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Hollywood, California 1927 CB2L40 Costume Open armhole maillot tank. Headdress. Buckle heels. Rollar skates. TL. Armpit. Actions Clara Bow descends stairs in front of a porch and waves (1); the striking pinup is actually from a Ross Verlang Movie Stars card (2). A second view gives us a level front of the maillot. Bow sits on a wall facing us with her legs crossed and hands to the sides. Same heels, same headdress, same belt. Great smile and confidence (3). Commentary This is an amazingly complex image. The swimsuit alone--a developed maillot tank silhouette-- is a knockout: it is streamlined, and its arcs include very large armholes which threaten cleavage side, and arc on the legline as well, casting it above the crotch. There is no skirt, no pantaloon, no hint of shorts. The legline and armhole are in play at the expense of the neckline, and this is a balance maillot will discover and play with for decades. There is a reason why Bow is the sex symbol of the silent era and breaking trend costumes like this show why. In the picture Bow holds the upright with on with one hand and raises her arm for a wave with the other, maximizing a full armpit and the exposures afforded by the armhole. She wears decorated heels and has her roller skates slung over her shoulder. And wearing an extreme maillot is not the only exposure Bow will engage in in Hula (CB2750, CB2755). Source Sources include Ross Verlang Movie Card, also chickeyonthego on flickr.com. AliceJapan, flickr.com claims the photographer is Eugene Robert Richee. Because the publicity photo contains number 655 2/15 it is probably these are publicity stills from Hulu, Paramount, 1927. 3 pictures. |
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