 5 times the week it opened. The dress is backless, which is not apparent from this picture of it worn by Jane Holzer for VOGUE USA. The Mia and Vicky label however, was backed, and by none other than Dame Elizabeth Taylor, and Mia was the daughter of a legendary 50's model Lisa Fonssagrives - Erwin Blumenfeld photographed her famously, in a long gown and swinging by one hand from high on the Eiffel Tower. What's New Pussycat, was of course, set in Paris, and if you follow that link there is a photo of Paula in the movie version of this fab frock.

5 comments:

  1. That looks like a very naughty dress!

    My goodness, wasn't that a fabulous shot on the Eiffel Tower!

    As always you combine a little culture with eye candy and interesting information.

    How lucky we are to have you on the blog-o-sphere!

    xx

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  2. I wish I was brave/slim/exuberant/fashionable enough to wear such a frock! At least my powers of appreciation are well developed!!!

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  3. Jane Holzer, that would be 'Baby Jane' who had her 15 minutes of fame for having the most ferocious head of back combed hair, if memory serves.

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  4. Hi JahTeh - the sixties was all about HAIR and wasnt she fabulous?
    I just saw Woody Allens Midnight In Paris and it is just like Whats New Pussycat and I may have to see it again and maybe another time I loved it so much.

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  5. Such a gorgeous frock! And the Eiffel Tower photo is classic. Speaking of classic Parisian fashion, who can go past Melvin Sokolsky's "Girl in a Bubble" series from 1963? (click on the "next" button at the bottom to view all of them). Swoonsville!
    http://www.sokolsky.com/#/classics/paris-1963/over_newyork

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