I thought for April - exploring the likes of a glamorous lifestyle would be just the ticket as we thaw from winter and put off our accounting (sorry for the reminder!). I would have to say that collecting this post took me far, far away from the everyday into a world where the only thing that mattered was the perfect Gracie wallpaper and Duquette furnishings. Glamor can certainly be very beguiling.
And then to get my head straight on the subject I started wondering about glamor, in general. Why is glamor so - glamorous? All grown up and Noel-Coward-fancy-schmancy? If you've been a Tile Envy devotee- you know I've become quite fond of digging about to find the "why" of how a particular lifestyle emerges into a style trend. But for this month's lifestyle - glamor - it's all about the "why not". Why not dress for dinner? Why not champagne instead of tea- a boa instead of a scarf, all whilst listening to Cole Porter? It all sounds good to me.
GLAMOR HISTORY
1) Glamor is linguistically related to the word grammar. I guess smart people used to be alluring?? There's a trend I'd love to bring back!!!
2) It originally derived from a Scottish orientation; as (noun) a magical spell, or (verb) to enchant. It may be a combination of the words glitter and grammar. (should be glitter and amour!)
3) The term gradually evolved to represent the ideas of being fashionably attractive, mysteriously exciting and appealing.
4) It seems to have originated as a lifestyle when aristocracy began expanding into a society of the bourgeoisie and urbanism was developing.
5) It's most specific beginnings can be mapped back to Paris and the Belle Epoque- naturally. And when Hollywood got a hold of it- the two terms became synonymous.
GLAMOR ICONS
Glamorous spaces wouldn't be what they have become without these giants of design-
Billy Baldwin
MODERN GLAMOR
Glamor legends for today.
Julian Schnabel
Tomorrow- Part II - we'll grab the most obvious elements that can turn any 4 walls into a glamorous departure.