International Vintage: Orientalism of the 1910s- 1920s

Flashback Summer:  International Vintage- Orientalism of the 1910s-1920s
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Imagine what traveling to the Middle East would have seemed like to Westerners in the 1910s and 20s.  Picture it with me....

You've finally arrived in Egypt after a few days of travel.  You are riding through old Cairo, surrounded on all sides by thousands of years of history.  Tall mosques tower around you on either side, and you hear the muezzins perform the call to prayer with long, haunting notes and exotic minor key melodies.  

You drive past the proud lions of the Qasr Al-Nil bridge, sharing the road with donkey carts, pedestrians, and loping camels with tall piles of hay on their backs.  Next to your window a man in a long white robe and turban carries a long tray of bread on his head, shouting, "Aish!  Aish!" to inform everyone of his wares.  Women sit in the doorways and watch their children, chatting and laughing.  Merchants selling large gold bangles and coined scarves use their most persuasive language to convince potential buyers.  The air is filled with the scent of sweet perfumes, humanity, and cinnamon shisha smoke.  Old men sit in cafes and sip tea as they play backgammon and discuss politics.  They pause to stare at you as you drive by.
Flashback Summer:  International Vintage- Orientalism of the 1910s-1920s
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You drive to the outskirts of the city, the buildings being separated by more and more sand.  You pull up in front of the Mena House, your lodging for the trip, amazed at the detail and lush setting in such a harsh desert.  You step out and the hot desert wind hits your face, the hum of humanity far behind you, and now only quiet rustling of the palm trees.
Flashback Summer:  International Vintage- Orientalism of the 1910s-1920s
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A doorman in long, flowing trousers and a red fez cap opens the boot of the car and takes out your steamer trunk.  You follow him through the entrance of the hotel and are taken aback at the luxurious furnishings, exactly what you had only imagined and seen in movies.
Flashback Summer:  International Vintage- Orientalism of the 1910s-1920s
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You check in, and your things are taken to your room.  You go back outside to mingle with the other fine looking ladies and gentleman on the veranda.  As you walk out, you gasp as you look ahead and see the stunning view of the pyramids at your doorstep.  You sit and sip tea, the slight grit of sand and dryness of the desert air softly blowing your curls, and you soak it all in.
Flashback Summer:  International Vintage- Orientalism of the 1910s-1920s
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You can see why Westerners were fascinated with the Middle East in the 1910s and 20s!  It was romanticized in art, movies, music, dance, and literature, and the discovery of the treasures of Tutankhamen's tomb in the 20s added to the style craze.  As people read about it in their homes- a place so drastically different from places like Illinois, Quebec, and England- they learned of beautiful women living in harems, flowing robes and jewel-encrusted turbans.  The Middle East was a place of mystery, intrigue, and glamour.
Thus, many 1910s and 1920s styles drew from these exotic influences.  Jeweled clothing, lavish layers, turbans, tunics, robes, head wraps, harem pants, fringe, all of these were included in 10s and 20s clothing:
Flashback Summer:  International Vintage- Orientalism of the 1910s-1920s
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Flashback Summer:  International Vintage- Orientalism of the 1910s-1920s
vintage Assiut tunic (named for a city in Upper Egypt); the design is done in metal work on mesh
Flashback Summer:  International Vintage- Orientalism of the 1910s-1920s

Flashback Summer:  International Vintage- Orientalism of the 1910s-1920s
Flashback Summer:  International Vintage- Orientalism of the 1910s-1920s
men's Turkish robe

I'll be highlighting Poiret and showing you guys my 1920s Orientalism-inspired look later this week!  Meanwhile, if you'd like some more info about Orientalism in this time period, here are a couple good sources:

5 comments

  1. Ahhhhh....scheherazade...how I love it! Beautiful history lessons, Em!

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    1. Haha, forever a student. Can't help but click links for more info. (I TOTALLY do it too. Family curse. :) )
      Glad you liked it!

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  2. Thanks for the history tour. Who knew all these gorgeous looks came from the Orient!? Love all of the good information!

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  3. What a vivid, engaging, enthralling picture you paint. I would gladly hop in a time machine any day and zip back to early twentieth century Egypt with you, dear gal. I can tell you'd be the perfect tour guide.

    ♥ Jessica

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    1. If only!!! That would be amazing. I often wondered what Egypt was like back in the day. I have a suspicion that it would be remarkably similar to what life is like still in some of the small villages I saw. Probably no cars and cell phones though, I would suspect!

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