You can find Circus Chic fashion, antique and repro posters galore, and plenty of children's bedroom decor to go with a vintage circus theme.
What is quite thin on the ground are examples of putting together adult versions of it, although the heritage and visual cues are rich and prolific. It's a marvelous genre, full of joyful Victoriana and strong, playful colors that, especially when it's teamed with theatrical and dramatic old time circus lighting, is spectacular. After all, it was always meant to be a visual dazzle. So I've collected an array of beautifully themed accessories and some rare examples of bold forays into the world of the big top - antique style.
Cushions, lighting, bedding:
You're a star!
Brocades in reds:
Stripes - nothing is quite as much as a visual reference short cut as red and white stripes:
Carousel Parasol:
Red velvet and tassels
Timorous Beasties theatre curtain:
Sin in Linen bedding and towels:
Painted and antique:
Palmist chair:
Gorgeous 1732 birdcage in the shape of a circus wagon:
Roll Up chairs:
Elephant door handle:
Tiny circus wagons, hand made:
So how do the elements sit in a domestic decor? Pretty well, if you're super cool. Admiral, on the South Coast of the UK, more here:
French loveliness:
Scalamandre wallpaper:
London loft hip:
If you don't think you can make the leap (groan) you can always put yourself in the middle of the action on the 25 Hour Hotel in Vienna - it's entirely circus themed.
You could be ubercool and wear this vintage costume...
...or go glamor, like Gwen.Hup La!
I admit to not being overly fond of orange. I just cannot tolerate it in a room by itself. The exact, very thing that changed my mind about it was this set of lingerie, above. Called Abracadabra, it was part of a 2004 Agent Provocateur campaign, and working for them in LA as I did, I got first dibs on collections delivered into the country. Fell in love with the set. Since then I've had a secret passion for orange when it's teamed with hot pink. It's such a retro combination. The first time I ever saw this picture...
by Norman Parkinson of Anne Gunning in Jaipur, 1956, I adored the quote by Diana Vreeland, editor of Harpers Bazaar, who said, 'How clever of you, Mr. Parkinson, to know that pink is the navy blue of India'.
Such a great quote, and it is true, it is used there in the mundane way we sludge it onto uniforms and functionality in Europe.
The 50's and 60's were awash with the brand new way of using color daringly - and along with actual fabric and wallpaper samples from the era you can now find newly created retro inspired takes on it.
Genuine:
And new:
Alexander Henry 'Under The Palms'
Phillip Jacobs for Rowan Fabrics
Manuel Canovas
Genuine...and I love it because it reminds me exactly of the lingerie:
..and new takes on decor, retro inspired:
Altogether fresh: lush velvet
...and ultra modern outdoor lounge:
Beauty:
Luggage!
Leaving you with some gorgeousness:
