Contemplating.

Contemplating.
Wayzata, Minnesota

Friday, May 18, 2012

Sepia Saturday - 19 May Where's the Party

SEPIA SATURDAY


WHERE'S THE PARTY?


Alan says "hats off (or on) for our Sepia Saturday theme this week.  Since long ago we had hats as our theme, I'm offering a bit of a hat twist today!

Please note, all the names have been changed to protect their status on Facebook. So those not invited to the party will suffer no ill feelings about missing the ball!



Miss Mary Arabella Belacqua
(sporting an embroidered helmet-like hat)
thought throwing a ball
would be all the rave!

You are all cordially invited to her lovely seaside villa.



Everyone, who was anyone, was certainly on the guest list.



 
To prepare for this gala event
of the year
even the horses were
dressed with
the finest of head gear.




Here, Jose Pappanostos assists Ceclilia Harrison with adjusting Lady-Blackstar's
hat while Jazzy-Lady delights in a snack. 
All in the name of good business.
In case you're wondering, yes these fine horses belong to the Belacqua family.



Of course, Arabella knew that her guests would delight in only the finest of entertainment.



She hired a line of eight chorus girls and included a top-hatted man in the middle of it all.

Naturally she required (per Alan's theme) that they all be dressed with the most attractive head gear!

...and they were, don't you think?


I shouldn't forget to mention, although Arabella wished to keep this a secret
there are always those who decide to create their own little party.....




Some folks would rather just play cards.
But they did wear hats as requested!
(The one gent without a hat, lost it to the wind.)

Oh heavens, this undertaking could not be printed in the society page.

So,
Arabella made sure that Jules Byron (aka Miss Fish-Hat) the town's only journalist would stay far away from their card game, and offered her boat for their card game enjoyment.


Below, Miss (never did marry, ever) Jules Byron


Miss Fish Hat
(trust me, she wrote an all telling but delightful article about the entire ball.)
You aren't mistaken if you see she's also holding something very fish like.
Ah yes, Miss Fishy indeed.


Arabella's family owned their own hat factory, as you see pictured below.



Hence her reason for requesting hats to be worn at all her parties.

Although there were also shops in town that the Belacqua family owned as well.


This lovely Hat Shop was located on 5th Avenue and Sycamore Street.



High on her list of invites is



Violetta Namebury (okay aka as Lillian Russell) displaying her exquisite beauty in a plumed hat.
We can disclose since Lillian doesn't approve of Facebook, that she was a talented American actress and most lovely singer.


However, Maggie Cornelius
Arabella's old college chum



Is still looking for the perfect mate, although a very private and shy woman in her twenties, wishes to remain anonymous.


With every Belacqua function, they hired their own private photographer.



Their family always known for their trend setting, enlisted the services of "a new style in camera men, by selecting a woman camera person."


So, with the entertainment set, reporter and photographer engaged let the tables be set.




....and allow the guests to be seated for dinner....




...and as usual, Gwendolyn Deryn, who believes she has the most attractive hair-do of all refuses with snobby sternness she shall never down a hat.  Ever. Period.

...and so once again, Arabella Belacqua presents the most gala of spring functions from her seaside villa.  Enjoy.  Let the games begin.


As well as more Sepia Saturday post can be found here




21 comments:

FilipBlog said...

Amazing to see the warobe of these women. Top.

Greeting,
Filip

Kat Mortensen said...

Ha! Are those Mounties? That "lady" at the table looks to be a shark - a card shark, that is! Great fun, and lots of imagination.

Unknown said...

I love all the layers of gray, black and white in these.

Wendy said...

It looks like all the beautiful hats were taken! I enjoyed this post -- lots of fun.

21 Wits said...

Kat - I think you're spot on about her! :)

21 Wits said...

Wendy and JDaniel's I just love Sepia Saturdays! Even on Friday!

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...

Karen you have snapped up the fun with this grand party. The fish hat is really an original!...I read you are weddinged out (like this word) have fun, are you wearing a hat?

21 Wits said...

Titania thanks, and thank you for the chuckle! I wasn't planning on wearing a hat, but now with the thought of it, maybe I should! I hope you have a marvelous weekend too!

North County Film Club said...

What a great collection of hats and fashions.
I particularly like Maggie's creation - it reminds me of the hats worn by Fergie's daughters at Kate and William's wedding.
Thanks for including 2 photos of the Hotel Del in Coronado near San Diego. I recognized them immediately (photos 2 and 12).
A very creative post.
Nancy

21 Wits said...

barbara and Nancy, you are spot on about that lovely hotel! I thought it quite the lovely villa (could you imagine owning that!) for such a fine family as hers! Ha! Ha! Enjoy your weekend!

21 Wits said...

Filip and Kristel, thanks for stopping by my Sepia Saturday post!

Helen Killeen Bauch McHargue said...

Very entertaining. The hats are just wonderful.

JJ said...

Quite a collection. However, please tell Maggie Cornelius that, while she is my type, I am married. Thanks a million.

21 Wits said...

JJ, okay I will, but Maggie was really hopeful!

Bob Scotney said...

Some party! Some hats! But I'd settle for the chorus girls.

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy said...

Karen, I'm loving your stories! You are so clever, and the names with the photos and weaving FB in and out, this is way too cool.

Thanks for your hard work on this post.

Kathy M.

Postcardy said...

My favorite hat and picture is the first one. The hat reminds me of a cap with goggles pushed up.

Queen Bee said...

Great collection of photos. My favorites were the first one of the girl in the aviator style hat and the chorus girls. Fun story too.

Bruno Laliberté said...

I see you've found my summer house...
Hush!!...
;)~
It would have been a grand affair if it had happened as described...
Pity it is only in your mind,
but surely such grand affairs happened. I would have loved to see the chorus line in action.
:)~
HUGZ

Tattered and Lost said...

You won me over immediately when I saw the shots of the Del, one of my favorite hotels. And the crown room where I hosted a gathering for my parent's 50th wedding anniversary.

Anonymous said...

This is the right blog for anyone who wants to find out about this topic. You realize so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually would want…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Great stuff, just great!