Fear is the Cheapest Room in the House

Words I Love

There are some words I love to read, write and say. They evoke a feeling, an image, a mood. They are more than just letters:

Mystical

Magic

Mystery

Song

Luxe

Ruin

Moonstone

Singed

Illusion

Listen

Are there any words you love?

WILD THING! Sexy Looks That are Spot On

Let's operate on the premise that all furs here are faux (except the ones on the animal). Real fur is a no-no, but back in the day it was a symbol of luxury and, when some spots were involved, a way up the ante (as C.C. Baxter would say) sex-wise.

If you look deep in her eyes, you'll see Audrey's inner wild cat

A few wild accessories hint that Missy is a wild one 

Carmen Miranda also uses spotted dental floss

Carole Lombard looks glam and sexy

Me-owwwwww!!

Spots lend wildcat Clara an air of sophistication

Is that you, Claudette Colbert or am I seeing spots?

Gene Tierney looks a might uncomfortable.
Maybe the bathing suit was his mother?

Joan Blondell tells her cheetah pal to relax -  it's only faux fur.

Spots help Marilyn do elegant with a touch of sexy

Vivien looking feline

Bebe Daniels always looks luxe - whether going exotic or chic

Bette Davis proves that spots can say "come hither" or "I dare you."

Mrs. Robinson  - sexy all over

And there was Gloria, who had a career-long love affair with the big cat look

Leopard as worn by Norma Desmond - the greatest star of them all!

That Dress!!! Kay Francis in "Mandalay"

Once upon a time (and still to this day), my ideal of movie glamour included something shiny and sparkly. Over time, my taste has become slightly more refined, but I confess my eyes are always drawn to the glitter and sparkle and way-too-much that spells glamour to me.

One such dress that screams all of the above is worn by Kay Francis in 1934's "Mandalay." Sleek as a thoroughbred, Kay is poured into liquid simmer and adorned with feathers, Vaseline, bangles and attitude.

If you were a female star at Warner Brothers in the 1930s, chances are you were gowned by the great Orry-Kelly. In "Mandalay," Kelly created a wardrobe for Kay that reflected the slightly scarlet, slightly sympathetic and very steamy world inhabited by the fabulously named Spot White.

Because Orry-Kelly was on an orgy of glamour with Kay, I have included a few other goodies from "Mandalay." Kay managed to look gorgeous whether adorned with jewels, flowers, feathers, a fan or sequins, either one at a time or all at once.

For Kay in "Mandaly" too much is just right.

That Dress!!!! Unforgettable Movie Dresses: Scarlett's Love Bird Dress

I think this will become a regular post here (as regular as irregular posts go) - unforgettable movie dresses.

My absolute number 1 movie dress obsession is Scarlett's Love Bird Dress from GONE WITH THE WIND.

Vivien Leigh as Scarlett in her beautiful Love Bird Dress

Seen only briefly and from the waist up, this is the dress Scarlett is wearing in the New Orleans honeymoon scene.

Designer Walter Plunkett designed a true fashion work of art for Scarlett and the dress was seen for just a few seconds.

Plunkett's original sketch

I have not been able to find any full length photos of Vivien Leigh in this dress. However, its beauty is not forgotten, as it appears again, years later, on the Red Carpet celebrating great cinematic costume design. (Thanks for the photo, Inge!)

There it is again!!!

I have not been able to track down what actually happened to the original. I'd love to know the fate of this beautiful dress.

Ooo La La! The Ever Cool Look of Jean Seberg in "Breathless"

So modern, so clean, so Parisian and yet so American - the look of Jean Seberg in Jean Luc Goddard's 1960 classic "Breathless" never fails to take my breath away!

Every photo looks as thought it could have been taken yesterday. Breathless and timeless.

Joan Crawford by Hurrell

I am mad for these 2 Hurrell portraits of Joan Crawford. 

She is simply stunning.