Category: fashion

April 12, 2016 / Vickie Lester

“My formula for living is quite simple. I get up in the morning and I go to bed at night. In between, I occupy myself as best I can.” Cary Grant

April 10, 2016 / Vickie Lester

“I know for some women, men are a household necessity; myself, I’d rather have a canary.” Ruth Chatterton

Ruth Chatterton, at the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Ennis House during the shooting of “Female.” When she retired from the screen she started writing. I found this copy of her book, “Homeward Borne” along with several others I had salvaged from the parental attic. Unlike the rest of the old…

Read the post

April 10, 2016 / Vickie Lester

“It felt, to me, like a permanent cocktail party, without the drinks. Acting took me away from real life to a pretend life. I wanted that real life back. I am not a dedicated actress, I’m afraid. I never have been.” Julie Christie

April 9, 2016 / Vickie Lester

The light that made filmmakers move to California…

It shines here most of the time, and there are certain places, certain times of year that take your breath away with sheer beauty. Pity that with generations of talent based here so much production is going elsewhere. The migration has to do with tax incentives in some places, and…

Read the post

April 8, 2016 / Vickie Lester

“I was Betty Bacall always. And Lauren was Howard Hawks… he felt that Lauren Bacall was better sounding than Betty Bacall. He had a vision of his own. He was a Svengali. He wanted to mold me. He wanted to control me. And he did until Mr. Bogart got involved.”

April 7, 2016 / Vickie Lester

Jean Harlow – Dinner at Eight

A defining role: Reading sides on a leaning board. Jean Harlow chats with visiting director Edmund Goulding. To her left is cast member Edmund Lowe and director George Cukor. Photograph by George Hurrell of Jean Harlow in a gown by Adrian designed for “Dinner at Eight”.

March 27, 2016 / Vickie Lester

Cecil Beaton as the Easter Bunny, photographed by Gordon Anthony (1937)

February 23, 2016 / Vickie Lester

“I am big. It’s the pictures that got small.” Norma Desmond, played by the one and only Gloria Swanson

Now don’t argue, if you’re looking at this on a phone, tablet, or computer; the point about teeny-tiny images is made. Here we have a GIF from Sunset Blvd., and another excuse to jump from a film image to a discourse on—me! Let’s start with a little background on how…

Read the post

February 12, 2016 / Vickie Lester

“Love isn’t something you find. Love is something that finds you.” Loretta Young

Look at that, Loretta Young in 1931, in a movie called “Too Young to Marry.” You have to indulge me today because it’s my birthday, and, love found me thirty-one years ago. Since it’s nearly Valentine’s day I thought I’d share a few memories of my and The Mister’s courtship.…

Read the post

February 9, 2016 / Vickie Lester

“Love is a publicity stunt, and making love – after the first curious raptures – is only another petulant way to pass the time waiting for the studio to call.” Louise Brooks