Sunday 18 September 2011

beautiful and damned

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Hmm, I don't look the least bit happy in these pictures! I always forget to smile when taking my own pictures--especially as I didn't have a tripod on this occasion, and kept looking at my camera suspiciously thinking "are you going to fall off that gravestone?"

So, here I am in a rather grand cemetery. Unlike a lot of bloggers, I don't find cemeteries very romantic, just sad, but this one was sufficiently old that it was interesting to walk around reading the stones, seeing how people expressed themselves a hundred years ago, how many children they had, and how many didn't seem to make it into adulthood. Yikes, I would never have survived in the Victorian era!

I decided to take my vaguely flapper-esque dress for a spin, and had F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Beautiful and the Damned in mind. Not that there's a cemetery scene in that, but I thought it fitted in with the theme of the heroine and her transition from beauty personified to Shock! Horror! 29 years old and with a few lines on her face! Ha, one of the reasons that book depressed me maybe; no one wants to feel their attractiveness is over as soon as they get a wrinkle or two!

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dress: gift from my mom (old), parasol: from Venice (old) shoes: Fly London, clutch: my mom's via a box ; ), bracelet: made by me, necklace, gift.

59 comments:

Cat said...

Lovely outfit and parasol! The scenery reminds me of my latest outfit post - although my umbrella was to keep the rain off!

Cat xxx
http://www.takecourageblog.com

Monique said...

Emily kudos for taking these yourself they turned out great. The parasol is amazing. I haven't seen you in pale pink in quite some time. You look lovely. Every year in NYC there's a jazz age lawn party this outfit would be perfect for that event.

Maria Elyse said...

You look so beautiful! I love this photo shoot...it's light and happy, yet sad and dark. I especially love the photos of you sitting down. So inspiring. :)

xo
Maria Elyse
First Impressions
Flying Ships Vintage

Maria Elyse said...

Oh, and I toooootally know what you mean with setting your camera on random stuff when you don't have a tripod...so nerve-wracking! Haha, I'm always so paranoid about my camera falling off of tree stumps or snow piles.

xo
Maria
First Impressions
Flying Ships Vintage

Emily, Ruby Slipper Journeys said...

@Monique: You know, I was partially inspired by the Jazz Age lawn party. I saw some other bloggers posts all dressed up and was pretty jealous! I love the 20s look!

Vanessa, Take only Memories said...

I am sooo in love with this post! The dress is perfect and I was looking for a parasol like that all summer long!

I also find cemeteries sad and slightly spooky but this one gives the photos a wonderful creepiness...like they were taken many years ago. Or possibly somewhat ghostly.

With your permission I'll tumblr some of these?! (Of course I'd link them).

Closet Fashionista said...

Love these photos! That dress is so pretty! And I want that umbrella! :)
And yes, its so weird to think that people used to die in their 30s or earlier...scary scary thought
http://www.closet-fashionista.com/

Vanessa, Take only Memories said...

Yay, thanks! Will tumblr some!

callie said...

I love your pink lipstick! I haven't read The Beautiful & the Damned but I've been on an F Scott Fitzgerald kick lately so maybe I'll pick it up. I love how your dress is flapper-esque but also looks like something I may be able to wear.. So many Jazz Age dresses are like sacks on me. :/

Rachel, Cold Knees said...

Gorgeous photos! I love the pretty dress and the parasol... I too find graveyards sad places, I'm always curious to look at the really old, beautiful graves but it's always heartbreaking seeing how young people died! xx

Emily, Ruby Slipper Journeys said...

@Michal: ditto to the sack thing. I had to play a silent movie star at school one year and man, was that costume unflattering.

I saw your F. Scott Fitzgerald quote on tumblr and reblogged it! ; D

Unknown said...

I'm on the same page with you about cemeteries, but I do enjoy historical things, so I guess if a cemetery was old enough to be interesting rather than upsetting I'd stroll around and take some photos too.
That dress is fantastic, and that parasol is the perfect accessory :)

Unknown said...

Beautiful, romantic and sad.

Unknown said...

Beautiful, romantic and sad.

The Semi Sweet said...

Good post! I enjoy the pictures. I always distract myself in cemeteries by reading old headstones. The can be quite eloquent and sweet.

Kirstin said...

There are so many beautiful details in this post. I adore the clutch and umbrella, so many beautiful details!

So Yeah So said...

I just recently read that novel, and it was certainly depressing. Though I think that the moral, if there was one, was about the dangers of pinning all your value on one thing, such as beauty. Someone with nothing but their face would be more devastated by wrinkles than someone who had other things going for them. Such a sad story of dissipation, though, for both characters.

Lorelai Sebastian said...

i never thought a photoshoot at a cemetery would be so interesting! great photos!like book pages!

Heather, 29 Skirts said...

Wow, such cool photos! I like the inspiration, ha! I have a similar little bag that has been passed down to me. I have no idea who originally owned it in my family, but it has cream/iridescent sequins and dark bugle beads like yours.

As far as I can remember I've only been in cemeteries for actual, um, burials, but I would be interested in exploring an older one like this.

Isabel, Wake up & smell the azahar said...

Good outfit. I guess your mood goes pretty well with the background.

islabell said...

more like damn beautiful (cringgee, cheesy i know) but you do look so elegant and stunning my dear. I love that old parasole of yours, adds such an element of drama to the outfit

Ashley said...

Beautiful photoshoot. I remember being amazed by the very old cemetaries in England! I don't know why I find morbid things so beautiful, maybe because of the everpresent connection between life and death, and how it inevitably forces you to take a look at your own life?

Oh, and I would love to own such an umbrella!

Anthea said...

Props to you for taking these pics without a tripod. I think your pics are beautiful and not smiling adds to the feel of the shoot.

Anthea,
Embracing Style

Unknown said...

Lovely pictures! I love your outfit and that parasol is so adorable! :)

♥ Check out my recent trip to Venice, Italy on my blog: Principessa Gabriella

jess said...

The lace parasol is lovely.

Nnenna said...

Your lace parasol is so pretty! I haven't been to many cemeteries, but I did go to one in Paris and I enjoyed strolling around reading headstones and thinking about the people buried there and the lives they used to lead.

star-crossed smile

Unknown said...

I've been looking for a parasol like that, though I suppose it is already too late, seeing as winter is coming. But at least I have my new umbrella.

Emily, Resplendent Tranquility said...

Beautiful photo shoot and, oh, what a dress. The pale pink and all the details are really exquisite.

Sara said...

I have not read that book yet but now I want to! I love your dress, the graveyard may not be romantic, but your look is!

Shybiker said...

Interesting choice for a background to an outfit photoshoot. I've shot pictures in cemeteries (I prefer pet cemeteries) but not on fashion; the places make me cry which isn't the right mood for a fashion post. I hope you smile more in future pictures; you have a beautiful smile.

Ahka Vintage said...

The umbrella and the clutch are gorgeous!
Tikkitiboo + Ahka Vintage

Mackenzie said...

I've never ventured into a cemetery by choice before, but it makes an interesting backdrop for these pictures. The soft pink dress and elegant parasol against the harsh background is quite beautiful.

Mackenzie

lauren, curious constellation said...

That parasol is amazing! & You look gorgeous (:

Lizzy said...

I always forget to smile when taking my own pictures - I feel like such a goon grinning at a camera on a tripod.

Graveyards are sad places, but your photographs make this one seem really beautiful and serene. I love your parasol!

Katrina said...

This is so lovely! For some reason I think cemetery's make good places for photos. Maybe I'm a bit morbid. ;)

I love the dress and bag! And the parasol just makes it.

Tomz said...

thats a stylish top, and elegant ways f posing..

Teaka said...

Thanks for the suggestion of editing software on my blog. I'll have to give it a try.
Also I LOVE LOVE LOVE (well...loves a strong word so rather...like, like, like) your parasol. So beautiful!
You've got a new follower ;)

Dus of Cuddly Cacti said...

Is this the great post you were talking about? Because it really is great (& huge bonus points for taking these pretty pics yourself) I agree, cemeteries just are NOT romantic, they are sad, and in many cases, can be interesting, but how can they be romantic? Just the movies tellin us that. Anyway, you look so pretty, REALLY great in pale pink! Oh, and I'm very envious of your beautiful parasol.

Unknown said...

Lovely photos, the outfit is gorgeous.

Andrea said...

I love the title of your post, I'm totally in love with Fitzgerald, my dog is called Gatsby :) I did buy samples! My mother bought even more and if you check my twitter I posted some pictures of the shoes available. Lovely parasol and I love the sequins!

Julia said...

This is so fantastical, I love it! Spectacular umbrella.
-Julia

lesaltlake.blogspot.com - My skirt is a shirt

Anonymous said...

You look gorgeous in that shade of pink, it goes great with your skin and hair. The dress is really beautiful and I love the parasol.
Although it works great as a setting for your photos, cemeteries don't inspire any particular feelings in me, unlike Figzgerald whom I love so much :)

Annika said...

Love the asymmetrical hemline on that dress! It's already cute and that just adds a whole new level!

A Sweet Release

Jess said...

How cute is that umbrella?!

Emily, Ruby Slipper Journeys said...

@Annika: It's cute alright but is really annoying to try and find a good slip... necessary as the dress is slightly sheer, grrr

Ashley/ MILK TEETHS said...

the 1920s have always been my favorite era so of course I am fully into this quasi-flapper look. This is a pretty good looking cemetery, too. I think I fall into the faction of bloggers that finds them romantic...but they are also creepy as hell (but I try to fight that feeling)

Jenny said...

I always love a good parasol, especially one with intricate detailing like yours. The dress is quite fitting for the occasion, and your accessories definitely compliment the whole look.

HollyLou said...

Your blog is so adorable and inspirational! X

mydaddyisjamesbond.blogspot.com

Virginie's Cinema said...

This look is gorgeous! The dress and purse are so unique and romantic!

As for the cemetery, I know the last time I was in one to take outfit pics I felt totally politically incorrect but it looks beautiful with this outfit and it's nostalgic feel.

Virginie ♥

Rosamond Kim said...

You have a cute cute blog! It was very creative to contrast the beautiful feminine outfit with the cemetery setting.

Rosaspina Vintage said...

Really enjoyed this post Emily! I'm the same when it comes to cemeteries, well in Italy there are not many of this kind, they're mostly modern and on the sad side, but when I used to live in Ireland I understood what all that "poetry" in them was about and found them very interesting to learn about people habits from the past.
So nice that you got your pretty parasol from Venice :)
Take care,
Ale
x

Rebeccak said...

You seem appropriately sad for the occasion. I love the parasol (if only we had such sun here!)

I love love these shoes - please tell me they are fresh last season and I can nip into some sweet little shop while I am here and nab a pair?

Margaret said...

These pictures are quite beautiful, especially with that parasol! I'm personally fascinated with cemeteries because I find them mysterious an intriguing but I'm chicken so I don't go there for fun. I've heard of people who became possessed when going there with a vulnerable soul :/

Amber Schmidt said...

I'm always propping my camera up on odd places and then grimacing in photos as I watch the wind rock my camera around!

Anyhow, you look so lovely (you really always do) and if I didn't adore you so much, I'd be sickened by how perfect your photos are.

Jul said...

Wow Emily, these pics are amazing! You look gorgeous and I'm dying over that beautiful parasol.
I love cemeteries, but I don't find them romantic...I just like to read the writings on the gravestones and treasure those loving thoughts and those old photos..haha maybe I'm a little weird :) I hope in a good way though!

http://lifeisaromanticpoem.blogspot.com/

ana said...

Such a romantic look! The dress and the umbrella are gorgeous also the lovely clutch! great pics!

caitlin said...

so pretty! this is definitely the time of year to be hanging out in cemeterys :) i always like to wander through them... i know i'm weird. also, i adore f. scott, so obviously i adore this. i kind of wish i was zelda. minus, you know, the crazy.

Raquel said...

The last picture is absolutely gorgeous!
I used to find cemetery's really creepy but not any more. I like to read the messages in the oldest stones as well!

Anonymous said...

Such a gorgeous dress and that parasol! *swoon*

hehe I am 29.. dammit! Time to find a spot in that cemetary :D