reprinted from 12-12-2005
Hey, Dress Boutique - White Christmas called. They want their costumes back for the grande finale.
Timing is everything. When I passed by the dress boutique in the morning, there was a white fur stole around the shoulders of the mannequin in the middle. That would have made the connection complete, but even without white fur you can see that this one came straight off the 35 mm Movietone. The one in the middle is the obvious choice for Rosemary Clooney. Even back in those glory days of relative slimness for her, she had impressive bazooms and some undeniable junk in the trunk. You don't think that if that thing was hung on the bones of Vera Ellen that the safety straps would have been necessary, do you?
No, the anorexic Vera Ellen would have worn the one on the left - the one with the flat chest, fur ring at the knees and the bows placed at the hips to cast the widest possible shadow. Who else could wear that? Maybe Audrey Hepburn. That is to say, Audrey Hepburn could wear it, but I think we all recognize that she wouldn't. I mean, LOOK AT THAT THING. what a mish-mosh of add-ons! Maybe without the neckline crystals, the bow and the fur, it started out to be elegant and timeless but whose idea was it to add on three unrelated adornments and then call it done and walk away?
The dress on the other end at least has a trimmings theme going on. Note how the shoulder guards match the delicate ring of feathers at the calf. But as feathers go, these seem a bit morose, don't they? I don't know - if I was going to deck myself out in feathers, I think I might want something a little bit more Dolly Levi and a little less Dr. Seuss.
It would appear that the dress boutique has got itself a marketing department now. Observe the blatant "First You Gotta Get 'Em In The Door" tactic of displaying the gift-wrapped box with assorted merchandise atop it. If the devil is in the details, then we leave behind all notion of the wholesome Irving Berlin and go with Frederick's of Hollywood: "Santa Baby, I've been very, very bad. I deserve a pair of red hot spiked heels and an evening bag with a great big Gypsy Rose Lee bow to cover what's in front."
Original comments from December 2005:
The Dress Boutique - yea! Posted by: Emlighten-NewJersey | December 12, 2005 at 11:45 PM
God, I love the Dress Boutique.And I'm in full agreement on those limp feathers. They remind me of a comb-over. But if those shoes weren't fire-engine red, I think I might like 'em. And I never thought Vera Ellen was bony -- she was just super tiny and worked out like a maniac. She was FIT. I say put her teensy, but strong/well-muscled, body next to those of the drug-addled, emaciated anorexics in Hollywood today, and you'll see the difference. Posted by: Reecie | December 13, 2005 at 04:44 AM
Vera-Ellen had anorexia, and her chest and neck area had aged before their time. That's why in White Christmas, all her costumes (even her jammies) have high necks. True story. Posted by: Lisa | December 13, 2005 at 08:57 AM
Wooow. That makes me sad. I've always loved her dancing -- hard to imagine where she found the energy without fuel. Anorexia freaks me right out. Posted by: Reecie | December 13, 2005 at 09:32 AM
The Dolly Levi line killed me - about 10 seconds after I read it when my brain registered why I knew who Dolly Levi was. Wow. Posted by: OTTami | December 13, 2005 at 01:48 PM
Wow, I did not know that tidbit of info on Vera Ellen. Wow! I just love the stars of the 40's and 50's. Suzette, maybe the dress boutique will feature a dress that Loretta Young would wear. Then you could do a featurette on her. She was an amazing woman also... Posted by: toxiclabrat | December 15, 2005 at 08:13 PM
Posted by: Suzette | August 20, 2006 at 09:44 PM
I just discovered, when I went to prepare it for junking, that the old car in my garage was hotter and more desirable than I remembered. Yep, it had junk in the trunk.
Posted by: triticale | August 21, 2006 at 07:13 AM
Do you think the dress with the fur line was zip off, that becomes a shorter dress with a fur-edged hemline?
Is it that obvious that I'd rather do anything but think about work right now?
Posted by: Mary Beth | August 23, 2006 at 12:43 PM