Finally! First photos from Mia Wasikowska in Jane Eyre

The new Jane Eyre movie is due out in March. There is a FaceBook page, where they have released two photos of Mia Wasikowska as Jane Eyre, in fashionable 19th century garb. The movie is directed by Cary Fukunaga, of Sin Nombre fame. Reports are that Mia Wasikowska read the Charlotte Bronte book and asked her agent if there were any movies of it being made.

I am so excited about seeing another version of one of my favorite book!

Two stories below:

Story at I Am Rogue

Story at Cinema Blend

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Women’s Dresses from the 1870’s

Some perspective: This image is from a vintage greeting card, which is a reprinted page from Godey’s Lady’s Book, a monthly magazine from the 19th century. The dresses are described as “The New Look in the 1870’s”. This time period is after Jane Austen, after the Bronte sisters, and about the time of Louisa May Alcott. Little women was published in 1868 and 1869, so these dresses are probably similar to those that the March sisters wore to their fancy dress ball.

Details from the card at the read more…

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How-To create a Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire costume

Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire by Thomas Gainsborough, 1787

Want an easy way to dress as Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire?

There are many costumes you can buy that are “Marie Antoinette” of France. Since Marie Antoinette and “The Duchess”, Georgiana Spencer, were contemporaries and friends, an Antoinette costume should convey the same overall impression. And, after the movie “The Duchess” being a pretty good hit, people might even get who you mean to be. (Or, you can always go home-spun and find some dress in your closet that looks poofy and old-fashioned with a little scoop to the neckline.)

Some differences you might notice, or adjust your costume for:

-Marie Antoinette was from France, Georgiana was from England. (You could even hold an English Flag.)

-Marie Antoinette is usually portrayed with white, powdered hair, Georgiana is usually portrayed with goldish or reddish hair.

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Report from women in politics/Feminist Initiative event

“The Feminist Initiative” A film and panel event at the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington, New York, USA. A documentary about the formation of a feminist party in Sweden: Feminist Initiative.

Speaker: Lina Olsson of Feminist Initiative. Moderator: Charlotte Koons of the NYCLU. Panelists: Hedda Marcus, Professor of English, Women’s Studies and Multidisciplinary Studies at Nassau Community College; Kimberly Wilder of Georgiana Circle; Andrea Callan, Executive Director of the NYCLU Suffolk Chapter. Thanks to Charlotte Sky for organizing the event. Videographer of the Huntington event: Kimberly Wilder.

The movie is “The Feminist Initiative” by director Liz Weisberg. It tells the story of a diverse group of women working to establish the world’s first feminist political party in Sweden in the spring of 2005. Currently, the Feminist Initiative party is campaigning for the European Parliament Elections in June 2009. The website for the group is: http://www.feministisktinitiativ.se They also have a Facebook group.

Andrea Callan, Hedda Marcus, Lina Olsson, Kimberly Wilder, Charlotte Koons

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Victoria Woodhull, Victoria Bond and me!

There are photos below of an excellent event held at the Cinema Arts Center in Huntington (Long Island, NY).  The movie America’s Victoria: The Victoria Woodhull Story, by director Victoria Weston, was shown. In 1872, before women had the right to vote, Woodhull was the first woman candidate for US President. She ran on the “Equal Rights Party” ticket, with the support of key figures from the woman’s suffrage movement and spiritual movement. “The Woodhull”, as her supporters sometimes called her, is an important third party figure.

There was also a special guest at the event – Victoria Bond. Victoria Bond is an internationally recognized composer/conductor. She has an opera, “Mrs. President”, about Victoria Woodull, scenes of which were played. I have known of the wonderful work of Victoria Bond when she was the conductor of the Roanoke Symphony in Virginia, so it was a treat to get to meet her and hear her speak. Victoria Bond is hosting a series with new music by various composers at Symphony Space in New York City in April. And, she is interested in finding support and the best venue to premiere her work, “Mrs. President.”

Fan Kimberly Wilder (l) with composer/conductor Victoria Bond

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In Long Island, NY: A Victoria Woodhull event

Part of a series: Women’s Herstory Across the Globe

Film: America’s Victoria
Remembering Victoria Woodhull, first woman to run for US President in 1872
and
Presentation/Reception with Victoria Bond
Composer/Conductor

Thursday, March 26 at 7:30pm
Cinema Arts Centre
Huntington, LI, New York

$9 Members / $12 Public / Includes Reception

Information and tickets:
– 24 hour showtime information: 631 423-3456 or 423-2696
– Call 631-423-7610 to get the Cinema Arts Centre Monthly Program Guide
– Cinema Arts Centre 423 Park Avenue Huntington, NY 11743

Co-presented by Huntington League of Women Voters

The extraordinary ambition of Victoria Woodhull is the subject of America’s Victoria: The Victoria Woodhull Story, as her 1872 campaign for the presidency of the U.S. is documented. Enough people supported her cause to ensure a nomination, and although she was a strong advocate of women’s suffrage, she had other issues on her agenda, including marriage reform and legalization of prostitution. Her opponents mounted an attack on her personal life, and her story is told here with the help of Gloria Steinem and Kate Capshaw. USA, 1998, 54 min.; Director: Victoria Weston

Selection from the 2002 chamber opera, Mrs. President, composed by Victoria Bond, will be played following the film.

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February 2009: Painting of Georgiana available at auction

I stumbled across this piece when doing on-line searches for Georgiana. The auction site is: here.

It is a beautiful painting of Georgiana, done after her death, but based on the 1787 original from Thomas Gainsborough.

“Ferdinand van Stoopendaal (Swedish, b. 1850), “Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire”, oil on canvas, after the 1787 original by Thomas Gainsborough (English, 1727-1788), 16 in. x 20 in., framed”

A wonderful tribute to Lady Georgiana Spencer, ancestor to Princess Diana. Lady Georgiana Spencer later became the Duchess of Devonshire.

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The Fashion of Politics Series, Part Two: The Curtain Club and Voluntary Simplicity

Betty Wood (r) presents Kimberly with a hand-sewn tote bag

What can one woman do to carry herself, her family, and her country safely through the current economic crisis?

Each day, more and more people are starting to feel the economic crunch. For some people, it is the loss of a job. For others, it is a home in foreclosure. For others, it is a general sense of less money, and more caution related to purchases such as food, gasoline and clothing. This holiday season brought us less shopping and less things, including less new sweaters, hats and mittens for the cold months.

In addition, there is a sense of lack brought on by the wasteful wars our country is engaged in over in Iraq and Afghanistan. And, the sense of grief and compassion for the civilians in those countries, and for the victims of the blockade and war in Gaza.

How can we respond to these events? How can we help to fix these events?

My solution is to make a partly symbolic and partly meaningful shift in the culture with a new fashion trend: applying frugality and voluntary simplicity to women’s fashion.

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The Fashion of Politics Series: Introduction (Part One)

What can we learn about a politician from the clothes they wear?

How can we project a political message with the clothes we wear?

These are some questions that I will be exploring in this series, “The Fashion of Politics.” This series is designed for everyone to enjoy. It will cover: men’s political fashion; women’s political fashion; third party and independent candidates; greens and Green Party candidates; political buttons and other political accessories; and fashion-politics current events, such as guessing what Michelle Obama will wear to the Inauguration Balls. Every two or three days, there will be a new post covering topics such as: “When to wear (and when not to wear) a political button”; “What should grassroots candidates wear?”; “Can real greens wear a suit?”. Illustrations will be culled from historical examples, as well as my personal collection of activism and grassroots political experience in the Green Party. I never realized how many pictures I had of greens around the country trying to look friendly and/or professional in order to win over voters.

Citizen Candidates: USA 2002

As a candidate myself, and as a campaign manager for many candidates, I have thought a lot about how candidates should dress. Though, even for non-candidates, fashion can express a lot about who we are and what we believe in. A statement could be as bold and obvious as a t-shirt with a political message. Or, it could be as subtle as wearing hemp jeans, or choosing a tie that is “only blue”, instead of red. I will be sharing strategies and images of people trying to project political message through fashion. I will also present some discussions and controversies I have encountered in my many years navigating the world of fashion, politics and political campaigns.

Fashion of Rulers

My recent focus on fashion and politics is the result of my study of Amanda Foreman’s book (and the movie based on it) “Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire.” Georgiana’s life might have turned out to be simply a contest of beauty and aesthetics with her friends of London’s aristocratic social circle, nicknamed “the Ton”. Though, Georgiana managed to blend her love for fashion and her flair for gaining attention with her desire to support the politicians and political ideas that became one of the missions of her life. Georgiana understood the power of art

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Ralph Fiennes, The Duke, received Golden Globe nomination

Ralph Fiennes, out of costume

Painting of the 5th Duke of Devonshire

As a devoted fan of the real Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, and as someone who enjoyed the movie “The Duchess” very much, I have definite opinions on all of the characters, and on the portrayals in the movie.

I decided that I am still a little frustrated that Ralph Fiennes portrayed William, the fifth Duke of Devonshire, in such a sympathetic light. Though, in thinking about it, at least Fiennes showed the flaws in the Duke’s character, and did not do what would have been tragic – make the Duke seem charming or especially sexually appealing, after all the Duke’s womanizing and emotional abuse of his wife.

It is also disappointing that the portrayal of the Duke is up for so many awards, when it is Georgiana who should have been (and was in some measure)  “a light burning at the center of the film”, as commentary on the DVD edition notes. Perhaps because I had read the book by Amanda Foreman, I still saw Georgiana’s light as the center of the film. Indeed, the story would probably have not been told if it were not for her flair, her fame and her fashion sense. And, contrary to some critics, I believe that Keira Knightley’s portrayal of Georgiana was wonderful. Knightley was able to portray the character and emotions in the range of an innocent young bride of 17-years-old, to an aristocratic woman having a passionate affair, to a mother and wife who has come to terms with her place in life.

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