Quotables

'Ly. Eliz. [Bess] came, the first time I have seen her since her marriage with [the] Duke of Devonshire; I could not utter a congratulation upon the occasion.'

-Elizabeth Lady Holland

2 Cellos 1 Rock Classic (and a Scandalized 18th-Century Crowd)

This video has been making the rounds upon its entrance into fine society, and by request of RetroBlog, I present it here. 

These two dashing gents are Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser of 2CELLOS and in their video for  AC/DC's “Thunderstruck” they chose the austere and polite setting of an eighteenth-century theatre.


Hmm...the crowd doesn't seem sold.  Bring in the acrobats!

I quite like it, although I think they could do with a nice powder wig (a la Amadeus?) or at least a regency haircut.  Oh wait, not to mention their actual musical prowess is AMAZING. 

Upcoming Exhibition - Georgians: 18th-Century Dress for Polite Society

Bath's Fashion Museum has announced their exhibition for this year and luckily for us it's one in which they have, once again, dusted off their wonderful Georgian dress collection that has been hiding behind closed doors, to give it the proper attention it deserves.*  Georgians: 18th-Century Dress for Polite Society opens this Saturday and knowing this collection, it is sure to be a gorgeous display of eighteenth-century finery.

GEORGIANS will include over 30 original 18^th century outfits and ensembles from the museum’s world-class collection, including gowns made of colourful and richly patterned woven silks, as well as embroidered coats and waistcoats worn by Georgian gentlemen of fashion.

 A highlight of the exhibition will be a trio of wide-skirted Court dresses dating from the 1750s and 1760s (held out by cane supports known as panniers, from the French word for baskets), the early years of the reign of King George III.

The Grand Finale of GEORGIANS will include 18^th century-inspired fashions by five top fashion designers: Anna Sui, Meadham Kirchhoff, Vivienne Westwood, Stephen Jones, and AlexanderMcQueen. All are influenced by the 18^th century aesthetic, and all (in different ways) show how the elegance and grace of Georgian dress continues to inspire fashion today.

All we need now is an excuse to get to Bath!  I'm devising mine right now.


*Fangirls and boys pressed up against the glass drooling over it.

Belle, the story of Dido Belle Lindsay

Many of you may recognize this famous portrait once thought to be by Zoffany of the cousins and bffs, Dido Belle and Elizabeth Lindsay -

The portrait (or rather the individuals in it) have inspired a new movie, Belle, which is due out in the Spring and Summer.  Mark your calendars!  As many historical movies about women tend to do, Belle will focus on romance (and race) in the life of Dido Lindsay but it also looks like it will follow her interesting role in the family.  Check out the trailer here:

I must say this looks promising!  The costumes and hair look like they may also pass the test.  I'll be keeping my out for this film.