She made history as one of the first female aviators in the world and as the first aviatrix to fly solo over the Atlantic. For decades now Amelia Earhart has been gracing the pages of fashion history too. The fashion world has had an enduring fascination with Amelia, with her daring spirit, her tomboy appearance, her leather jackets, silk ties, jumpsuits and trousers. She was one of the style liberators for women, along with Katharine Hepburn and Marlene Dietrich. The androgynous chic type that would blend so well in the contemporary fashion, but which back then was groundbreaking.
Trousers may be key to an Amelia Earhart look (you can’t go wrong with elegant straight-cut pants, turtleneck pullover and shearling jacket-see above), but what I also love is a more feminine take on the style, like pairing a leather jacket with a woolen pleated skirt or dress, or, even more appealing, wearing a bomber jacket with a silk evening gown.
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The Ralph Lauren Fall 2005 collection is one of my favourite Ralph Lauren collections to date (unfortunately I couldn’t find high resolution photos available, but you can view it here). It had that ingredient I long for in fashion and that Amelia Earhart glamorously embodied: a perfect marriage between luxury and utility, emphasizing so well the elegance and cinematographic style of the ’30s. Another collection that paid a beautiful tribute to the first lady of the air was Hermès Fall 2009. From leather pencil skirts, trenches and bomber jackets to jumpsuits, aviator hats, goggles and bias-cut satin dresses, in grey, black, russet and purple tones, Jean Paul Gaultier created a complete and timeless aviatrix wardrobe, a collection that would stand the test of time and serve as inspiration for your adventurous spirit for years to come.
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Happy Monday! I hope you have a great week ahead of you!
photos: 1-clockwise from left: Peter Lindbergh for Le Monde D´Hermés catalogue, Fall-Winter 2009 / Diary of a Collection by Ralph Lauren / Ray-Ban / Ralph Lauren Fall 2005 / Amelia Earhart in 1928, source unknown / Peter Lindbergh for Harper’s Bazaar, July 2009 / Ralph Lauren Blue Label Fall 2012 / 2-5: Peter Lindbergh for Harper’s Bazaar, July 2009; Heidi Mount in ‘Fashion Takes Flight’ / 6-9: Hermès Fall 2009
This style is right up my street! How could a woman not feel empowered and sexy in any of these outfits? Hope you have a wonderful week Ada!
What a great story, Ada! Such a beautiful way to blend fashion and history.
Hope you had a lovely weekend!
xxx
It’s such an elegant look – I feel like Ralph Lauren is having a huge resurgence of interest lately, or maybe it’s just me, but I find myself admiring his work more than ever. Gorgeous picks Ada–I would wear any of these looks gladly!
xo Mary Jo
Love this post, Ada … the past makes it’s presence known again today! There is a certain chicness about that aviator, “I’m a woman with my own plan in mind” look! I was so busy last week and then out of town over the weekend and I never had a chance to make it to my fav blogs. Thanks so much for dropping by last week’s Masked Ball post … love that you had a bit of a face painting adventure! Have a wonderful week, lovely. xoxSandy
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Such a cool style, love them! I still wear my raybans :). Happy Monday (don’t wish for rain, sun is better!) xo
i love this ada! as a girl i was completely mesmerized by amelia. i thought how much courage that took for her in that time; and not just the flight but the courage it took to pursue it at all at a woman in those days. she is a real inspiration and i would LOVE to dress like her! RL is always exquisit and timeless.
My Monday just got more happier by reading your post.
It took me back to my high school years because I had some friends who had aviator leather jackets. I never had one myself; it just wasn’t me. But I love this look on those who can work it!
this is lovely, ada! perfect choices.
talk about a fashion icon…a leather bomber and aviators are sorely missing from my wardrobe!
Ada, the Hermes collection is so beautiful, I like it a lot and I am also hooked on smart dresses worn with casual jackets, such a mesmerizing and bold look. And how nice you have related the story of Amelia with this clothes:*
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