LUCREZIA BORGIA, ITALY
Fair warning to you all, now that The Borgias has started on Showtime I’ll probably be rediscovering my love for Italian Renaissance history. I’ve done a few before, Catherine Medici is around here somewhere but anyway, I digress. The Borgia family is notorious for their corruption and power plays in Rome during the late 1400’s. The patriarch of the family famously bought his Papal throne at the Vatican and played his family accordingly. Of course, for any young woman in a powerful family was used as a token of alliance by marriage. Enter Lucrezia Borgia who married into another powerful Catholic family and then another and then another, all surrounded by a little mystery. There are very few surviving portraits of the Borgia heiress but she was allegedly quite beautiful, cunning and at one time as corrupt as the rest of her family. Although, as she became older and raised her children her image did clean up a bit. But I dare to say she was far from angelic. By today’s standards she’d be you know, totally normal. Not sure why I put her in all black but damn she fine.
1. “I don’t think my father, the guardian of the Catholic faith, would be too pleased to hear about this”
Dress by Alberta Feretti, shoes by Bottega Veneta
2. “You know who’s looking fine tonight?” “Cesare Borgia” “Okay, you did not just say that, he is your brother” “What? He’s a good kisser.”
Dress by Emilio Pucci, coat by Fendi, shoes by Lanvin
3. “She has two painted portraits and a silver carriage”
Dress by Versace, shoes by Gucci
Weird how relevant Mean Girls is to her. Ha.
ESTELLA HAVISHAM, GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Following up on the Ms. Havisham post from the days of yore, here is her adopted daughter Estella. I don’t really know what to make of Estella. As a man, I hate her for how she treated Pip and his peers. However, she was raised to torture men and was essentially a pawn in Ms. Havisham’s plot for revenge. You almost have to pity her, she was doomed from the get-go. On a more humorous note, when considering this post I thought she’d have to be everything that The Man Repeller is not. Having been raised to win men’s hearts only to leave their love unrequited is not an easy task. In the words of The Man Repeller this work would require “Man Getter” style clothing.
1. Hello, Pip.
Coat by Marni, dress by Aquilano Rimondi, shoes by Jonathan Saunders
2. Marrying for Money
Dress by Jason Wu
3. Heartbreaker (to the tune of Pat Benatar)
Dress by Bottega Veneta, shoes by Gucci
All images c/o VOGUE UK.
Thank you for the suggestion, Dark Lamb. Have somebody you’d like to see? Let me know.
SLEEPING BEAUTY, YET AGAIN
Oh look, it’s Sleeping Beauty again…hooray! As I’ve mentioned before, the original fairy tale has the princess growing up in the castle and wandering the towers to find a spindle. Of course, since her father had banned all spinning wheels and spindles, she’s never seen one and is curious. BAM! MAN DOWN! MAN DOWN! One of the good fairies, who already lessened the curse from death to a true love kiss sleep comes and blankets the castle and court in thorns for protection. A really long time later, Prince John comes to the mythical forest and makes his way to the princess. They kiss and get married and have babies. When he is crowned king, he brings the princess to join him and his mother. When away fighting a crazy war, his mother orders the young family to a secluded cottage so she can cook and eat them. Really long story short, Prince John saves the day and the mother drowns in a pot of snakes and acid or something. Yaaay! Disney!
1. Stranger danger, young princess! Stranger danger.
Dress by Meadham Kirchoff, shoes by Rodarte
2. Guys, get your country clothes…your grandma is letting us stay in the cottage, fun!
Dress by Aquilano Rimondi, crew-neck by Michael Kors, shoes by Chloe
3. My Prince just smoked your ass and I’m the Queen of the castle now
Head to toe Christian Dior
All images from Vogue UK.
ELIZABETH BENNET, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE…AGAIN
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Lizzy Bennet of Pride and Prejudice is like the coolest girl in school. She’s nice, she’s pretty but not in annoying way and she’s impossibly fair and grounded. If only more girls out there would take a page from her book, le sigh. Sure, she’s a little bit of a country bumpkin, but it’s not like she’s Sarah plain and tall. If there was one woman from literature I’d grab some coffee with, it’d probably be her. JUST SAYING. Enjoy!
1. The is Meryton, it’s a friendly place
Dress by Erdem, jacket by Jason Wu, shoes by Jonathan Saunders
2. Mr. Darcy, what’s your deal? Wait, let’s get married…
Dress and shoes by Oscar de la Renta (duhhh)
3. Of course Lydia is hooking up with Wickham, OF COURSE SHE IS.
Shorts by Marc Jacobs, top by Proenza Schouler, shoes by Paul Smith
So any suggestions for the next character post? I’d love to hear.
All images from Vogue UK.
PIPPI LONGSTOCKING
Pippi Longstocking has a pretty sweet life—super human strength and a house all to herself. She also seemed to have endless adventures, which can’t surprise anybody because she’s a character in a children’s story. I bet she dressed like a crazy person though…which pretty much means she dressed really f’ing awesome.
1. I’m just gonna pick my house up, no worries
Dress by Marc Jacobs, shoes by Michael van der Ham
2. Just call me Pippilotta Delicatessa Windowshade Mackrelmint Ephraim’s Daughter Longstocking
Skirt by Erdem, shirt by Aquilano Rimondi, shoes by Jonathan Saunders
3. This is my suitcase of gold coins…just saying….
Dress by Christopher Kane, shoes by Missoni
All images from Vogue UK.
