10.01.2009

From Russia, with Love

I was admiring (with GREAT zeal) the enormous, frizzy heaps of hair that have, for the past couple of weeks, been gracing the Spring/Summer 2010 catwalks, like this particularly fine knot on model Ali Michael's head, outside of the Luella show (which was considerably less fine, but that's another story):

Model Ali Michael outside of the S/S 2010 Luella show, via The Fashion Spot

Anyway, I was in the midst of wondering how I could re-acquire one of those weird foam donuts to amplify the size of a bun (whatever happened to those things?) when I was reminded of a drop-dead-gorgeous image of the last Imperial Russian Czar's children.  Maybe it was a combo of the frizzy hair and romantic bow, maybe the youthful topknot, but I'm glad I thought of it.   Clothing, jewels, carriages, palaces and all (oh, the DETAIL!) — the entire Romanov family is truly a style inspiration. 

The four daughters: Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia. Image from A Lifelong Passion, by Mayalunas & Mironenko

Grand Duchess Tatiana, 1910.

Of course, I don't even need to mention the hair. It's very contemporary in a way. Like a carefree, messy rock-star do, on the head of a Romanov. What more could I ask for? Other than a good nautical stripe and a dramatic hat, and there's plenty of that to go around:

Romanov Children with Empress Alexandra, 1909.




Maria, 1908

Above four photos from The Romanov's: Love, Power & Tragedy.  Ed: Bokhanov, Knodt, Oustimenko, Peregudova, and Tyutyunnik.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

The first photo of the four young daughters is hauntingly beautiful when you consider their brutal murders some years later. The woman in the photo is their mother, the Empress Alexandra, not a governess.
Regards.

(IN)DECOROUS TASTE said...

Anonymous- Yes, I suppose they are haunting when you consider them in the context of their death. Still beautiful images, however. And oh my, you are right about it being the Empress! My apologies for mislabeling. Thank you!

christinaooi said...

Charming... I love the raw and grainy feeling of old photographs. The first one (with the 4 sisters) is especially good.

Maria Confer said...

Such gorgeous daughters, so terrible how they died.

Love Ali Michaels and her messy teased bun!

lululetty.blogspot.com

P.Gaye Tapp at Little Augury said...

so true,looking at these beautiful girls-as just a picture perfect family-then knowing their fate.Yes they are perfect-natural-innocent & your drawing it out in these photographs is quite wonderful. GT

(IN)DECOROUS TASTE said...

Maria and Little Augury- It is sad how innocent and absolutely normal and playful they look in the photos, considering their brutal fate.

h- OMG that is ridiculous. I have totally seen infomercials for that thing!!! Secretly, I wonder if I would actually LIKE it, and that scares me more than anything else. I think I'll stick with the hairspray and backcombing for the time being.

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