By Anna Avalanche, Gisa Miles and Luiz Speedwell
Photography credit for Marcelo Soubhia - Agencia Fotosite (http://www.agenciafotosite.com.br/
Who was Carmen Miranda?
“The brazilian bombshell” as was known, marked the time with her way of singing, moving their hands and Ginger. Her communicable smile and outrageous outfits will always be remembered. Today, more than 50 years after his death, Carmen still is the best Braziliam symbol known in the world.
Although she was not Brazilian, Carmen was actually born in Portugal. Her family immigrated to Brazil when she was a child. An entertainer since her early days, she emerged as a popular singer and actress in Brazil during the late 1920s and early 1930s. In those days she was the most famous and beloved women in Brazil, an absolute record of selling the discs. Then Carmen was invited by the American entrepreneur Lee Schubert to embark with her band "Bando da Lua" to the United States in 1939.
When Carmen reached the port of New York, was an illustrious unknown to the American public. But just one month later, she won the Broadway and an extraordinary popularity. Her singing ability and comedic skills, her loud costumes, bubbling personality and thick accent quickly helped her become popular with the movie-going public. The success was so big that Carmen recorded her feet and hands in the hall of fame's and received a star of gold with her name on the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard.
She performed more than 14 films from 1940 to 1953 until her untimely death in 1955 from a heart attack. Carmen represented strongly the unknown and exotic land, full of coconut trees, bananas and pineapple. She was really a symbol of the Brazilian soul and a national pride.
The influence of Carmen Miranda in fashion.
That decade was the heyday of Hollywood and Carmen Miranda, as one of the landmarks of that period. It was the first Brazilian to launch fashions, including the U.S. - the "Miranda look" which was adapted and used in the streets.
By having a short stature, wide hips and full breasts, Carmen wore the clothes to enhance her body, which was not anything special compared to the actresses of the time. The short stature was resolved with its famous platforms that left much more elegant. Embroidered skirts, blouses with flounces, shoulders out, gowns, jewelry and platforms shoes built a unique style. The success of Miranda look made all the luxury shops of Fifth Avenue in New York, replaced the creations of Dior and Chanel for their fantasies of Bahia, their shoes and turbans.
Even today many designers and celebrities seek inspiration in her style. Madonna said recently that her exotic clothes were inspired on Miranda style. So the universe of fashion, thanks to that great – “small woman” who recreated every season with her visual references. Her collection of platforms shoes and her films from the 40s inspired the avant-garde designers who develop their models with her sensuality and timeless style even now days.
Special thanks Marcelo Soubhia - Agencia Fotosite
This article has been sponsored by AA Trade Company, Cleary (128,128,0) http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cleary/128/128/0
For more pictures and information see:
English blog: http://annaavalanche.blogspot.com/
Portuguese blog: http://dejavu-intl-portuguese.blogspot.com/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/annaavalanche/
