“And the two women stood side by side looking at the slender, flowering tree. Although it was so still it seemed, like the flame of a candle, to stretch up, to point, to quiver in the bright air, to grow taller and taller as they gazed - almost to touch the rim of the round, silver moon.
How long did they stand there? Both, as it were, caught in that circle of unearthly light, understanding each other perfectly, creatures of another world, and wondering what they were to do in this one with all this blissful treasure that burned in their bosoms and dropped, in silver flowers, from their hair and hands?”
How long did they stand there? Both, as it were, caught in that circle of unearthly light, understanding each other perfectly, creatures of another world, and wondering what they were to do in this one with all this blissful treasure that burned in their bosoms and dropped, in silver flowers, from their hair and hands?”
Extract from Bliss & Other Stories by Katharine Mansfield, via 1
The Outfit:
Vintage 1930s russet velvet evening dress with ruched panels: made by granny Kiki for Kiki Couture
Vintage 1910-30s? bejewelled buckle silk satin shoes: passed down from granny Kiki
Vintage 1920s bracelet: passed down from granny Penny to my mother
Red chinese cuff bracelet: a gift from my aunt in Hong Kong
Vintage 1930s necklace, worn as a headband: passed down from granny Penny
Earrings: my mother's, from Accessorize
Large blue ring: a recent present from a friend
Lilac rose hair clip: an old present from my mother
The Soundtrack
Edith Sitwell: Through Gilded Trellises
As you may have guessed, the painting of the beautiful redhead is a portrait of my granny Kiki, painted at the start of the 1930s when she was in her early twenties.
Photographs taken at my parents' house by me, self portraits using the timer on my little digital camera.
Sorry I've been too busy this week to comment on many blogs, and haven't had a chance to respond to your kind comments either. Please know that even when I don't have time to respond I appreciate your comments so much.
I'm delighted to be a part of the next Visible Monday, hosted by the lovely Patti from www.notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.co.uk, click on the website link to see her outfit and those of many others.
Such and beautiful home and your granny was a stunning woman!
ReplyDeleteYou wear your family history with pride and such natural style and grace.
For some reason I keep waiting for Mr. Jay Gatsby to appear and asked you for a dance.
Just like a princess from another time!
ReplyDeleteKiki was stunning! And you know I always enjoy reading your choice excerpts of beautiful prose x
ReplyDeleteYou and Kiki are both so gorgeous! Stunning dress and photos! Very romantic and dreamy.
ReplyDeleteBecky :)
So poetic!
ReplyDeleteOh heavens, she is beautiful! A magical post again Emalina. You look beautiful too, and I love the photo with your arm and hand over hers. I had to take a second look. Granny Kiki was an incredibly talented lady. The design lines and the ruching on the velvet dress are exquisite.
ReplyDeleteSue xo
emalina. what a beautiful post., everything is beautiful. you have a lovely heritage. thank you for sharing. love lucyx
ReplyDeleteI was so busy looking at the dress (and thinking how lucky it is that all these things fit you so perfectly) that I didn't even look at the painting until I read that it was Kiki! Such a lovely outfit. I daydream about making myself a velvet dress one day, and then I wonder when I would wear it. But I expect I'd dress up in it all the time at home at the very least...
ReplyDelete(I'm a bad blog lurker I know, so I thought I should finally comment ;) )
Absolute perfection! You look glorious in velvet (we're on the same wavelength again!) and your hair piece makes me swoon! What a stunning family portrait! xxx
ReplyDeleteThe gown is total bliss! Silk velvet is my favorite vintage fabric. All of the pieces that you wear that came from your family are amazing and enchanting. The portrait of your grandmother is as beautiful as you.
ReplyDeleteYour granny's necklace worn as a headband is the bee's knees. What a great idea!
ReplyDeleteLovely, fluid and soft. The poem enriches the moments within your photographs. Ahh some fresh flowers! I've been thinking about fresh flowers lately. I may just have to find some:)
ReplyDeleteWOW!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty lost for words actually! You look absolutely beautiful! That russet gown, the flowers, the buckled shoes and that jewelled head dress is all just perfection. I thought at once on seeing you next to that portrait that this must be granny Kiki! Lovely to see her rendered in a portrait.
You look absolutely divine in that gorgeous thirties beauty! Kiki was stunning, what a beautiful portrait. You're very lucky to have feet that fit into all those wonderful vintage shoes passed down from your Granny! I always enjoy the poems and extracts you share with us, as well your lovely photos.
ReplyDeleteOh Emalina, so lovely. I too am desperately pressed for time, looking on comments with similar longing and deep appreciation. No need to apologize, love to see you however much you're able.
ReplyDeleteBreathtaking. It's hard to put into words how special this post is. Everything is just beautiful, exquisite, and poignant. Thank you so much for sharing this lovely legacy. XXOO
ReplyDeleteBeauty and elegance is clearly something that runs in your family! You look like a 1930s aristocrat in these photos, such lovely shots. That luxurious velvet dress is just so divine on your figure!
ReplyDeleteI am quite speechless after reading this lovely post, therefore I just want to thank you for sharing your incredible words and photo's and creativity with us.
ReplyDeleteWow your granny Kiki is so beautiful, just like you. Its always a joy to see your wonderful outfits. This dress is so charming! xxxx
ReplyDeleteYou look really lovely in that fabulous gown. And the portrait is stunning, what a truly wonderful thing to have. She was lovely.
ReplyDeleteI have been re watching my House of Elliot dvds recently and while I freely admit that the script wasn't exactly the last word in literature, I do love it, and oh, the clothes, the clothes!
A beautiful portrait of Kiki, and you look stunning in that fabulous dress, so completely elegant. Love the necklace worn as a headband too. xxx
ReplyDeleteabsolutely stunning darling! you look like one of the glamourous hollywood sirens of the 30´s! you totally took my breath away in this dress!
ReplyDeletekiss,mary
Behold the glory of velvet and roses!! You Em, look so peaceful standing next to Kiki's portrait wearing her beautiful gown and shoes, I love the necklace-as-headband, the colours are glorious on you! Katherine Mansfield, Janet Frame and Frank Sargeson are my favourite NZ authors, I'm so glad we studied them in school alongside the traditional classics. They never fail to take me on a memorable journey. xoxox
ReplyDeleteWOW, you look like a princess :) In live in Portugal, country of castles, so I really love your outfit :)
ReplyDelete***
The Marvelous World of Narcissa
You look absolutely stunning, like you actually from that time. I envy you in good sense, to have all those vintage things from your granny. Lucky you!
ReplyDeleteSTUNNING! I love the tail bit of the dress! Great vintage inheritance!
ReplyDeleteGREETINGS FROM DUBAI
MRS JACK OF ALL TRADES
http://mrsjackofalltradesdaily.blogspot.ae/
One of your most beautiful dresses that we've seen, and the portrait of your grandmother is exquisite as well. Every piece has a story. Thanks for sharing this with Visible Monday.
ReplyDeleteThat dress is absolutely to die for - so perfectly stylish and luxurious. And a beautiful portrait of your grandmother. I desperately want to portrait painted of me while I'm still in my 20s, to be a family heirloom... That is, if I ever have kids, or alternatively, to be able to stare at wistfully in my old age!
ReplyDeleteMy dear your granny Kiki... must be so very proud of you... the way you celebrate your love for her... and share her with the world. I hope if I ever have grandchildren... I will be able to inspire such devotion and creativity! As always ... it is a joy to visit your corner of the world!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful portrait, she looks like a Greek goddess.
ReplyDeleteMy dearest Emaline I wish I could visit you every time you post, as I used to, but we are sharing computer and out most of the time.
ReplyDeleteYou are adorable, and so your granny Kiki.
Much love and gratefulness for each end everyone of your poetic comments.
Love your bigger photos.
ReplyDeletegranny kiki must have been quite succesfull with her fashion in her younger years. this dress is so amazing. it fits you perfectly.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. That dress was (literally) made for you. Great post, evocative images.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to have such a beautiful picture of your granny! To have clothing and jewelry from your ancestors is especially lovely; it's so much more meaningful when those treasures belonged to your loved ones. And then to fit into the clothes and look as gorgeous in them as you do is the icing on the cake!
ReplyDeleteHeather from Friendship, Life and Style
Stunning photos! I love the painting of Granny Kiki! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
ReplyDeleteSo lovely! Beautiful and touching to see you with this painting. Love your style and soft tender photos.
ReplyDeleteblue hue wonderland
Aren't you lovely my dear
ReplyDeleteThat dress is exquisite, it seems it was made for you
I adore all the accents, it's perfect
I think i 'll feature you on Fridays Stylish Ladies
Love and hugs
Ariane
How lovely! I love the texture and look of your dress! Great blog! Following you on bloglovin'! Thanks for visiting my blog!
ReplyDeleteAlexa
Hi Emalina,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog, A Pear Shaped Gal. It must be so much fun to play dress up with all those wonderful vintage clothing items.
Looking forward to your next post.
Monica
www.pear-shaped-gal.com
love the vibe of this whole shoot. Like being transported back in time! That dress is very flattering on you. thanks so much for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteYour grannies had style. And so do you, putting all these items together for one glorious ensemble!
ReplyDeletexx juli
fragmentsofmyclothing.blogspot.com
Oh, how amazing to be able to wear your grandmother's clothing!! Beautiful dress and headdress!! Love your blog, I'm off to have a look around!! Thank you again for stopping by mine!
ReplyDeleteYou outdid yourself, E. Here you look like you stepped out of the pages of a Flaubert novel. Or something all literary and fancy. Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThat is insane that is your Grandmother in that painting! Wow!
ReplyDeleteIt is like you are in a clothing museum where you get to wear the clothes! Amazing. I am so so jealous.
That gown is beautiful.
bisous
Suzanne
Penny's necklace is so inspiring! I'm going to go home and try to wear my Indian necklace as a headband!!!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness gracious! You! Your dress! Your Kiki! Beauty is most definitely something that runs in your family. You looks so wonderful! That portrait is incredible, you are very lucky to have something like that in your family (not to mention your inherited dream of a wardrobe.)
ReplyDeleteI just left you a reply on your comment on my blog, hope you get it okay.
It's really hard to date the shoes without seeing the side of them or the heel as that's usually a good indicator of the age. Also the innersole if it has a lable, brand stamp? I think from what I can see, your rough estimate of 1910'2-30's is correct but I can't tell you anymore without seeing the rest. If you want to email me pics then i would love to try and date them for you. xxx
I have come to your blog by chance and I am totally impressed with your wonderful costumes and photos, you are soooo inspiring! Love that velvet dress, love the picture of your Granny ... I realized that your eyes and her eyes are exactly the same!
ReplyDeleteYou have a beautiful blog! I'm following now via Bloglovin. I'm so glad you stopped by my blog because now I've discovered your wonderful blog! It's also nice to find another Katharine Mansfield fan. I love, love, love her short stories. I was reading one before bed last night. Debbie @ ilovemylemonadelife.com
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