The 21st Century Stunner

Welcome

2014-04-30T11:18:00.004-04:00

Welcome to 21st Century Stunner, a blog for persons with an interest in Pre-Raphaelite style, both modern and antique, as well as Artistic / Aesthetic dress and accessories. This blog is primarily for enjoyment and not meant to be a historical compendium, although scholarly discussion is welcome. It is my hope that this can be a gathering place of people who like to cultivate a modern Pre-Raphaelite look.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Lilith, 1867, Colored chalk on paper, 28 x 24" (71.1 x 61 cm); Harry Ransom Center

Thank you, Miss Scarlett

2011-11-23T13:48:00.001-05:00

American Thanksgiving Day is almost upon us. I am a big fan of being thankful on a daily basis for life's big things an small things alike, so forgive me if I use TD as a time to be thankful for something a little frivolous. It takes away the sting of gluttony and family drama that seems to go hand in hand with holidays. I think all of you stunners would agree, redheads are something to be thankful for. Where would PRB painting be without them!? It always pains me a little that, historically, redheads have gotten a bad rap. Although one of my favorite PRB legends involves the theater usher's disgust and dismay at seeing TWO redheads in one aisle of the theater (dear Lizzie and naughty Swinburne). There are some very special flaming beauties in my life, including my auburn husband (honey, just ignore that gray!), who apparently used to be called "copper top" (after batteries!) in his youth! So here is my shout-out to all of you glorious redheads, by nature or by dye, we love you!
And here's to the new wave of 21st century stunning red roses, Florence Welch

and Saoirse Ronan, the face of The Cult of Beauty for the U. S. run of the exhibit (you will remember that Bonny Wright was the lovely red haired fashion muse when the exhibit opened in England).

Please do check out Grace's post on the Vogue fashion spread for CofB over at The Beautiful Necessity! It is tremendously exciting to see more PRB-inspired fashion editorials so prominently featured. And don't forget that the exhibit is coming to the Legion of Honor Fine Arts Museum in San Francisco, and will run from February 18 - June 17. I am going to do my very best to go to this exhibit and report back, and would certainly love to hear your impressions if you are able to go.

Victorian Shawls

2011-11-22T11:10:00.001-05:00

Autumn has enfolded us, and this week’s drippy rain anddamp have me reaching for my shawl, one of my most prized and usefulpossessions. It is prized because I lovethe gold, brown, and plum colors, and I purchased it on a fun shopping trip with my best friend (shebought a black shawl embroidered with colorful flowers).

And it is useful for the obvious reason: itis made of warm wool! It also layers well under coatsfor very chilly days, packs lightly and serves as an elegant wrap on trips, and it isgreat for snuggling with a certain lap-loving kitty while watching movies.

Shawls were an essential part of a Victorian woman’s wardrobe,regardless of station, and it is certain that they were valued for their styleas much as their warmth, especially the beautifully woven shawls of Kashmir. Textile historian Meg Andrews has a very informative articleon shawls on the Victoriana website.

We see many representations of shawls in Pre-Raphaelite art,from the humble Scottish woman (Effie Gray) in Millais’ "The Order of Release,"

Tate Britain

to the tender maiden in Arthur Hughes' "April Love,"

Tate Britain

and the boldly patterned shawl wrapped provocatively around the hips of the young mistress in Hunt's "The Awakening Conscience."

Tate Britain

Real-life representations of Stunners in shawls can be found in Elizabeth Siddal's beautifully hand-colored photograph,

The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore

and in Jane Morris’ portrait session (draped over thechair), styled by Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

Victoria and Albert Museum

In The Wife of Rossetti (admittedly a dubious source), Violet Hunt recounts how the beleaguered Ford Maddox Brown went so far as to pawn his wife Emma's handsome Indian shawl, which she wore while posing for his painting "The Last of England" (the original oil on wood version). Violet reported that Brown was "...always in difficulties down there in St. Pancras visitingpawnshops every three days or so with family plate, jewellery, rare engravings,papier mache ornaments and articles of clothing. Poor Emma's good Indian shawl was oftener with " MyUncle " or pinned round Dummy than on her back and only returned to hershoulders while she was sitting for The Last of England."

Private Collection

And inPre-Raphaelitismand the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, Volume 2 by William Holman Hunt, Hunt givesan account of the daring rescue from fire of his painting “The Temple” by afearless lady and her costly Indian shawl! Hunt painted himself sporting a gorgeous green paisley shawl as a belt in his 1867 self-portrait.

Galleria degli Uffizi

While not as popular today as they were in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, shawls are certainly still easily found and procured, and they can add an instant hit of stunner style to your ensemble. Mavens of PRB fashion are even creating their own shawls. Embroideress Kimberly Servello has posted about her beautiful pattern for an embroidered shawl (inspired by the Pre-Raphaelite overtones of A. S. Byatt's The Children's Book) at her blog Antique Embellishments. And Ravelry knitter Roxanne Yeun has created a delicate and gorgeous pattern for the evocatively named Raphaelite Shawl.

In other Pre-Raphaelite news, a new movie, “Effie,”will star Dakota Fanning as Effie Gray (Ruskin) Millais!

Fanning would not be my first pick for Effie, but the movie is writtenby Emma Thompson (and also stars Thompson and her husband, Greg Wise), which sounds verypromising! The filming began last month, and IMDB notes that itwill have a 2012 release inthe U. K. I hope it comes to America. Note the shawl worn by Fanning in this scenewith Greg Wise as John Ruskin. Much like the marriage of Effie and John, the making of this movie is not without scandal and turmoil. Let us hope it is resolved fairly for all.

Willow Pattern 21st Century Style

2011-09-22T17:44:00.000-04:00

GelaSkins are a cool way to protect your smart phone or mp3 player. I have not personally used them yet, but they seem like a nifty product, especially considering that you can design your own with any image you can upload. The PRB possibilities are limitless! And I could not resist posting about the Blue Willow pattern designed by Colin Thompson ;-) I'm sure, were Rossetti or Top tootling around London today, they would be sporting this GelaSkin on their iPhones. Hmm, actually that seems so wrong to think of Morris with an iPhone, but anyway...

Summer Updates

2011-07-28T19:00:00.000-04:00

Hello dear readers, my apologies for the lack of posts. Flaming June quickly turned into wilting July, and now August approaches and I am behind on many things.

First and foremost, if you have not already done so, please do check out the fundraiser for our dear Stephanie Pina, publisher of lizziesiddal.com and preraphaelitesisterhood.com, and shining light of PRB blog-land. Her husband Tony suffered a serious accident, which is creating a great deal of financial hardship for their family. Tony has undergone surgery and is on the mend, but their family could still use your support. Stephanie gives so much to those of us with an interest in the PRB, including running her online book discussion group, so please take this opportunity to give back, if you are able to. If you don't wish to contribute directly, the wonderful people of WAG Screen in the UK, creators of "The Lady of Shallott" short film, are donating proceeds from the sale of the "Lady of Shallott" towards the fundraiser for Stephanie and family. 50% of all sales of the film will be donated.

In PRB style round-up news:
Kirsty from The Kissed Mouth just posted a lovely selection of Stunner Style knitting patterns from the Rowan pattern books. A definite must-see!

Medieval Muse's Arteffex Etsy shop is restocked! Now is your chance to snatch up a fetching Medieval, Art Nouveau or Renaissance-style bag for summer.

Also spied on Etsy, this glorious Liberty ball gown. Add it to your favorites, if nothing more than to ogle it longingly :-)

Lately I have been fantasizing about living near the sea. Must be the day after day of heat indices above 100 degrees F. This lovely jewel from Parrish Relics takes me to a cool and magical place beneath the ocean!

And finally, if you are a "beautiful image" addict like myself, you don't want to miss out on Pinterest. It's a place to create style-boards, or just save images that you love, and share them with others. It's the answer to my prayers! For years I have been "starring" blog posts I like within my Google Reader, especially posts with lovely images that I wanted to save for inspiration. But since Reader is viewed as one long list of posts, I found that I never went back to look at anything I had saved. I would be scrolling forever! With Pinterest, I can have all of my images in one place and easily viewable for much-needed infusions of beauty, and instant gratification :-) One of the best features: it automatically links to the page where you found the image. So no wondering where you first saw something, or forgetting to credit someone.
Feel free to follow me!

I have a PRB board and a Style board, among others.

Stay cool, dear readers, and have a wonderful August. Fondly, Robin

Alexander McQueen

2011-05-04T16:21:00.001-04:00

Today, the Metropolitan Museum of Art premieres "Alexander McQueen. Savage Beauty" an exhibit that

"will celebrate the late Alexander McQueen’s extraordinary contributions to fashion. From his Central Saint Martins postgraduate collection of 1992 to his final runway presentation, which took place after his death in February 2010, Mr. McQueen challenged and expanded the understanding of fashion beyond utility to a conceptual expression of culture, politics, and identity. His iconic designs constitute the work of an artist whose medium of expression was fashion. The exhibition will feature approximately one hundred ensembles and seventy accessories from Mr. McQueen’s prolific nineteen-year career. "

Although his style included elements from many eras, I always felt that his synthesis of modern and vintage fashion was a wonderful distillation of magic and beauty, and was definitely a timeless interpretation of stunner style. Rich velvets, fantastical creatures and Beardsley-esque peacocks have all made an appearance in McQueen collections.You can peruse a selection of McQueen's designs included in the exhibit on the Met's webiste.

Here are some McQueen designs that made me think of some of our beloved PRB Stunners:

From the "Widows of Culloden" Collection, Autumn/Winter 2006-2007

Effie Gray (Ruskin) Millais in "The Order of Release" by Millais

From "The Girl Who Lived in the Tree" Collection, Autumn/Winter 2008-2009

Jane Morris in a study for "Proserpina" by Rossetti

Well, o.k., perhaps if she were dressed in Beardsley's "Peacock Skirt" ;-)

From the "Highland Rape" Collection, Autumn / Winter 1995-1996

(and no, it's not about raping women, but regarding the rape of the Scottish Highlands)

The lovely ladies of Waterhouse's "Hylas and the Nymphs"

Perfumed Pre-Raphaelites

2011-04-23T10:29:00.001-04:00

Scent is a topic that I find fascinating, and I’m especially interested in the connection between fragrance and memory. I’ll never forget stumbling across Flora Danica perfume in the 1980’s, and feeling a rush of memory flow through me upon realizing that it smelled exactly like something from my Great-Aunt Virgie’s dresser. And I lovingly recall the smell of sun-warmed wood and dust in the upper floors of an antique store instantly transporting me back in time to my great-grandparents’ house. For many of us, the ritual of applying scent, whether a single signature scent or daily whim, completes a mood, look or style, or perhaps all three.

Flora Danica

Internet shopping has opened up a world of fragrance to those who like to experiment, and there are a plethora of perfumes that might appeal to a PRB-lover. The first company that comes to mind when I think Stunner Style is Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, or BPAL. BPAL offers a dizzying array of hand-blended perfume oils, many inspired by art, poetry and literature. BPAL even has a “Salon” line of fragrances inspired directly by paintings, which includes Rossetti’s “Monna Vanna.” This perfume oil includes notes of Russian rose, mimosa, gardenia, bois du rose, parma violet, calla lily, red currant, ambergris, and bourbon vanilla.

I have to admit, I was thrilled that that scent worked for me, and it has become one of my very favorite BPAL perfumes, along with the now-discontinued “Silence,” inspired by the Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer painting. Other BPAL categories include perfume oils inspired by such familiar characters as La Belle Dame Sans Merci, The Lady of Shallot, Morgause, and Ophelia.

"Monna Vanna" by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Lucky Scent, Aedes de Venustus and the Perfumed Court are great sources for hard-to-find and niche perfumes, and all offer samples for purchase so that you may try before you buy a full-sized perfume. I recently obtained a sample of "Ophelia" by Heeley from Lucky Scent, and fell in love with its delicate beauty. Designer James Heeley is directly inspired by nature, and “Ophelia” contains notes of Italian orange, green flower stems, jasmine, ylang ylang, tuberose, moss, and white musk.

"Ophelia" by John Everett Millais

People and places of history and legend seem to inspire perfumers as much as they inspired the PRB. Cathusia conjures the mythical siren with its Ligea "La Sirena," a blend of opoponax and mandarin.

"Ligeia Siren" by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Diptyque offers the evocative creation "L'eau des Hesperides", combining bitter orange from the Ivory Coast, Italian mandarin and lemon, red thyme, African rosemary, crinkle-leafed spearmint, peppermint, immortelle flower, georgy wood, and white musks.

"Garden of the Hesperides" by Edward Burne-Jones

The Victorian attraction to Italy and Ruskin’s love affair with the stones of Venice are recalled in glass blower Montgomery Taylor’s “Ambra di Venezia,” a fragrance based on French narcissus and jasmine, with the additions of mango, mandarin orange and lime. The bottle is even decorated with lovely Venetian architecture.

Do you have any favorite fragrances that you feel embody stunner style? I would love to hear about them.

Updates and Aesthetes

2011-04-05T11:13:00.000-04:00

This video includes a very interesting discussion on Aesthetic style (including dress) as a promotion for the V & A's The Cult of Beauty: The Aesthetic Movement 1860-1900 exhibit. I would love to hear impressions of the exhibit, if any readers are able to visit. I was just in England and missed the opening by a few of days :-(
But there is hope for those of us in North America; the exhibit should be coming to the de Young Museum (part of the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco) in February 2012. After having a glimpse at some of the works included in the exhibit, I will certainly be moving heaven and earth to get to San Francisco in 2012!
Even though I missed the exhibition London, I was still able to visit the wonderful V & A (thanks to my tolerant husband and sister-in-law), including the stunning William Morris room,

and had a lovely time perusing the gorgeous jewelry on display, like Andrew Fisher's Wagner Girdle.

Image copyright Victoria and Albert Museum

I also had the pleasure of finally visiting Liberty of London, which was just as lovely as I imagined it would be.

Recently sighted...a rare fashion treat! Please do check out Herme's blog post at the Pre-Raphaelite Paintings blog on the restoration of Ellen Terry's beetle wing dress, worn in John Singer Sargent's Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth.

Image copyright Tate Britain Museum

The Cult of Beauty

2011-02-20T18:50:00.000-05:00

As I am sure most of you know by now, Stunner Style will soon be celebrated in a glorious exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The Cult of Beauty: The Aesthetic Movement 1860-1900 will be on display from 2 April - 17 July 2011, and will feature "paintings, prints and drawings", and examples of "...all the 'artistic' decorative arts, together with drawings, designs and photographs, as well as portraits, fashionable dress and jewelery of the era."

You can see a beautiful Liberty dress in the V & A's curatorial blog for The Cult of Beauty.

Last week, the V & A posted a link on their Facebook page about this absolutely gorgeous fashion shoot styled by Damian Foxe and featuring actress Bonny Wright in modern interpretations of Aesthetic Dress.

Photography by Yuval Hen

And for some gentlemanly PRB style, check out V & A curator Stephen Calloway's feature!

Young Edwardian Clothing Label

2011-02-02T10:48:00.000-05:00

Like the Gunne Sax line, California designer Sue Wong's Young Edwardian clothing line (for Arpeja-California) transformed young ladies of the 1970's and '80s into 20th century Stunners. Sue Wong went on to design for her own clothing line, and still finds inspiration in retro styles. Last year Wong launched the “Sue Wong for Walt Disney Signature" line, inspired by Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland."

Vintage Young Edwardian pieces can easily be found on Etsy and eBay.

Brown velvet and cotton paisley dress

Velvet maxi dress

Cotton maxi dress

Jumper dress

Edwardian Harem Pants

2011-01-31T15:14:00.000-05:00

Hello and happy new year! I hope 2011 is treating you well thus far.
I hope, like me, you enjoyed Downton Abbey. What a midwinter treat it has been to have something new to watch on Masterpiece Classic. The fashions were stunning! I am sure readers of the 21st Century Stunner spotted the lovely Lady Sibyl's daring Poiret-inspired harem pants!

Downton Abbey publicity still from Jane Austen's World Blog

Jane Austens World has had some wonderful blog posts on the fashions of Downton Abbey, and Jane Austen Today has a fantastic blog post about Lady Sibyl's ensemble, and the styles of Worth and Poiret. You can read more about "Orientalism" in Edwardian fashion on the Fashion Era website.

I recall that harem pants (in a much less glamorous form) were "in style" a couple of years ago, and when I saw them at Anthropologie and other stores, all I could think of was M. C. Hammer! However this ensemble from Downton Abbey has given me an entirely new appreciation of the style.

If you have yearning to create your your own Poiret, Folkwear has a pattern for a Poiret Cocoon Coat.

Shop Handmade for the Holidays!

2010-12-07T16:13:00.001-05:00

In the arts and crafts spirit of supporting artisans and hand-crafted goods, I encourage everyone to
patronize local and online creators for the holidays. Etsy is one of my favorite places to shop, and
contains a treasure trove of delights for the PRB-lover :-)
It can be a little overwhelming when you first dive in, but by using creative keywords/search terms, you can find many wonderful things.

Here are some of my favorite purveyors of PRB style:

There are also many lovely home and fine arts items in the Arts and Crafts genre available on Etsy.

Polyvore

2010-11-23T10:12:00.000-05:00

These are some lovely Pre-Raphaelite fashion "sets" at Polyvore.com :
Waterhouse sets
Pre-Raphaelite Beauty

Pre-Raphaelite Beauty by Zoella featuring all saints dresses

If you are not familiar with Polyvore, it is a website where you can create "digital collages of clothing, accessories and lifestyle products"; you can also use the site to shop, by using the shopping search box. I like to put keyword like "Victorian" and "Bohemian" to see what comes up.

Dress Reform / Aesthetic Dress

2010-10-15T16:18:00.000-04:00

Polar Bear’s Tale, which is a delightful blog and a feast for the eyes, has two wonderful posts on aesthetic movement dresses here and here, with lovely visuals.

Liberty of London Dress from FIT

And you won't want to miss these beautiful dresses, courtesy of the Fin de Siècle blog.

Some of the most beautiful modern recreations of Aesthetic style dresses have to be these beauties created from patterns by Ravenrook Clothier and Haberdashery, which I am sure many of you have already seen, but which bears reposting :-) This is pretty much the dress of my dreams, but my goodness...can you imagine the work that goes into that smocking?!

Anna Sui for Anthropologie

2010-09-18T10:29:00.000-04:00

Anna Sui has created some fun things for Anthropologie's fall line, which are a lovely modern interpretation of Bohemian and Nouveau style.

Bohemian Beauty

2010-09-03T14:17:00.000-04:00

A gorgeous late 19th century Bavarian peasant dress available at Vintage Textile

Image ©VintageTextile.com

where are the Velvets....

2010-08-26T11:19:00.000-04:00

With summer's fading and just a hint of coolness in the air, my thoughts are turning to velvet. Ralph Lauren has some beautiful velvet creations in his Fall 2010 collection.

Or if the more traditionally Medieval-style PRB outfit is your preference, you can't go wrong with this beauty from Victorian Trading Co.

Here are some pretty eBay finds that you might enjoy (I am not associated with these sellers in any way); click-able pics below.

eBay is often a great source for finding affordable and interesting clothing. Do you have any velvet favorites you would like to share?

ILDVED Jewelry

2010-08-11T15:29:00.000-04:00

Some of my most beloved Pre-Raphaelite works are Rossetti's watercolors, which embody the spirit of Medievalism that so inspired the PRB founders.

One favorite is "Before The Battle," 1858.

If you are feeling the need for a bit of Medieval style, please do check out ILDVED Jewelery.

Self-proclaimed purveyor of Medieval Rock Couture Jewelry Karen Ilvedson creates beautiful pieces using precious metals, stones, leather and moss.

Image © Karen Ilvedson

Twelfth Night, Part 3

2010-07-30T12:29:00.000-04:00

And finally, the last of the Twelfth Night screen caps. Thanks again, L.!

Very much looking forward to watching this, and as a matter of fact, it's at my home right now, courtesy of Netflix :-)
Have a wonderful weekend, all!

Twelfth Night, Part II

2010-07-25T12:53:00.000-04:00

More wonderful screen caps from "Twelfth Night"!

Twelfth Night

2010-07-22T19:41:00.001-04:00

My thoughtful friend, Medieval Muse, sent me some wonderful screen caps from "Twelfth Night," knowing that I would be entranced by the Stunner Style within. I most certainly am, and I am equally pleased to share them with you, with her permission. I'm going to post these over a couple of days. First up is the lovely and very Pre-Raphaelite Helena Bonham Carter in blue. Can I just say, I LOVE this dress.

The color, the beautiful detailing on the yoke with its touch of lavender, the Medieval belt. It is bliss! I'm not sure how I missed this film, but it is great to have something "new" to look forward to.

The Pre-Raphaelite Visage

2010-07-09T15:30:00.000-04:00

Having discussed hair styles, I thought it might be fun to turn to cosmetics. Many Victorian-era stunners, especially those from the middle class, likely had little use for makeup, if any, but by the arrival of the Belle Epoque, cosmetics were moving from the world the theater and the streets into the drawing room, as Max Beerbohm coyly predicted in his "A Defence of Cosmetics." His article was "an ironic defense of Decadence," and focuses more on how he, Beardsley and other decadents wryly viewed the growing commercialism of the age and objectification of women. However, he is prescient in his statement that "Cosmetics are not going to be a mere prosaic remedy for age or plainness, but all ladies and girls will come to love them." Granted, not ALL women or men love cosmetics, but they are certainly more acceptable today than they once were. And I'm sure those Aesthetes who still revered the Pre-Raphaelites and were embracing Symbolist mystery and glamour were not above darkening their eyes with kohl and staining their pallor to evoke the more sinister elements of Pre-Raphaelite and Symbolist imagery: sirens, witches and merciless ladies.

The prevailing visage in actual PRB works of art is artless and pure, with the frame of hair often surrounding the face, emphasizing the natural beauty of the sitters' features.

"The Beloved- Study for African Girl" Dante Gabriel Rossetti

And more often than not, when an article or sound byte mentions a "Pre-Raphaelite" look, they refer to softly tinted lips and cheeks, or a subtle "glow." It is a look that works for many, and is definitely an easy "go-to", day to day style.

There is no doubt that such lovely works of art lend themselves to marketing ploys, too! I remember that sometime ca.1994 - ca.1996, I bought my first Prescriptives item because a magazine blurb described it as giving the wearer a "Pre-Raphaelite glow." Is Beerbohm turning in his grave? It was a great little item, and I wish I still had it, though I have forgotten the name. It was shaped like a lipstick and came in a tube, but was a (very) barely-tinted, almost translucent cheek stick that you could use alone or on top of blush. A more recent product that sounds tempting to me is "Medieval," by Lipstick Queen.

Musicians and style icons Florence Welch and Tori Amos embrace a more modern and cutting edge interpretation of Pre-Raphaelite beauty that is equally enticing.

If you would like to see a "look-book" featuring PRB-inspired makeup from the Anna Sui Fall 2008 line, you can check it out here, courtesy of Cover Girl Cosmetics.

Gypsy Moon

2010-06-14T09:46:00.001-04:00

Thank you to Medieval Muse for telling me about Gypsy Moon's latest clothing line, Wraith.
"Gothic in the true sense of the word, ornate but gently so as not to fatigue the eye, the way a vine grows over a gate. We've taken on the colors of nature, softened with rain and mist, nothing garish or heated but lovely and natural as morning dew and as cool and sweet as night blooming jasmine. There is a golden glow that is more nostalgic than sad, that finds the beauty in sorrow and turns it into poetry."

Crowning Glory

2010-06-09T12:37:00.001-04:00

There is no doubt that long, rippling hair is a hallmark of Pre-Raphaelite style, and Stunners of yesteryear were known for their free-flowing locks, often quite shockingly worn loose in stark contrast to the more prim and conventional Victorian up-dos. As I mentioned here, I think Pre-Raphaelite style can encompass many looks, but I thought it might be fun to look at some ways to express this traditional style. I, myself, have, in my adult life, had hair that is down to the small of my back, and hair in an extreme pixie cut, and everything in between. Right now my hair is at about bra-strap length, and I enjoy it. But sometimes it is a bit of a challenge.

Long hair comes and goes out of fashion, and for some it seems to fall into the category of "wedding hair" or for dress-up occasions. No surprise, considering long, styled hair can be a challenge to manege.
Caitlin Moran's determination to embrace Pre-Raphaelite hair as a statement of individuality is quite refreshing. But even she admits to being exhausted by all of that hair and needing to rein it in a bit. If you sport long locks how do you keep them under control?

Grace of the Beautiful Necessity has two very great posts of Pre-Raphaelite Hair, as does Margaret of The Earthly Paradise. There is also a nice article on the cult of red hair at the Morbid Outlook site. Do you sport flowing locks or do you embrace a more gamine stunner style? Care to share any styling or hair care tips with us?

As Grace mentions, the triple barrel curling iron is wonderful for creating waves and ripples.

Sometimes some simple accessories can assist like large barrettes meant for long hair

headbands

or the use of graceful yet simple braids to to hold your hair back.

Cauls and snoods can be fun and add a bit of eccentric antiquity to an outfit.

And just for fun, check out all of this Pre-Raphaelite hair on Flickr!

Liberty Exhibit

2010-05-25T14:03:00.001-04:00

Liberty & Co., purveyors of fabrics, decorative arts,

and other wonders appealing to stunners are having an Arts and Crafts exhibition this summer.

"The Exhibition will feature fantastic Arts and Crafts furniture pieces by Arthur Simpson, Guild of Handicraft, Cotswold School, Shapland and Petter, alongside some later pieces by Heals and Betty Joel. The range will also include embroideries, vases, tiles, pictures, screens, silver ware and clocks by designers and manufacturers such as: William De Morgan, Archibald Knox, Lewis F Day, Voysey, Compton Pottery, Mintons and the Rowley Gallery."

I really wish I could attend, not only to see this fantastic assemblage of Arts and Crafts treasures, but also to peruse Liberty's modern wares. It has been very exciting to see Liberty partnering with Target and MAC this year, and to have access to Liberty items here in the states. But to be honest, none of those offerings appealed to me, after all my anticipation. The MAC makeup colors weren't really me (although a Strawberry Thief lipstick tube is pretty charming!) and the Target items were sadly lacking in Morris prints or even Liberty's trademark Ianthe print.

If you are looking for affordable or discounted "real" Liberty items you can always check eBay. I have seen several handbags and wallets recently listed. And Yoox.com also carries Liberty, although not at much of a discount. I really love this wallet.

The Titania Project

2010-05-11T16:44:00.004-04:00

Dear readers, I wanted to let you know about a wonderful project by film maker Lisa Stock. Lisa is currently filming "Titania", the first installment in her Medisaga Trilogy, which re-interprets the fairy tale of The Armless Maiden, through the faery queen Titania, and other characters from Shakespeare's Midsummer Nights Dream, as well as Greek mythology. After Titania's wings are violently torn from her body she must embark on a journey of healing to
become whole again. Lisa has started a Kickstarter page to find backers and raise funds to complete this unique and beautiful film. I truly feel that keeping myth and magic alive in today's world is so important, and hope you will check out Lisa's web page and Kickstarter page to find out more about her project. Donations can be as low as $5 and each donation level includes very exciting and generous incentives. The hitch is, with Kickstarter, you only get the money raised if your project is fully funded. Lisa is trying to raise $10,000 and with 9 days to go she still needs to raise a little over $3,000. The giving process is very simple and using Amazon payments system, and if the project is not fully funded, you give nothing (however we certainly hope it is, and more so!)

And in keeping with 21st Century Style, there is another exciting way you can participate in "Titania." Jen Parrish of Parrish Relics has created a gorgeous headpiece (which will be used in the film) and necklace which she is donating to help raise money for "Titania."

The auction is up now on eBay. Don't miss out on this chance to own a very special and unique set of Jen's creations!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read about this magical project and I hope you can support Titania!

Show off your Stunner Style

2010-05-11T16:19:00.000-04:00

If you have not yet taken a look at the Wiki entry on Bohemian Style, it is well worth a glance, and nicely enumerates the ways in which "Stunner Style" has evolved over the years. The qualities I most appreciate about PRB style are individuality and and the fostering of beauty in everyday life. It’s a style that can manifest in many ways, though perhaps being strongly grounded in a Medievalism and Bohemianism, and is completely open to interpretation.

PRB style isn’t just Ophelia’s rippling hair; it’s also Viola cross-dressing in dandy velvet duds in Shakespeare’s lively “Twelfth Night,"

"Twelfth Night by Walter Deverell"

or the similarly attired "The Little Foot Page" by Eleanor Fortestcue Brickdale.

Stunners are lean and languid like Elizabeth Siddal, or joyously voluptuous like Fanny Cornforth.

Elizabeth Siddal by D. G. Rossetti

Woman Combing Her Hair (Fanny Cornforth) by D. G. Rossetti

Stunner style embraces Bohemian beauties, Medieval maidens and Gothic sorceresses. It's a little bit Victorian and a little bit rock and roll ;-)

I have noticed a trend of posting "reader outfits" in other fashion blogs, and would love to do that here. Feel free to send me photos of you in your favorite PRB-influenced outfits any time and I will post them here. Anything goes and it is all in the spirit of fun. Send all pics to 21stcenturystunner "at" gmail "dot" com

Until next time, stay stunning! ;-)

Parrish Relics

2010-05-05T10:17:00.000-04:00

"Romantic & Mythic, a collection of unique handcrafted jewelry inspired by the ornate designs of ages past & the grandeur of Venetian Architecture.
Spiritual and Historical symbols created of resilient clay, stained glass, semi-precious stones, scented resins and glass vessels. Finished with the handpainted patinas of antiqued silver or gold finish for a romantic, aged presence."

It goes without saying that many followers of PRB style are already in love with Jen Parrish's wonderful jewelry. But this blog would be woefully incomplete without a post on Parrish Relics!
Jen beautifully captures the spirit of Medieval and Renaissance elegance in her jewelry, often incorporating Pre-Raphaelite imagery in her pictorial pieces.
You can check out her webiste here for custome orders and more information, and her ready-to-wear Etsy shop here. And don't forget to check Jen's blog of inspriations.

I treasure the Relics in my growing collection and wear one or more of them almost every day. The craftsmanship and creativity in each piece of jewelry is truly stunning.

Here are some of the pieces in my collection :-)

In case you have a spare $13,500 to spend

2010-05-01T11:14:00.000-04:00

A beautiful Mariano Fortuny gown is available on eBay at the moment:

If that's not quite in your budget, you can always peruse some lovely modern Fortuny items at the Venetia Studium online shop ( I had trouble with these sites in Google Chrome), including bags, scarves, shawls, pins

and jewel purses. Sadly dresses can only be purchased in the shops. Fortuny also now has a flagship fabric store in New York, if you like to make your own creations.

While working in the Symbolist and Nouveau period, Fortuny's designs embrace a love a craftsmanship and handwork prized by the Pre-Raphaelites. His loose gowns, hand-dyed, hand-printed or painted fabrics and love of times past and Eastern art would have pleased any fan of Aesthetic Dress.

Velvet Iris

2010-04-30T16:41:00.000-04:00

The Velvet Iris Etsy shop has a delightful stock of vintage Gunne Sax dresses that would look wonderful in any Stunner's wardrobe. This dress particularly reminded me of William Morris' "Queen Guinevere."

Anna Sui's Arts & Crafts Inspired Fall 2010 Collection

2010-04-30T15:51:00.000-04:00

Courtesy of Guildcraft Carpet's blog, I caught a peek at Anna Sui's Fall 2010 Arts & Crafts inspired collection.

Sui's design elements often come directly from our favorite fashion era's; she cites "...the aesthetic movement, pre-Raphaelites, Tiffany vases, Fortuny pleats, medievalism, Gustav Klimt..." as major influences. I love this look from her Fall 2008 show that embraces a truly modern take on Stunner fashion.

images courtesy of style.com